CHAP. XVIII. Of Assurance of Grace and XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Li- XXI. Of Religious Worship, and XXII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows. XXIII. Of the Civil Magistrate. XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce. XXXII. Of the State of Men after Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of Divines at Westminster: Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the GENERAL CHAP. I. Of the Holy Scripture. LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of crea- tion and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; 1. * Rom. q. 14. For when the the law, these having not the law, Gentiles, which have not the law, are a law unto themselves : V. 15. do by nature the things contained in which shew the work of the law yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation : therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church, and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing"; which maketh the holy scripture to be most necessary" ; more written in their hearts, their con to save them that believe. 1 Cor. science also bearing witness, and their ii. 13. Which things also we speak, thoughts the mean while accusing or not in the words which man's wiselse excusing one another. Rom.i. 19. dom teacheth, but which the Holy Because that which may be known Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual of God is manifest in them; for God things with spiritual.Ver. 14. But hath shewed it unto thein. Ver. 20. the natural man receiveth not the For the invisible things of him from things of the Spirit of God; for they the creation of the world are clearly are fcolishness unto him: neither can seen, being understood by the things he know them, because they are that are made, even his eternal power spiritually discerned. and Godhead; so that they are with c Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry out excuse. Psal. xix. ). The heavens times, and in divers manners, spake declare the glory of God; and the in time past unto the fathers by the firmament sheweth his handy-work. prophets. Ver. 2. Day unto day uttereth speech, d Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust and night unto night sheweth know may be in the Lord, I have made ledge. Ver. 3. There is no speech known to thee this day, even to nor language where their voice is not thee. Ver. 20. Have not I written heard. Rom. i. 32. Who knowing to thee excellent things in counsels the judgment of God, (that they and knowledge; Ver. 21. That I which commit such things are worthy might make thee know the certainty of death,) not only do the same, but of the words of truth; that thou have pleasure in them that do them. mightest answer the words of truth With Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art to them that send unto thee? Luke inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou i. 3. It seemed good to me also, havart that judgest; for wherein thou ing had perfect understanding of all judgest another, thou condemnest things from the very first, to write thyself; for thou that judgest doest. unto thee in order, most excellent the same things. Theophilus ; Ver. 4. That thou Di Cor. i. 21. For after that, in mightest know the certainty of those the wisdom of God, the world by things wherein thou hast been inwisdom knew not God, it pleased structed. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoGod by the foolishness of preaching ever things were written aforetime, were of necessaryo; those former ways of oos revealing his will unto his people being now ceased LIFT II . Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old and New Testament, which are these: That ter Of the OLD TESTAMENT. II. Chronicles. Daniel. Hosea. Joel. Amos. Obadiah, Jonah, Micah. Zephaniah. Malachi. Ew Judges. itual Ruth. I. Samuel. But the they II. Samuel. 1. Kings. II . Kings. ndry 1. Chronicles. pake the Of trust quale itten Tuth Cuke were written for our learning; that not according to this word, it is , It is wçitten, Man shall not live scriptures, which are able to make by bread alone, but by every word thee wise unto salvation, through that proceedeth out of the mouth of faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Pet. Lint God. Ver. 7. Jesus said unto him, i. 19. We have also a more sure think It is written again, Thou shalt not word of prophecy, whereunto ye do tempt the Lord thy God. Ver. 10. well that ye take heed, as unto a And when they shall say unto you, times, and in divers manters, spake holl Seek into them that have familiar in time past unto the fathers by the homie spirits , and unto wizards that peep prophets; Ver. 2. Hath in these and that mutter ; should not a people last days spoken unto us by his seek unto their God? for the living Son, whom he hath appointed heir to the dead? Ver. 20. To the law, of all things, by whom also he made and to the testimony: if they speak the worlds. B2 II, 8 Luke hir of all prie lleni Of the New TESTAMENT. The Gospels ac- Corinthians II. The Epistle to the cording to Galatians. Hebrews. Matthew. Ephesians. The Epistle of James. The first and second John. Thessalonians I. Epistles of Peter. The Acts of the Thessalonians II. The first, second, Apostles. To Timothy I. and third Epistles Paul's Epistles to To Timothy II. of John. the Romans. To Titus. TheEpistle of Jude. Corinthians I. To Philemon. The Revelation. All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life &. III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture; and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other human writings h. IV. The II. 8 Luke xvi. 29. Abraham saith city, and from the things which are unto him, They have Moses and written in this book. 2 Tim. üi, 16. the prophets, let them hear them. All scripture is given by inspiration Ver. 31. And he said unto him, of God, and is profitable for doc. If they hear not Moses and the trine, for reproof, for correction, for prophets, neither will they be per instruction in righteousness. suaded though one rose from the III. h Luke xxiv. 27. And begin. dead. Eph. ii. 20. And are built ning at Moses and all the prophets, upon the foundation of the apostles' he expounded unto them in all the and prophets, Jesus Christ himself scriptures the things concerning himbeing the chief corner-stone. Rev. self. Ver. 44. And he said unto xxii. 18. For I testify unto every man them, These are the words which that heareth the words of the pro I spake unto you, while I was yet phecy of this book, If any man shall with you, that all things must be add unto these things, God shall add fulfilled which were written in the unto him the plagues that are written law of Moses, and in the Prophets, in this book. Ver. 19. And if any and in the Psalms, concerning me. man shall take away from the words Rom. iii. 2. Much every way: chiefly of the book of this prophecy, God because that unto them were comshall take away his part out of the mitted the oracles of God. 2 Pet.i. 21. book of life, and out of the holy For the prophecy came not in old time IV. The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is truth itself, the author thereof; and therefore it is to be received, because it is the word of Godi. V. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy scripture ", and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy and of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all cles the parts, the scope of the whole, (which is to give all glory to God,) the full discovery it makes of the only way of de man's salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God; ule yet notwithstanding our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from ins the inward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by IL and with the word in our hearts. VI. The an time by the will of man; but holy of us, ye received it not as the word IV, i 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also worketh also in you that believe. V. k l Tim, iii, 15. But if I 11 John ii. 20. But ye have B3 will 07 . |