Statement of
Faith
The
First London Baptist Confession of Faith with Amendments
A confession of faith of seven congregations or churches of
Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called
Anabaptists; published for the vindication of the truth and
information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those
aspersions which are frequently, both in pulpit and print,
unjustly cast upon them. Printed in London, Anno 1646.
I.
The Lord our God is but one God, whose subsistence is in
Himself; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself,
who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, which no man
can approach unto; who is in Himself most holy, every way
infinite, in greatness, wisdom, power, love, merciful and
gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth;
who giveth being, moving, and preservation to all creatures.
1 Cor. 8:6, Isa. 44:6, 46:9, Exod. 3:14, 1 Tim 6:16, Isa.
43:15; Ps. 147:5, Deut. 32:3; Job 36:5; Jer. 10:12, Exod.
34:6,7, Acts 17:28; Rom. 11:36.
II.
In this divine and infinite Being there is the Father, the
Word, and the Holy Spirit; each having the whole divine Essence,
yet the Essence undivided; all infinite without any beginning,
therefore but one God; who is not to be divided in nature, and
being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties.
1 Cor. 1:3; John 1:1, 15:26, Exod. 3:14; 1 Cor. 8:6
III.
God had decreed in Himself, before the world was, concerning
all things, whether necessary, accidental or voluntary, with all
the circumstances of them, to work, dispose, and bring about all
things according to the counsel of His own will, to His glory:
(Yet without being the [chargeable] author of sin, or having
fellowship with any therein) in which appears His wisdom in
disposing all things, unchangeableness, power, and faithfulness
in accomplishing His decree: And God hath before the foundation
of the world, foreordained some men to eternal life, through
Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of His grace; [having
foreordained and] leaving the rest in their sin to their just
condemnation, to the praise of His justice.
Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11, Rom. 11:33, Ps. 115:3; 135:6,
33:15; 1 Sam. 10:9, 26, Prov. 21:6; Exod. 21:13; Prov. 16:33,
Ps. 144, Isa. 45:7, Jer. 14:22, Matt. 6:28, 30; Col. 1:16,
17; Num. 23:19, 20; Rom. 3:4; Jer. 10:10; Eph. 1:4,5; Jude 4,
6; Prov. 16:4
IV.
In the beginning God made all things very good; created man
after His own image, filled with all meet perfection of nature,
and free from all sin; but long he abode not in this honor; Satan
using the subtlety of the serpent to seduce first Eve, then by
her seducing Adam; who without any compulsion, in eating the
forbidden fruit, transgressed the command of God, and fell,
whereby death came upon all his posterity; who now are conceived
in sin, and by nature the children of wrath, the servants of sin,
the subject of death, and other miseries in this world, and for
ever, unless the Lord Jesus Christ set them free.
Gen. 1:1, Col. 1:16, Isa. 45:12, 1 Cor. 15:45, 46; Eccles.
7:29; Gen. 3:1,4,5; 2 Cor. 11:3, 1 Tim. 2:14; Gal. 3:22; Rom.
5:12, 18, 19, 6:22; Eph. 2:3.
V.
God in His infinite power and wisdom, doth dispose all things
to the end for which they were created; that neither good nor
evil befalls any by chance, or without His providence; and that
whatsoever befalls the elect, is by His appointment, for His
glory, and their good.
Job 38:11; Isa. 46:10,11, Eccles. 3:14, Mark 10:29,30;
Exod. 21:13; Prov. 16:33, Rom. 8:28.
VI.
All the elect being loved of God with an everlasting love, are
redeemed, quickened, and saved, not by themselves, nor their own
works, lest any man should boast, but, only and wholly by God, of
His own free grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ, who is made
unto us by God, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption, and all in all, that he that rejoiceth, might rejoice
in the Lord.
Jer. 31:2; Eph. 1:3, 7, 2:8,9; 1 Thess. 5:9, Acts 13:48; 2
Cor. 5:21; Jer. 9:23,24; 1 Cor. 1:30,31; Jer. 23:6.
VII.
And this is life eternal, that we might know Him the only true
God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. And on the contrary, the
Lord will render vengeance, in flaming fire, to them that know
not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ.
