4:2, Ps. 3:21, Rom. 1:2, John 1:2–3, Gen. 1:2, Job 26:13, Job 33:4) for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, (Rom. 36:31–32, Ezek. 8:33–39, John 17:11, 24, Luke 22:32, Heb. 1:18, Rom. (Phil. 2:4, Cant. 5:11, Rev. 2:14–15, Rom. 2:13, Deut. Zechariah 6:6,14) and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; (Gal. 2:5, 2 Cor. It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially, to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same: which decrees and determinations, if consonant to the Word of God, are to be … Westminster Confession oF Faith (25.2) The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that pro- fess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation 24:1, 1 Chron. (Rom. 2:13–14, Matt. 23:21–23, Ps. 36:27) and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: (Eph. 51:5, Gen. 5:3, Job 14:4, Job 15:14), 4. (Deut. 50:10, Mark 9:24, Ps. 2:2, Acts 20:32, Rom. 3:25–26) and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was (imputed); (Gen. 1:27–28, Gen. 2:16–17, Acts 17:26, Rom. 10:16,21), 2. 19:8–9, 1 Cor. 19:9, Rom. 7:23) yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth (overcome); (Rom. 1:10) So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; (Eph. 10:1–4), 1. Obadiah 29:29) 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. 1:6, 1 Pet. 1:2, Eph. Prayer is to be made for things lawful; (1 John 5:14) and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter: (1 Tim. 66:2) and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. 36:3, Job 21:14–15, Matt. (Gen. 34:14, Exod. 3:27) at His pleasure. The Westminster Confession of Faith is our standard of doctrine as found in Scripture. 19:13, Luke 19:8. 21:1), 5. The Revelation of John, All which are given by inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. 4:6–7, Ps. 3:16) Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man. 12:7, Luke 23:43, Matt. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, (Ezek. 8:20, Acts 15:15, John 5:39,46) 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, (John 5:39) therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come, (1 Cor. 6:23) with all miseries spiritual, (Eph. It represents the best of Puritan scholarship, blended with Scottish theological sagacity. 31:23, Ps. All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for His only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, (Eph. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, at the same time. 8:1) as also, in their free access to God, (Rom. 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. 3:5, Eph. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide. (Ps. 4:30) come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts, (Ps. 5:17, 1 Pet. (Matt. 4:6) are pitied, (Ps. T This assurance is not the false hope of those who have not received and rested in Christ. Corinthians I 12:25, 1 Pet. In the 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: (1 John 5:7. (Matt. 1:11, Rom. 13:4, 1 Tim. 22:37–40), 3. For then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fullness of joy and refreshing, which shall come from the presence of the Lord: but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power. 5:17, Rom. 2:2) 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: (John 6:45, 1 Cor 2:9–12) and that 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. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, (Rom. The Westminster Confession of Faith asserts the real presence in the Sacrament, the supreme authority of God’s Word, and the catholicity of the Church, made distinctive by three characteristics: the true preaching of the Word, the right administration of … 3:14, 16, Acts 15:11, Rom. 4:11, Gen. 17:7,10) immediately instituted by God, (Matt. 51:8, 10, 12, Rev. 10:14, Eph. 5:18) so as, in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal unto them. 13:22, Job 9:2–3, Gal. The first and second Epistles of Peter 5:1, Acts 15:10–11) and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, (Heb. 21:1, 1 Kings 22:22–23, 1 Chron. In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; (Rom. 47:7, Eccl. 5:12, Acts 20:17–18, Heb. (1 Cor. The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glory of His mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of His justice, in the damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient. 51:8) hurt and scandalize others, (2 Sam. 7:15, 18–19, 21, 23), 5. Ezra Reformed views of the sacraments, the ministry, and the two covenants of works and grace are given. 7:25) and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world. 8:34) and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of salvation; (John 15:13, 15, Eph. That is to say, it is wonderfully pastoral. 3:6, 14–15, Matt. 1:19–20, John 3:16, 1 Tim. 6:12) as heirs of everlasting salvation. 