A Confession of Faith, containing twenty three Articles ARTICLE I.
Concerning God, and the True and Saving Knowledge of him.
There is one God [Eph. 4:6; 1 Cor. 8:4,6] Who is a Spirit [John 4:24] And This is the Message which the Apostles heard of him, and declared unto the Saints, That he is Light, and in him is no Darkness at all [1 John 1:5] There are Three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, th ...read
A Short Examination of some of the Scripture-Proofs, alledged by the Divines at Westminster It is not in the least my Design in this Chapter, to offer so large an Examination of any of their Articles, as might be done, nor yet of so many as are very obvious; but only of two or three, to give the Reader a Taste of them for Example's sake: whereby as ex ungue Leonem, he may judge of most of all the rest, if he will be at the pains narrowly ...read
A short Expostulation with, and Appeal to all other Professors Come, let us reason with you, all ye Professors of Christianity, of what sort or kind soever; and bring forth your Catechisms and Confessions of Faith to that which by most of yourselves is accounted the Touchstone or Rule: And suffer yourselves no more to be blinded, and to Err through your Ignorance of the Scriptures, and of the Power of God; But ...read
CATECHISM - A short Introduction to the Confession of Faith. Having thus largely and evidently performed the chief Part of that which I promised in this Treatise, in giving a full account of our Principles in plain Scripture-words; and also answering by the Scriptures the chief and main Objections made against us; I come to a Confession of Faith, in which I shall not be so large, for that I judge it not conv ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Baptism, and Bread and Wine. Question. How many BAPTISMS are there?
A. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism [Eph. 4:5].
Q. What is this Baptism?
A. The like Figure, whereunto even Baptism doth now save us: not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into Heaven, and is on the ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Faith, Justification, and Works. Question. What is Faith?
A. Faith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen [Heb. 11:1].
Q. Is Faith of absolute Necessity?
A. Without Faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek him [Heb. 11:6].
Q. Are we ju ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Magistracy Question. What is the Duty of a Magistrate?
A. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me; he that Ruleth over Men must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God [2 Sam. 23:3].
Q. What do the Scriptures speak of the Duty of such as are under Authority?
A. Let every Soul be Subject to the Higher Powers; for there is no Power but of God: ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Perfection, or Freedom from Sin. Question. I perceive then by all these Scriptures afore-mentioned, that Christ, as well as he hath purchased Pardon for our Sins, hath also obtained Power by which we may even here be cleansed from the Filth of them: may we expect then in this Life to be freed from the Dominion of Sin?
A. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you [Rom. 6:14].
Q. ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Perseverance and falling from Grace. Question. Is it enough for a Believer, to be sure that he hath once received true Grace? or is there any further Certainty requisite?
A. Wherefore the rather, Brethren, give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall [2 Pet. 1:10].
Q. May one that hath received true Grace have Ground to fear ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning the Church and Ministry Question. What is the Church?
A. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know, how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth [1 Tim. 3:15].
Q. Who is the Head of the Church?
A. Who hath delivered us from the Power of Darkness, and hath translated us into the King ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning the Life of a Christian in general, what, and how it ought to be in this World. Question. What is the True RELIGION?
A. Pure Religion and Undefiled is this, To visit the Fatherless and the Widow in their Affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the World [Jas. 1:27].
Q. What is required of Man?
A. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love Mercy, ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God's Grace to all the world made manifest therein.
Question. Wherein consists the Love of God towards Fallen and Lost Man?
A. For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not Perish ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning the Resurrection. Question, What saith the Scripture of the Resurrection of the Dead?
A. And have Hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead, both of the Just and Unjust [Acts 24:15].
Q. To what different End shall the Good be raised from the Bad? and how are they thereunto reserved?
A. Marvel not at thi ...read
CATECHISM - Concerning Worship. Question. What is the Worship that is Acceptable to God?
A. But the Hour cometh, and now is, when the True Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth [John 4:23-24].
Q. Seeing Prayer is a part of wors ...read
CATECHISM - Of God, and the true and saving Knowledge of him. Question, Seeing it is a thing unquestioned by all sorts of Christians, that the height of Happiness consisteth in coming to know and enjoy Eternal Life, what is it in the Sense and Judgment of Christ?
A. This is Life Eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent [John 17:3].
Q. How doth God reveal ...read
CATECHISM - Of Jesus Christ's being manifest in the Flesh, the Use and End of it. Question. What are the Scriptures which do most observably prophesie of Christ's Appearance?
A. The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren, like unto me, unto him ye shall hearken [Deut. 18:15].
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a Sign: Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and sha ...read
CATECHISM - Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him. Question. Doth Christ promise then to come again to his Disciples?
A. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come unto you [John 14:18].
Q. Was this only a special Promise to these Disciples? or is it not the common Priviledge of the Saints?
A. For thus saith the High and Lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in t ...read
CATECHISM - Of the Rule and Guide of Christians, and of the Scriptures. Question. Seeing it is by the Spirit that Christ reveals the Knowledge of God in things spiritual, is it by the Spirit that we must be led under the Gospel?
A. But ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Rom. 8:9].
For as many as ...read
CATECHISM - Preface Since first that great Apostacy took place in the Hearts and Heads of those who began even in the Apostles days, to depart from the simplicity and purity of the Gospel, as it was then delivered in its primitive Splendor and Integrity, innumerable have been the manifold Inventions and Traditions, the different and various Notions and Opinions, where ...read
RANTERS - Preface THE ANARCHY OF THE RANTERS,
AND OTHER LIBERTINES,
THE HIERARCHY OF THE ROMANISTS,
AND OTHER PRETENDED CHURCHS,
EQUALLY REFUSED AND REFUTED, IN A TWO-FOLD APOLOGY,
FOR THE CHURCH AND PEOPLE OF GOD, CALLED,
IN DERISION, QUAKERS:
WHEREIN
THEY ARE VINDI-
CATED FROM THOSE THAT
ACCUSE THEM OF DISORDER AND
CONFUSION ON THE ONE HAND, AND
FROM S ...read
