Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	divine_a	faith_n	humane_a	4,064	5	8.7140	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34242	The confession of faith ; and, The larger and shorter catechism first agreed upon by the Westminster Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and now approved by the General Assembly of the kirk of Scotland to be a part of uniformity in religion between the kirks of Christ in the three kingdoms.; Westminster Confession of Faith.	Dickson, David, 1583?-1663. Summe of saving knowledge.; Church of Scotland. General Assembly.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Larger catechism.; Westminster Assembly (1643-1652). Shorter catechism.	1671 (1671)	Wing C5769; ESTC R27273	112,419	253

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH And the LARGER and SHORTER CATECHISM First agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster And now approved by the General assembly of the Kirk of of Scotland to be a part of Uniformity in Religion between the Kirks of Christ in the three Kingdoms EDINBOURG Printed by George Swintoun and Thomas Brown and are to be sold by Iames Glen and David Trench Anno Dom. 1671. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH First agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster And now appointed by the General assembly of the Kirk of of Scotland to be a part of Uniformity in Religion between the Kirks of Christ in the three Kingdoms CHAP. I. Of the holy Scripture ALthough the light of Nature and the works of Creation and Providence do so far manifest the Goodness Wisdom and Power of God as to leave men unexcusable yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and of his Will which is necessary un●o 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 more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh and the malice of Sathan and of the World to commit the same wholly unto writing which makes the holy Scripture to be most necessary those former ways of Gods revealing his will unto his People being now ceased 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 Of the Old Testament GEnesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomie Joshua Judges Ruth I. Samuel II. Samuel I. Kings II. Kings I. Chronicles II. Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Songs Isajah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos. Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Of the New Testament The Gospel according to MAtthew The Gospel according to Mark. The Gospel according to Luke The Gospel according to John The Acts of the Apostles Paul 's Epistle to the Romans I. Corinthians II. Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians I. Thessalonians II. Thessalonians To Timothy I. To Timothy II. To Titus To Philemon The Epistle to the Hebrews The Epistle of James The first and second Epistle of Peter The first second and third Epistles of John The Epistle of Jude The Revelations 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 humane writings IV. The Authority of the holy Scripture for which it ought to be believed and obey'd dependeth not upon the testimony of any man or Church but wholly upon God who is Truth it self the Author thereof and therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God V. We may be moved 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 of the Doctrine the Majesty of the stile the consent of all 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 mans salvation the many other incomparable Excellencies and the intire perfection thereof are Arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence it self to be the Word of God yet notwithstanding our full perswasion and assurance of the infallible truth and Divine authority thereof is from the inward work of the holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts VI. The whole Counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own Glory mans Salvation Faith and life is either expr●sly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary conseq●ence may be deduc●d from Scripture un●o which nothing at any time is to be added whether by new Revelation of the spirit or traditions of men Nevertheless we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the word and that there are some circumstances concerning the Worship of God and Government of the Church c●mmon to humane Actions and Societies which are to be ordered by the light of Nature and Christian ●rudence according to the general Rules of the Word which are alwaies to be observed VII All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves nor alike clear unto all yet those things which are necessary to be known believed and observed for salvation are so clearly propounded and opened in some places of Scripture or other that not only the Learned but the Unlearned in a due use of the ordinary means may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them VIII The Old Testament in Hebrew which was the Native Language of the people of God of Old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care providence kept pure in all ages are therefore Authentical so as in all controversies of Religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them But because these Original Tongues are not known to the People of God who have right unto and interest in the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read search them therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar Language of every Nation unto which they come that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope IX The infallible Rule of Interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture it self and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sence of any Scripture which is not manifold but one it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly X The Supreame Judge by which all Controversies of Religion are to be determined and all decrees of Councils Opinions of Ancient Writers Doctrines of men and private Spirits are to be examined and in whose sentence we are to rest can be no other but the holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture CHAP. II. Of God and of the Holy Trinity THere is but one only living and true God who is infinite in being and Perfection a most pure spirit invisible without body parts or passions immutable immense eternal incomprehensible Almighty most wise most holy most free most absolute

