A34242:968
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.
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.
8. That in the Ministers affectionate dealing with the people, the people should consider, that they have to do with God and Christ, requesting them by the Ministers to be reconciled, now there cannot be a greater inducement to break a sinners hard heart, than Gods making request to him for friendship: For when it became us, who have done so many wrongs to God, to seek friendship of God, he preventeth, and (O wonder of wonders!) he requesteth us to be content to be reconciled wit• him: and therefore most fearful wrath must abide them, who do set light by this request; and do not yield when they hear Ministers with Commission, saying, We are Ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God.
8. That in the Ministers affectionate dealing with the people, the people should consider, that they have to do with God and Christ, requesting them by the Ministers to be reconciled, now there cannot be a greater inducement to break a sinners hard heart, than Gods making request to him for friendship: For when it became us, who have done so many wrongs to God, to seek friendship of God, he preventeth, and (O wonder of wonders!) he requesteth us to be content to be reconciled wit• him: and therefore most fearful wrath must abide them, who do set light by this request; and do not yield when they hear Ministers with Commission, saying, We are Embassadours for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God.
9. To make it appear, how it cometh to pass that the Covenant of Reconciliation should be so easily made up betwixt God and ⟨image 116⟩a humble sinner fleeing to Christ, the Apostle leads us unto the cause of it, holden forth in the Covenant of Redemption; the sum whereof is this. It is agreed betwixt God and the mediator Jesus Christ the Son of God Surety for the redeemed, as parties contractors, that the sins of the redeemed should be imputed to innocent Christ, and he both condemned and put to death for them upon this very condition, that whosoever heartily consents unto the Covenant of Reconciliation offered through Christ, shall by the imputation of his obedience unto them, be justified and holden righteous before God, for God hath made Christ who knew no sin, to be sin for us (saith the Apostle) that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him.
9. To make it appear, how it cometh to pass that the Covenant of Reconciliation should be so easily made up betwixt God and ⟨image 116⟩a humble sinner fleeing to Christ, the Apostle leads us unto the cause of it, holden forth in the Covenant of Redemption; the sum whereof is this. It is agreed betwixt God and the mediator Iesus Christ the Son of God Surety for the redeemed, as parties contractors, that the sins of the redeemed should be imputed to innocent Christ, and he both condemned and put to death for them upon this very condition, that whosoever heartily consents unto the Covenant of Reconciliation offered through Christ, shall by the imputation of his obedience unto them, be justified and holden righteous before God, for God hath made Christ who knew no sin, to be sin for us (saith the Apostle) that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him.
Hence may a weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from this ground after this manner.
He that upon the loving request of God and Christ, made to him by the mouth of his Ministers (having Commission to that effect) hath embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and do purpose by Gods Grace, as a reconciled person to strive against sin, and to serve God to his power constantly, may be as sure to have righteousness, and eternal life given to him for the obedience of Christ imputed to him, as it is sure that Christ was condemned and put to death for the sins of the redeemed imputed to him.
But I (may the weak believer say) upon the loving request of God and Christ made to me by the mouth of his Ministers, have embraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and do purpose by Gods gra•e, as a reconciled person, to strive against sin, and to serve God to my power constantly.
But I (may the weake believer say) upon the loving request of God and Christ made to me by the mouth of his Ministers, have imbraced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and do purpose by Gods gra•e, as a reconciled person, to strive against sin, and to serve God to my power constantly.
Therefore I may be as sure to have righteousness and eternal life given to me for the obedience of Christ imputed to me, as it is sure that Christ was condemned and put to death for the sins of the redeemed imputed to him.
Therefore I may be as sure to have righteousness and •ternal life given to me for the obedience of Christ imputed to me, as it is sure that Christ was condemned and put to death for the sins of the redeemed imputed to him.
This is his Commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as be gave us commandment.
THis is his Commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Iesus Christ, and love one another, as be gave us commandment.
Wherein the Apostle giveth us to understand these five Doctrines.
1. That •f any man shall not be taken with the sw•et invitation of God, nor with the humble and loving request of God made to him to be reconciled, he shall find he hath ⟨image 117⟩to do with the Sovereign Authority of the highest Majesty; for this is his commandment, that we believe in him, saith he.
1. That •f any man shall not be taken with the sw•et invitation of God, nor with the humb•e and loving request of God made to him to be reconciled, he shall find he hath ⟨image 117⟩to do with the Soveraign Authority of the highest Majesty; for this is his commandment, that we believe in him, saith he.
2. That if any man look upon this Command as he hath looked heretofore upon the neglected Commandments of the Law; he must consider that this is a command of the Gospel, posterior to the Law, given for making use of the remedy of all sins; which if it be disobeyed, there is no other Command to follow but this: Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire of Hell: for this is his commandment: the obedience of which is most pleasant in his sight, ver. 22. And without which it is impossible to please him, Heb. 11.6.
