The London Baptist Confession of 1689 with Original Preface, Baptist Catechism, and Appendix on Baptism

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London Baptist

Confession of faith

of 1689

with Original Preface,

Baptist Catechism,

and Appendix on Baptism

Put forth by the elders and brethren

of many congregations of Christians

(baptized upon profession of their faith)

in London and the country

THE LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION

Contents

PREFACE ........................................................................................................................................ 3

THE LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION OF 1689

1. Of the Holy Scriptures ....................................................................................................... 7

2. Of God and Of the Holy Trinity ....................................................................................... 9

3. Of God’s Decree ............................................................................................................... 10

4. Of Creation ....................................................................................................................... 11

5. Of Divine Providence ...................................................................................................... 12

6. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof ........................................ 13

7. Of God’s Covenant ........................................................................................................... 14

8. Of Christ the Mediator .................................................................................................... 15

9. Of Free Will ...................................................................................................................... 17

10. Of Effectual Calling ....................................................................................................... 18

11. Of Justification ............................................................................................................... 19

12. Of Adoption .................................................................................................................... 20

13. Of Sanctification ............................................................................................................ 20

14. Of Saving Faith .............................................................................................................. 21

15. Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation ...................................................................... 22

16. Of Good Works ............................................................................................................... 23

17. Of the Perseverance of the Saints ................................................................................ 24

18. Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation .................................................................... 25

19. Of the Law of God .......................................................................................................... 26

20. Of the Gospel, and Of the Extent of the Grace Thereof ............................................ 28

21. Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience ....................................................... 29

22. Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day .............................................................. 30

23.

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows ............................................................................................

24. Of the Civil Magistrate .................................................................................................. 32

25. Of Marriage ..................................................................................................................... 33

26. Of the Church ................................................................................................................. 33

27. Of the Communion of Saints ........................................................................................ 36

28. Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper ............................................................................... 37

29. Of Baptism ...................................................................................................................... 37

30. Of the Lord’s Supper ..................................................................................................... 37

31. Of the State of Man after Death and Of the Resurrection ......................................... 39

32. Of the Last Judgment .................................................................................................... 39

THE BAPTIST CATECHISM ................................................................................................ 42

APPENDIX 1: ON BAPTISM ................................................................................................ 58

APPENDIX 2: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................ 69

The London Baptist Confession with Original Preface, Baptist Catechism, and Appendix on Baptism (item

code lbcw) includes the complete London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 and three other historical

documents: the original preface to the Confession, an important appendix on credo-baptism, and The

Baptist Catechism (1693), for use in teaching Baptist congregations the doctrines of the Confession.

This catechism was updated by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) for use with his own congregation,

which is available from Chapel Library separately as Spurgeon’s Catechism (item code scat). Erroll

Hulse simplified this for children and families, which is available as A Catechism for Boys and Girls

(item code cfba) from Chapel Library. The London Baptist Confession of Faith – 1689 with only the text

of the confession itself (item code lbco) also is available from Chapel Library as a more concise booklet.

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PREFACE

To the judicial and impartial reader—1677

Purpose

Courteous Reader: It is now many years

since divers

of us (with other sober Chris-

tians then living and walking in the way of the Lord that we profess) did conceive our-

selves to be under a necessity of publishing a confession of our faith, for the information

and satisfaction of those that did not thoroughly understand what our principles were,

or had entertained prejudices against our profession, by reason of the strange represen-

tation of them by some men of note who had taken very wrong measures, and according-

ly led others into misapprehension of us and them. This was first put forth about the

year 1643 in the name of seven congregations then gathered in London. Since which

time, divers impressions thereof have been dispersed abroad, and our end proposed in

good measure answered, inasmuch as many (and some of those men eminent both for

piety and learning) were thereby satisfied that we were no way guilty of those heterodox-

ies

and fundamental errors which had too frequently been charged upon us, without

ground or occasion given on our part.

And forasmuch as that Confession is not now commonly to be had, and also that

many others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein, it was judged

necessary by us to join together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adhering

to those wholesome principles by the publication of this which is now in your hand. And

forasmuch as our method and manner of expressing our sentiments in this doth vary

from the former (although the substance of this matter is the same), we shall freely im-

part to you the reason and occasion thereof. One thing that greatly prevailed with us to

undertake this work was not only to give a full account of ourselves to those Christians

that differ from us about the subject of baptism, but also the profit that might from

thence arise unto those that have any account of our labors in their instruction and es-

tablishment in the great truths of the gospel, in the clear understanding and steady be-

lief of which our comfortable walking with God, and fruitfulness before Him in all our

In 1677, it had been 33 years since a former London Confession had been issued (in 1644) by seven

Baptist congregations in London. That document had been drawn up to distinguish the Particular

Baptist churches (who followed the historic evangelical faith of the Reformation) from the Anabap-

tists and the newly forming Arminian Baptists.

divers – several.

heterodoxies – teachings not in accordance with established or accepted doctrines; unorthodox doc-

trines.

4 THE LONDON CONFESSION

ways, is most nearly concerned. Therefore, we did conclude it necessary to express our-

selves the more fully and distinctly, and also to fix on such a method as might be most

comprehensive of those things we designed to explain our sense and belief of.