John 17:3; Heb. 5:9, 2 Thess. 1:8; John 6:36.
VIII.
The rule of this knowledge, faith, and obedience, concerning
the worship of God, in which is contained the whole duty of man,
is (not men's laws, or unwritten traditions, but) only the word
of God contained [viz., written] in the holy Scriptures; in which
is plainly recorded whatsoever is needful for us to know,
believe, and practice; which are the only rule of holiness and
obedience for all saints, at all times, in all places to be
observed.
Col. 2:23; Matt 15:6,9; John 5:39, 2 Tim. 3:15,16,17; Isa.
8:20; Gal. 1:8,9; Acts 3:22,23.
VIIIa
The 66 books of the Bible are the only authoritative, certain
and inerrant, and infallible rule for faith and obedience. The
original manuscripts of these books were inerrant and infallible
and God has so providentially preserved copies of the originals
that reliable translations of these may be heartily received as
the very word of God itself for all doctrine and practice.
(adopted July, 1990)
VIIIb
Revelation is the divine act of God whereby He directly
communicated at various times and in various ways, by the
prophets, His word to His people and the world. God's final
revelation to man was in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, and
all things concerning Him and His teaching are recorded in the
Scripture by the apostles and New Testament prophets. With the
completion of the canon of scripture all further revelation
ceased. Therefore, all present day claims to revelatory gifts,
and their accompanying signs are fallacious and all who claim
such are false prophets. (adopted July, 1992)
IX.
The Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Moses and the Prophets wrote,
the Apostles preached, He is the Son of God, the brightness of
His glory, etc. by whom He made the world; who upholdeth and
governeth all things that He hath made; who also when the fulness
of time was come, was made of a woman, of the tribe of Judah, of
the seed of Abraham and David; to wit, of the virgin Mary, the
Holy Spirit coming down upon her, the power of the most High
overshadowing her; and He was also tempted as we are, yet without
sin.
Gen. 3:15, 22:18, 49:10; Dan. 7:13, 9:24, etc.; Prov.
8:23; John 1:1,2,3; Heb. 1:8; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5;
Gen. 49:9,10, Rom. 1:3, 9:10; Matt. 1:16; Luke 3:23,26; Heb.
2:16; Isa. 53:3,4,5; Heb. 4:15.
X.
Jesus Christ is made the mediator of the new and everlasting
covenant of grace between God and man, ever to be perfectly and
fully the prophet, priest, and king of the Church of God for
evermore.
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 9:15; John 14:6; Isa. 9:6.7.
XI.
Unto this office He was appointed by God from everlasting; and
in respect of his manhood, from the womb called, separated, and
anointed most fully and abundantly with all gifts necessary, God
having without measure poured out His Spirit upon Him.
Prov. 8:23; Isa. 42:6, 49:15; 11:2,3,4,5, 61:1,2; Luke
4:17, 22; John 1:14, 26, 3:34.
XII.
Concerning His mediatorship, the Scripture holds forth
Christ's call to His office; for none takes this honor upon Him,
but He that is called of God as was Aaron, it being an action of
God, whereby a special promise being made, He ordains His Son to
this office; which promise is, that Christ should be made a
sacrifice for sin; that He should see His seed, and prolong His
days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand; all
of meer free and absolute grace towards God's elect, and without
any condition foreseen in them to procure it.
Heb. 5:4,5,6, Isa. 53:10,11; John 3:16; Rom. 8:32.
XIII.
This office to be mediator, that is, to be prophet, priest,
and king of the Church of God, is so proper to Christ, that
neither in whole, or any part thereof, it cannot be transferred
from Him to any other.
1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:24; Dan. 7:14; Acts 4:12; Luke 1:33;
John 14:6.
XIV.
This office to which Christ is called, is threefold; a
prophet, priest, and king: This number and order of offices is
necessary, for in respect of our ignorance, we stand in need of
His prophetical office; in respect of our great alienation from
God, we need His priestly office to reconcile us; and in respect
of our averseness and utter inability to return to God, we need
His kingly office, to convince, subdue, draw, uphold and preserve
us to His heavenly kingdom.
Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22,23; Heb. 3:!, 4:14,15; Ps. 2:6; 2
Cor. 5:20; Acts 26:18; Col. 1:21; John 16:8, Ps. 110:3; Song
of Sol. 1:3; John 6:44; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:18.
XV.
Concerning the prophecy of Christ, it is that whereby He hath
revealed the will of God, whatsoever is needful for His servants
to know and obey; and therefore He is called not only a prophet
and doctor, and the apostle of our profession, and the angel of
the covenant, but also the very wisdom of God, in whom are hid
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, who for ever
continueth revealing the same truth of the gospel to His people.
John 1:18; 12:49,50; 17:8; Deut. 18:15; Matt. 23:10; Heb.
3:1; Mal. 3:1; 1 Cor. 1:24; Col. 2:3.
XVI.
That He might be a prophet every way complete, it was
necessary He should be God, and also that He should be man; For
unless He had been God, He could never have perfectly understood
the will of God; and unless He had been man, He could not
suitably have unfolded it in His own person to men.
John 1:18; Acts 3:22; Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1.
Note:
That Jesus Christ is God is wonderfully and clearly expressed
in the Scriptures. He is called the mighty God, Isa. 9:6. That
Word was God, John 1:1. Christ, who is God over all, Rom 9:5. God
manifested in the flesh, 1 Tim. 3:16. The same is very God, 1
John 5:20. He is the first, Rev. 1:8. He gives being to all
things, and without Him was nothing made, John 1:2. He forgiveth
sins, Matt. 9:6. He is before Abraham, John 8:58. He was and is,
and ever will be the same, Heb. 13:8. He is always with His to
the end of the world, Matt. 28:20. Which could not be said of
Jesus Christ, if He were not God. And to the Sone He saith, Thy
throne, O God, is forever and ever, Heb. 1:8, John 1:18.
Also, Christ is not only perfectly God, but perfect man, made
of a woman, Gal. 4:4. Made of the seed of David, Rom 1:3. Coming
out of the loins of David, Acts 2:30. Of Jesse and Judah, Acts
13:23. In that the children were partakers of flesh and blood He
Himself likewise took part with them, Heb. 2:14. He took not on
Him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, verse 16. So
that we are bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh, Eph. 5:30.
So that He that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified are all
of one, Heb.2:11.
See Acts 3:22, Deut. 18:15; Heb. 1:1.
XVII.
Concerning His priesthood, Christ having sanctified Himself,
hath appeared once to put away sin by that one offering of
Himself a sacrifice for sin, by which He hath fully finished and
suffered all things God required for the salvation of His elect,
and removed all rites and shadows, etc. and is now entered within
the vail into the holy of holies, which is the presence of God.
Also, He makes His people a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God through Him.
Neither doth the Father accept, nor Christ offer to the Father,
any other worship or worshippers.
John 17:19; Heb. 5:7,8,9,10,12; Rom. 5:19, Eph. 5:2; Col.
1:20; Eph. 2:14, etc.; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 8:1; 1 Pet. 2:5;
John 4:23,24.
XVIII.
This priesthood was not legal or temporary, but according to
the order of Melchisedec, and is stable and perfect, not for a
time, but forever, which is suitable to Jesus Christ, as to Him
that ever liveth. Christ was the priest, sacrifice, and altar: He
was a priest according to both natures; He was a sacrifice
according to His human nature; whence in Scripture it is
attributed to His body, to His blood: Yet the effectualness of
this sacrifice did depend upon His divine nature; therefore it is
called the blood of God. He was the altar according to His divine
nature, it belonging to the altar to sanctify that which is
offered upon it, and so it ought to be of greater dignity than
the sacrifice itself.
Heb. 7:16, etc.; Heb. 5:6, 10:10; 1 Pet. 1:18,19; Col.
1:20, 22; Heb. 9:13; Acts 20:28; Heb. 9:14, 13:10,12,15;
Matt. 23:17; John 17:19.
XIX.