saving Faith But I may the weak believer say in the sense of my own sinfulness and fear of Gods wrath am fled to Iesus Christ the only remedy of sin and misery and have ingaged my heart to the obedience of the Law of Love Therefore my faith is not a presumtuous and dead faith but true and saving faith The fourth warrant and spec●al motive to believe in Christ is much assurance of life given in case men shall obey the command of believing and a fearful certification of destruction in case they obey not holden forth Ioh. 3.35 THe Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand ver 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him Wherein are holden forth to us these five following Doctrines 1. That the Father is well satisfied with the undertakings of the Son entered Redeemer and Surety to pay the ransom of believers and to perfect them in holiness and salvation The Father loveth the Son saith he viz. As he standeth Mediator in our name undertaking to perfect our Redemption in all points The Father loveth him that is doth heartily accept his offer to do the work and is well pleased with him his soul delighteth in him and resteth upon him and maketh him in this his Office the receptacle of love and grace and good will to be conveyed by him to believers in him 2. That for fulfilling of the Covenant of Redemption the Father hath given to the Son as he standeth in the capacity of the Mediator or as he is God incarnate the word made flesh all authority in Heaven and Earth all furniture of the riches of grace and of spirit and life with all power and ability which the Union of the Divine Nature with the Humane or which the fulness of the Godhead dwelling substantially in his Humane Nature or which the indivisible all-sufficiency and omnipote●●y of the inseparable every where present Trini●● do●h import or the work of Rede●ption ca●●equire the Father saith he hath given al●●hi●gs into the Sons hand to wit for acco●pl●●hing his work 3. 〈◊〉 assurance of life is holden forth to all who shall heartily receive Christ and the offer of the Covenant of grace and reconciliation through him he that believeth on the Son saith he hath everlasting life for it is made fast unto him 1. In Gods purpose and irrevocable decree as the believer is a man elected to life 2. By effectual calling of him unto life by God who as he is faithful so will he do it 3. By promise and everlasting Covenant sworn by God to give the believer strong consolation in life and death upon immutable grounds 4. By a pawn and infestment under the great Seal of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper so oft as the believer shall come to receive the symbols and pledges of life 5. In Christ the fountain and head of life who is entred in a possession as atturney for believers in whom our life is so laid up that it cannot be taken away 6. By begun possession of spiritual life and regeneration and a Kingdom consisting in righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost erected within the believer as arles of the full possession of everlasting life 4. A fearful certification is given if a man receive not the Doctrine concerning righteousness and eternal life to be had by Jesus Christ he that believes not the Son shall not see life that is not so much as understand what it meaneth 5. He further certifieth that if a man receive not the Doctrine of the Son of God he shall be burdened twice with the wrath of God once as a born rebel by nature he shall bear the curse of the Law or the Covenant of Works and next he shall endure a greater condemnation in respect that light being come into the world and offered to him he hath rejected it and loveth darkness rather than light and this double wrath shall be fastned and fixed immoveably upon him so long as he remaineth in the condition of misbelief the wrath of God abideth on him saith he Hence may the weak believer strengthen his faith by reasoning from this ground after this manner Whosoever believeth the Doctrine delivered by the Son of God and findeth himself partly drawn powerfully to believe him by the sight of life in ●im and partly driven by the fear of Gods wrath to adhere unto him may be sure of right and interest to life eternal through him But sinful and unworthy I may the weak believer say do believe the Doctrine delivered by the Son of God and do feel my self partly drawn powerfully to believe in him by the sight of life in him and partly driven by the fear of Gods wrath to adhere unto him Therefore I may be sure of my right and interest unto eternal life through him The evidences of true Faith SO much for the laying the grounds of faith and warrants to believe now for evidencing of true faith by fruits these four things are requisite 1. That the believer be soundly convinced in his judgment of this obligation to keep the whole moral Law all the days of his life And that not the less but so much the more as he is delivered by Christ from the Covenant of Works and curse of the Law 2. That he endeavour to grow in the exercise and daily practice of Godliness and righteousness 3. That the course of his new obedience run in the right channel that is through faith in Christ and through a good conscience to all the duties of love toward God and man 4. That he keep strait communion with the fountain Christ Jesus from whom grace must run along for furnishing of good fruits For the first viz. To convince the believer in his judgement of his obligation to keep the Moral Law among many passages take Matth. 5.16 LEt your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in Heaven ver 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil ver 18. For verily I say unto you till Heaven and Earth pass one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the Law till all be fulfi●led ver 19. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandments and shall teach men so he shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven ver 20. For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Wherein our Lord 1. Giveth commandment to believers justified by faith to give evidence of the grace of God in them before men by doing good works Let your light so shine