The Westminster Assembly

Finding no defect in this regard in that fixed on by the Assembly,

and after them by

those of the Congregational way,

we did readily conclude it best to retain the same or-

der in our present Confession. Also, when we observed that those last mentioned did in

their confessions (for reasons which seemed of weight both to themselves and others)

choose not only to express their mind in words concurrent with the former in sense

concerning all those articles wherein they were agreed, but also for the most part with-

out any variation of the terms, we did in like manner conclude it best to follow their ex-

ample in making use of the very same words with them both in these articles (which are

very many) wherein our faith and doctrine are the same with theirs. This we did the

more abundantly to manifest our consent with both in all the fundamental articles of the

Christian religion, as also with many others whose orthodox Confessions have been pub-

lished to the world on the behalf of the Protestant in diverse nations and cities—and also

to convince all that we have no itch to clog religion with new words, but do readily ac-

quiesce in that form of sound words which hath been, in consent with the Holy Scrip-

tures, used by others before us; hereby declaring, before God, angels, and men, our

hearty agreement with them in that wholesome Protestant doctrine which, with so clear

evidence of Scriptures, they have asserted. Some things, indeed, are in some places add-

ed, some terms omitted, and some few changed; but these alterations are of that nature

as that we need not doubt any charge or suspicion of unsoundness in the faith from any

of our brethren upon the account of them.

Small Differences

In those things wherein we differ from others, we have expressed ourselves with all

candor and plainness, that none might entertain jealousy of aught secretly lodged in our

breasts that we would not the world should be acquainted with. Yet, we hope we have

also observed those rules of modesty and humility as will render our freedom in this re-

spect inoffensive, even to those whose sentiments are different from ours.

We have also taken care to affix texts of Scripture at the bottom, for the confirmation

of each article in our Confession, in which work we have studiously endeavored to select

such as are most clear and pertinent for the proof of what is asserted by us. Our earnest

desire is that all into whose hands this may come would follow that (never enough

Westminster Assembly of Divines (1643) – assembly of 121 theologians appointed by the “Puritan”

Long Parliament to make proposals for reforming the Church of England; it produced the Westmin-

ster Confession (1647), the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Directory for Public Worship, and the Form

of Church Government.

An assembly of Congregational theologians and ministers met in 1658 to draft a confession of faith

for the Congregational churches, known as the Savoy Declaration. It is like the Westminster Confession

except for the article on church government.

Preface 5

commended) example of the noble Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily that they

might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not (Act 17:11).

Avoiding Unnecessary Contention

There is one thing more which we sincerely profess and earnestly desire credence in,

viz.,

that contention is most remote from our design in all that we have done in this

matter. We hope that the liberty of an ingenuous

unfolding our principles and opening

our hearts unto our brethren, with the Scripture grounds of our faith and practice, will

by none of them be either denied to us or taken ill from us. Our whole design is accom-

plished if we may have attained that justice, as to be measured in our principles and

practice, and the judgment of both by others, according to what we have now published,

which the Lord (Whose eyes are as a flame of fire) knoweth to be the doctrine which with

our hearts we most firmly believe and sincerely endeavor to conform our lives to.

And oh, that—other contentions being laid asleep—the only care and contention of

all upon whom the name of our blessed Redeemer is called, might for the future be to

walk humbly with their God in the exercise of all love and meekness toward each other;

to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, each one endeavoring to have his conversation

such as becometh the gospel. And also, suitable to his place and capacity, vigorously to

promote in others the practice of true religion and undefiled in the sight of God our Fa-

ther! And that, in this backsliding day, we might not spend our breath in fruitless com-

plaints of the evils of others, but may every one begin at home, to reform in the first

place our own hearts and ways, and then to quicken all that we may have influence upon

to the same work: that if the will of God were so, none might deceive themselves by rest-

ing in and trusting to a form of godliness without the power of it, and inward experience

of the efficacy of those truths that are professed by them.

Family Worship

Verily, there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we can-

not but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the wor-

ship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed.

May not the gross ignorance and instability of many, with the profaneness of others, be

justly charged upon their parents and masters, who have not trained them up in the way

wherein they ought to walk when they were young, but have neglected those frequent

and solemn commands which the Lord hath laid upon them, so to catechise

and in-

struct them that their tender years might be seasoned with the knowledge of the truth of

God as revealed in the Scriptures—and also by their own omission of prayer and other

duties of religion of their families, together with the ill example of their loose conversa-

viz. – Latin: videlicet; “that is to say”; “namely.”

ingenuous – honest; honorably straightforward.

See Free Grace Broadcaster 188, Family Worship; and Family Worship by Merle D’Aubigne (1794-

1872); both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

catechise – to instruct orally by means of questions and answers.

6 THE LONDON CONFESSION

tion,

having inured

them first to a neglect and the contempt of all piety and religion.

We know this will not excuse the blindness and wickedness of any, but certainly it will

fall heavy upon those that have been thus the occasion thereof. They indeed die in their

sins; but will not their blood be required of those under whose care they were, who yet

permitted them to go on without warning—yea, led them into the paths of destruction?

And will not the diligence of Christians with respect to the discharge of these duties in

ages past rise up in judgment against and condemn many of those who would be es-

teemed such now?

Conclusion

We shall conclude with our earnest prayer that the God of all grace will pour out

those measures of His Holy Spirit upon us, that the profession of truth may be accom-

panied with the sound belief and diligent practice of it by us, that His name may in all

things be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

conversation – conduct; way of life.

inured – hardened.

THE LONDON BAPTIST

ONFESSION OF 1689

Chapter 1

Of the Holy Scriptures

1 The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible

rule of all saving

knowledge, faith, and obedience, 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 inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will

which is necessary unto 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 after-

ward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure estab-

lishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice

of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto

writing; which maketh the

Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God’s revealing his will unto

his people being now ceased.

