onlie head of his Kirk our just Lawgiuer our onlie hie Priest Advocate Mediator In quhilk honoures and offices gif man or angel presume to intruse themself we vtterly detest and abhorre them as blasphemous to our Soveraigne and supreame Governour Christ Jesus 12 Faith in the holy Ghost THIS our Faith and the assurance of the same proceeds not fra flesh and blude that is to say fra na natural powers within vs Mat. 16.17 Ioh. 14 26 Ioh. 15.26 Ioh. 14.11 Act. 5 4. Ioh 16.113 Col. 2.13 Ephes 2.1 Ioh 9.39 Revel 3.17 Mat. 17.17 Mat. 9.19 Luk. 9.41 Ioh. 6 6â— Mic. 7. â— 1 King â— 58 Psa 100 3 Rom. 5.10 Ioh. 3.5 Titus 3 5 Rom. 5 8 Phil. 3 9 Phil 1.6 2 Cor. 3.5 Eph. 1.6 bot is the inspiration of the holy Ghost whome we confesse GOD equall with the Father and with his Sonne quha sanctify is vs and brings vs in al veritie be his awin operation without whome we sulde remaine for ever enimies to GOD and ignorant of his Sonne Christ Iesus For of nature we are so dead so blind and so peruerse that nether can we feil when we ar pricked see the licht when it shines nor assent to the will of God when it is reueiled vnles the Spirit of the Lord Iesus quicken that quhilk is dead remoue the darknesse from our myndes and bowe our stubburne hearts to the obedience of his blessed will And so as we confesse that God the Father created vs when we were not as his Sonne our LORD IESVS redeemed vs when wee were enimies to him so also do we confesse that the holy Ghost doth sanctifie and regenerat vs without all respect of ony merite proceeding from vs be it before or be it after our regeneration To speak this ane thing Èit in mair plaine words As we willingly spoyle our selues of all honour and gloir of our a win creation and redemption so do we also of our Regeneration Sanctification for of our selues we ar not sufficient to think one gude thocht bot he quha hes begun the wark in vs is onlie he that continewis vs in the same to the praise and glorie of his vndeserued grace 14 The cause of gude warkes SA that the cause of gude warks we confesse to be not our free wil Eph. 2.10 Phil. 2.13 Iohn 15.5 Rom. 8.9 bot the Spirit of the LORD IESVS who dwelling in our hearts be trewe faith bringis furth sik warkes as God has prepared for us to walke in For this wee maist boldelie affirme that blasphemy it is to say that Christ abydes in the heartes of sik as in whome there is no Spirite of sanctification And therefore we feir not to affirme that murtherers oppressers cruel persecuters adulterers huremongers filthy persouns Idolaters drunkards thieues and all workers of iniquity haue nether trew faith nether ony portion of the Spirit of the LORD IESVS so long as obstinatlie they continew in their wickednes For how soone that euer the Spirit of the Lord Iesus quhilk Gods elect children receiue be trew faith taks possession in the heart of ony man so soone dois he regenerate renew the same man So that he beginnis to hait that quhilk before he loved begins to love that quhilk befoir he hated fra thine cummis that continuall battell Rom. 7.15 16 17 c. Gal. 5.17 quhilk is betwixt the flesh and the Spirit in Gods Children till the flesh and natural man according to the awin corruption lustes for things pleisand and delectable vnto the self and grudges in adversity is lyfted up in prosperity and at euery moment is prone reddie to offende the maiestie of God Bot the spirite of God Rom. 8.16 Rom. 7.24 Rom. 8.22 Rom. 6.12 Eph. 4.17 18 19. quhilk giues witnessing to our Spirite that we are the Sonnes of God makis vs to resist filthie plesures and to groane in Gods presence for deliuerance fra this bondage of corruption And finally to triumph ouer sin that it reigne not in our mortall body is This battell hes not the carnal men being destitute of Gods Spirite but dois followe and obey sinne with greedines and without repentance euen as the Devill and their corrupt lustes do prick them Bot the sonnes of God 2 Tim. 2.26 as before wes said dois fecht against sinne dois sob and murne when they perceive themselues tempted in iniquitie gif they fall they rise againe with earnest and vnfained repentance and thir thingis they do not be their awin power Ioh. 15.5 bot be the power of the Lord IESVS without whom they were able to do nothing 15 What