Concerning His kingly office, Christ being risen from the
dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven
and earth, He doth spiritually govern His church, and doth
exercise His power over all, angels and men, good and bad, to the
preservation and salvation of the elect, and to the overruling
and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applieth
the benefits, virtue, and fruits of His prophecy and priesthood
to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and strengthening
them in all their conflicts against Satan, the world, and the
flesh, keeping their hearts in faith and filial fea by His
Spirit: By this His mighty power He ruleth the vessels of wrath,
using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His
infinite wisdom.
1 Cor. 15:4; 1 Pet. 3:21,22; Matt. 28:18,19; Luke 24:51;
Acts 1:1, 5:30,31; John 19:36; Rom. 14:9; John 5:26,27; Rom.
5:6,7,8; 14:17; Gal. 5:22,23; Mark 1:27; Heb. 1:14; John
16:15; Job 2:8; Rom. 1:21, [9:1718]; Eph. 4:17,18; 2 Pet.
2.
XX.
This His kingly power shall be more fully manifested when He
shall come in glory to reign among His saints, when He shall put
down all rule and authority under His feet, that the glory of the
Father may be perfectly manifested in His Son, and the glory of
the Father and the Son in all His members.
1 Cor. 15:24,28; Heb. 9:28; 2 Thess. 1:9,10; 1 Thess.
4:15,16,17; John 17:21, 26.
XXI.
Jesus Christ by His death did purchase salvation for the elect
that God gave unto Him: These only have interest in Him, and
fellowship with Him, for whom He makes intercession to His Father
in their behalf, and to them alone doth God by His Spirit apply
this redemption; as also the free gift of eternal life is given
to them, and none else.
Eph. 1:14; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 1:21; John 17:6; Heb. 7:25; 1
Cor. 2:12; Rom. 8:29,30; 1 John 5:12; John 15:35, 3:16.
XXII.
Faith is the gift of God, wrought in the hearts of the elect
by the Spirit of God; by which faith they come to know and
believe the truth of the Scriptures, and the excellency of them
above all other writings, and all things in the world, as they
hold forth the glory of God in His attributes, the execellency of
Christ in His nature and offices, and of the power and fulness of
the Spirit in its [His] workings and operations; and so are
enabled to cast their souls upon His truth thus believed.
Eph. 2:8; John 6:29, 4:10; Phil. 1:29; Gal. 5:22; John
17:17; Heb. 4:11,12; John 6:63.
XXIII.
All those that have this precious faith wrought in them by the
Spirit, can never finally nor totally fall away; seeing the gifts
of God are without repentance; so that He still begets and
nourisheth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all
the graces of the Spirit unto immortality; and though many storms
and floods arise, and beat against them, yet they shall never be
able to take them off that foundation and rock, which by faith
they are fastened upon; not withstanding, through unbelief, and
the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of this light and
love, be clouded and overwhelmed for a time; yet God is still the
same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto
salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession,
they being engraven upon the palms of His hands, and their names
having been written in the book of life from all eternity.
Matt. 7:24,25; John 13:10, 10:28,29; 1 Pet. 1:4,5,6; Isa.
49:13,14,15,16.
XXIV.
Faith is ordinarily begotten by the preaching of the gospel,
or word of Christ, without respect to any power or agency in the
creature; but it being wholly passive, and dead in trespasses and
sins, doth believe and is converted by no less power than that
which raised Christ from the dead.
Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:28; Rom. 9:16; Ezek. 16:16; Rom.
3:12, 1:16; Eph. 1:19, Col. 2:12.
XXV.
The preaching of the gospel to the conversion of sinners, is
absolutely free; no way requiring as absolutely necessary, any
qualifications, preparations, or terrors of the law, or preceding
ministry of the law, but only and alone the naked soul, a sinner
and ungodly, to receive Christ crucified, dead and buried, and
risen again; who is made a prince and a Savior for such sinners
as through the gospel shall be brought to believe on Him.
John 3:14,15, 1:12; Isa. 55:1; John 7:37; 1 Tim. 1:15;
Rom. 4:5, 5:8; Acts 5:30,31, 2:36, 1 Cor. 1:22,24.
XXVI.
The same power that converts to faith in Christ, carrieth on
the soul through all duties, temptations, conflicts, sufferings;
and whatsoever a believer is, he is by grace, and is carried on
in all obedience and temptations by the same.
