A34242:911
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.
Edinbourg: printed by George Swinton and Thomas Brown, 1671
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.
AS for convincing a man of sin, and righteousness, and judgment by the Gospel or Covenant of grace, he must understand three things. 1. That not believing in Jesu• Christ, or refusing of the Covenant of Grace offered in him, is a greater and more dangerous sin, then all other sins against the Law• because the hearers of the Gospel▪ not believing in Christ, do reject Gods mercy in Christ▪ the only way of freedom from sin and wrath, and will not yield to be reconciled to God. Next, he must understand that perfect remission of sin and true righteousness is to be had only by faith in Jesus; because God requireth no ⟨image 107⟩•ther conditions but Faith, and testifies from •eaven that he is well pleased to justify sinners upon this condition. 3. He must understand •hat, upon righteousness received by faith, judgment shall follow on the one hand, to the destroying of the works of the Devil in the •eliever, and to the perfecting of the work of sanctification in him, with power: and that upon refusing to take righteousness by Faith in Jesus Christ, Judgment shall follow on the o•her hand, to the condemnation of the misbe••ever, and destroying of him with Satan and •is servants for ever.
AS for convincing a man of sin, and righ•teousness, and judgment by the Gospe• or Covenant of grace, he must understan• three things. 1. That not believing in Jesu• Christ, or refusing of the Covenant of Grace offered in him, is a greater and more dangerous sin, then all other sins against the Law• because the hearers of the Gospel▪ not believing in Christ, do reject Gods mercy in Christ▪ the only way of freedom from sin and wrath, and will not yield to be reconciled to God. Next, he must understand that perfect remission of sin and true righteousness is to be had only by faith in Jesus; because God requireth no ⟨image 107⟩•ther conditions but Faith, and testfiies from •eaven that he is well pleased to justifie sinners •pon this condition. 3. He must understand •hat, upon righteousness received by faith, •udgment shall follow on the one hand, to the •estroying of the works of the Devil in the •eliever, and to the perfecting of the work of •anctification in him, with power: and that •pon refusing to take righteousness by Faith in •esus Christ, Judgment shall follow on the o•her hand, to the condemnation of the misbe••ever, and destroying of him with Satan and •is servants for ever.
For this end let these passages of Scripture, •mong many others, serve to make the greatness of the sin of not believing in Christ appear, •r to make the greatness of the sin of refusing •f the Covenant of Grace, offered to us, in •he offering of Christ unto us, let the fair offer •f Grace be looked upon as it is made, Isa. 55. •. Incline your ear and come unto me (saith the •ord) hear, and your soul shall live, and I will •ake an everlasting Covenant with you, even •he sure mercies of David. That is, if ye will •elieve me, and be reconciled to me, I will by Covenant▪ give unto you Christ, and all sa•ing graces in him; repeated, Acts 13.24.
For this end let these passages of Scripture, •mong many others, serve to make the great•ess of the sin of not believing in Christ appear, •r to make the greatness of the sin of refusing •f the Covenant of Grace, offered to us, in •he offering of Christ unto us, let the fair offer •f Grace be looked upon as it is made, Isa. 55. •. Incline your ear and come unto me (saith the •ord) hear, and your soul shall live, and I will •ake an everlasting Covenant with you, even he sure mercies of David. That is, if ye will elieve me, and be reconciled to me, I will by Covenant give unto you Christ, and all saing graces in him; repeated,
Again consider that this general offer in substance is equivalent to a special offer made •o every one in particular, as appeareth by ••e Apostles making use of it, Acts 16.13. •elieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou ⟨image 108⟩shalt be saved and thy house. The reason o• which offer is given I•h. 3.16. For God so lov•• the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, th•• whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, bu• have everlasting life. Seeing then this great salvation is offered in the Lord Jesus, whosoever believe not in him, but lo•k for happiness some other way, what doth he else, but observ• lying vanities, and forsake his own mercy which he might have had in Christ? Jonah 2.8, • ▪ What doth he else but blaspheme God in hi• heart? as it is said, 1 John 5.10. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because […] believeth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; and that no si• against the Law is like unto this sin, Christ testifies,
IT Is said, that the Jews being ignorant o• Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness. have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God, (and so they perished) for Christ is the end of the La• ⟨image 108⟩[…] righteousness to every one that believeth: and acts 13.34. By Christ Jesus all that believe, are ••stified from all things, from which ye could not be ••stified by the Law of Moses: and 1 John 1.7. […] blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from […] sin.
IT Is said, that the Iews being ignorant o• Gods righteousness, and going about to establis• their own righteousness. have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God, (and so they perished) for Christ is the end of the La• ⟨image 108⟩〈…〉 righteousness to every one that believeth: and •cts 13.34. By Christ Iesus all that believe, are ••stified from all things, from which ye could not be ••stified by the Law of Moses: and 1 Iohn 1.7. 〈…〉 blood of Iesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from 〈…〉 sin.
For convincing a man of judgement, if a •an embrace this righteousness: consider, • John 3.8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he mi••t destroy the works of the •evil. and Heb. 9.14. How much more shall the […] of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, […] himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
For convincing a man of judgement, if a •an imbrace this righteousness: consider, • Iohn 3.8. For this purpose the Son of God was ••nifested that he mi••t destroy the works of the •evil. and Heb. 9.14. How much more shall the 〈…〉 of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, 〈…〉 himself without spot to God, purge your consci•ce from dead works to serve the living God.
