A34242:1025
The confession of faith ; and, The larger and shorter catechism first agreed upon by the Westminster Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and now approved by the General Assembly of the kirk of Scotland to be a part of uniformity in religion between the kirks of Christ in the three kingdoms.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. That the obedience of the Law must flow from love, and love from a pure heart, and a pure heart from a good Conscience, and a good conscience from Faith unfeigned, this he maketh the only right channel of good works, the end of the Law is Love, &c.
1. That the obedience of the Law must flow from love, and love from a pure heart, and a pure heart from a good Conscience, and a good conscience from Faith unfaigned, this he maketh the only right channel of good works, the end of the Law is Love, &c.
2. That the end of the Law is not that men may be justified by their obedience of it, ⟨image 124⟩as the Jewish Doctors did falsely teach: for it is impossible that sinners can be justified by the Law, who for every transgression are condemned by the Law: for the end of the Law is (not such as the Jewish Doctors taught, but) love out of a pure heart, &c.
2. That the end of the Law is not that men may be justified by their obedience of it, ⟨image 124⟩as the Jewish Doctors did falsly teach: for it is impossible that sinners can be justified by the Law, who for every transgression are condemned by the Law: for the end of the Law is (not such as the Jewish Doctors taught, but) love out of a pure heart, &c.
3. That the true end of the Law, preached unto the people, is that they, by the Law, being made to see their deserved condemnation, should fly to Christ unfeignedly, to be justified by faith in him: So saith the Text, while it maketh love to flow through faith in Christ.
3. That the true end of the Law, preached unto the people, is that they, by the Law, being made to see their deserved condemnation, should flie to Christ unfaignedly, to be justified by faith in him: So saith the Text, while it maketh love to flow through faith in Christ.
4. That no man can set himself in love to obey the Law, except in as far as his conscience is quieted by faith, or is seeking to be quieted in Christ, for the end of the Law is love of a good conscience, and faith unfeigned.
4. That no man can set himself in love to obey the Law, except in as far as his conscience is quieted by faith, or is seeking to be quieted in Christ, for the end of the Law is love of a good conscience, and faith unfaigned.
5. That feigned faith goeth to Christ without reckoning with the Law, and so wants an errand; but unfeigned faith reckoneth with the Law, and is forced to fly for refuge unto Christ as the end of the Law, for righteousness so often as it finds it self guilty for breaking of the Law: For the end of the Law is faith unfeigned.
5. That faigned faith goeth to Christ without reckoning with the Law, and so wants an errand; but unfaigned faith reckoneth with the Law, and is forced to flie for refuge unto Christ as the end of the Law, for righteousness so often as it finds it self guilty for breaking of the Law: For the end of the Law is faith unfaigned.
6. That the fruits of love may come forth in act particularly it is necessary, that the heart be brought to the hatred of all sin and uncleanness, and to a steadfast purpose to follow all holiness universal; for the end of the Law is love out of a pure heart.
6. That the fruits of love may come forth in act particularly it is necessary, that the heart be brought to the hatred of all sin and uncleanness, and to a stedfast purpose to follow all holiness universal; for the end of the Law is love out of a pure heart.
7. That unfeigned f•ith is able to make the conscience good, and the heart pure, and the ⟨image 124⟩man lovingly obedient to the Law; for when Christs blood is seen by faith to quiet justice, then the conscience becometh quiet also, and will not suffer the heart to entertain the love of sin, but sets the man on work to fear God for his mercy, and to obey all his commandments out of love to God for his free gift of justification by grace bestowed on him: For this is the end of the Law indeed, whereby it obtaineth of a man more obedience than any other way.
7. That unfaigned f•ith is able to make the conscience good, and the heart pure, and the ⟨image 124⟩man lovingly obedient to the Law; for when Christs blood is seen by faith to quiet justice, then the conscience becometh quiet also, and will not suffer the heart to entertain the love of sin, but sets the man on work to fear God for his mercy, and to obey all his commandments out of love to God for his free gift of justification by grace bestowed on him: For this is the end of the Law indeed, whereby it obtaineth of a man more obedience than any other way.