1 Pet. 1:5, 2 Cor. 12:9, 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 2:12, 13;
John 15:5; Gal. 2:19,20.
XXVII.
All believers are by Christ united to God; by which union, God
is one with them, and they are one with Him; and that all
believers are the sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ, to
whom belong all the promises of this life, and that which is to
come.
1 Thess. 1:1; John 17:21, 20:17; Heb. 2:11, 1 John 4:16;
Gal. 2:19,20.
XXVIII.
Those that have union with Christ, are justified from all
their sins by the blood of Christ, which justification is a
gracious and full acquittance of a guilty sinner from all sin, by
God, through the satisfaction that Christ hath made by His death
for all their sins, and this applied (in manifestation of it)
through faith.
1 John 1:7; Heb. 10:14, 9:26; 2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 3:23; Acts
13:38,39; Rom. 5:1, 3:25,30.
XXIX.
All believers are a holy and sanctified people, and that
sanctification is a spiritual grace of the new covenant, and an
effect of the love of God manifested in the soul, whereby the
believer presseth after a heavenly and evangelical obedience to
all the commands, which Christ as head and king in His new
covenant hath prescribed to them.
1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 2:9; Eph. 1:4; 1 John 4:16; Matt. 28:20.
XXX.
All believers through the knowledge of that justification of
life given by the Father and brought forth by the blood of Christ
have as their great privilege of that new covenant, peace with
God, reconciliation, whereby they that were afar off are made
nigh by that blood, and have peace passing all understanding;
yea, joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have
received atonement.
2 Cor. 5:19; Rom. 5:9,10; Isa. 54:10; Eph. 2:13,14, 4:7;
Rom. 5:10,11.
XXXI.
All believers in the time of this life, are in a continual
warfare and combat against sin, self, the world, and the devil;
and are liable to all manner of afflictions, tribulations and
persecutions, being predestined and appointed thereunto, and
whatsoever the saints possess or enjoy of God spiritually, is by
faith; and outward and temporal things are lawfully enjoyed by a
civil right by them who have no faith.
Rom. 7:23,24; Eph. 6:10,11, etc.; Heb. 2:9,10, 2 Tim.
3:12; Rom. 8:29; 1 Thess. 3:3; Gal.2:19,20; 2 Cor. 5:7; Deut.
2:5.
XXXII.
The only strength by which the saints are enabled to encounter
with all oppositions and trials, is only by Jesus Christ, who is
the captain of their salvation, being made perfect through
sufferings; who hath engaged His faithfulness and strength to
assist them in all their afflictions, and to uphold them in all
their temptations, and to preserve them by His power to His
everlasting kingdom.
John 16:33, 15:5; Phil. 4:11, Heb. 2:9,10; 2 Tim. 4:18.
XXXIII.
Jesus Christ hath here on earth a [manifestation of His]
spiritual kingdom, which is His Church, whom He hath purchased
and redeemed to Himself as a peculiar inheritance; which Church
is a company of visible saints, called and separated from the
world by the word and Spirit of God, to the visible profession of
faith of the gospel, being baptized into that faith, and joined
to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement in the practical
enjoyment of the ordinances commanded by Christ their head and
king.
Matt. 11:11; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:1; Rom. 1:7;
Acts 19:8,9, 26:18; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4; Acts 2:37, 10:37;
Rom. 10:10; Matt. 18:19,20; Acts 2:42, 9:26; 1 Pet. 2:5.
XXXIV.
To this Church He hath made His promises, and giveth the signs
of His covenant, presence, acceptation, love, blessing and
protection. Here are the fountains and springs of His heavenly
graces flowing forth to refresh and strengthen them.
Matt. 28:18, etc.; 1 Cor. 11:24, 3:21; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rom.
9:4,5; Ps. 133:3; Rom. 3:7,10; Ezek. 47:2.
XXXV.