warkes are reputed gude befoir God Exod. 20.3 c. Deut. 4.7 c. WE confesse and acknawledge that God hes given to man his holy Law in quhilk not only ar forbidden all sik warkes as displeis and offend his godly Majestie but alswa ar commanded al sik as pleis him and as he hes promised to rewaird And thir warks be of twa sortes The ane are done to the honour of God the vther to the profit of our Nichtbouris and both haue the reveiled will of God for their assurance To haue ane God to worschip and honour him to call vpon him in all our troubles reverence his holy name Luk. 2.75 Mic. 6.11 to heare his word to beleue the same to communicate with his holy Sacraments are the warkes of the first Tabill To honour Father Mother Princes Eph. 6.1.7 Ezech. 22.1 c. 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 1 Thes 4.4 5 6. Iere. 22.3 9 c. Esay 50.1 c. 1 Thes 4.6 Rulers and superiour powers to loue them to support them Èea to obey their charges not repugning to the commaundement of God to saue the liues of Innocents to represse tyrannie to defend the oppressed to keep our bodies cleane and halie to liue in sobernes and temperance to deall justlie with all men both in word and deed and finally to represse all appetite of our Nichtbouris hurt are the gude warkes of the secund Tabill quhilk are maist pleising and acceptabill unto God as thir warkes that are commanded be himselfe The contrary quhairof is sinne maist odious quhilk alwayes displeisis him and provokes him to anger As not to call upon him alone when we haue need nor to hear his word with reverence to contemne and despise it to haue or worschip Idols to maintene and defend Idolatrie lichtlie to esteeme the reverend name of God to prophane abuse or contemne the Sacraments of Christ Iesus to disobey or resist ony that God hes placed in Authoritie quhill they passe not over the boundes of their office to murther Rom. 13.2 Ezech. 22.13 c. or to consent thereto to beare hatred or to let Innocent blude bee sched gif wee may withstand it And finally the transgression of ony vther commandement in the first or secund Tabill 1 Ioh. 3.4 we confesse and affirme to be sinne by
Eph 1 11 Mat 25 34 Eph 1 21 2â— 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 meere grace elected us in Christ Jesus his son before the foundation of the warld was laide appointed him to be our head our brother our pastor and great Bishop of our sauls But because that the enimitie betwixt the justice of God our sins was sik that na flesh be it self culd or might have attained vnto God It behooved that the Son of God suld descend unto us and tak 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 beleeue in him to be the sons of God as himself dois witness I pass up to my father and unto Èour father to my God and unto Èour God Be quhilk maist holy fraternitie quhatsaever we have tynt in Adam is restored unto us again And for this cause ar we not affrayed 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 vnto vs grace to acknawledge imbrace him for our onlie Mediatour as before is said It behooved farther the Messias and Redemer to be very God very man because he wes to underlie the punishment due for our transgressiouns to present himselfe in the presence of his fathers judgement as in our persone to suffer for our transgression inobedience be death to overcome him that wes author of death Bot because the only god-head culd not suffer death neither Èit culd the onlie man-head overcome the samin he joyned both togither in one persone that the imbecillitie of the ane suld suffer be subject to death quhilk we had deserved and the infinit inuincible power of the vther to wit of the God-head suld triumph and purchesse to us life libertie and perpetual victory and so we confesse and maist undoubtedly beleeve 9. Christs 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 himselfe 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 earthlie Judge that we suld be absolved befoir the tribunal seat of our God That he suffered not onlie 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 Èit we avow that he remained the only wel beloved blessed son of his father even in the middest of his anguish and torment quhilk he suffered in bodie 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 