Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men.1 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, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which are always to be observed.3

12 Tim. iii. 15-17; Gal. i. 8, 9; 2 Thess. ii. 2. 2 John vi. 45; 1 Cor. ii. 9-12. 31 Cor. xi. 13, 14; xiv. 26, 40.

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 place 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.2

1 2 Pet. iii. 16. 2 Psalm cxix. 105, 130.

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 and 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 all the

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people of God, who have right unto and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear of God, to read and 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

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manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, may have hope.

1 Matt. v. 18. 41 Cor. xiv. 6, 9,

2 Isa. viii. 20; Acts xv. 15; John v. 39, 46. 3 John v. 39. 11, 12, 24, 27, 28. 5 Col. iii. 16. 6 Rom. xv. 4.

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and, therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one,) it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.1

1 2 Pet. i. 20, 21; Acts. xv. 15, 16.

X. The supreme 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.1

1 Matt. xxii. 29, 31; Eph. ii. 20; Acts xxviii, 25.

CHAPTER II.

OF GOD, AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

THERE is but one1 only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection,3 a most pure spirit, invi

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sible, without body, parts or passions," immutable,

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,10

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immense, eternal, 10 incomprehensible," almighty,12 most wise,13 most holy, most free,15 most absolute," working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will,17 for his own glory ;18 most loving,19 gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;20 the rewarder of them that diligently seek him ;21 and withal most just and terrible in his judgments ;22 hating all sin,23 and who will by no means clear the guilty.24

21 Thess. i. 9; Jer. x. 10.

Mal. iii. 6. 11 Psalm Isa. vi. 3; 16 Exod.

1 Deut. vi. 4; 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. 3 Job xi. 7-9; Job xxvi. 14. 4 John iv. 24. 5 1 Tim. i. 17. 6 Deut. iv. 15, 16; John iv. 24; Luke xxiv. 39. 7 Acts xiv. 11, 15. 8 James i. 17; 91 Kings viii. 27; Jer. xxiii. 23, 24 10 Psalm xc, 2; 1 Tim. i. 17. cxlv. 3. 12 Gen. xvii, 1; Rev. iv. 8. 13 Rom. xvi. 27. 14 Rev. iv. 8.-(See note 12 immediately foregoing.) 15 Psalm cxv. 3. iii. 14. 17 Eph. i. 11, 18 Prov. xvi. 4; Rom. xi. 36. 20 Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. 21 Heb. xi. 6. 22 Neh. ix. 32, 33. 24 Neh. i. 2,3; Exod. xxxiv. 7.

19 1 John iv. 8, 16. 23 Psalm v. 5, 6.

II. God hath all life, glory,2 goodness,3 blessedness,* in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself allsufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made,5 not deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom, are all things; and hath most sovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth.s In his sight all things are open and manifest ;9 his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature,10 so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain." He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.12 To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever

worship, service, or obedience, he is pleased to require

of them.13

1 John v. 26. ix. 5.

2 Acts vii. 2.

3 Psalm cxix. 68. 4 1 Tim. vi. 15; Rom.

5 Acts xvii. 24, 25. 6 Job xxii. 2, 3. 7 Rom. xi. 36. 8 Rev. iv. 11; 1 Tim. vi, 15;-(See note 4 immediately foregoing;) Dan. iv. 25, 35. 9 Heb. iv. 13. 10 Rom. xi. 33, 34; Psalm cxlvii. 5. 11 Acts xv. 18; Ezek. xi. 5. 12 Psalm cxlv. 17; Rom. vii. 12. 13 Rev. v. 12-14.

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.1 The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and

the Son.3

11 John v. 7; Matt. iii. 16, 17; xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14. 3 John xv. 26; Gal, iv 6.

2 John i. 14, 18.

CHAPTER III.

OF GOD'S ETERNAL DECREE.

GOD from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.3

1 Eph i. 11; Rom. xi, 33; Heb. vi. 17; Rom. ix. 15, 18. 2 James i. 13, 17; 1 John i. 5. 3 Acts ii. 23; Matt. xvii. 12; Acts iv. 27, 28; John xix. 11; Prov, xvi. 33.

II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions; yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as fu

ture, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.2

1 Acts xv. 18; 1 Sam, xxiii. 11, 12; Matt. xi. 21, 23. 16, 18.

2 Rom. ix, 11, 13,

III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels1 are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death.2

11 Tim, v. 21; Matt. xxv. 41. 2 Rom. ix. 22, 23; Eph. i. 5, 6; Prov. xvi. 4.

IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.1

12 Tim. ii. 19; John xiii. 18.

V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory,' out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace.3

1 Eph. i. 4, 9, 11; Rom. viii. 30; 2 Tim i. 9; 1 Thess. v. 9. 2 Rom. ix. 11, 13, 16;-(See note 2, Section II. ;) Eph. i. 4, 9.-(See note 1 immediately foregoing.) 3 Eph. i. 6, 12.

VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto.1 Where