The Westminster Confession of Faith

Westminster Assembly (1643-1652), John Macpherson

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THE CoNFESSIONopRlTH BY Rev JohnMacphersonMA. T. & T. CLARK 6* I 882- 38271 < *BTft . " CAVtN lliHARY KNOX COLLEGF TORONTO j/A COLLEGf TORONTO THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH Introduction anfc Notes BY THE REV. MACPHERSON,JOHN M.A., EDINBURGH: T. & T. GEORGECLARK, STREET.38 : t. ;3 P1B PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY MORRISON AND GIBB LIMITED FOR T. & T. EDINBURGHCLARK, NEW YORK : CHARLES SCRIBNER S SON3 KNOX COLUGF TO ^ Q M TO FIRST PRINTED 1881 TWELFTH IMPRESSION .... 1958 CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. PAGECHAP. I. THE PLACE AND PURPOSE OF CONFESSIONS OF . . IFAITH, THEII. THE EARLIER CONFESSIONS OF SCOTTISH CHURCH, . . ^ III. THE WESTMINSTER . . . .IICONFESSION, . THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. f. OF THE HOLY ......SCRIPTURE, 29 OF AND THE HOLY .II. GOD, OF TRINITY, . . 41 III. OF GOD S ETERNAL .....DECREE, 46 OFIV. CREATION, . . . . -52 V. OF PROVIDENCE, .... 54 VI. OF THE FALL OF OF AND OF THE PUNISHMENT 60MAN, SIN, THEREOF, VII. OF GOD S COVENANT WITH . . . .MAN, -6$ VIII. OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR,...... 7<> IX. OF FREE WILL, . . . . . . .78 X. OF EFFECTUAL 82CALLING,.... XI. OF .......JUSTIFICATION, 87 XII. OF ADOPTION, ...,.. 93 XIII. OFSANCTIFICATION, 94 XIV. OF SAVING FAITH, 97 IOOXV. OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE, . . . . . XVI. OF GOOD . . . . . .WORKS, .104 THE HOXVII. OF PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS, .... XVIII. OF ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND . . .SALVATION, 113 "XIX. OF THE LAW OF II6GOD, *\ XX. OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF . 122CONSCIENCE, . XXI.

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• Presbyterianism

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• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 11
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