gif ony affirm we nathing doubt to avow that they ar blasphemous against Christs death and the everlasting purgatioun and satisfactioun purchased to us by the same 10. Resurrectioun 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 beleeve that in samekle as it wes impossible that the dolours of death suld reteine 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 brocht life again to us that wer subject to death and to the bondage of the same We knaw that his resurrectioun wes confirmed be the testimonie of his very enemies be the resurrectioun of the dead quhais Sepultures did oppen and they did rise and appeared to mony within the Cittie of Jerusalem It wes also confirmed be the testimonie of his angels and be the senses judgements of his Apostles and of vthers quha had conversatioun and did eate 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 â—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 â— 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 selfe same bodie quhilk was born of the Virgine 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 receiued all power in heaven earth quhere he sittes at the right hand of the father inaugurate in his Kingdome Advocate only Mediator for us Quhilk glorie honour prerogative he alone amonges the brethren sal posses till that all his enemies be made his futestule as that we undoubtedly beleeve they fall be in the final judgement To the execution whereof we certainly beleeve that the same our Lord Jesus sall visibly returne as that he wes seen to ascend And then we firmely beleeue that the time of refreshing and restitutioun of all things sall cum in sa mekle that thir that fra the beginning have suffered violence injurie wrong for righteousnes sake sall inherit that blessed immortalitie promised fra the beginning Bot contrariwise the stubborn inobedient cruel oppressours filthie personis idolaters all such sortes of vnfaithful sall be cast in the dungeoun of vtter darkness where the worme sall not die neither Èit their fire sall be extinguished The remembrance of quhilk day of the judgement to be executed in the same is not only to us ane brydle quhereby our carnal lustes are refrained bot alswa sik inestimable comfort that nether may the threatning of worldly Princes nether Èit the fear of temporal death present danger move us to renunce and forsake that blessed societie quhilk we the members have with our head onlie Mediator Christ Jesus whom we confess and avow to be the Messias promised the
rejection of the sacrifice as also gif the teacher planely teache fals doctrine quhilk were odious and abhominable before God albeit they were his awin ordinance because that wicked men vse them to an vther end then God hes ordaned The same affirme we of the Sacraments in the Papistical Kirk in quhilk we affirme the haill action of the Lord Iesus to be adulterated asweill in the external forme as in the end and opinion Quhat Christ Iesus did and commanded to be done is euident be the Evangelistes and be Saint Paull quhat the Preist dois at his altar we neid not to rehearse The end cause of Christs institution and why the selfe same suld be vsed is expressed in thir words Doe Èe this in rememberance of me al 's oft as Èe sall eat of this bread drink of this Cupe Cor. 11. â— 26. Èe sall shaw furth that is extoll preach magnifie and praise the Lords death till he cum Bot to what end in what opinioun the Preistes say their Messe let the worde of the same their awin doctouris and wrytings witnes To wit that they as Mediatores betuixt Christ and his Kirk do offer vnto God the Father a Sacrifice propitiatorie for the sinnes of the quick and the dead â—â—b 9.27 â— Quhilk doctrine as blasphemous to Christ Iesus making derogation to the sufficiencie of his only Sacrifice once offered for purgatioun of all they that sall be sanctifyed we vtterly abhorre detest and renounce 24 To whom Sacraments appertaine 〈◊〉 2.11 WE Confesse and acknawledge that Baptisme apperteinis asweil to the infants of the faithfull as vnto them that be of age discretion and so we damne the error of the Annabaptists â—n 4.11 â— 17.10 â— 28.19 who denies Baptisme to apperteine to Children before that they haue faith and vnderstanding bot the Supper of the