THE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH and DOCTRINE, Believed and Professed be the PROTESTANTS Of SCOTLAND, Exhibited to the Estatis of the same in Parliament, and be their public votis authorized, as a Doctrine grounded upon the infallible Word of GOD. Published by Authority. EDINBURGH, reprinted by the Heir of Andrew Anderson, Printer to His most Sacred MAJESTY, 1681. First Parliament xv. of Decemb. 1567. THE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH and DOCTRINE, Believed and Professed be the Protestants of Scotland, exhibited to the Estatis of the same in Parliament, and be their public votis authorized, as a Doctrine grounded upon the infallible Word of GOD. 1. Of God. Deut. 6.4. 1 Cor. 8.6. Esay 44.5, 6. Tim. 1.27. 1 Kin. 8.17. 2 Chro. 8.18. Psal. 139.7, 8. Gen. 17.1. 1 Tim. 6.15, 16. Ex. 3.14, 15 Mat. 28.19 1 joh. 5.7. Gen. 1.1. He: 11.3. Act. 17.28. Pro. 16.4. WE confess and acknawledge ane only GOD, to whom only we must cleave, whom only we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom only we must put our trust. Who is Eternal, Infinite, Unmeasurable, Incomprehensible, Omnipotent, Invisible, ane in substance, and yet distinct in three personnis, the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost. Be whom we confess and believe all thing is in heaven and earth, aswel Visible as Invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided be his inscrutable Providence, to sick end, as his Eternal Wisdom, Goodness, and justice hes apppointed them, to the manifestatioun of his awin glory. 2. Of the creation of man. WE confess and acknawledge, this our GOD to have created man, Gen. 1.26, 27, 28, etc. Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24. Gen. 3.6. Gen. 2.17. to wit, our first father Adam, to his awin Image and similitude, to whom he gave wisdom, Lordship, justice, Freewill, and cleir knowledge of himself, sa that in the hail nature of man, there could be noted no imperfectioun. Fra quhilk honour and perfection, man and woman did both fall: the woman being deceived be the Serpent, and man obeying the voice of the woman, both conspiring against the Sovereign Majesty of GOD, who in expressed words had before threatened death, give they presumed to eat of the forbidden tree. 3. Of Original sin. BE quhilk transgression, commonly called Original sin, Psal. 51.7. Rom. 5.10. Rom. 7.5. 2 Tit. 2.26. Ep. 2.1, 2, 3 Rom. 5.14 21. Rom. 6, 23 wes the Image of GOD utterly defaced in man, and he and his posterity of nature become Enemies to GOD, slaves to Satan, and servandis unto sin. In samekle that death everlasting hes had, and shall have power and dominian, over all that have not been, are not, or sal not be regenerated from above, quhilk regeneration is wrought be the power of the holy Ghost, working in the hearts of the elect of God, john 3.5. Rom. 5.1. Phil. 1.29. ane assured faith in the promise of God, reveiled to us in his word, be quhilk Faith we apprehend Christ jesus, with the graces and benefits promised in him. 4 Of the Revelatioun of the promise. FOR this we constantly believe, that God, after the fearful and horrible defectioun of man fra his obedience, did seek Adam again, call upon him, Gen. 3.9. Gen. 3.15. Gen. 12.3. Gen 15.5.6 2 Sam. 7.14. Esay 7.14. Esay 9.6. Hag. 2.6. ●oh. 8.56. rebuke his sin, convict him of the same, and in the end made unto him ane most joyful promise, to wit, that the seed of the woman suld break down the Serpent's head, that is, he suld destroy the works of the devil. Quhilk promise, as it was repeated, and made mair clear from time to time: so was it embraced with joy, and mayst constantly received of all the faithful, from Adam to No, from No to Abraham, from Abraham to David, and so forth to the incarnation of Christ jesus, all (we mean the faithful Fathers under the Law) did see the joyful day of Christ jesus, and did rejoice. 5 The continuance, increase and preservatioun of the Kirk. Ezech. 6.6 8.9, etc. Gen. 12.1. Gen. 13.1. Exod. 1.1. Exod. 1.20 Iosh. 1.3. & 23.4. 1 Sa. 10.1. 1 Sa. 16.13 2 Sa. 7.12. 2 King. 17 13 2 King. 17 15 16, etc. 2 King. 24 3, 4 etc. Deut. 28.36.48 2 King. 25 1, etc. Dan: 9: 2: Ezr 1: &c: Hag: 1: 14: Zach: 3: 1: WE mayst constantly believe, that God preserved, instructed, multiplied, honoured, decored, and from death called to life, his Kirk in all ages fra Adam, till the coming of Christ jesus in the flesh. For Abraham he called from his Father's country, him he instructed, his seed he multiplied, the same he marveilouslie preserved, and mair marveilouslie delivered, from the bondage and tyranny of Pharaoh, to them 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 suld anesit for ever upon his Regal seat. To this same people from time to time he sent Prophets, to reduce them to the right way of their God: from the quhilk oftentimes they declined, be Idolatry. And albeit that for their stubborn contempt of justice, he was compelled to give them in the hands of their enemies, as befoir was threatened be the mouth of Moses, in sa meikle that the holy City was destroyed, the Temple burnt with fire, and the hail Land left desolate the space of lxx ȝears: Ȝit of mercy did he reduce them again to jerusalem, where the City and Temple were re-edified, and they against all temptations and assaults of Satan did abide, till the Messiah come, according to the promise. 6 Of the Incarnation of Christ jesus. QUHEN the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, his eternal Wisdom, the substance of his awin glory in this world, quha took the nature of man-head of the substance of woman, Gal: 4: 4: Luk: 1: 31: Mat: 1: 18. Mat: 2: 1: Rom. 1: 3: Mat: 1: 23: Ioh: 1: 1. 