(

2Ti 3:15-17; Isa 8:20; Luk 16:29,31; Eph 2:20;

Rom 1:19-21; 2:14-15;

Psa 19:1-3;

Heb 1:1;

Pro 22:19-21; Rom 15:4; 2Pe 1:19-20)

2 Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all

the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these:

Of the Old Testament

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1

& 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes,

Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Oba-

diah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

Of the New Testament

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philip-

pians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1

& 2 Peter, 1, 2, & 3 John, Jude, Revelation.

All of which are given by the

inspiration of God to be the rule of faith and life. (

2Ti

3:16)

8 THE LONDON CONFESSION

3 The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of

divine inspiration, are no part

of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of

God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings. (

Luk

24:27,44; Rom 3:2)

4 The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, dependeth not

upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon

God (who is truth itself),

the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God. (

2Pe

1:19-21; 2Ti 3:16; 2Th 2:13; 1Jo 5:9)

5 We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to an high and

reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy

of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, 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

man’s salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections

thereof, are arguments whereby it doth abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God;

yet notwithstanding, our

full persuasion 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.

(

Joh 16:13-14; 1Co 2:10-12; 1Jo 2:20,27)

6 The whole counsel of God concerning all things

necessary for his own glory, man’s

salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy

Scripture: unto 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, 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.

(

2Ti 3:15-17; Gal 1:8-9;

Joh 6:45; 1Co 2:9-12;

1Co 11:13-14; 14:26,40)

7 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 ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient

understanding of them. (

2Pe 3:16;

Psa 19:7; 119:130)

8 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

authentic; so as in all controver-

Confession of Faith of 1689 9

sies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.

But because these original

tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in

the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read

and search them, there-

fore 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 ac-

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

(

Rom 3:2;

Isa 8:20;

Act 15:15;

Joh 5:39;

1Co 14:6,9,11-12,24,28;

Col 3:16)

9 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 by other places that speak more clearly. (

2Pe

1:20-21; Act 15:15-16)

10 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

Scripture delivered by the Spirit, into which

Scripture so delivered, our faith is finally

resolved.

(

Mat 22:29,31-32; Eph 2:20; Act 28:23)

Chapter 2

Of God and Of the Holy Trinity

1 The Lord our God is but

one only living and true God; whose

subsistence is in and

of himself,

infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by

any but himself;

a most pure spirit,

invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only

hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is

immu-

table,

immense,

eternal, incomprehensible,

almighty, every way infinite,

most holy,

most wise, most free, most absolute;

working all things according to the counsel of his

own immutable and most righteous will

for his own glory; most loving, gracious, mer-

ciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression,

and sin;

the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just

and terri-

ble in his judgments,

hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the

guilty.

(

1Co 8:4,6; Deu 6:4;

Jer 10:10; Isa 48:12;

Exo 3:14;

Joh 4:24;

1Ti 1:17;

Deu 4:15-16;

Mal 3:6;

1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:23;

Psa 90:2;

Gen 17:1;

Isa 6:3;

Psa 115:3; Isa 46:10;

Pro 16:4; Rom 11:36;

Exo 34:6-7; Heb 11:6;

Neh 9:32-33;

Psa 5:5-6;

Exo 34:7; Nah 1:2-3)

2 God, having all

life,

glory,

goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in and

unto himself all-sufficient, not

standing in need of any creature which he hath made,

nor deriving any glory from them, but only manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and

10 THE LONDON CONFESSION

upon them; he is the alone fountain of all being,

of whom, through whom, and to whom

are all things, and he hath most sovereign

dominion over all creatures, to do by them,

for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight

all things are open

and manifest; his knowledge is

infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, 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; to him is due

from angels and men, whatsoever

worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he

is further pleased to require of them.

(

Joh 5:26;

Psa 148:13;

Psa 119:68;

Job 22:2-3;

Rom 11:34-36;

Dan 4:25,34-35;

Heb 4:13;

Eze 11:5; Act 15:18;

Psa 145:17;

Rev 5:12-14)

3 In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences,

the Father, the Word

or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole

divine essence,

yet the essence undivided: the Father is of none, neither begotten nor

proceeding; the Son is

eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit

proceeding from

the Father and the Son; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is

not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative prop-

erties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our

communion with God, and comfortable dependence on him.

(

1Jo 5:7; Mat 28:19; 2Co 13:14;

Exo 3:14; Joh 14:11;

1Co 8:6;

Joh 1:14,18;

Joh 15:26; Gal 4:6)

Chapter 3

Of God’s Decree

1 God hath

decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of

his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as

thereby is God neither the author of sin

nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is vio-

lence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second

causes taken away, but rather

established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all

things, and power and faithfulness

in accomplishing his decree.

(

Isa 46:10; Eph 1:11; Heb 6:17; Rom 9:15,18;

Jam 1:13; 1Jo 1:5;

Act 4:27-28; Joh 19:11;

Num 23:19; Eph 1:3-5)

2 Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all

supposed

conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything,

because he foresaw it as future, or as that

which would come to pass upon such conditions.

(

Act 15:18;

Rom 9:11,13,16,18)

3 By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory,

some men and angels are

predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the

praise of his

Confession of Faith of 1689 11

glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their

just condemnation, to the

praise of his glorious justice.

