The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

and Man, obeying to the voice of the Woman, both conspiring against the Sovereign Majesty of God, who in express words had before threatened death, if they presumed to eat of the forbidden Tree. III. Of Original Sin. BY which transgression, commonly called Original Sin, was the Image of God utterly defaced in Man,¹ and he and his Posterity of Nature became enemies to God, slaves to Satan, servants to Sin, insomuch that Death everlasting hath had, and shall have power and dominion over all that hath not been, are not, or shall not be regenerate from above; which Regeneration is wrought by the power of the holy Ghost, working in the hearts of the Elect of God an assured Faith in the Promises of God revealed to us in his Word; by which Faith they apprehend Christ Jesus, with the Graces and Benefits promised in him. IIII. Of the Revelation of the Promises. For this we constantly believe, That God, after the fearful and horrible defection of man from his obedience,² did seek Adam again, call upon him, rebuke his sin, convince him of the same, and in the end made unto him a joyful Promise, to wit, That the Seed of the Woman should break down the Serpents head; that is, He should destroy the works of the devil: which Promise, as it was repeated and made more clear from time to time, so was it embraced with joy, and most constantly retained of all the faithful, from Adam to Noah, from Noah to Abraham, and from Abraham to David, and so forth to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; who all (we mean the faithful Fathers) under the Law, did see the joyful days of Christ Jesus, and did rejoice. V. The Continuance, Increase, and Preservation of his Church. ³WE most constantly believe, That God Preserveth, Instructeth, Multiplieth, Honoureth, Decoreth, and from death called to Life his Church in all Ages,⁴ from Adam, till the coming of CHRIST JESUS in the Flesh: For Abraham he called from his fathers Country, him he instructed, his Seed he multiplied, the same he marvellously preserved, and more marvellously delivered from the Bondage of Pharaoh; to whom he gave his Laws, Constitutions and Ceremonies. Them he possessed in the Land of Canaan, to them after Judges, and after Saul, he gave David to be King; to whom he made promise, That of the fruit of his Loins should one sit forever upon his Regal Seat.