4, 5: 1 Tim: 2: 5: to wit, of a Virgin, and that be operation of the holy Ghost: And so was born the just seed of David, the Angel of the great counsel of God, the very Messiah promised, whom we confess and acknawledge Emmanuel, very God and very man, two perfect natures united, and joined in one person. Be quhilk our confession we condemn the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arrius, Martion, Eutyches, Nestorius, and sick vthers, as either did deny the eternity of his godhead or the verity of his humane nature, or confounded them, or ȝet divided them. 7. Why it behoved the Mediator to be very God and very man. WE acknawledge and confess, Eph: 1: 3, 4, 5, 6: that this mayst wondrous conjunction betwixt the Godhead and the man-head in Christ Jesus, did proceed from the eternal and immutable decree of God, from quhilk all our Salvation springs and depends. 8. Electioun. FOr that same eternal God and Father, Eph: 1: 11: Mat: 25: 34 Eph: 1: 21, 2●: Heb: 2.7, 8: psal: 22: 11: Heb: 13: 20: 1 pet: 2: 24: psal: 130: 3: psal: 143: 3: 1 Tim: 2: 5: Joh: 1: 12: Joh: 20: 17 Rom: 5: 17, 18, 19: Rom: 8: 15: Gal: 4: 5, 6: Act: 17: 26: Heb: 2: 11, 12: 1 pet: 3: 18: Esay 53: 8: Act: 2: 24: 1 Joh: 1.2: Act: 20: 28: 1 Tim: 3: 16 Joh. 3: 16: who of mere grace elected us in Christ Jesus his son, before the foundation of the world was laid; appointed him to be our head, our brother, our pastor, and great Bishop of our sauls. But because that the enmity betwixt the justice of God & our sins was sick, that na flesh be itself could, or might have attained unto God, It behoved that the Son of God suld descend unto us, and taken himself a body of our body, flesh of our flesh; and bone of our bones; and so become the Mediator betwixt God and man, giving power to so many as believe in him to be the sons of God, as himself dois witness. I pass up to my father, and unto your father; to my God, and unto your God. Be quhilk mayst holy fraternity, quhatsaever we have tint in Adam, is restored unto us again. And for this cause, are we not afraid to call God our father, not sa meikle because he hes created us (quhilk we have common with the reprobate) as for that, that he hes given to us his only son, to be our brother, & given unto us grace, to acknawledge & embrace him for our only Mediator as before is said. It behoved farther the Messiah and Redemer to be very God, & very man; because he wes to underlie the punishment due for our transgressiouns; & to present himself in the presence of his father's judgement, as in our person, to suffer for our transgression & inobedience, be death to overcome him that wes author of death. Bot because the only godhead could not suffer death, neither ȝit could the only man-head overcome the samin, he joined both together in one person, that the imbecility of the ane, suld suffer & be subject to death, (quhilk we had deserved) and the infinite & invincible power of the uther, to wit, of the Godhead; suld triumph and purchase to us life, liberty and perpetual victory: and so we confess, and mayst undoubtedly believe. 9 Christ's Death, passion and Burial. Heb: 10: 1, &c: 12: Esay 53: 5: Heb: 12: 3: Joh: 1: 29: Mat: 26: 11 Deu: 21: 33: Mar: 15: 1, 2 Gal: 3: 13 Luk: 23: 1, 2: Mat: 26: 38: 2 Cor: 5. Heb: 9: 12: Heb: 10: 5: THat our Lord Jesus offered himself a voluntary sacrifice unto his father for us, that he suffered contradiction of sinners, that he was wounded & plagued for our transgressions, that he being the clean innocent lamb of God, was damned in the presence of ane earthly Judge, that we suld be absolved befoir the tribunal seat of our God. That he suffered not only the cruel death of the cross (quhilk was accursed be the sentence of God) but also that he suffered for a season the wrath of his father, quhilk sinners had deserved. Bot ȝit we avow that he remained the only well beloved & blessed son of his father, even in the midst of his anguish and torment, quhilk he suffered in body and saul, to make the full satisfaction for the sins of the people. After the quhilk we confess and avow, that there remains na other sacrifice for sin, quhilk give affirm, we nathing doubt to avow, that they are blasphemous against Christ's death, and the everlasting purgatioun and satisfaction, purchased to us by the same. 10. resurrection. Act: 2: 23 Act: 3: 26 Rom: 6: 5, 9 Act: 2: 24: Rom: 4: 25: Heb 2: 14, 15 Mat: 28: 4: Ma: 27: 25, 53: Mat: 28: 5: Joh: 20: 27, & 21: 7: Luke 24: 41, 42, 43: Jos. 21: 12, 13: We undoubtedly believe, that in samekle as it wes impossible, that the dolours of death suld retain in bondage the author of life, that our Lord Jesus crucified, dead & buried, quha descended into hell, did rise again for justificatioun, and destroying of him quha was the author of death, brought life again to us, that were subject to death, and to the bondage of the same. We knaw that his resurrection, wes confirmed be the testimony of his very enemies, be the resurrection of the dead, quhais Sepultures did open, and they did rise, and appeared to money, within the City of Jerusalem. It wes also confirmed be the testimony of his angels, and be the senses & judgements of his Apostles, and of vthers, quha had conversatioun, and did eat and drink with him after his resurrection. 