(

1Ti 5:21; Mat 25:34;

Eph 1:5-6;

Rom 9:22-23; Jude 4)

4 These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and un-

changeably designed, and their

number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either

increased or diminished. (

2Ti 2:19; Joh 13:18)

5 Those of mankind

that are predestinated to 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 other thing in the creature as a condition or

cause moving him thereunto. (

Eph 1:4,9,11; Rom 8:30; 2Ti 1:9; 1Th 5:9;

Rom 9:13,16; Eph

2:5,12)

6 As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free

purpose of his will, foreordained

all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elect-

ed, being fallen in Adam,

are redeemed by Christ, are effectually

called unto faith in

Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by

his power through faith

unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or

effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect

only.

(

1Pe 1:2; 2Th 2:13;

1Th 5:9-10;

Rom 8:30; 2Th 2:13;

1Pe 1:5;

Joh 10:26, 17:9, 6:64)

7 The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special pru-

dence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding

obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of

their

eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter

of praise, reverence, and ad-

miration of God, and

of humility, diligence, and

abundant consolation to all that sin-

cerely obey the gospel.

(

1Th 1:4-5; 2Pe 1:10;

Eph 1:6; Rom 11:33;

Rom 11:5-6,20;

Luk 10:20)

Chapter 4

Of Creation

1 In the beginning it pleased God the Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifesta-

tion of the glory of

his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the

world, and all things therein,

whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all

very good.

(

Joh 1:2-3; Heb 1:2; Job 26:13;

Rom 1:20;

Col 1:16; Gen 1:31)

12 THE LONDON CONFESSION

2 After God had made all other creatures, he created

man, male and female, with

reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they

were created; being

made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true

holiness; having the law of God

written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet

under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was

subject to change. (

Gen 1:27;

Gen 2:7;

Ecc 7:29; Gen 1:26;

Rom 2:14-15;

Gen 3:6)

3 Besides the law written in their hearts, they received

a command not to eat of the

tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their

communion with God, and had dominion

over the creatures. (

Gen 2:17;

Gen 1:26-28)

Chapter 5

Of Divine Providence

1 God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom doth

uphold,

direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the

least,

by his most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, ac-

cording unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his

own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and

mercy.

(

Heb 1:3; Job 38:11; Isa 46:10-11; Psa 135:6;

Mat 10:29-31;

Eph 1:11)

2 Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all

things come to pass

immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any

by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to

fall out according to the nature of second causes, either

necessarily, freely, or contin-

gently.

(

Act 2:23;

Pro 16:33;

Gen 8:22)

3 God, in his ordinary providence

maketh use of means, yet is free

to work without,

above, and

against them at his pleasure.

(

Act 27:31,44; Isa 55:10-11;

Hos 1:7;

Rom 4:19-21;

Dan 3:27)

4 The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far man-

ifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel

extendeth itself even to

the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare

permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully

boundeth, and otherwise order-

eth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy

ends; yet so, as the sin-

fulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being

most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or

approver of sin.

Confession of Faith of 1689 13

(

Rom 11:32-34; 2Sa 24:1; 1Ch 21:1;

2Ki 19:28; Psa 76:10;

Gen 50:20; Isa 10:6-7,12;

Psa 50:21; 1Jo 2:16)

5 The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his

own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chas-

tise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corrup-

tion and deceitfulness of their hearts,

that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a

more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them

more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So

that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory,

and their

good.

(

2Ch 32:25-26,31; 2Co 12:7-9;

Rom 8:28)

6 As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former

sin doth

blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his

grace, whereby they

might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts;

but sometimes also withdraweth

the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such

objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal,

gives them over to their

own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to

pass that they

harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening

of others.

(

Rom 1:24-26,28; 11:7-8;

Deu 29:4;

Mat 13:12;

Deu 2:30; 2Ki 8:12-13;

Psa 81:11-12; 2Th 2:10-12;

Exo 8:15,32; Isa 6:9-10; 1Pe 2:7-8)

7 As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more spe-

cial manner it taketh care of his

church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.

(

1Ti 4:10; Amo 9:8-9; Isa 43:3-5)

Chapter 6

Of the Fall of Man, of Sin,

and of the Punishment Thereof

1 Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which

had been unto life had he kept it,

and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he

did not long abide in this honour;

Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve,

then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the

law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit,

which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having pur-

posed to order it to his own glory.

14 THE LONDON CONFESSION

(

Gen 2:16-17;

Gen 3:12-13; 2Co 11:3)

2 Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their

original righteousness and communion

with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all:

all becoming dead in sin, and

wholly defiled

in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.

(

Rom 3:23;

Rom 5:12, etc.

Ti 1:15; Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10-19)

3 They being the

root, and by God’s appointment, standing in the room and stead of all

mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their

posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now

conceived in sin,

and by nature children

of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects

of death, and all other

miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus

set them free.

(

Rom 5:12-19; 1Co 15:21-22,45,49;

Psa 51:5; Job 14:4;

Eph 2:3;

Rom 6:20, 5:12;

Heb 2:14-15; 1Th 1:10)

4 From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly

indisposed, disabled, and

made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil,

do proceed all actual trans-

gressions. (

Rom 8:7; Col 1:21;

Jam 1:14-15; Mat 15:19)

5 The corruption of nature, during this life, doth

remain in those that are regenerat-

ed; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the

first motions thereof, are truly and properly

sin.