12:36–37), 2. (Eph. 10:12, Ps. 8:12, Heb. 1:11, Ps. 9:24, 26, Isa. 42:6) commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein He freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of them faith in Him, that they may be saved, (Mark 16:15–16, John 3:16, Rom. Westminster Confession of Faith (1647). (1 Cor. 1:23, Acts 3:21, Eph. 2:2, Ps. Judges 9:22, 25–26, 28) but only a commemoration of that one offering up of Himself, by Himself, upon the cross, once for all: and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God, for the same: (1 Cor. 8:14, 1 Pet. 1:5) Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. 3:18) yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature. Lamentations Nahum 56:6–7, Heb. I. (1 Pet. 11:33, Heb. 11:24–26, Luke 24:6, 39), 7. 24:1–4), 1. 8:7, Eph. The confession was completed in 1646 and presented to Parliament, which approved it after some revisions in June 1648. Peter Kemeny, Good News Presbyterian Church P.O. 2:20, Rev. 5:8–10, 19, 1 Tim. 1:23, Isa. (Gal. By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of His mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, (Ezek. 1:3, 5, 10–11, Isa. 6:11–12, 2 Pet. 5:17–19, James 2:8, Rom. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous Judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden, (Rom. 4:15–16, 1 Cor. (2 Cor. (Matt. 6:13) Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. (John 14:6, 1 Tim. 4:4–5) by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, (Rom. God, in His ordinary providence, maketh use of means, (Acts 27:31, 44, Isa. 2:3–4, 8–9, Rev. 2:6, Luke 1:33) the Head and Saviour of His Church, (Eph. Of Effectual Calling; XI. 11:23–25) which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity, and less outward glory, yet, in them, it is held forth in more fullness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, (Heb. 11:5, 6, 20, 2 Pet. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church, according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it. 13:40–42, Jude 6, 2 Pet. 16:19, Matt. 13:5, Tit. 4:4, Job 34:10) above, (Rom. 2:3, 1 Cor. 4:1–2, Rom. 1:13–14, Eph. 29:4) but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, (Matt. 119:68) blessedness, (1 Tim. 11:4) not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreproveable in God’s sight; (Job 9:20, Ps. 12:14), 2. 7:23), 1. (Gen. 2:24, Matt. (Luke 17:10, Neh. Unto this catholic visible Church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by His own presence and Spirit, according to His promise, make them effectual thereunto. 5:13–14, Rom. 2:4, Rev. (1 Kings 8:31, Neh. 1:16–17), 2. (Ezra 9:13–14, Ps. (Ps. (1 Cor. 14:10,12, Matt. 5:10, Eccl. 53:4–6, 10–12) Yet, in as much as He was given by the Father for them; (Rom. 2:5) he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. 6:15–16, Ps. However, The Westminster Confession of Faith Study Book is slightly different from the above volumes. 2:1) and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body. 1:8–9, 2 Thess. 11:33–34, Ps. 10:5, Rom. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth: (Exod. (1 Cor. Westminster Confession of Faith When the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was formed in 1788, it adopted (with minor revisions) the Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms (1647), as its secondary standards (the Bible itself being the … 77:1–12) yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary means, attain thereunto. 15:18–19, John 17:17) overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation. 7:7, Rom. 9, Heb. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. (Rom. 51) who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him. 119:68, Jer. 3:9, Acts 13:38–39, Eph. 5:12, 15–19, 1 Cor. 2:20, Acts 15:11), 3. 3. 24:1) and, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). to Philemon (Col. 1:18, Eph. Of the Holy Scripture Chapter II. 59:21), 6. 28:19–20), 3. 8:28, John 6:64–65, John 10:26, John 8:47, 1 John 2:19), 7. 2:5–6, Rom. Of the Holy Scripture; II. 22:1, Ps. (Rom. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female, (Gen. 1:27) with reasonable and immortal souls, (Gen. 2:7, Ecc. 4:6), 1. (Matt. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, (Rom. 6:5–6, 2 Tim. (Rom. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646-1647) with Scripture Proofs (Acts 24:15, John 5:28–29, 1 Cor. (James 2:10, 11) Neither doth Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation. 17:14, 16), 3. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, (Rom. 2:13, 1 John 5:10, Acts 24:14) and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, (Rom. 1:5–6, Prov. 12:7) the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, (Mark 16:15–16, Acts 8:37–38) but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. (1 John 2:1–2, Rom. (Heb. All synods or councils, since the Apostles’times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. (Exod. 12:22–27, Jer. 3:17) And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, (2 Pet. 13:47, Isa. 5:2) are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, (Gal. 11:27) and grieve His Holy Spirit, (Eph. 12:7, 1 Cor. Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each nature doing that which is proper to itself; (Heb. 31:15–17, Isa. (Ezek. 7:3–4, 1 Kings 11:4, Neh. 5:17), 6. Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, (Gal. 14:13) nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death. (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 5:1) and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also. 12:28–29), 7. 8:28, Ps. (Isa. 110:1, 1 Cor. 5:9) 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: (Rom. (Phil. (Matt. 3:9, 13–14, Rom. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, (Heb. 110:3, John 6:37, Rom. 76:11, Jer. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil. 9:24, 26, Col. 1:19–20, Eph. 4:2–3, Col. 2:15), 1. 3:10), 3. (Isa. Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation, XX. 8:7, John 15:5) so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, (Rom. 2:14, 16–17, Heb. 9:16, Tit. (1 John 5:16), 5. By this faith, (a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word,) for the authority of God Himself speaking therein; (John 4:42, 1 Thess. 7:9, Rom. 2:8, Rev. 2:5), 3. 34:16, Deut. 1:10, Rom. 6:3, Jude 6, 2 Pet. (Heb. 2:5) by the help of His Spirit, (Rom. 26:1–14, 2 Cor. As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: (Exod. Isaiah These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: (James 2:18, 22) and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, (Ps. 1:9–10) enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, (Acts 26:18, 1 Cor. 28:19) not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; (1 Cor. 20:8, 10, Matt. 1:5,9), 2. 3:14, 1 Tim. 6:18, Rev. Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day, XXXII. 6:23, Rom. 6:14, Gal. 8:7, Rom. 28:19, Mark 10:13–16, Luke 18:15), 5. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed; by virtue whereof, they have power, respectively, to retain, and remit sins; to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the Word, and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the Gospel; and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require (Matt. 7:14, Matt. 32:5–6) upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; (Prov. 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 must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly. 3:16–19) to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. The We stminster Confession of Faith Chapter I Of the Holy Scripture I. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: (2 Kings 10:30–31, 1 Kings 21:27, 29, Phil. 1:30), 2. (James 1:13–14, 17, 1 John 2:16, Ps. 25:41) are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in His providence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; (Rom. 4:13) His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, (Rom. 22:14) and may have some common operations of the Spirit, (Matt. 32:1, Rom. 26:26–28) albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before. 9:14, 16, Heb. 2:1) yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation. 2:5, Exod. 81:11–12, 2 Thess. 12:23, 2 Cor. 7:18, Col. 1:21) and wholly inclined to all evil, (Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Rom. (Matt. 6:14, 16) or be admitted thereunto. Its mission was to advise Parliament in restructuring the Church of England along Puritan lines. 12:24, Heb. 6:11–12, Heb. 61:8, Ps. 13:7,17,24, 1 Cor. 7:1, Rom. 13:12, Rev. 9:22–23, Matt. 3:26, Eph. (John 15:26, Gal. 4:6) is by God required of all men: (Ps. (Heb. 17:16, 18–19, Josh. 4:30, 31, Ps. 62:8, Josh. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under Him, over the people, for His own glory, and the public good: and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil doers. 10:6–7, 12) yet so, as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin. 5:7) But, under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected; (Gal. All saints, that are united to Jesus Christ their Head, by His Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with Him in His grace, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: (1 John 1:3, Eph. 5:31–32) and, after the divorce, to marry another, as if the offending party were dead. 13:12, 16–17, Jer. 6:1) stop the mouths of the adversaries, (1 Pet. 3:3,6) out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; (Rom. (2 Cor. (Heb. 15:9, Acts 17:25, Matt. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator, and to the everlasting inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein bequeathed. They who, in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do. 7:14, Acts 2:39, Ezek. 25:22, 32–34, Ps. (Acts 23:12, 14, Mark 6:26, Numb. Corinthians II 1:5–7, Luke 21:27–28, Rom. 15:3, Ps. 5:17–18), 8. 22:19–21, Luke 1:3–4, Rom. 8:30, Eph. 10:1–4, Heb. God hath all life, (John 5:26) glory, (Acts 7:2) goodness, (Ps. The Acts of the Apostles 17:12, James 1:14, Deut. 2:9) strengthen their assurance, (1 John 2:3, 5, 2 Pet. 9:5, 1 Pet. 5:1, 5, 11, 13, 2 John 1:10–11, 2 Thess. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it; (Gal. 10:5, Rom. It was produced by the Westminster Assembly, which was called together by the Long Parliament in 1643, during the English Civil War, and met regularly in Westminster Abbey until 1649. 4:16, Matt. 2. 11:3) This their sin, God was pleased, according to His wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to His own glory. 