11. Ascension. Luke 24: 51 Act: 1: 9: Mat: 28: 6: Mat: 16: 5: Luke 24: 6 Joh: 20: 9: Mat: 28.18 1 Joh: 2: 1: 1 Tim: 2: 3: Psal: ●10: 1 Mat: 22.44 Mar: 12: 36 Luke: 20, 42, 43: Act: 1: 1: Act: 3: 19: 2 Thes: 1: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Mat: 25: 34 Rev: 21: 27 Esay 66: 24 Mat: 25: 41: Mar: 9 44, 46, 48: Mat: 22: 13 2 pet: 3: 11: ● Cor: 5: 11 Luke 21: 28 Joh: 5: &c Esay 7: 14. Eph: 1.22: Col: 1: 18: Heb: 9: 11, 15: Heb: 10: 21 1 Joh: 2: 1: 1 Tim: 2: 5: WE nathing doubt, but the self same body, quhilk was born of the Virgin, was crucified, dead, and buried, & quhilk did rise again, did ascend into the heavens, for the accomplishment of all things: quhere in our names, and for our comfort, he hes received all power in heaven & earth, quhere he sits at the right hand of the father inaugurate in his Kingdom, Advocate & only Mediator for us. Quhilk glory, honour, & prerogative, he alone among the brethren sal possess, till that all his enemies be made his futestule, as that we undoubtedly believe, they fall be in the final judgement: To the execution whereof we certainly believe, that the same our Lord Jesus shall visibly return, as that he wes seen to ascend. And then we firmly believe, that the time of refreshing and restitutioun of all things shall come, in sa mickle that their, that fra the beginning have suffered violence, injury, & wrong, for righteousness sake, shall inherit that blessed immortality promised fra the beginning. Bot contrariwise the stubborn, inobedient, cruel oppressors, filthy personis, idolaters, & all such sorts of unfaithful, shall be cast in the dungeoun of utter darkness, where the worm shall not die, neither ȝit their fire shall be extinguished. The remembrance of quhilk day, & of the judgement to be executed in the same, is not only to us ane bridle, quhereby our carnal lusts are refrained, bot alswa sick inestimable comfort, that nether may the threatening of worldly Princes, nether ȝit the fear of temporal death & present danger, move us to renunce and forsake that blessed society, quhilk we the members have with our head & only Mediator Christ Jesus, whom we confess and avow to be the Messiah promised, the only head of his Kirk, our just Lawgiver, our only high Priest, Advocate, & Mediator. In quhilk honour's and offices, give man or angel presume to intruse themselves, we utterly detest and abhor them, as blasphemous to our Sovereign and supreme Governor Christ Jesus. 12 Faith in the holy Ghost. THIS our Faith, and the assurance of the same, proceeds not fra flesh and blood, that is to say, fra na natural powers within us, Mat. 16.17 joh. 14 26 joh. 15.26. joh. 14.11. Act. 5 4. joh 16.113 Col. 2.13 Ephes 2.1 joh 9.39. Revel. 3.17 Mat. 17.17 Mat. 9.19. Luk. 9.41 joh. 6. 6● Mic. 7. ● 1 King ● 58 Psa. 100 3 Rom. 5.10 joh. 3.5 Titus 3 5 Rom. 5 8 Phil. 3 9 Phillip 1.6 2 Cor. 3.5 Eph. 1.6 bot is the inspiration of the holy Ghost: whom we confess GOD equal with the Father, and with his Son, quha sanctify is us, and brings us in all verity be his awin operation, without whom we sulde remain for ever enemies to GOD, and ignorant of his Son Christ jesus. For of nature we are so dead, so blind, and so perverse, that nether can we feil when we are pricked, see the licht when it shines, nor assent to the will of God when it is reueiled, unless the Spirit of the Lord jesus quicken that quhilk is dead, remove the darkness from our minds, and bow our stubborn hearts to the obedience of his blessed will. And so as we confess, that God the Father created us, when we were not: as his Son our LORD JESUS redeemed us, when we were enemies to him: so also do we confess that the holy Ghost doth sanctify and regenerate us, without all respect of merit proceeding from us: be it before, or be it after our regeneration. To speak this ane thing ȝit in mair plain words: As we willingly spoil ourselves of all honour, and gloir of our a win creation, and redemption: so do we also of our Regeneration & Sanctification for of ourselves we are not sufficient to think one good, thocht, bot he quha hes begun the wark in us, is only he that continewis us in the same, to the praise and glory of his undeserved grace. 14 The cause of good works. SA that the cause of good warks, we confess to be not our free will, Eph. 2.10 Phil. 2.13 john 15.5 Rom. 8.9 bot the Spirit of the LORD JESUS, who dwelling in our hearts be true faith, bringis forth sick works, as God has prepared for us to walk in. For this we mayst boldly affirm, that blasphemy it is to say, that Christ abides in the hearts of sick, as in whom there is no Spirit of sanctification. And therefore we feir not to affirm, that murderers, oppressers, cruel persecuters, adulterers, huremongers, filthy persouns, Idolaters, drunkards, thiefs, and all workers of iniquity, have nether true faith, nether portion of the Spirit of the LORD JESUS: so long as obstinately they continue in their wickedness. For how soon that ever the Spirit of the Lord jesus (quhilk Gods elect children receive be true faith) takes possession in the heart of man, so soon dois he regenerate & renew the same man. So that he begins to hait that quhilk before he loved, & gins to love that quhilk befoir he hated, & fra thine cummis that continual battle, Rom. 7.15 16, 17, etc. Gal. 5.17 quhilk is betwixt the flesh and the Spirit in God's Children: till the flesh and natural man, according to the awin corruption, lusts for things pleisand and delectable unto the self, and grudges in adversity, is lifted up in prosperity, and at every moment is prone & ready to offend the majesty of God. Bot the spirit of God, Rom. 8.16 Rom. 7.24 Rom. 8.22 Rom. 6.12 Eph. 4.17 18, 19 quhilk gives witnessing to our Spirit, that we are the Sons of God, makis us to resist filthy pleasures, and to groan in God's presence, for deliverance fra this bondage of corruption: And finally to triumph over sin, that it reign not in our mortal body is. This battle hes not the carnal men, being destitute of God's Spirit, but dois follow and obey sin with greediness, and without repentance, even as the Devil, and their corrupt lusts do prick them. Bot the sons of God, 2 Tim. 2.26. as before wes said, dois fetched against sin, dois sob and murne, when they perceive themselves tempted in iniquity: & give they fall, they rise again with earnest and unfeigned repentance, and their thingis they do not be their awin power, joh. 15.5. bot be the power of the Lord JESUS, without whom they were able to do nothing. 