Lord we confesse to appertaine to sik onely as be of the houshald of Faith and can trie and examine themselues asweill in their faith as in their dewtie towards their Nichtbouris 1 Cor. 28.29 Sik as eate and drink at that haly Table without faith or being at dissension and division with their brethren do eat vnworthelie And therefore it is that in our Kirk our Ministers tak publick particular examination of the knawledge and conversation of sik as are to be admitted to the Table of the Lord Iesus 25 Of the Civile Magistrate WE confesse and acknawledge Empyres Kingdomes Dominiouns and Citties to be distincted and ordained be God Rom 13 1 Titus 3 1 1 Pet. 2 13 the powers and authoritie in the same be it of Emperours in their Empyres of Kings in their Realmes Dukes and Princes in their Dominions and of vthers Magistrates in the Citties to be Gods haly ordinance ordained for manifestatioun of his awin glory and for the singular profite and commoditie of mankind So that whosoever goeth about to take away or to confound the haill state of Civile policies now long established we affirme the same men Rom 13 2 not onely to be enimies to mankinde but also wickedly to fecht against God his expressed will Wee farther confesse and acknawledge that sik persouns as are placed in authoritie ar to be loved honoured feared and halden in most reverent 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 Èea even the Iudges and Princes themselues to whome be God is given the sword to the praise and defence of gude men and to revenge and punish all open malefactors Mairover to Kings Princes Rulers and Magistrates wee affirme that chieflie and most principallie the conservatioun and purgation of the Religioun appertaines 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 onlie they are appointed for Civill policie bot also for maintenance of the trew Religioun and for suppressing of Idolatrie and Superstitioun whatsoeuer As in David Iosaphat Ezechias Iosias and vthers highly commended for their zeal in that caice may be espyed And therefore wee confesse and avow that sik as resist the supreme power doing that thing quhilk appertains to his charge do resist God his ordinance and therefore cannot be guiltles And farther we affirme that whosoever denies vnto them ayde their counsell and comfort quhiles the Princes and Rulers vigilantly travell in execution of their office that the same men deny their helpe support and counsell to God quha be the presence of his Lieu-tennent dois craue it of them 26 The guiftes freelie giuen to the Kirk ALBEIT That the word of God trewly preached and the Sacraments richtlie ministred and Discipline executed according to the worde of God be the certaine infallible Signes of the trew Kirk we meane not that euery particular persoun joyned with sik company Mat 13 24 25 26 c be ane Elect member of CHRIST IESVS For we acknawledge and confesse that Dornell Cockell and Caffe may be sawen grow and in great aboundance lie in the midst of the Wheit that is the Reprobate may be joyned in the societie of the Elect and may externally vse with them the benefites of the worde and Sacraments Bot sik being bot temporal professoures in mouth bot not in heart do fall backe and continew not to the end And therefore haue they na fruite of Christs death Mat 13.20 21. Rom. 10.9 13. Resurrection nor Ascension but sik as with heart vnfainedly beleeue and with mouth bauldely confesse the Lord Iesus as before we haue said sall most assuredly receiue their guiftes First in this life remission of sinnes and that be only faith in Christs blude In sa mekle that albeit sinne remaine and continuallie abyde in thir our mortall bodies Èit it is not imputed vnto vs bot is remitted and couered with Christs Iustice Secundly in the general Iudgement Rom 7 2 Cor 5 21 Ioh 5 28 29 Ap 20 23 Iob 19 25 26.27 Mat 25 31 Ap 14 10 there sall be giuen to every man and woman resurrection of the flesh For the Sea sal giue her dead the Earth they that therin be inclosed Èea the Eternall our God sal stretche out his hand on the dust and the deade sall arise vncorruptible and that in the substance of the self same flesh that euery man now beiris to receiue according to their warkes glory or punishment For sik as now delyte in vanity cruelty filthynes superstition or Idolatry sal be adjudged to the fire vnquenchable In quhilk they sall be tormented for euer asweill in their awin bodyes as in their saules quhilk now they giue to serue the Deuill in all abomination Bot sik as continew in weil doing to the end bauldely professing the Lord Iesus we constantly beleue that they sall receiue glorie Rom 26. 