132:2–5), 7. 8:13) and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, (Col. 1:11, Eph. 4:10, Amos 9:8–9, Rom. 16:20–21, Rom. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: (1 Thess. 51:4, Jer. 13:1–4, 1 Pet. 3:13) and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin; (Gal. I Kings 8:32) and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead; (2 Cor. 3:21) the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done. 107, Esth. 10:6) as likewise, the denial of the cup to the people, (Mark 14:23, 1 Cor. 4:18) temporal, (Rom. 63:13, Matt. 20:8, 10–11, Isa. 5:21, Matt. 6:18, 20, 1 Pet. 4:11, Col. 2:11–12) of his ingrafting into Christ, (Gal. 11:18–22). 5:7, Matt. (Job 19:26–27, 1 Cor. 9:14, 1 Pet. 51:4–5, 7, 9, 14, Ps. 2:16, Rom. (Rom. 5:4), 5. 2:5–6, Phil. (2 Pet. 6:11, Acts 20:32, Phil. 63:14, Eph. 36:26–27) And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure: (Phil. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, (Phil. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. (Matt. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin; and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity: (2 Pet. 11:23–26, 1 Cor. He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things (Rom. 2:8) and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, (Rom. 2:4), 5. 11:16, Gen. 3:15, Gen. 17:7) and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, (Matt. 28:18–20), 2. 19:5–6, Prov. 28:18, Acts 2:36), 4. 10:1, Gal. (Gen. 1, Heb. 2:5, Eph. One of the most enduring and influential documents of the Christian faith is the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature, (John 1:1, 14, 1 John 5:20, Phil. The problem is that many people are LAZY and don't want to STUDY the Bible for themselves, " Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth " (2nd Timothy 2:15). It was adopted by the Church of Scotland in 1647, by various American and English Presbyterian bodies (with some modifications), and by some Congregationalists and Baptists. 1:11, 1 Tim. 8:6, Isa. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; (Matt. 9:15, 1 Cor. 11:21, 23) yet hath He not decreed anything because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions. 1:10) and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. (Tit. 18:17–18, John 20:21–23, 2 Cor. WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM WITH PROOF TEXTS. 6:6, Eph. 5:2, Rom. As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation; (Rom. 2:19, John 8:34, Luke 1:74–75), 4. (Matt. The Confession of Faith Chapter I. 15:51–52) and all the dead shall be raised up, with the self-same bodies, and none other (although with different qualities), which shall be united again to their souls for ever. 7:29, Rom. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2 Cor. 28:19, 1 Cor. 3:15) out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. Don't believe me? (Nah. 82:3–4, 2 Sam. 6:11) and in secret, each one by himself; (Matt. 1:5–10) edify their brethren, (2 Cor. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained. 40:13–17, Job 9:32–33, 1 Sam. 1:17) without body, parts, (Deut. 1:5, 2 Thess. 5:17–19) they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. 12:2), 1. (Ezek. 2:6, Gal. (Heb. The Westminster Confession is filled with unbiblical doctrines, and should be AVOIDED by all professed Christians. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ. 3:23) and so became dead in sin, (Gen. 2:17, Eph. The supreme judge by which 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. (Exod. 2:8), 8. 5:2) and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is only of free grace; (Rom. 3:10) and so made subject to death, (Rom. (2 John 9–11, 1 Cor. 3:31) but sealed to the day of redemption; (Eph. 66:13–14, Ps. 2:14–15, Rom. 9:12, 15), 6. 1:10, 1 John 3:9, 1 Pet. 5:7, 2 Cor. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience, XXI. 11:7–8) from them He not only withholdeth His grace whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings, and wrought upon in their hearts; (Deut. 25:31–46, Rom. 12:48, Gen. 34:14) and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to His Word. 2:17), 2. 4:28, 1 Pet. 9:15,18) yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, (James 1:13,17, 1 John 1:5) nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. (Ps. 13:25–27, Mal. 5:6–7, 13, 2 Thess. 11:25–26, Gal. (Ps. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ’s body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense, and reason; overthroweth the nature of the sacrament, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions; yea, of gross idolatries. 10:6–7). 3:8–12, Ps. 8:10) may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory: (Luke 22:31–32, Eph. It is a positive statement of the Reformed Faith. 13:3, Isa. 2:15, Rom. 11:36) most loving, (1 John 4:8,16) gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; (Exod. 8:18, Ps. Of Creation; V. Of Providence; VI. 11:20, 23, 1 Cor. 7:19, Gal. 1:11) for His own glory; (Prov. 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