15 What works are reputed good befoir God. Exod. 20.3. etc. Deut. 4.7. etc. WE confess and acknawledge, that God hes given to man his holy Law, in quhilk not only are forbidden all sick works as displeiss and offend his godly Majesty, but alswa are commanded all sick as pleis him, and as he hes promised to reward. And their warks be of twa sorts. The ane are done to the honour of God, the uther to the profit of our Nichtbouris: and both have the revealed will of God for their assurance. To have ane God, to worship and honour him, to call upon him in all our troubles, reverence his holy name, Luk. 2.75. Mic. 6.11. to hear his word, to believe the same, to communicate with his holy Sacraments are the works of the first Tabill. To honour Father, Mother, Princes, Eph. 6.1.7 Ezech. 22.1. etc. 1 Cor. 6.19. 20. 1 Thes. 4.4, 5, 6. jere. 22.3, 9, etc. Esay 50.1, etc. 1 Thes. 4.6. Rulers, and superior powers: to love them, to support them, ȝea to obey their charges (not repugning to the commandment of God) to save the lives of Innocents', to repress tyranny, to defend the oppressed, to keep our bodies clean and holy, to live in soberness and temperance, to deal justly with all men both in word and deed: and finally, to repress all appetite of our Nichtbouris hurt, are the good works of the second Tabill, quhilk are mayst pleising and acceptabill unto God, as their works that are commanded be himself. The contrary quhairof, is sin mayst odious, quhilk always displeisis him, and provokes him to anger. As not to call upon him alone, when we have need, nor to hear his word with reverence, to contemn and despise it, to have or worship Idols, to maintain and defend Idolatry, lightly to esteem the reverend name of God, to profane, abuse or contemn the Sacraments of Christ jesus, to disobey or resist that God hes placed in Authority (quhill they pass not over the bounds of their office) to murder, Rom. 13.2. Ezech. 22.13, etc. or to consent thereto, to bear hatred, or to let Innocent blood be sched, give we may withstand it. And finally, the transgression of uther commandment in the first or second Tabill: 1 joh. 3.4. we confess and affirm to be sin, by the quhilk God's anger and displeisure is kindled against the proud unthankful world. Rom. 14.23. Heb. 11.6. 1 Sam. 15.22. 1 Cor. 10.31. 1 joh. 3.4. Esay 29.13 Mat. 15.9. Mark 7.7. So that good works we affirm to be their only, that are done in saith, and at God's commandment, quha in his Law hes expressed what the thingis be that pleis him. And evil warkis we affirm not only their that expressedly are done against God's commandment: bot their alswa that in matteris of Religioun, and worschipping of God, hes na uther assurance but the inventioun and opinion of man: quhilk God fra the beginning hes ever rejected, as be the Prophet Esay, and be our Master CHRIST JESUS we are taught in their words, In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the precepts of men. 16. The perfection of the Law, and the imperfectioun of Man. THe Law of God we confess and acknawledge mayst just, mayst equal, mayst holy, and mayst perfect commanding their thingis, Levit. 1● Gal. 3. ● 1 Tim. 1. ● Rom. 7. ● Psal. 19. ● 8, 9, &c Deut. 5. Rom. 10▪ 1 Kin. 8. ● 2 Chr. 6. ● Eccl. 7. ● Prov. 2● 1 Joh. 1● Rom. 1● Gal. 3. ● Deu. 27. ● Phil. 2. ● Esay 64▪ Luck. 17 quhilk being wrought in perfection, were abill to give life; and abill to bring man to eternal felicity. Bot our nature is sa corrupt, sa weak, and sa unperfite, that we are never abill to fulfil the works of the Law in perfection. Ȝea, give we say we have na sin, evin after we are regenerated, we deceive ourselves, & the verity of God is not in us. And therefore, it behooviss us to apprehend Christ Jesus with his justice and satisfaction, quha is the end and accomplishment of the Law, bequhome we are set at this liberty, that the curse and malediction of God fall not upon us, albeit we fulfil not the same in all points. For God the Father beholding us, in the body of his son Christ Jesus, acceptis our imperfect obedience, as it were perfect, and covers our warks, quhilk are defiled with money spots, with the justice of his Sun. We do not mean that we are so set at liberty, that we awe na obedience to the Law (for that before we have plainly confessed) bot this we affirm, that na man in earth (Christ Jesus only except) hes given, giveth, or shall give in work, that obedience to the Law, quhilk the Law requiris. Bot when we have done all things, we must fall down & unfeignedly confess, that we are unprofitable seruands. And therefore, quhosoever boastis themselves of the merits of their awin warks, or put their trust in the warks of supererogation; boast themselves in that, quhilk is notched, and put their trust in damnable Idolatry. 17. Of the Kirk. AS we believe in ane God, father, son, and holy Ghaist: sa do we mayst constantly believe, that from the beginning there hes been, & now is, Mat: 28 & to the end of the world shall be, ane Kirk, that is to say, Eph: ● Col: 1● Eph: 5● 24, 25, ● ane company & multitude of men chosen of God, who richtly worship and embrace him, be true faith in Christ Jesus, quha is the only head of the same Kirk, quhilk alswa is the body & spouse of Christ Jesus, quhilk Kirk is Catholic, that is universal, because it conteinis the Elect of all ages, of all Realms, Nations, and tongues, be they of the Jews, Apoc: ● or be they of the Gentiles, quha have communion and society with God the father, and with his son Christ Jesus, throw the sanctifitatioun of his holy Spirit, and therefore is it called the communion, not of profane persounes, bot of sancts, quha as Citizenis of the heavenly Jerusalem, have the fruition of the Mayst inestimable benefits, to wit, of ane God, Eph: 2: ● ane Lord jesus, ane Faith, and ane Baptism: out of the quhilk Kirk, there is nouther life, nor eternal felicity. And therefore we utterly abhor the blasphemy of them that affirm, that men quhilk live according to equity and justice, shall be saved, quhat religioun that ever they have professed. For as without Christ Jesus, there is nouther life nor salvation: Eph. 4 john 5: john ● so shall there nane be participant thereof, bot sick as the Father hes given unto his son Christ Jesus, and they that in time cum unto him, avow his Doctrine and believe into him (we comprehend the Children with the faithful Parents) this Kirk is invisible, knawn only to God, quha alane knawis whom he hes chosen, Tim. 2.19 ●hn 13.14 ●ph. 1.10 ●●l. 1.10 ●●b. 12.4 and comprehends aswell (as said is) the Elect that be departed, commonly called the Kirk Triumphant, and they that ȝit live and fetched against sin and sathan, as shall live hereafter. 