I Am the true vine, ye are the branches, he that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
Wherein Christ in a similitude from a vine tree teacheth us.
1. That by nature we are wild barren briers till we be changed by coming unto Christ, and that Christ is that noble vine tree having all life and sap of grace in himself, and able to change the nature of every one that cometh to him, and to communicate spirit and life to as many as shall believe in him: I am the vine ⟨image 125⟩(saith he) and ye are the branches.
2 That Christ loveth to have believers so united unto him, as that they be not separated at any time by unbelief: and that there may be a mutual inhabitation of them in him by faith and love, and of him in them, by his Word and Spirit, for he joineth these together, if ye abide in me and I in you, as things inseparable.
2 That Christ loveth to have believers so united unto him, as that they be not separated at any time by unbelief: and that there may be a mutual inhabitation of them in him by faith and love, and of him in them, by his Word and Spirit, for he joyneth these together, if ye abide in me and I in you, as things inseparable.
3. That except a man be ingrafted in Christ and united to him by faith, he cannot do any the least good work of his own strength: yea, except in as far as a man doth draw spirit and life from Christ by faith, the work which he doth is naughty and null in the point of goodness in Gods estimation, for without me (saith he) ye can do nothing.
3. That except a man be ingrafted in Christ and united to him by faith, he cannot do any the least good work of his own strength: yea, except in as far as a man doth draw spirit and life from Christ by faith, the work which he doth is naughty and nul in the point of goodness in Gods estimation, for without me (saith he) ye can do nothing.
4. That this mutual inhabitation, is the fountain and infallible cause of constant continuing and abounding in well-doing. For he that abideth in me, and I in him (saith he) the same beareth much fruit. Now as our abiding in Christ presupposeth three things, 1. That we have heard the joyful sound of the Gospel making offer of Christ to us who are lost sinners by the Law. 2. That we have heartily embraced the gracious offer of Christ. 3. That by receiving of him we are become the sons of God, Job. 1.12. And are incorporated into his Mystical body, that he may dwell in us as his temple, and we dwell in him as in the residence of righteousness and life, So our abiding in Christ importeth other three things. ⟨image 125⟩1. An employing of Christ in all our addresses to God, and in all our undertakings of whatsoever piece of service to him. 2. A contentedness with his sufficiency, without going out from him to seek righteousness or life, or furniture in any case, in our own or any of the creatures worthiness. 3. A fixedness in our believing in him, a fixedness in our employing and making use of him, and a fixedness in our contentment in him, and adhering to him, so that no allurement, no tentation of Satan or the World, no terror nor trouble may be able to drive our spirits from firm adherence unto him; or from constant avowing of his truth and obeying his commands, who hath loved us and given himself for us: and in whom not only our life is laid up, but also the fullness of the God-head dwelleth bodily, by reason of the substantial and personal union of the Divine and Humane nature in him.
4. That this mutual inhabitation, is the fountain and infallible cause of constant continuing and abounding in well-doing. For he that abideth in me, and I in him (saith he) the same beareth much fruit. Now as our abiding in Christ presupposeth three things, 1. That we have heard the joyful sound of the Gospel making offer of Christ to us who are lost sinners by the Law. 2. That we have heartily embraced the gracious offer of Christ. 3. That by receiving of him we are become the sons of God, Iob. 1.12. And are incorporated into his Mystical body, that he may dwell in us as his temple, and we dwel in him as in the residence of righteousness and life, So our abiding in Christ importeth other three things.
Whosoever doth daily employ Christ Jesus for cleansing his conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, and for making of him to give evidence of true faith in himself.
WHosoever doth daily imploy Christ Iesus for cleansing his conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, and for making of him to give evidence of true faith in himself.