(

Rom 7:18,23; Ecc 7:20; 1Jo 1:8;

Rom 7:23-25; Gal 5:17)

Chapter 7

Of God’s Covenant

1 The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable

creatures do owe obedience to him as their creator, yet they could never have attained

the reward of life but by some

voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath

been pleased to express by way of covenant.

(

Luk 17:10; Job 35:7-8)

2 Moreover, man having brought himself

under the curse of the law by his fall, it

pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace, wherein he freely offereth unto sinners

life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved;

and

promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life, his Holy Spirit,

to make them willing and able to believe.

(

Gen 2:17; Gal 3:10; Rom 3:20-21;

Rom 8:3; Mar 16:15-16; Joh 3:16;

Eze 36:26-27; Joh 6:44-45; Psa 110:3)

Confession of Faith of 1689 15

3 This covenant is revealed in the gospel; first of all to Adam in the promise of salva-

tion by the

seed of the woman, and afterwards by farther steps, until the full

discovery

thereof was completed in the New Testament; and it is founded in that *eternal covenant

transaction that was between the Father and the Son about the redemption of the elect;

and it is alone by the grace of this covenant that all the posterity of fallen Adam that ever

were

saved did obtain life and blessed immortality, man being now utterly incapable of

acceptance with God upon those terms on which Adam stood in his state of innocency.

(

Gen 3:15;

Heb 1:1;

2Ti 1:9; Ti 1:2;

Heb 11:6,13; Rom 4:1-2, etc.; Act 4:12; Joh 8:56)

Chapter 8

Of Christ the Mediator

1 It pleased God, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only

begotten Son, according to the covenant made between them both,

to be the mediator

between God and man; the

prophet,

priest, and

king; head and saviour of the church,

the heir of all things, and judge of the world; unto whom he did from all eternity

give a

people to be his seed and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and

glorified.

(

Isa 42:1; 1Pe 1:19-20;

Act 3:22;

Heb 5:5-6;

Psa 2:6; Luk 1:33;

Eph 1:22-23; Heb 1:2; Act 17:31;

Isa 53:10; Joh 17:6; Rom 8:30)

2 The Son of God, the second person in the Holy Trinity, being very and eternal God,

the brightness of the Father’s glory, of one substance and equal with him who made the

world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did, when the fullness of

time was come, take upon him

man’s nature, with all the essential properties and com-

mon infirmities thereof,

yet without sin; being conceived by the Holy Spirit in the

womb of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit coming down upon her: and the power of the

Most High overshadowing her;

and so was made of a woman of the tribe of Judah, of the

seed of Abraham and David according to the Scriptures; so that two whole, perfect, and

distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion,

composition, or confusion; which person is very God and very man, yet one

Christ, the

only mediator between God and man.

(

Joh 1:14; Gal 4:4;

Rom 8:3; Heb 2:14,16-17; 4:15; Mat 1:22-23;

Luk 1:27,31,35;

Rom 9:5; 1Ti 2:5)

3 The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the

Son, was sanctified and anointed

with the Holy Spirit above measure, having in Him

all

the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that

all fullness

should dwell, to the end that being

holy, harmless, undefiled, and full

of grace and

16 THE LONDON CONFESSION

truth, he might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and

surety;

which office he took not upon himself, but was thereunto

called by his Father; who also

put

all power and judgement in his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the

same.

(

Psa 45:7; Act 10:38; Joh 3:34;

Col 2:3;

Col 1:19;

Heb 7:26;

Joh 1:14;

Heb 7:22;

Heb 5:5;

Joh 5:22,27; Mat 28:18; Act 2:36)

4 This office the Lord Jesus did most

willingly undertake, which that he might dis-

charge he was made under the law,

and did perfectly fulfil it, and underwent the

pun-

ishment due to us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made

sin and a

curse for us; enduring most grievous sorrows

in his soul, and most painful sufferings in

his body; was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no

cor-

ruption: on the

third day he arose from the dead with the same

body in which he suf-

fered, with which he also

ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his

Father

making intercession, and shall

return to judge men and angels at the end of the

world.

(

Psa 40:7-8; Heb 10:5-10; Joh 10:18;

Gal 4:4; Mat 3:15;

Gal 3:13;

1Sa 53:6; 1Pe 3:18;

2Co 5:21;

Mat 26:37-38; Luk 22:44; Mat 27:46;

Act 13:37;

1Co 15:3-4;

Joh 20:25,27;

Mar 16:19; Act 1:9-11;

Rom 8:34; Heb 9:24;

Act 10:42; Rom 14:9-10; Act 1:11; 2Pe 2:4)

5 The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice of himself, which he through

the eternal Spirit once offered up unto God,

hath fully satisfied the justice of God, pro-

cured reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heav-

en,

for all those whom the Father hath given unto him.

(

Heb 9:14, 10:14; Rom 3:25-26;

Joh 17:2; Heb 9:15)

6 Although the price of redemption was not actually paid by Christ till after his incar-

nation, *yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the elect in

all ages, successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types,

and sacrifices wherein he was revealed, and signified to be the seed which should bruise

the serpent’s head;

and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,

being the

same yesterday, and today and for ever.

(

1Co 10:4; Heb 4:2; 1Pe 1:10-11;

Rev 13:8;

Heb 13:8)

7 Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures, by each nature

doing that which is proper to itself; yet by reason of the unity of the person, that which

is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture, attributed to the person

denominated

by the other nature.