18. The immortality of the Saules. ●●o. 14.13 ●●y 25.8. 〈◊〉. 7.16 17 ●o. 21.4 〈◊〉. 16.10, 11 ●ay 66.24 ●●rk. 9.44, 〈◊〉, 48. ●●k. 23.43 ●●k. 16. 〈◊〉, 25. 〈◊〉. 6.9, 10. THE Elect departed are in peace and rest fra their labours: not that they sleep, and come to a certain oblivion as some Phantastickes do affirm: but that they are delivered fra all fear and torment, and all temptation, to quhilk we and all God his elect are subject in this life, and therefore do bear the name of the Kirk Militant: As contrariwise, the reprobate & unfaithful departed have anguish, torment, and pain, that cannot be expressed: sa that neither are the ane nor the uther in sick sleep, that they feel not their torment, as the parable of Christ Jesus in the 16. of Luke, his words to the thief and their words of the sauls crying under the altar: O Lord, thou that art righteous and just, how long shall thou not revenge our blood upon their that dwelliss in the earth; dois declair. 19 Of the notes, be the quhilk the true Kirk is dicerned, fra the false, and quha shall be judge of the doctrine. BECAUSE that sathan from the beginning, hes laboured to deck his pestilent synagoge with the title of the Kirk of GOD, and hes inflamed the hearts of cruel murderers, to persecute, trouble, and molest, the true Kirk and Members thereof, ●●n. 4.8. ●●n. 21.9 ●●n. 27.41 ●●t. 23.34 〈◊〉 5.18, 19 〈◊〉 1.35 〈◊〉. ●. 20, ● as Cain did Abel, Ishmael, Isaac, Esau, Jacob, & the hail priesthead of the Jews, Christ Jesus himself, and his apostles after him. It is ane thing mayst requisite, that the true Kirk be discerned fra the filthy synagogues, be clear and perfect notes, lest we being deceived, receive and embrace to our awin condemnatioun, the ane for the uther. The notes, signs, 〈◊〉. 4. etc. 〈◊〉. 5.17, and assured takens, whereby the immaculate spouse of Christ jesus is knawen fra the horrible harlot, the Kirk malignant: we affirm are neither antiquity, ●●n. 4.1 〈◊〉. 48.1, 2 ●●t. 5.35 〈◊〉. 12.42 ●●h. 2.20 ●. 2.42 ●●h. 10.27 ●●h. 18.37 ●●r. 1.13 Cor. 11.23 ●●t. 28.20 ●●t. 16.15 ●●m. 4.11 〈◊〉 18.15, 17 ●or. 5.5▪ ●●t: 18: 20 Title usurped, lineal descence, place appointed, nor multitude of men approving ane error: for Cain in age and title was preferred to Abel and Seth: jerusalem had prerogative above all places of the earth, where also were the Priests lineally descended fra Aaron; and greater number followed the Scribes, pharisees, and Priests, then unfeignedly believed and approved Christ jesus and his doctrine: and ȝit as we suppose, no man of sound judgement, will grant that of the forenamed, were the Kirk of God. The notes therefore of the true Kirk of God, we believe, confess and avow to be, first the true preaching of the word of God, into the quhilk God hes revealed himself unto us, as the writings of the Prophets and Apostles dois declair. Secondly, the right administration of the Sacraments of Christ jesus, quhilk mon be annexed unto the word and promise of God, to seal and confirm the same in our hearts. Last, Ecclesiastical discipline uprightly Ministered, as God his word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed, and virtue nourished; wheresoever then their former notes are seen, and of time continue (be the number never so few about two or three) there without all doubt is the true Kirk of Christ, who according unto his promise, is in the midst of them. Not that universal, of quhilk we have before spoken, but particular, 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1. Gal. 1.2. Eph. 1.1. Act. 16.9, 10. & 18. 1, etc. 1 Cor. 1, etc. Act. 20.17 etc. joh. 20.31 2 Tim. 3.16, 17. 2 Pet. 1.20 21 sick as wes in Corinthus, Galatia, Ephesus, and other places, in quhilk the Ministry wes planted be Paul, and were of himself named the kirks of God: and sick kirks, we the inhabitantis of the Realm of SCOTLAND, professoris of Christ jesus, professis ourselves to have in our Cities, towns, and places reform, for the doctrine taucht in our Kirk is, contained in the written word of God, to wit, in the buiks of the old, and new Testamentis, in those books we mean, quhilk of the ancient have been reputed canonical. In the quhilk we affirm, that all thingis necessary to be believed, for the salvation of mankind, is sufficiently expressed. The interpretation quhairof, we confess, neither appertains to private, nor public person, neither ȝit to Kirk, for pre-eminence, or prerogative personally or locally, quhilk ane hes above ane uther, but apperteines to the Spirit of God, be the quhilk also the Scripture was written. When controversy then happiness, for the right understanding of place or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of abuse within the Kirk of God, joh. 5.29. we ought not sa meikle to luke what men before us have said or done, as unto that quhilk the holy Ghaist uniformly speaks, within the body of the Scriptures, and unto that quhilk Christ jesus himself did, and commanded to be done. For this is ane thing universallie granted, that the Spirit of God, quhilk is the Spirit of Unity, is in nathing contrarious unto himself. Give then the interpretation, determination, Ephes. 