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653

fallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with the word, in our hearts.1

VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word ;3 and there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.

VII. All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all; yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.6

VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew, (which was the native language of the people of God of old,) and the New Testament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations,) being immediately inspired by God, and by his singular care and providence, kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical; so as in all controversies of religion the church is finally to appeal unto them. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and search them, therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,10 that the word of God dwelling plentifully

1 John ii. 20, 27; John xvi. 13, 14; 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11. 22 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Gal. i. 8; 2 Thess. ii. 2. 9 John vi. 45; 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10, 12.41 Cor. xi. 13, 14; xiv. 26, 40. 52 Pet. iii. 16. 6 Psal. cxix. 105, 130. 7 Matt. v. 18. Isa. viii. 20; Acts xv. 15; John v. 46. 9 John v. 39. 101 Cor. xiv. 6, 9, 11, 12, 24, 27, 28.

55*

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in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner,' and, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.2

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture, is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any scripture, (which is not manifold, but one,) it may be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.3

X. The Supreme Judge, by whom all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture,1

CHAPTER II.

OF GOD, AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

THERE is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection,' a most pure spirit,s invisible, without body, parts,10 or passions," immutable,12 immense,13 eternal,14 incomprehensible,15 almighty,16 most wise,17 most holy,18 most free,19 most absolute,20 working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory;22 most loving,23 gracious, merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;24 the rewarder of them that diligently seek him ;25 and withal most just and terrible in his judgments ;26 hating all sin,27 and who will by no means clear the guilty.28

II. God hath all life,29 glory,30 goodness,31 blessed

1 Col. iii. 16. 2 Rom. xv. 4. 3 Acts xv. 15; John v. 46. 4 Matt. xxii. 29, 31; Eph. ii. 20; Acts xxviii. 25. 6 Deut. vi. 4; 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. 61 Thess. i. 9; Jer. x. 10. 7 Job xi. 7-9; xxvi. 14. John iv. 24. 91 Tim. i. 17. 10 Deut. iv. 15, 16; Luke xxiv. 39; John iv. 24. 11 Acts xiv. 11, 15. 12 James i. 17; Mal. iii. 6. 13 1 Kings viii. 27; Jer. xxiii. 23, 24. 14 Ps. xc. 2; 1 Tim. i. 17. 15 Ps. cxlv. 3. 16 Gen. xvii. 1; Rev. iv. 8. 17 Rom. xvi. 27. 18 Isa. vi. 3; Rev. iv. 8. 19 Ps. cxv. 3. 20 Ex. iii. 14. 21 Eph. i. 11. Prov. xvi. 4; Rom. xi. 36; Rev. iv. 11. 231 John iv. 8. 6, 7. 25 Heb. xi. 6. 26 Neh. ix. 32, 33. 28 Nahum i. 2, 3; Ex. xxxiv. 7. 29 John v. 26. 2. 31 Ps. cxix. 68.

22

24 Ex. xxxiv. 27 Ps. v. 5, 6. 30 Acts vii.

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655 ness,' in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things;1 and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, and upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in his works, and in all his commands.9 To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them.10

III. In unity of the Godhead there be three persons of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost." The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;12 the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son,13

CHAPTER III.

OF GOD'S ETERNAL DECREE.

Gon from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass ;14 yet so as thereby neither Is God the author of sin;15 nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.16

II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions ; yet hath he not 11 Tim. vi. 15; Rom. ix. 5. 2 Acts xvii. 24, 25. 3 Job xxii. 2, 3. 4 Rom. xi. 36. 5 Rev. iv. 11; Dan. iv. 25, 35; 1 Tim. vi. 15. 6 Heb. iv. 13. 7 Rom. xi. 33, 34; Ps. cxlvii. 5. Acts xv. 18; Ezek. xi. 5. 9 Ps. cxlv. 17; Rom. vii. 12. 10 Rev. v. 12-14. 11 1 John v. 7; Matt. iii. 16, 17; xxviii. 12 John i. 14, 18. 13 John xv. 26; Gal. Rom. xi. 33; Heb. vi. 17; Rom. ix. 15, 15 Jam. i. 13, 17; 1 John i. 5; Eccl. vii. 29. ii. 23; Matt. xvii. 12; Acts iv. 27, 28; John xix. 11; Prov. xvi. 33; Acts xxvii. 23, 24, 34. 17 Acts xv. 18; 1 Sam. xxiii. 11, 12; Matt. xi. 21, 23.

19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

iv. 6. 14 Eph. i. 11; 18.

16 Acts

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decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass, upon such conditions.'

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels2 are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.3

IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.4

V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto;6 and all to the praise of his glorious grace.7

VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, fore-ordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season; are justified, adopted, sanctified,10 and kept by his power through faith unto salvation." Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.12

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice.13

1 Rom, ix. 11, 13, 16, 18. 21 Tim. v. 21; Matt. xxv. 41, 3 Rom. ix. 22, 23; Eph. i. 5, 6; Prov. xvi. 4. 4 2 Tim. ii. 19; John xiii. 18. 5 Eph. i. 4, 9, 11; Rom. viii. 30; 2 Tim, i. 9; 1 Thess. v. 9. 6 Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16; Eph. i. 4, 9, Eph. i. 6, 12. 8 Eph. i. 4; ii. 10; 2 Thess. ii. 13. Thess. v. 9, 10; 2 Thess. ii. 13.

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Tit. i. 14. 10 Rom. viii. 30; Eph. i. 5; 11 Pet. i. 5. 12 John xvii. 9; Rom. viii. 28; John vi. 64, 65; viii. 47; x. 26; 1 John ü. 19. 13 Matt. xi. 25, 26; Rom. ix. 17, 18, 21, 22; 2 Tim. ii, 20; Jude 4; 1 Pet, ii. 8,

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VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care,1 that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election.2 So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God;3 and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation, to all that sincerely obey the gospel.+

CHAPTER IV.

OF CREATION.

Ir pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness," in the beginning, to create or make of nothing the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.'

II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,8 with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image,10 having the law of God written in their hearts," and power to fulfill it ;12 and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.13 Besides this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept they were happy in their communion with God,14 and had dominion over the creatures.15

2 2 Pet. i. 10. 1 Rom. ix. 20; xi. 33; Deut. xxix. 29. Eph. i. 6; Rom. xi. 33. 4 Rom. xi. 5, 6, 20; viii. 33; Luke x. 20. 5 Heb. i. 2; John i. 2, 3; Job xxvi. 13; xxxiii. 4. 7 Gen. 1st chap. throughout; 6 Rom. i. 20; Ps. civ. 24. Col. i. 16. 8 Gen. i. 27. 9 Gen. ii. 7; Luke xxiii. 43; Eccl. 12 Eccl. 10 Gen. i. 26. 11 Rom. ii. 14, 15. xii. 7; Matt. x. 28. 14 Gen. ii. 17; iii. 8; vii. 29. 13 Gen. iii. 6; Eccl. vii. 29. xi. 23. 15 Gen. i. 28; Ps. viii. 6-8.