7 8 9 10 Phil. 3 21 1 Cor 15 24 28 honor and immortality to reigne for euer in life euerlasting with Christ Iesus to whose glorified body all his Elect sall be made lyke when he sall appeir againe in judgement and sall rander up the kingdom 〈◊〉 God his Father who then sall be and euer sall remain all in all things God blessed for euer To whome with the Sonne and with the haly Ghaist be all honour and glorie now and euer 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 godlie Name Giue thy seruands strenth to speake thy word in bauldnesse and let all Natiouns cleaue to thy trew knowledge Amen FINIS
THE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH and DOCTRINE Beleeved and Professed be the PROTESTANTES Of SCOTLAND Exhibited to the Estatis of the same in Parliament and be their publick votis authorized as a Doctrine grounded upon the infallible VVord of GOD. Published by Authority EDINBVRGH Re-Printed 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 Beleeved and Professed be the Protestantes of Scotland exhibited to the Estatis of the same in Parliament and be their publick 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 Ioh. 5.7 Gen. 1.1 He 11.3 Act. 17.28 Pro. 16.4 WE confesse and acknawledge ane only GOD to whom onelie we must cleaue whome onelie we must serue whom onelie we must worship and in whom onlie we must put our trust Who is Eternal Infinit Vnmeasurable Incomprehensible Omnipotent Invisible ane in substance and yet distinct in three personnis the Father the Sonne the holy Ghost Be whom we confesse and beleue all thing is in heauen and earth aswel Visible as Invisible to haue bene created to be reteined in their being and to be ruled and guyded be his inscrutable Providence to sik end as his Eternall Wisdome Goodnes and Iustice hes appoynted them to the manifestatioun of his awin glorie 2. Of the Creatioun of man WE confesse and acknawledge this our GOD to haue created man Gen. 1.26 27 28 c. 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 whome he gaue wisedome Lordship Iustice Free-wil and cleir knowledge of him selfe sa that in the haill nature of man there culd be noted no imperfectioun Fra quhilk honour and perfectioun man and woman did bothe fal the woman being deceived be the Serpent and man obeying the voyce of the woman both conspyring against the Soveraigne Maiestie of GOD who in expressed words had before threatned death gif they presumed to eat of the forbidden tree 3. Of Original sin BE quhilk transgressioun commonlie called Original sinne 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 vtterlie defaced in man and he and his posteritie of nature become Enemies to GOD slaves to Sathan and servandis vnto sin In samekle that death everlasting hes had and sall haue power and dominioun over all that haue not been ar not or sal not be regenerated from aboue quhilk regeneratioun is wrocht be the power of the holie Ghost working in the hartes of the elect of God Iohn 3.5 Rom. 5.1 Phil. 1.29 ane assured faith in the promise of God reveiled to vs in his word be quhilk Faith we apprehend Christ Iesus with the graces and benefites promised in him 4 Of the Revelatioun of the promise FOR this we constantly beleeue that God after the feirfull 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 â—oh 8.56 rebuke his sin convict him of the same and in the end made vnto him ane most joyful promise to wit that the seed of the woman suld break down the Serpents head that is he suld destroy the works of the devill Quhilk promise as it was repeated and made mair cleare from time to time so was it imbraced with joy and maist constantly received of al the faithfull from Adam to Noe from Noe to Abraham from Abraham to David and so forth to the incarnatioun of Christ Iesus all we meane the faithfull Fathers vnder the Law did see the joyful daie of Christ Iesus and did rejoyce 5 The continuance increase and preservatioun of the Kirk Ezech. 