4.4 or sentence of Doctor, Kirk, or Council, repugn to the plain word of God written in uther place of the Scripture, it is a thing mayst certaine, that there is not the true understanding and meaning of the holy Ghaist, although that Counsels, Realms, and Nations have approved and received the same. For we dare not receive nor admit interpretation, quhilk repugns to principal point of our Faith, or to uther plain text of Scripture, or ȝit unto the rule of charity. 20 The authority of the Scriptures. AS we believe and confess the Scriptures of God sufficient to instruct, 1 Tim. 3.16, 17. and make the man of God perfect: so do we affirm, and avow the authority of the same, to be of God, and nether to depend on men, nor angels. We affirm therefore, that sick as allege the Scripture, to have na uther authority, bot that quhilk it hes received from the church, to be blasphemous against God, and injurious to the true Kirk, Ioh: 10.27 quhilk always hears and obeyiss the voice of her awin spouse and Pastor, but takes not upon her to be Mistress over the samin. 21 Of general Counsels, of their Power, Authority, and cause of their Convention. AS we do not rashly damn that quhilk godly men assembled together in general Council lawfully gathered, have proponed unto us, so without just examination, dare we not receive quhatsoever is obtruded unto men under the name of general counsels: for plain it is, as they were men, Gal. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. so have some of them manifestly erred, and that in matters of great weight and importance. So fare then, as the council previs the determination and commandment that it gives, be the plain word of God: so soon do we reverence and embrace the same. 1 Tim. 4: 1, 2, 3: But give men under the name of a Council, pretend to forge unto us, new Articles of our faith, or to make constitutionis repugning to the word of God: then utterly we must refuse the same, as the doctrine of Devils, quhilk drawis our saul's from the voice of our only God, Co: 2: 18, 19 20, 21, 22, 23: to follow the doctrines and constitutiones of men: The cause then quhy that general Councellis convened, was nether to make perpetual law, quhilk God before had not maid, nether ȝit to forge new Articles of our belief, nor to give the word of God Authority, meikle les to make that to be his Word, or ȝit the true interpretation of the same, quhilk wes not before, be his holy will, expressed in his word: but the cause of Councellis (we mean of sick as merit the name of Councellis) wes pairtlie for confutation of heresies, Act: 15: 1, etc. and for giving public confession of their faith, to the posterity following, quhilk baith they did the by authority of Gods written word, and not by opinion or prerogative, that they could not err, be reasson of their General assembly: And this we judge to have been the chief cause of general Councellis. The uther wes for good policy & order, to be constitute & observed in the Kirk, 1 Tim: 3: 15, Heb: 3: 2: 1 Cor: 14: 40 quhilk (as in the house of God) it becummis all things to be done decently and in order. Not that we think, that any policy, and an order in ceremonies, can be apppointed for all ages, times and places: for as ceremonies, sick as men have devised, are bot temporal: so may and aucht they to be changed, when they rather foster superstition then that they edify the Kirk, using the same. 22. Of the Sacraments. Gen: 17: 10: Exod: 12: 3 &c: Gen: 17.4: Nom: 9: 13: Mat: 28: 19: Mar: 16: 17: Mat: 26: 26: Mar: 14: 22 Luk: 22: 19: 1 Cor: 11: 24: 1 Cor: 10: 16: AS the fathers under the law, besides the verity of the Sacrifices, had twa chief Sacraments, to wit Circumcision & the Passeover, the despisers and contemners whereof, were not reputed of God's people: sa do we acknawledge and confess that we now in the time of the evangell have twa chief Sacramentses, only instituted be the Lord Jesus, and commanded to be used of all they, that will be reputed members of his body: To wit, Baptism, and the supper or Table of the Lord Jesus, called the Communion of his body and blood. And their Sacraments asweel of old, as of New Testament, now instituted of God, not only to make an visible difference, betwixt his people, and they that wes without his league: but also to exerce the faith of his children, and be participation of the same Sacraments, to seil in their hearts the assurance of his promise, and of that most blessed conjunction, union and society, quhilk the elect have with their head Christ jesus. And this we utterly damn, Rom: 6: 3, 4, 5: Gal: 3: 27: the vanity of they, that affirm Sacraments, to be na thing else bot naked and baire signs. No, we assuredly believe, that be Baptism, we are engrafted in Christ jesus, to be made partakers of his justice, be quhilk our sins are covered and remitted. And alswa, that in the Supper richtlie used, CHRIST JESUS is so joined with us, that he becommis very nourishment and fude of our saul's. Not that we imagine any transubstantiation of Bread into Christ's body, and of Wine into his Natural blood, as the Papists have perniciously taucht, and damnable believed: bot this unioun and conjunction, quhilk we have with the body & blood of Christ jesus in the riched use of the Sacraments, wrought be operation of the holy Ghaist, who by true faith caryis us above all things that are visible, carnal, and earthly, and makes us to feed upon the body and blood of Christ jesus, quhilk wes anes broken and shed for us, quhilk now is in heaven, Mar: 16: 19: Luk: 24: 51: Act: 1: 11: Act. 3: 21: 1 Cor: 10: and appearis in the presence of his Father for us: And ȝit notwithstanding the far distance of place, quhilk is betwixt his body, now glorified in heaven, and us now mortal in this earth: ȝit we man assuredly believe, that the bread quhilk we break, is the communion of Christ's body, and the cupe quhilk we bless, is the communion of his blood. So that we