And all His servants of all estates (are to acknowledge Him to
be their prophet, priest and king;) and called thither to be
enrolled among His household servants, to present their bodies
and souls, and to bring their gifts God hath given them, to be
under His heavenly conduct and government, to lead their lives in
this walled sheepfold, and watered garden, to have communion here
with His saints, that they may be assured that they are made meet
to be partakers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God; and
to supply each others wants, inward and outward; (and although
each person hath a propriety in his own estate, yet they are to
supply each others wants, according as their necessities shall
require, that the name of Jesus Christ may not be blasphemed
through the necessity of any in the Church) and also being come,
they are here by Himself to be bestowed in their several order,
due place, peculiar use, being fitly compact and knit together
according to the effectual working of every part, to the edifying
of itself in love.
Acts. 2:41,47; Isa. 4:3, 1 Cor. 12:6,7, etc.; Ezek.
20:37,40; Song of Sol. 4:12; Eph. 2:19; Rom. 12:4,5,6; Col.
1:12, 2:5,6,19; Acts 20:32, 5:4, 2:44,45, 4:34,35; Luke
14:26; 1 Tim. 6:1; Eph. 4:16.
XXXVI.
Being thus joined, every [local] church hath power given them
from Christ, for their wellbeing, to choose among themselves meet
persons for elders and deacons, being qualified according to the
word, as those which Christ hath appointed in His testament, for
the feeding, governing, serving, and building up of His Church;
and that none have any power to impose on them either these or
any other.
Acts 1:23,26, 6:3, 15:22,25; Rom. 12:7,8; 1 Tim. 3:2,6,7;
1 Cor. 12:8,28; Heb. 13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1,2,3,4:15.
XXXVII.
That the ministers lawfully called, as aforesaid, ought to
continue in their calling and place according to God's ordinance,
and carefully to feed the flock of God committed to them, not for
filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
Heb. 5:4; John 10:3,4; Acts 20:28,29; Rom. 12:7,8; Heb.
13:7,17; 1 Pet. 5:1,2,3.
XXXVIII.
The ministers of Christ ought to have whatsoever they shall
need, supplied freely by the church, that according to Christ's
ordinance they that preach the Gospel should live of the gospel
by the law of Christ.
1 Cor. 9:7,14; Gal. 6:8; Phil. 4:15,16; 2 Cor. 10:4; 1
Tim. 1:2; Ps. 110:3.
XXXIX.
Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, given by Christ,
to be dispensed upon persons professing faith, or that are made
disciples; who upon profession of faith, ought to be baptized,
and after to partake of the Lord's Supper.
Matt. 28:18,19; John 4:1; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:37,38,
8:36,37, etc.
XL.
That the way and manner of dispensing this ordinance, is
dipping or plunging the body under water; it being a sign, must
answer the things signified, which is, that interest the saints
have in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ: And that
as certainly as the body is buried under water, and risen again,
so certainly shall the bodies of the saints be raised by the
power of Christ, in the day of the resurrection, to reign with
Christ.
Matt. 3:16; Mark 15:9 reads (into Jordan) in Greek; John
3:23, Acts 8:38; Rev. 1:5, 7:14; Heb. 10:22; Rom. 6:3,4,5,6;
1 Cor. 15:28,29. The word baptizo signfies to dip or plunge
(yet so as convenient garments be both upon the administrator
and subject with all modesty).
XLI.
The person designed by Christ to dispense baptism, the
Scripture holds forth to be a disciple; it being no where tied to
a particular church officer, or person extraordinarily sent the
commission enjoining the administration, being given to them as
considered disciples, being men able to preach the gospel.
Isa. 8:16; Eph. 2:7; Matt 28:19; John 4:2; Acts 20:7,
11:10; 1 Cor. 11:2, 10:16,17; Rom. 16:2; Matt. 18:17.
XLII.
Christ hath likewise given power to His Church to receive in,
and cast out, any member that deserves it; and this power is
given to every congregation, and not to one particular person,
either member or officer, but in relation to the whole body, in
reference to their faith and fellowship.
Rom. 15:2; Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:4,11,14, 12:6, 2:3; 2
Cor. 2:6,7.
XLIII.
And every particular member of each church, how excellent,
great, or learned soever, is subject to this censure and
judgment; and that the church ought not without great care and
tenderness, and due advice, but by the rule of faith, to proceed
against her members.