6.6 8.9 c. 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 c. 2 King 24 3 4 c. Deut. 28.36.48 2 King 25 1 c. Dan 9 2 Ezr 1 c Hag 1 14 Zach 3 1 WE maist constantly beleeue that God preserved instructed multiplied honoured decored and from death called to life his Kirk in all ages fra Adam till the cumming of Christ Iesus in the flesh For Abraham he called from his Fathers cuntry him he instructed his seede he multiplied the same he marveilouslie preserued and mair marveilouslie delivered from the bondage and tyrannie of Pharaoh to them he gaue his Lawes constitutions and ceremonies them he possessed in the Land of Canaan to them after Iudges and after Saul he gave David to be King to whome hee made promise that of the fruite of his loynes suld anesit for ever vpon 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 Iustice he was compelled to give them in the hands of their enimies as befoir was threatned be the mouth of Moses in sa meikle that the haly Cittie was destroyed the Temple burnt with fire and the hail Land left desolate the space of lxx Èears Èœit of mercy did he reduce them again to Ierusalem where the Cittie and Temple were reedified and they against all temptations and assaultes of Sathan did abide till the Messias come according to the promise 6 Of the Incarnation of Christ Iesus QVHEN the fulnes of time came God sent his Sonne his eternal Wisdome the substance of his awin glory in this warld quha tuke 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 Virgine and that be operatioun of the holie Ghost And so was born the just seede of David the Angell of the great counsell of God the very Messias promised whome we confesse and acknawledge Emmanuel very God and very man two perfit natures vnited and joyned in one persoun Be quhilk our Confessioun we condemn the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arrius Marcion Eutyches Nestorius and sik vthers as either did deny the eternity of his godhead or the veritie of his humane nature or confounded them or Èet devided them 7. Why it behooued the Mediator to be very God and very man WE acknawledge and confesse Eph 1 3 4 5 6 that this maist wonderous conjunction betwixt the God-head 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
the quhilk Gods anger and displeisure is kindled against the proud vnthankful warld Rom. 14.23 Heb. 11.6 1 Sam. 15.22 1 Cor. 10.31 1 Ioh. 3.4 Esay 29.13 Mat. 15.9 Mark 7.7 So that gude warkes we affirm to be thir onlie that are done in saith and at Gods commandement quha in his Lawe hes expressed what the thingis be that pleis him And evill warkis we affirme not only thir that expressedly ar done against Gods commaundement bot thir alswa that in matteris of Religioun and worschipping of God hes na vther assurance but the inventioun and opinioun of man quhilk God fra the beginning hes ever rejected as be the Prophet Esay and be our Maister CHRIST IESVS we ar taught in thir words In vain do they worschip me teaching for doctrines the precepts of men 16. The perfectioun of the Law and the imperfectioun of Man THe Law of God we confesse and acknawledge maist just maist equal maist halie and maist perfite commaunding thir thingis Leuit. 1â— Gal. 3. â— 1 Tim. 1. â— Rom. 7. â— Psal 19 â— 8 9 c Deut. 5. Rom. 10 1 Kin. 8. â— 2 Chr. 6. â— Eccl. 7. â— Prov. 2â— 1 Joh. 1â— Rom. 1â— Gal. 3. â— Deu. 27. â— Phil. 2. â— Esay 64 Luke 17 quhilk being wrocht in perfectioun were abill to give life and abill to bring man to eternal felicitie Bot our nature is sa corrupt sa weake and sa unperfite that we are never abill to fulfil the warkes of the Law in perfectioun Èœea gif we say we have na sinne evin after we are regenerated we deceive ourselues the veritie of God is not in us And therefore it behoovis vs to apprehend Christ Jesus with his justice and satisfaction quha is the end and accomplishment of the Law bequhome we ar set at this libertie that the curse and malediction of God fall not upon us albeit we fulfil not the same in all pointes For God the Father beholding us in the bodie of his sonne Christ Jesus acceptis our imperfite obedience as it were perfite and couers our warks quhilk ar defiled with mony spots with the justice of his Sone We do