confess, and undoubtedlie believe, that the faithful in the riched use of the Lords Table, do so eat the body and drink the blood of the Lord jesus, that he remains in them, and they in him. Ȝea, they are so maid flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bones, that as the eternal Godhead hes given to the flesh of Christ jesus (quhilk of the awin condition of nature wes mortal and corruptible) life and immortality: so dois Christ jesus his flesh and blood eattin and drunkin be us, Eph. 5: 30: Mat: 2: 50: Mar. 15: 37: Luk 23.46 Ioh: 19: 30: Ioh: 6: 51, ● 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58: give unto us the same prerogatives. Quhilk albeit we confess, are neither given unto us at that time only, nether ȝit be the proper power and virtue of the Sacrament only: ȝit we affirm that the faithful, in the riched use of the Lords Table, hes conjunction with Christ jesus: as the natural man can not apprehend: ȝea, and farther we affirm, that albeit the faithful oppressed be negligence, and namely infirmity, dois not profit sa meikle, as they walled, in the very instant action of the Supper: ȝit shall it after bring fruit forth, as lively said sawin in good ground. For the holy Spirit, quhilk can never be divided fra the riched institutioun of the Lord jesus, will not frustrate the faithful of the fruit of that mystical action, bot all their we say cummis of true faith, qohilk apprehenkis Christ jesus; who only makis this Sacrament effectual unto us. And therefore whosoever slanders us, as that we affirm or belevis Sacraments to be naked and bair Signs, do injury unto us, and speaks against the manifest truth. But this liberally and frankly we confess, that we make ane distinction betwixt Christ jesus in his eternal substance, and betwixt the Elements of the Sacramental Signs. So that we will neither worship the Signs, in place of that quhilk is signified be them, 1 Cor: 11: 28, 29: nether ȝit do we despise & interpret them, as unprofitable and vain, bot do use them with all reverence, examining ourselves diligently, before that so we do. Because we are assured be the mouth of the Apostle, that sick as eat of that bread, and drink of that cupe unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of Christ jesus. 23 Of the riched administration of the Sacraments. THAT Sacraments be richtlie ministrat, we judge twa things requisite: The ane, that they be ministrat be lawful Ministers, whom we affirm to be only they, that are apppointed to the preaching of the word, into quhai● mouths God hes put sum Sermon of exhortation, they being men lawfully chosen thereto be sum Kirk. The uther, that they ministrat in sick elements, and in sick sort, as God hes appointed, else we affirm that they cease to be the riched Sacraments of Christ jesus. And therefore it is, that we fly the doctrine of the Papistical Kirk, in participation of their sacraments: first, because their Ministers are na Ministers of Christ jesus, ȝea (quhilk is mair horrible) they suffer women, whom the holy Ghaist will not suffer to teach in the congregation, to Baptise: and secondly, because they have so adulterated both the one Sacrament and the uther, with their awin inventiouns, that no part of Christ's action abides in the original purity. For Oil, Salt, Spittill, and sick like in Baptism, are bot men's inventiouns. Adoration, Veneration bearing throw streitis and towns, & keiping of bread in boxes or buistes, are prophanatioun of Christ's Sacraments, Mat. 26.26 etc. Mar. 14.22 etc. Luk. 22.19 etc. 1 Cor. 11.24. and na use of the same. For Christ jesus said, Take, eat, etc. do ye this in remembrance of me. Be quhilk word & charge, he sanctified bread and wine, to the Sacrament of his holy body and blood, to the end, that the ane suld be eaten, and that all suld drink of the uther, and not that they suld be keiped to be worshipped & honoured, as God, as the Papists have done heirtofore. Who also committed Sacrilege, steilling from the people the ane part of the Sacrament, to wit, the blessed cupe. Moreover, that the Sacraments be richtly used, it is required, that the end & cause, why the Sacramentis were institute, be understand and observed, asweil of the minister, as of the receiveris. For give the opinion be changed in the receiver, the riched use ceassis, quhilk is mayst evident, be the rejection of the sacrifice, as also give the teacher plainly teach falls doctrine, quhilk were odious and abominable before God (albeit they were his awin ordinance) because that wicked men use them to an uther end, than God hes ordaned. The same affirm we of the Sacraments in the Papistical Kirk: in quhilk we affirm the hail action of the Lord jesus to be adulterated, aswell in the external form, as in the end and opinion. Quhat Christ jesus did, and commanded to be done, is evident, be the Evangelistes, and be Saint Paul: quhat the Priest dois at his altar, we neid not to rehearse. The end & cause of Christ's institution, and why the self same suld be used, is expressed in their words, Do ye this in remembrance of me, als oft as ye shall eat of this bread, & drink of this Cupe, Cor. 11. ●, 26. ye shall shaw forth, that is, extol, preach, magnify, and praise the Lords death, till he cum. Bot to what end, & in what opinion the priests say their Mess, let the word of the same, their awin doctouris and write witness. To wit, that they, as Mediatores betwixt Christ, and his Kirk, do offer unto God the Father, a Sacrifice propitiatory, for the sins of the quick and the dead. ●●b. 9.27, ●. Quhilk doctrine, as blasphemous to Christ jesus, & making derogation to the sufficiency of his only Sacrifice, once offered for purgatioun of all they that shall be sanctified, we utterly abhor, detest and renounce. 24 To whom Sacraments appertain. 