But if a man embrace not this righteousness, […] is pronounced, John 3.18. He that be•••veth not is condemned already; because he hath […] believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of […]. And this is the condemnation, that light is […] into the World, •nd men love darkness rather […] light.
But if a man imbrace not this righteousness, 〈…〉 is pronounced, Iohn 3.18. He that be•••veth not is condemned already; because he hath 〈…〉 believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of 〈…〉. And this is the condemnation, that light is 〈…〉 into the World, •nd men love darkness rather 〈…〉 light.
Hence let the penitent desiring to believe, ••ason thus:
What doth suffice to convince all the Elect […] the world of the greatness of the sin of not ••lieving in Christ, or refusing to flee to him […] relief from sins done against the Law, and ••om wrath due thereto? and what sufficeth […] convince them that righteousness and eternal life is to be had by Faith in Jesus Christ, or […] consenting to the Covenant of Grace in him? ⟨image 109⟩and what sufficeth to convince them of Judgement to be exercised by Christ for destroying the works of the Devil in a man, and sanctifying and saving all that believe in him, may suffice to convince me also.
What doth suffice to convince all the Elect 〈…〉 the world of the greatness of the sin of not ••lieving in Christ, or refusing to flee to him 〈…〉 relief from sins done against the Law, and ••om wrath due thereto? and what sufficeth 〈…〉 convince them that righteousness and eter••l life is to be had by Faith in Jesus Christ, or 〈…〉 consenting to the Covenant of Grace in him? ⟨image 109⟩and what sufficeth to convince them of Judgement to be exercised by Christ for destroying the works of the Devil in a man, and sanctifying and saving all that believe in him, may suffice to convince me also.
But what the Spirit hath said in these or other like Scriptures, sufficeth to convince the Elect world of the foresaid sin and righteousness and Judgment.
Therefore what the Spirit hath said in these and other like Scriptures, serveth to convince me thereof also.
Whereupon let the penitent desiring to believe take with him words, and say heartily to the Lord; Seeing thou sayest, seek ye my Face ▪ my soul answereth unto thee, thy face, Lor• will I seek, I have hearkened unto the offer of an everlasting Covenant of all saving mercies to be had in Christ, and I do heartily embrace thy offer, Lord let it be a bargain, Lord I believe, help my unbelief: Behold I give my self to thee to serve thee in all things for ever, and I hope they right •and shall save me, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy▪ O Lord endureth for ever, forsake not the works of thy own hands. Thus may a m•n be made an unfeigned believer in Christ.
Whereupon let the penitent desiring to believe take with him words, and say heartily to the Lord; Seeing thou saye•t, seek ye my Face ▪ my soul answereth unto thee, thy face, Lor• will I seek, I have hearkned unto the offer of an everlasting Covenant of all saving mercies to be had in Christ, and I do heartily embrace thy offer, Lord let it be a bargain, Lord I believe, help my unbelief: Behold I give my self to thee to serve thee in all things for ever, and I hope they right •and shall save me, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy▪ O Lord endureth for ever, forsake not the works of thy own hands. Thus may a m•n be made an unfained believer in Christ.
Because many true believers are weak, and do much doubt if ever they shall be sure of the soundness of their own Faith and Effectual calling, or made certain of their Justification and Salvation, when they see, that many, who profess faith, are found to deceive themselves; let us see how every believer may be made strong in the faith, and sure of his own Election and Salvation upon solid grounds by sure warrants and true evidences of faith. To this end among many other Scriptures, take these following.
BEcause many true believers are weak, and do much doubt if ever they shall be sure of the soundness of their own Faith and Effectual calling, or made certain of their Justification and Salvation, when they see, that many, who profess faith, are found to deceive themselves; let us see how every believer may be made strong in the faith, and sure of his own Election and Salvation upon solid grounds by sure warrants and true evidences of faith. To this end among many other Scriptures, take these following.
1. For laying solid grounds of faith, consider, 2 Pet. 1.10.
Again consider that this general offer in •ubstance is equivalent to a special offer made •o every one in particular, as appeareth by ••e Apostles making use of it, Acts 16.13. •elieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou ⟨image 108⟩shalt be saved and thy house. The reason o• which offer is given I•h. 3.16. For God so lov•• the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, th•• whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, bu• have everlasting life. Seeing then this grea• salvation is offered in the Lord Jesus, whosoever believe not in him, but lo•k for happines• some other way, what doth he else, but observ• lying vanities, and forsake his own mercy whic• he might have had in Christ? Ion•h 2.8, • ▪ What doth he else but blaspheme God in hi• heart? as it is said, 1 Iohn 5.10. He that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because 〈…〉 believeth not the record that God gave of his Son and this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; and that no si• against the Law is like unto this sin, Christ testifies, Iohn 15.22. If I had not come and spoke• to them▪ they had not h•• sin; but now they hav• no cloak for their sin. This may convince 〈…〉 man of the greatness of this sin of not believing in Christ.
