A34242:1032
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.
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.
But I (may every watchful believer say) do ⟨image 126⟩daily employ Jesus Christ for cleansing my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, & for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love.
But I (may every watchful believer say) do ⟨image 126⟩daily imploy Jesus Christ for cleansing my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, & for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love.
Therefore I have the evidence of true faith in my self.
And hence also let the sleepy and sluggish believer reason, for his own up-stirring thus.
Whatsoever is necessary for giving evidence of true faith, I must study to do it, except would deceive my self and perish.
But to employ Christ Jesus daily for cleansing of my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, and for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love, is necessary for evidencing of true faith in me.
But to imploy Christ Jesus daily for cleansing of my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law, and for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love, is necessary for evidencing of true faith in me.
Therefore this I must study to do, except I would deceive my self and perish.
And lastly, seeing Christ himself hath pointed this fourth as an undoubted evidence of a man elected of God unto life, and given to Jesus Christ to be redeemed, if he come unto him, that is, close Covenant and keep communion with him, as he teacheth us, John 6.37. Saying, All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Let every person who doth not in earnest make use of Christ, for remission of sin and amendment of life, reason hence, and from the whole premisses, after this manner, that his conscience may be wakened.
And lastly, seeing Christ himself hath pointed this fourth as an undoubted evidence of a man elected of God unto life, and given to Jesus Christ to be redeemed, if he come unto him, that is, close Covenant and keep communion with him, as he teacheth us, Iohn 6.37. Saying, All that the Father hath given me, shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. Let every person who doth not in earnest make use of Christ, for remission of sin and amendment of life, reason hence, and from the whole premisses, after this manner, that his conscience may be wakned.