〈◊〉 2.11, WE Confess and acknawledge, that Baptism apperteinis asweil to the infants of the faithful, as unto them that be of age & discretion, and so we damn the error of the Annabaptists, ●n. 4.11 ●. 17.10 ● 28.19 who denies Baptism to appertain to Children, before that they have faith and understanding: bot the Supper of the Lord, we confess to appertain to sick only, as be of the houshold of Faith, and can try and examine themselves, aswell in their faith, as in their duty towards their Nichtbouris. 1 Cor. 28.29. sick as eat and drink at that holy Table without faith, or being at dissension and division with their brethren, do eat unworthily: And therefore it is that in our Kirk, our Ministers taken public & particular examination, of the knowledge and conversation of sick, as are to be admitted to the Table of the Lord jesus. 25 Of the Magistrate. WE confess and acknawledge Empire's, Kingdoms, Dominiouns, and Cities, to be distincted and ordained be God: Rom: 13: 1 Titus 3: 1: 1 Pet. 2: 13 the powers and authority in the same, be it of Emperors in their Empyres, of Kings in their Realms, Dukes and Princes in their Dominions, and of other's Magistrates in the Cities, to be Gods holy ordinance, ordained for manifestatioun of his awin glory, and for the singular profit and commodity of mankind: So that whosoever goeth about to take away, or to confound the hail state of policies, now long established: we affirm the same men, Rom: 13: 2 not only to be enemies to mankind, but also wickedly to fetched against God his expressed will. We farther confess and acknawledge, that sick persouns, as are placed in authority, are to be loved, honoured, feared, and halden in most reverend estimatioun; because that they are the Lieu-tennents of God in whose Sessiouns, Rom: 13: 7 1 Pet: 2: 17 Psal: 82: 1: God himself dois sit, and judge; ȝea, even the judges and Princes themselves, to whom be God is given the sword; to the praise and defence of good men, and to revenge and punish all open malefactors. Mairover, to Kings, Princes, Rulers and Magistrates, we affirm that chiefly and most principally the conservatioun and purgation of the Religioun appertains, 1 Chr: 22: 23, 24, 25, 26: chap 2 Chr: 17: 7: 2 Chr: 29: 30: & 31: chapters: 2 Chr: 34: & 35: chap: so that not only they are appointed for Civil policy, bot also for maintenance of the true Religioun, and for suppressing of Idolatry and superstition whatsoever. As in David, josaphat, Ezechias, josias, and vthers highly commended for their zeal in that case, may be espied. And therefore we confess and avow, that sick as resist the supreme power, doing that thing quhilk appertains to his charge, do resist God his ordinance; and therefore cannot be guiltless. And farther we affirm, that whosoever denies unto them aid, their counsel and comfort, quhiles the Princes and Rulers vigilantly travel in execution of their office, that the same men deny their help, support and counsel to God, quha be the presence of his Lieu-tennent, dois crave it of them. 26 The gifts freely given to the Kirk. ALBEIT That the word of God truly preached, and the Sacraments richtlie ministered, and Discipline executed, according to the word of God, be the certain & infallible Signs of the true Kirk, we mean not that every particular person joined with sick company, Mat: 13: 24, 25, 26, &c: be ane Elect member of CHRIST JESUS: For we acknawledge and confess, that Dornell, Cockle, and Caffe, may be sawen, grow, and in great abundance lie in the midst of the Wheit, that is, the Reprobate may be joined in the society of the Elect, and may externally use with them the benefits of the word and Sacraments. Bot sick being bot temporal professors in mouth, bot not in heart, do fall bacl and continue not to the end. And therefore have they na fruit of Christ's death, Mat: 13.20, 21. Rom. 10.9, 13. Resurrection, nor Ascension: but sick as with heart unfeignedly believe, and with mouth bauldely confess the Lord jesus, as before we have said, shall most assuredly receive their gifts. First in this life remission of sins, and that be only faith in Christ's blood. In sa mickle, that albeit sin remain and continually abide, in their our mortal bodies, ȝit it is not imputed unto us, bot is remitted, and covered with Christ's justice. secondly, in the general judgement, Rom: 7: & 2 Cor: 5: 21 Ioh: 5: 28, 29: Ap: 20: 23: job 19: 25, 26.27: Mat: 25: 31 Ap: 14: 10: there shall be given to every man and woman resurrection of the flesh. For the Sea sal give her dead: the Earth they that therein be enclosed, ȝea the Eternal our God shall stretch out his hand on the dust, and the dead shall arise uncorruptible, and that in the substance of the self same flesh that every man now beiris, to receive according to their works, glory, or punishment. For sick as now delight in vanity, cruelty, filthiness, superstition, or Idolatry, sal be adjudged to the fire unquenchable. In quhilk they shall be tormented for ever, aswell in their awin bodies, as in their saul's, quhilk now they give to serve the Devil in all abomination. Bot sick as continue in weil doing to the end, bauldely professing the Lord jesus: we constantly believe, that they shall receive glory, Rom: 26. 7 8, 9, 10: Phil. 3: 21: 1 Cor: 15: 24, 28: honour, and immortality, to reign for ever in life everlasting, with Christ jesus, to whose glorified body all his Elect, shall be made like, when he shall appeir again in judgement, and shall rander up the kingdom 〈◊〉 God his Father, who then shall be, and ever shall remain all in all things God blessed for ever. To whom with the Son, and with the holy Ghaist, be all honour and glory, now and ever. So be it. Num: 9: 35 Psal: 68: 1: Act: 4: 29: Arise (O Lord) and let thy enemies be confounded, let them flee from thy presence, that hate thy godly Name. Give thy seruands' strength to speak thy word in bauldnesse, and let all nations cleave to thy true knowledge. Amen. FINIS.