The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

I pass up to my Father and your Father, to my God and unto God: By which most holy fraternity, ⟨p. 260⟩whatsoever we have lost in Adam, is restored to us again. And for this cause are we nothing afraid to call God our Father, not so much in that he hath created us (which we have common with the reprobate) as for that, that he hath given to us his only Son to be our Brother,¹ and given unto us grace to embrace him for our only Mediator, as before is said. It behoved further the Messiah and Redeemer to be very God and very Man,² because he was to suffer the punishment due for our transgressions, and to present himself in the presence of his fathers judgement, as in our person to suffer for our transgression and disobedience, by death to overcome him that was Author of death. But because the only God-head could not suffer death, neither could only the Man-hood overcome the same, he joined both together in one person,³ that the imbecility of the one should suffer and be subject to death (which we had deserved) and the Infinite and Invincible power of the other; to wit, of the God-head should triumph, and purchase unto us life, liberty, and perpetual Victory: and so we confess, and most undoubtedly believe. IX. Christs Death, Passion, Burial, &c. ⁴That our Lord Jesus offered himself a voluntary Sacrifice unto his Father for us; That he suffered contradiction of sinners; That he was wounded and plagued for our transgressions; That he being the clean and innocent Lamb of GOD, was condemned in the presence of an earthly Judge; that we might be absolved before the Tribunal Seat of our God: That he suffered not only the cruel death of the Cross (which was accursed by the sentence of God) but also, That he suffered for a season the wrath of his Father, which sinners had deserved. But yet we avow, That he remained the only well-beloved and blessed Son of his Father, even in the midst of his anguish and torment, which he suffered in body and soul, to make the full satisfaction for the sins of his people. After the which, we confess and avow, That there remains no other sacrifice for sins; which if any affirm, we nothing doubt to avow, That they are blasphemous against Christs Death, and the everlasting purgation and satisfaction purchased unto us by the same. X. Resurrection.