A34242:957
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.
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation. ver. 20. Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
GOd was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation. ver. 20. Now then we are Embassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead, be ye reconciled to God. ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Wherein the Apostle teacheth us these nine Doctrines.
1. That the elect World, or the World ⟨image 115⟩redeemed souls, are by nature in the estate of enmity against God. This is presupposed in the word Reconciliation; for reconciliation, or renewing of friendship, cannot be, except betwixt those that have been at enmity.
2. That in all the time by-past, since the fall of Adam, Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of God, as Mediator, and the Father in him, hath been about the making friendship (by his word and Spirit) betwixt himself and the elect World, God (saith he) was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
3. That the way of reconciliation was in all ages one and the same in substance, viz. by forgiving the sins of them who do acknowledge their sins, and their enmity against God, and do seek reconciliation and remission of sins in Christ, for God (saith he) was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, by way of not imputing their trespasses unto them.
4. That the end and scope of the Gospel and whole word of God, is threefold.
1. It serveth to make people sensible of their sins, and of their enmity against God, and of their danger if they should stand out, and not fear Gods displeasure.
2. The word of God serveth to make men acquainted with the course which God hath prepared for making friendship with him through Christ, viz. That if men shall acknowledge the enmity, and shall be content to enter into a ⟨image 115⟩Covenant of friendship with God, through Christ, then God will be contented to be reconciled with them freely.
3. The word of God serveth to teach men how to carry themselves towards God, as friends, after they are reconciled to him, viz. to be loath to sin against him, and to strive heartily to obey his Commandments, and therefore the Word of God here is called the Word of Reconciliation, because it teacheth us, what need we have of reconciliation, and how to make it, and how to keep the reconciliation of friendship, being made with God through Christ.
5. That albeit the hearing, believing, and obeying of this word, doth belong to all those to whom this Gospel doth come, yet the Office of preaching of it, with authority, belongeth to none but to such only as God doth call to this ministry, and sendeth out with Commission for this work. This the Apostle holdeth forth, ver. 18. in these words, he hath committed to us the word of Reconciliation.
6. That the Ministers of the Gospel should behave themselves as Christs Messengers, and should closely follow their commission set down in the word, Matth. 28.19, 20. and when they do so, they should be received by the people, as Ambassadors from God: for here the Apostle, in all their names, saith, we are Ambassadors for Christ, ⟨image 116⟩as though God did beseech you by us.
6. That the Ministers of the Gospel should behave themselves as Christs Messengers, and should closely follow their commission set down in the word, Matth. 28.19, 20. and when they do so, they should be received by the people, as Ambassadours from God: for here the Apole, in all their names, saith, we are Embassadours for Christ, ⟨image 116⟩as though God did beseech you by us.
7. That Ministers in all earnestness of affections should deal with people, to acknowledge their sins, and their natural enmity against God more and more seriously: and to consent to the Covenant of Grace and Embassage of Christ more and more heartily; and to evidence more and more clearly their reconciliation by a holy carriage before God. This he holdeth forth, when he saith, we pray you be reconciled to God.