Matt. 18:16, 17:18; Acts 11:2,3; 1 Tim. 5:19, etc.; Col.
4:17; Acts 15:1,2,3.
XLIV.
Christ for the keeping of this church in holy and orderly
communion, placeth some special men over the church; who by their
office, are to govern, oversee, visit, watch; so likewise for the
better keeping thereof, in all places by the members, He hath
given authority, and laid duty upon all to watch over one
another.
Acts 20:27,28; Heb. 13:17,24; Matt. 24:45; 1 Thess. 5:2,
14; Jude 3,20; Heb. 10:34,35 [cf. 24,25], 12:15.
XLV.
Also such to whom God hath given gifts in the church, may and
ought to prophecy [viz., teach] according to the proportion of
faith, and to teach publicly the word of God, for the
edification, exhortation, and comfort of the church.
1 Cor. 14:3, etc.; Rom 12:6; 1 Pet. 4:10, 11; 1 Cor. 12:7;
1 Thess. 5:19, etc.
XLVI.
Thus being rightly gathered, and continuing in the obedience
of the gospel of Christ, none are to separate for faults and
corruptions (for as long as the church consists of men subject to
failings, there will be difference in the true constituted
church) until they have in due order, and tenderness, sought
redress thereof.
Rev. 2, 3; Acts 15:12; 1 Cor. 1:10; Heb. 10:25; Jude 19;
Rev. 2:20,21,27; Acts 15:1,2; Rom. 14:1; 15:1,2,3.
XLVII.
And although the particular congregations be distinct, and
several bodies, every one as a compact and knit city within
itself; yet are they all to walk by one rule of truth; so also
they (by all means convenient) are to have the counsel and help
one of another, if necessity require it, as members of one body,
in the common faith, under Christ their head.
1 Cor. 4:17, 14:33,36, 16:1; Ps. 122:3; Eph. 2:12,19; Rev.
21; 1 Tim. 3:15, 6:13,14; 1 Cor. 4:17; Acts 15:2,3; Song of
Sol. 8:8,9; 2 Cor. 8:1,4, 13:14.
XLVIII.
A civil magistracy is an ordinance of God, set up by Him for
the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do
well; and that in all lawful things, commanded by them,
subjection ought to be given by us in the Lord, not only for
wrath, but for conscience sake; and that we are to make
supplications and prayers for kings, and all that are in
authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable
life, in all godliness and honesty.
Rom. 13:1,2, etc.; 1 Pet. 2:13,14; 1 Tim. 2:1,2,3.
Note:
The supreme magistracy of this kingdom we acknowledge to be
the king and parliament (now established) freely chosen by the
kingdom, and that we are to maintain and defend all civil laws
and civil officers made by them, which are for the good of the
commonwealth. And we acknowledge with thankfulness, that God hath
made this present king and parliament honorable in throwing down
the prelatical hierarchy, because of their tyranny and oppression
over us, under which this kingdom long groaned, for which we are
ever engaged to bless God, and honor them for the same. And
concerning the worship of God; there is but one lawgiver, which
is able to save and destroy, James 4:12; which is Jesus Christ,
who hath given laws and rules sufficient in His word for His
worship; and for any to make more, were to charge Christ with
want of wisdom, or faithfulness, or both, in not making laws
enough, or not good enough for His house: Surely it is our
wisdom, duty, and privilege, to observe Christ's laws only, Ps
2:6,9,10,12. So it is the magistrates duty to tender the liberty
of mens' consciences, Eccles. 8:8 (which is the tenderest thing
unto all conscientious men, and most dear unto them, and without
which all other liberties will not be worth the naming, much less
enjoying) and to protect all under them from all wrong, injury,
oppression and molestation; so it is our duty not to be wanting
in nothing which is for their honor and comfort, and whatsoever
is for the wellbeing of the commonwealth wherein we live; it is
our duty to do, and we believe it to be our express duty,
especially in matters of religion, to be fully persuaded in our
minds of the lawfulness of what we do, as knowing whatsoever is
not of faith is sin. And as we cannot do anything contrary to our
understandings and consciences, so neither can we forebear the
doing of that which our understandings and consciences bind us to
do. And if the magistrate should require us to do otherwise, we
are to yield our persons in a passive way to their power, as the
saints of old have done, James 5:4. And thrice happy shall he be,
that shall lose his life for witnessing (though but for the least
tittle) of the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 5; Gal. 5.