(

Joh 3:13; Act 20:28)

8 To all those for whom Christ hath obtained eternal redemption, he doth certainly

and effectually

apply and communicate the same, making intercession for them; uniting

Confession of Faith of 1689 17

them to himself by his Spirit,

revealing unto them, in and by his Word, the mystery of

salvation, persuading them to believe and obey,

governing their hearts by his Word and

Spirit, and

overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such

manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and

unsearchable dispensa-

tion; and all of free and absolute grace, without any condition foreseen in them to pro-

cure it.

(

Joh 6:37; 10:15-16; 17:9; Rom 5:10;

Joh 17:6; Eph 1:9; 1Jo 5:20;

Rom 8:9,14;

Psa 110:1; 1Co 15:25-26;

Joh 3:8; Eph 1:8)

9 This office of mediator between God and man is proper

only to Christ, who is the

prophet, priest, and king of the church of God; and may not be either in whole, or any

part thereof, transferred from him to any other.

(

1Ti 2:5)

10 This number and order of offices is necessary; for in respect of our

ignorance, we

stand in need of his prophetical office; and in respect of our alienation from God,

and

imperfection of the best of our services, we need his priestly office to reconcile us and

present us acceptable unto God; and in respect to our averseness and utter inability to

return to God, and for our rescue and security from our spiritual adversaries, we need

his kingly office

to convince, subdue, draw, uphold, deliver, and preserve us to his heav-

enly kingdom.

(

Joh 1:18;

Col 1:21; Gal 5:17;

Joh 16:8; Psa 110:3; Luk 1:74-75)

Chapter 9

Of Free Will

1 God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon

choice, that it is

neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or

evil.

(

Mat 17:12; Jam 1:14; Deu 30:19)

2 Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that

which

was good and well-pleasing to God, but yet

was mutable, so that he might fall from it.

(

Ecc 7:29;

Gen 3:6)

3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost

all ability of will to any spiritual

good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that

good,

and dead in sin, is not able by his own strength to

convert himself, or to prepare

himself thereunto.

18 THE LONDON CONFESSION

(

Rom 5:6, 8:7;

Eph 2:1,5;

Ti 3:3-5; Joh 6:44)

4 When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace,

he freeth

him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone enables him

freely to

will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his

remaining

corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only will, that which is good, but doth also will

that which is evil.

(

Col 1:13; Joh 8:36;

Phi 2:13;

Rom 7:15,18-19,21,23)

5 This will of man is made

perfectly and immutably free to good alone in the state of

glory only. (

Eph 4:13)

Chapter 10

Of Effectual Calling

1 Those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he is pleased in his appointed and ac-

cepted time,

effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death

in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation

by Jesus Christ; enlightening their

minds spiritually and savingly to

understand the things of God; taking away their

heart

of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his almighty

power determining them

to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus

Christ; yet so as they come

most freely, being made willing by his grace.

(

Rom 8:30; 11:7; Eph 1:10-11; 2Th 2:13-14;

Eph 2:1-6;

Act 26:18; Eph 1:17-18;

Eze 36:26;

Deu 30:6; Eze 36:27; Eph 1:19;

Psa 110:3; Song 1:4)

2 This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone,

not from anything at all

foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature, coworking with his spe-

cial grace,

the creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses,

until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit; he is thereby enabled to answer

this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no less

power

than that which raised up Christ from the dead.

(

2Ti 1:9; Eph 2:8;

1Co 2:14; Eph 2:5; Joh 5:25;

Eph 1:19-20)

3 Elect infants dying in infancy are

regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spir-

it; who worketh when, and where, and

how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who

are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. (

Joh 3:3,5-6;

Joh

3:8)

4 Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,

and

may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the

Father, they neither will nor can truly

come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:

Confession of Faith of 1689 19

much less can men that receive not the Christian religion

be saved; be they never so

diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion

they do profess.

(

Mat 22:14, 13:20-21; Heb 6:4-5;

Joh 6:44-45,65;

1Jo 2:24-25;

Act 4:12; Joh 4:22; 17:3)

Chapter 11

Of Justification

1 Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely

justifieth, not by infusing right-

eousness into them, but by

pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their

persons as

righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for

Christ’s sake alone; not by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other

evan-

gelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing Christ’s active obedi-

ence unto the whole law, and passive obedience in his death for their whole and sole

righteousness, they

receiving and resting on him and his righteousness, by faith, which

faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift of God.

(

Rom 3:24, 8:30;

Rom 4:5-8; Eph 1:7;

1Co 1:30-31; Rom 5:17-19;

Phi 3:8-9; Eph 2:8-10;

Joh 1:12; Rom 5:17)

2 Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the

alone in-

strument of justification; yet it is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompa-

nied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith,

but worketh by love.

(

Rom 3:28;

Gal 5:6; Jam 2:17,22,26)

3 Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are

justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their

stead the penalty due unto them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction

to God’s jus-

tice in their behalf; yet, inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedi-

ence and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both

freely, not for anything in them,

their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God

might be

glorified in the justification of sinners.

(

Heb 10:14; 1Pe 1:18-19; Isa 53:5-6;

Rom 8:32; 2Co 5:21;

Rom 3:26; Eph 1:6-7, 2:7)

4 God did from all eternity decree to

justify all the elect, and Christ did in the fullness

of time die for their sins, and rise

again for their justification; nevertheless, they are not

justified personally, until the Holy Spirit doth in time due

actually apply Christ unto

them.