not meane that we ar so set at libertie that we awe na obedience to the Law for that before we have plainly confessed bot this we affirme that na man in earth Christ Jesus onlie except hes given gives or sall give in work that obedience to the Law quhilk the Law requiris Bot when we have done all things we must fall downe unfeinedly confesse that we ar unprofitable seruands And therefore quhosoever boastis themselues of the merits of their awin warks or put their trust in the warks of supererogation boast themselues in that quhilk is nocht and put their trust in damnable Idolatry 17. Of the Kirk AS we beleeue in ane God father sonne and halie Ghaist sa do we maist constantly beleeue that from the beginning there hes bene now is Mat 28 to the end of the warld sall be ane Kirk that is to say Eph â— Col 1â— Eph 5â— 24 25 â— ane companie multitude of men chosen of God who richtly worship and imbrace him be trew faith in Christ Jesus quha is the onlie head of the same Kirk quhilk alswa is the bodie spouse of Christ Jesus quhilk Kirk is Catholike that is universal because it conteinis the Elect of all ages of all Realmes Nations and tounges be they of the Jewes Apoc â— or be they of the Gentiles quha haue communion and societie with God the father and with his sonne Christ Jesus throw the sanctifitatioun of his halie Spirit and therefore is it called the communion not of prophane persounes bot of sancts quha as Citizenis of the heavenly Jerusalem have the fruition of the Maist inestimable benefites to wit of ane God Eph 2 â— ane Lord Iesus ane Faith and ane Baptisme out of the quhilk Kirk there is nouther life nor eternal felicitie And therefore we vtterly abhorre the blasphemie of them that affirme that men quhilk live according to equitie and justice sall be saved quhat religioun that ever they have professed For as without Christ Jesus there is nouther life nor salvation Eph. 4 Iohn 5 Iohn â— so sall there nane be participant thereof bot sik as the Father hes given unto his sonne Christ Jesus and they that in time cum unto him avowe his Doctrine and beleeve into him we comprehend the Children with the faithful Parentes this Kirk is invisible knawn onlie to God quha alane knawis whome he hes chosen Tim. 2.19 â—hn 13.14 â—ph 1.10 â—â—l 1.10 â—â—b 12.4 and comprehends aswell as said is the Elect that be departed commonlie called the Kirk Triumphant and they that Èit live and fecht against sinne and sathan as sall live hereafter 18. The immortalitie of the Saules â—â—o 14.13 â—â—y 25.8 〈◊〉 7.16 17 â—o 21.4 〈◊〉 16.10 11 â—ay 66.24 â—â—rk 9.44 〈◊〉 48. â—â—k 23.43 â—â—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 certaine oblivion as some Phantastickes do affirme but that they are delivered fra all fear and torment and all temptatioun to quhilk we and all God his elect are subject in this life and therefore do beare the name of the Kirk Militant As contrariwise the reprobate unfaithfull departed have anguish torment and pain that cannot be expressed sa that neither are the ane nor the vther in sik sleep that they feele not their torment as the parable of Christ Jesus in the 16. of Luke his words to the thiefe and thir words of the saules crying under the altar O Lord thou that art righteous and just how long sall thou not revenge our blude upon thir that dwellis in the earth dois declair 19 Of the notes be the quhilk the trewe Kirk is dicerned fra the false and quha sall 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 heartes of cruell murtherers to persecute trouble and molest the trewe Kirk and Members thereof â—â—n 4.8 â—â—n 21.9 â—â—n 27.41 â—â—t 23.34 〈◊〉 5.18 19 〈◊〉 1.35 〈◊〉 â— 20 â— as Cain did Abell Ishmael Isaac Esau Jacob the haill priesthead of the Jews Christ Jesus himself and his apostles after him It is ane thing maist requisite that the trewe Kirk be decerned fra the filthie synagogues be clear and perfite notes least we being deceiued receiue and imbrace to our awin condemnatioun the ane for the vther The notes signes 〈◊〉 4. c. 〈◊〉 5.17 and assured takens whereby the immaculate spouse of Christ Iesus is knawen fra the horrible harlot the Kirk malignant we affirme are neither antiquitie â—â—n 4.1 〈◊〉 48.1 2 â—â—t 5.35 〈◊〉 12.42 â—â—h 2.20 â— 2.42 â—â—h 10.27 â—â—h 18.37