XLIX.
But in case we find not the magistrate [or governing
authority] to favor us herein; yet we dare not suspend our
practice, because we believe we ought to go in obedience to
Christ, in professing the faith which was once delivered to the
saints, which faith is declared in the holy Scriptures, and this
our confession of faith a part of them, and that we are to
witness to the truth of the Old and New Testaments unto the
death, if necessity require, in the midst of all trials and
afflictions, as His saints of old have done; not accounting our
goods, lands, wives, children, fathers, mothers, brethren,
sisters; yea and our own lives dear unto us, so we may finish our
course with joy; remembering always, that we ought to obey God
rather than men, who will when we have finished our course, and
kept the faith, give us the crown of righteousness; to whom we
must give an account of all our actions, and no man being able to
discharge us of the same.
Acts 2:40,41, 4:19, 5:28,29, 20:23; 1 Thess. 3:3; Phil.
1:28,29; Dan. 3:16,17, 6:7,10,22,23; 1 Tim. 6:13,14; Rom.
12:1,8; 1 Cor. 14:37; Rev. 2:20; 2 Tim. 4:6,7,8; Rom. 14:10,
12; 2 Cor. 5:10; Ps. 49:7,50:22.
L.
It is lawful for a Christian to be a magistrate or civil
officer; and also it is lawful to take an oath, so it be in
truth, and in judgment, and in righteousness, for confirmation of
truth, and ending of all strife; and that by wrath and vain oaths
the Lord is provoked and this land mourns.
Acts 8:38, 10:1,2,35; Rom. 16:23; Deut. 6:13; Rom. 1:9; 2
Cor. 10,11; Jer. 4:2; Heb. 6:16.
LI.
We are to give unto all men whatsoever is their due, as their
place, age, estate, requires; and that we defraud no man of
anything, but to do unto all men, as we would they should do unto
us.
1 Thess. 4:6; Rom. 13:5,6,7; Matt. 22:21; Titus 3; 1 Pet.
2:15,17, 5:5; Eph. 5:21,23, etc. , 6:1,9; Titus 3:1,2,3.
LII.
There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and unjust, and everyone shall give an account of himself to God,
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according
to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:12. [Matt. 25; Rev.
22:11,12,13,14,15.]
Conclusion:
Thus we desire to give unto Christ that which is His; and unto
all lawful authority that which is their due; and to owe nothing
to any man but love; to live quietly and peaceably, as it
becometh saints, endeavoring in all things to keep a good
conscience, and to do unto every man (of what judgment soever) as
we would they should do unto us, that as our practice is, so it
may prove us to be a conscionable [viz., reasonable], quiet, and
harmless people (no ways dangerous or troublesome to human
society) and to labor and work with our hands that we may not be
chargeable to any, but to give to him that needeth, both friends
and enemies, accounting it more excellent to give than to
receive. Also we confess, that we know but in part, and that we
are ignorant of many things which we desire and seek to know; and
if any shall do us that friendly part to show us from the word of
God that which we see not, we shall have cause to be thankful to
God and them; but if any man shall impose upon us anything that
we see not to be commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ, we should in
His strength rather embrace all reproaches and tortures of men,
to be stripped of all outward comforts, and if it were possible,
to die a thousand deaths, rather than to do anything against the
least tittle of the truth of God or against the light of our own
consciences. And if any shall call what we have said heresy, then
do we with the Apostle acknowledge, that after the way they call
heresy, worship we the God of our fathers, disclaiming all
heresies (rightly so called) because they are against Christ, and
to be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in obedience to
Christ, as knowing our labor shall not be in vain in the Lord.
Psalm 74:21,22
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause;
Remember how the foolish man blasphemeth Thee daily.
O let not the oppressed return ashamed,
but let the poor and needy praise Thy name.
Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.