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THE
CoNFESSIONopRlTH
BY
Rev
JohnMacphersonMA.
T. & T. CLARK6*
I 882-
38271
< *BTft
.
"
CAVtN lliHARY
KNOX COLLEGF
TORONTOj/A
COLLEGf
TORONTOTHE WESTMINSTER
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Introduction anfc Notes
BY
THE REV. MACPHERSON,JOHN M.A.,
EDINBURGH:
T. & T. GEORGECLARK, STREET.38:
t.
;3
P1B
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
MORRISON AND GIBB LIMITED
FOR
T. & T. EDINBURGHCLARK,
NEW YORK : CHARLES SCRIBNER S SON3
KNOX COLUGF
TO ^ Q M TO
FIRST PRINTED 1881
TWELFTH IMPRESSION .... 1958CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
PAGECHAP.
I. THE PLACE AND PURPOSE OF CONFESSIONS OF . . IFAITH,
THEII. THE EARLIER CONFESSIONS OF SCOTTISH CHURCH, . . ^
III. THE WESTMINSTER . . . .IICONFESSION, .
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.
f. OF THE HOLY ......SCRIPTURE, 29
OF AND THE HOLY .II. GOD, OF TRINITY, . . 41
III. OF GOD S ETERNAL .....DECREE, 46
OFIV. CREATION, . . . . -52
V. OF PROVIDENCE, .... 54
VI. OF THE FALL OF OF AND OF THE PUNISHMENT 60MAN, SIN, THEREOF,
VII. OF GOD S COVENANT WITH . . . .MAN, -6$
VIII. OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR,...... 7<>
IX. OF FREE WILL, . . . . . . .78
X. OF EFFECTUAL 82CALLING,....
XI. OF .......JUSTIFICATION, 87
XII. OF ADOPTION, ...,.. 93
XIII. OFSANCTIFICATION, 94
XIV. OF SAVING FAITH, 97
IOOXV. OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE, . . . . .
XVI. OF GOOD . . . . . .WORKS, .104
THE HOXVII. OF PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS, ....
XVIII. OF ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND . . .SALVATION, 113
"XIX. OF THE LAW OF II6GOD, *\
XX. OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF . 122CONSCIENCE, .
XXI. OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH DAY, . . . 126
XXII. OF LAWFUL OATHS AND .VOWS, . . . -131
JXXIII. OF THE CIVIL .MAGISTRATE, 3S
XXIV. OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE, ..... 138
CXXV. OF THE . . . . . .CHURCH, 142
XXVI. OF COMMUNION OF SAINTS,...... 145
XXVII. OF THESACRAMENTS, 147
XXVIII. OF . . . . .BAPTISM,... 150
xxix. OF THE LORD S SUPPER, 153
XXX. OF CHURCH . . . .CENSURES, .158
XXXI. OF SYNODS AND . . . l6lCOUNCILS, . . .
XXXII. OF THE STATE OF MEN AFTER DEATH, AND OF THE RESURREC
TION OF THEDEAD, 165
XXXIII. OF THE LAST . 166.....JUDGMENT,
INDEX, ..... .169PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
fN forth a new edition of this I have little tosending Handbook,
of The announcement from the Publisherssay by way preface.
that the first issue was exhausted came menearly upon unexpectedly,
and I have not been able to like a revisiongive anything thorough
theto the book friends have favoured meMany during past yea-
with communications from had more timemy work, which,regarding
been I have more I cannot forbearallowed, might profited largely.
indebtedness to myexpressing my special Principal Douglas, only
who called attention to certair.surviving divinity Professor, kindly
I toin some of which have endeavourednotes,imperfections my
correct in this new edition. The sale of a issue within twelvelarge
months is to me as it shows that this Handpeculiarly encouraging,
has means of considerable interest in thebook been the awakening
and a new to itsWestminster Confession, giving impetus systematic
>tudy.
MACPHERSON.JOHN
FORRES, i8M March 1882.KINOHURN,OF FAITH.THE CONFESSION
INTRODUCTION.
CHAPTER I.
OF CONFESSIONS OF FAITH.THE PLACE AND PURPOSE
of Faith Subordinate Standards. The Confession of1. Confessions
inFaith church be certain respects comparedadopted by any may
rules an association as a term ofto a set of accepted by ordinary
and drawnIf these rules have been carefully wiselymembership.
will make those which are speciallyup, they prominent principles
the and reluctance on the of oneto characterize society ; part any
would unto observe the fundamental articles of association imply
or to remain in itsto rules,willingness join membership. Society
if some reason havebe Evenhowever, arbitrary. maymay purely
totheir this reason be unknowndetermined original adoption, may
be a term of thatthem. It notmay membershippersons accepting
eachonewho the rules of the association must have acquaintedadopts
on which or the circumstanceshimself with the grounds they rest,
suchunder which were framed. To the members ofthey originally
the set of rules which have is theirassociations, they adopted
have to do withstandard of andreference, they nothingsupreme
the source from which he who drafted them haveoriginally may
is membersdrawn. A Confession of Faith, however, accepted by
of churches as a subordinate standard.acknowledging it, simply
This in its or relaxes theno modifiesdesignation way authority
of those who the communion of the church byobligation join
which it is received. The subordination intended is that of deriva
of Confession as ation. The members the church receive the
statement of the truth contained in and not as a docuScripture,
ment in itself authoritative from its Inapart scriptural ground.
into the communion of a churchentering holding by any particular
we not to maintain the doctrinalConfession, only agree positions
totherein as the members of an associationcontained, promise
observe the but we further make the affirmation thatadopted rules,
hold be inwe the statement of doctrine in that Confession toTHE2 CONFESSION OF FAITH.
accordance with the truth of To from theHoly Scripture. appeal
Confession to on doctrinal in the ofScripture points way repudiating
the confessional statement in favour of the involves thescriptural,
of that communion ofabandonment which the Confession is the
bond. If doctrine has been informulatedany particular carefully
the our of that Confession is anConfession, adoption expression
of our belief that the doctrine thus formulated is the truthvery
revealed in We must not therefore thatScripture. suppose by calling
our Confession of Faith a subordinate we ourselvesstandard, give
to set its of doctrine inaside favour of otherliberty exposition any
of on that doctrine. Ifinterpretation Scripture passages bearing
*.ve feel to do we the Confession as aso,compelled repudiate
standard While careful to avoid the Romish notion ofaltogether.
the indefiniteness of which led to the introduction of anScripture,
infallible we must the abandonment ofinterpreter, guard against
those definite views of truth to which hasthe churchScripture
attained discussion and sustained Theby painful investigation.
for a return to is ademand forScripture virtually individualism,plea
and is inconsistent with Church This has been aorganization.
favourite resort of those who wished to introduce novelties of belief
without sacrifice of The Remonstrants at the ofposition. Synod
in the endeavour to render their ArminianDort, plausible doctrine,
were wont to the of Covenants and Confessionsdisparage authority
under of as atheir rule. Topretence accepting Scripture only
of the Erastian we findsimilar Coleman,pretext George Gillespie
a in his controversial tract Malevery rejoindermaking pointed
Audis. It is in vain for to or theirshelterthem, says he, palliate
with from the Covenant to thecovenant-breaking appealing Scrip
for subordinata non The is normature, pugnant. recta,
a the alone be norma rule oftheright rule, though Scripture recti,
If hold the Covenant to be or to haveright. they unlawful, anything
in it to the Word of let them out. We do accontrary God, speak
one authoritative rule of faith theknowledge only Holy Scriptures.
No church Confession is ever set forth as co-ordinate with Scripture
in The Confession our view of theauthority. simply expresses
of on and the ofteaching Scripture important doctrines, acceptance
this basis of a common faith becomes a convenient bond of union,
Ina term of communion for those thusfitting doctrinally agreed.
an Act of Parliament there is a clause inserted for thecommonly
of the terms In thepurpose interpreting employed throughout.
administration of that the to termslaw, meaning authoritatively given
therein must be It will not avail to thatoccurring accepted. say
these terms certain other Nowconveymay possibly impressions.
Confession is an which thethe clause, particularinterpretative
church it to the We find inaccepting appends Scripture. Scripture,
offor such terms as counsel of thethese, God, sin, wagesexample,
etc. Various have beensin, justification, faith, interpretations given
of those and have been in the forth ofterms, they employed setting