(

Gal 3:8; 1Pe 1:2; 1Ti 2:6;

Rom 4:25;

Col 1:21-22; Ti 3:4-7)

20 THE LONDON CONFESSION

5 God doth continue to

forgive the sins of those that are justified, and although they

can never fall from the state of

justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s

fatherly displeasure; and in that condition they have not usually the light of his counte-

nance restored unto them, until they

humble themselves, confess their sins, beg par-

don, and renew their faith and repentance.

(

Mat 6:12; 1Jo 1:7,9;

Joh 10:28

Psa 89:31-33;

Psa 32:5; Psa 51; Mat 26:75)

6 The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects,

one

and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.

(

Gal 3:9; Rom 4:22-24)

Chapter 12

Of Adoption

All those that are justified, God vouchsafed, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus

Christ, to make partakers of the grace

of adoption, by which they are taken into the

number, and enjoy the liberties and

privileges of the children of God, have his

name

put upon them,

receive the spirit of adoption,

have access to the throne of grace with

boldness, are enabled to cry “Abba, Father,” are

pitied,

protected,

provided for, and

chastened by him as by a Father, yet never

cast off, but sealed

to the day of redemption,

and inherit the promises

as heirs of everlasting salvation.

(

Eph 1:5; Gal 4:4-5;

Joh 1:12; Rom 8:17;

2Co 6:18; Rev 3:12;

Rom 8:15;

Gal 4:6; Eph 2:18;

Psa 103:13;

Pro 14:26;

1Pe 5:7;

Heb 12:6;

Isa 54:8-9; Lam 3:31;

Eph 4:30;

Heb 1:14; 6:12)

Chapter 13

Of Sanctification

1 They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new

heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrec-

tion, are also

farther sanctified, really and personally, through the same virtue,

by His

Word and Spirit dwelling in them;

the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,

and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified, and they more

and more quickened and

strengthened in all saving graces, to the

practice of all true

holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

(

Act 20:32; Rom 6:5-6;

Joh 17:17; Eph 3:16-19; 1Th 5:21-23;

Rom 6:14;

Gal 5:24;

Col 1:11;

2Co 7:1; Heb 12:14)

Confession of Faith of 1689 21

2 This sanctification is

throughout the whole man, yet imperfect

in this life; there

abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part, whence ariseth a

continual and

irreconcilable war; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.

(

1Th 5:23;

Rom 7:18,23;

Gal 5:17; 1Pe 2:11)

3 In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much

prevail, yet

through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the

re-

generate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the

fear of God,

pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the com-

mands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them.

(

Rom 7:23;

Rom 6:14;

Eph 4:15-16; 2Co 3:18, 7:1)

Chapter 14

Of Saving Faith

1 The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their

souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ

in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the

ministry of the

Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the

Lord’s Supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased

and strength-

ened.

(

2Co 4:13; Eph 2:8;

Rom 10:14,17;

Luk 17:5; 1Pe 2:2; Act 20:32)

2 By this faith a Christian believeth to be true *whatsoever is revealed in the Word for

the authority of God himself, and also apprehendeth an excellency therein

above all oth-

er writings and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes,

the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy

Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to

cast his soul upon the truth

thus believed; and also acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof

containeth; yielding obedience to the

commands, trembling at the

threatenings, and

embracing the

promises of God for this life and that which is to come; but the principal

acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting

upon

him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the cove-

nant of grace.

(

Act 24:14;

Psa 19:7-10; 119:72;

2Ti 1:12;

Joh 15:14;

Isa 66:2;

Heb 11:13;

Joh 1:12; Act 16:31; Gal 2:20; Act 15:11)

3 This faith, although it be different in degrees, and may be weak

or strong, yet it is in

the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace,

from the faith

and common grace of temporary believers; and therefore, though it may

be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets

the victory, growing up in many to the

22 THE LONDON CONFESSION

attainment of a full

assurance through Christ, who is both the author

and finisher of

our faith.

(

Heb 5:13-14; Mat 6:30; Rom 4:19-20;

2Pe 1:1;

Eph 6:16; 1Jo 5:4-5;

Heb 6:11-12; Col 2:2;

Heb 12:2)

Chapter 15

Of Repentance unto Life

and Salvation

1 Such of the elect as are converted at riper years, having

sometime lived in the state

of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their effectual calling

giveth them repentance unto life. (

Ti 3:2-5)

2 Whereas there is none that doth good and sinneth

not, and the best of men may,

through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the

prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins and provocations; God hath, in the cove-

nant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling

be renewed

through repentance unto salvation.

(

Ecc 7:20;

Luk 22:31-32)

3 This saving repentance is an

evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy

Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by faith in Christ, humble

himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrency,

praying for par-

don and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavour, by supplies of the Spirit, to

walk before God unto all well-pleasing in all things.

(

Zec 12:10; Act 11:18;

Eze 36:31; 2Co 7:11;

Psa 119:6,128)

4 As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the ac-

count of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man’s duty to repent of

his

particular known sins particularly.

(

Luk 19:8; 1Ti 1:13,15)

5 Such is the provision which God hath made through Christ in the covenant of grace

for the preservation of believers unto salvation; that although there is no sin so small

but it deserves

damnation; yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation on

them that

repent; which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary.

(

Rom 6:23;

Isa 1:16-18, 55:7)

Confession of Faith of 1689 23

Chapter 16

Of Good Works

1 Good works are only such as God hath

commanded in his Holy Word, and not such

as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal,

or upon any pre-

tence of good intentions.

(

Mic 6:8; Heb 13:21;

Mat 15:9; Isa 29:13)

2 These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and

evidences

of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their

thankfulness,

strengthen their

assurance, edify their

brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,

stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify

God, whose workmanship they are, cre-

ated in Christ Jesus

thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the

end

eternal life.

(

Jam 2:18,22;

Psa 116:12-13;

1Jo 2:3,5; 2Pe 1:5-11;

Mat 5:16;

1Ti 6:1; 1Pe 2:15; Phi 1:11;

Eph 2:10;

Rom 6:22)

3 Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit

of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already

received, there is necessary and

actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in

them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent,

as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spir-

it, but they ought to be diligent in

stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

(

Joh 15:4-5;

2Co 3:5; Phi 2:13;

Phi 2:12; Heb 6:11-12; Isa 64:7)

4 They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this

life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as

that

they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.

(

Job 9:2-3; Gal 5:17; Luk 17:10)

5 We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God,

by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the

infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor

satisfy for the debt of our

former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done

but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed

from his

Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled

and mixed with so much

weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.

(

Rom 3:20; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 4:6;

Gal 5:22-23;

Isa 64:6; Psa 143:2)

6 Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their

good works also are accepted in

him; not as though they were in this life wholly un-

24 THE LONDON CONFESSION

blameable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is

pleased to accept and reward that which is

sincere, although accompanied with many

weaknesses and imperfections.

(

Eph 1:6; 1Pe 2:5;

Mat 25:21,23; Heb 6:10)

7 Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be

things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and

others; yet be-

cause they proceed not from a heart purified by

faith, nor are done in a right manner

according to the

Word, nor to a right end, the

glory of God, they are therefore sinful,

and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from

God, and yet their

neglect of them is more sinful and

displeasing to God.

(

2Ki 10:30; 1Ki 21:27,29;

Gen 4:5; Heb 11:4,6;

1Co 13:1;

Mat 6:2,5;

Amo 5:21-22; Rom 9:16; Ti 3:5;

Job 21:14-15; Mat 25:41-43)

Chapter 17

Of the Perseverance

of the Saints

1 Those whom God hath accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by

his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally

fall from the state of grace,

but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eter-

nally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, whence 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; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of

Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and ob-

scured from

them, yet he is still the same,

and they shall be sure to be kept by the pow-

er of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being

engraven upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book

of life from all eternity.

(

Joh 10:28-29; Phi 1:6; 2Ti 2:19; 1Jo 2:19;

Psa 89:31-32; 1Co 11:32;

Mal 3:6)

2 This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the

immutability of the decree of

election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of

God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ

and un-

ion with him, the

oath of God, the abiding of his Spirit, and the

seed of God within

them, and the nature of the

covenant of grace; from all which ariseth also the certainty

and infallibility thereof.

Confession of Faith of 1689 25

(

Rom 8:30; 9:11,16;

Rom 5:9-10; Joh 14:19;

Heb 6:17-18;

1Jo 3:9;

Jer 32:40)

3 And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the preva-

lency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation,

fall into grievous

sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur

God’s dis-

pleasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and

comforts impaired,

have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded,

hurt and scandalize others,

and bring temporal judgments

upon themselves, yet shall they renew their

repentance

and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.

(

Mat 26:70,72,74;

Isa 64:5,9; Eph 4:30;

Psa 51:10,12;

Psa 32:3-4;

2Sa 12:14;

Luk 22:32,61-62)

Chapter 18

Of the Assurance of Grace

and Salvation

1 Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive

themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and

state of salvation,

which hope of theirs shall perish; yet such as truly believe in the Lord

Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him,

may in this life be certainly assured

that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice

in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them

ashamed.

(

Job 8:13-14; Mat 7:22-23;

1Jo 2:3; 3:14,18-19,21,24; 5:13;

Rom 5:2,5)

2 This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon

fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness

of Christ

revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward

evidence of those graces of

the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the

Spirit of adoption,

witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping

the heart both

humble and holy.

(

Heb 6:11,19;

Heb 6:17-18;

2Pe 1:4-5,10-11;

Rom 8:15-16;

1Jo 3:1-3)

3 This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true

believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be

partaker of it; yet

being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he

may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means,

attain thereunto: and

therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election

sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love

26 THE LONDON CONFESSION

and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience,

the proper

fruits of this assurance; so far is it

from inclining men to looseness.

(

Isa 50:10; Psa 88; 77:1-12;

1Jo 4:13; Heb 6:11-12;

Rom 5:1-2,5; 14:17; Psa 119:32;

Rom 6:1-2; Ti 2:11-12,14)

4 True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, dimin-

ished, and intermitted; as

by negligence in preserving of it, by

falling into some special

sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or

vehe-

ment temptation, by God’s withdrawing the

light of his countenance, and suffering even

such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of

the

seed of God and life

of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of

heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance

may in due time be

revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are

preserved

from utter despair.

(

Song 5:2-3,6;

Psa 51:8,12,14;

Psa 116:11; 77:7-8; 31:22;

Psa 30:7;

1Jo 3:9;

Luk 22:32;

Psa 42:5,11;

Lam 3:26-31)

Chapter 19

Of the Law of God

1 God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience

written in his heart, and a particular

precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he

bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual

obedience;

promised life upon the fulfilling, and

threatened death upon the breach of it, and en-

dued him with power and ability to keep it.

(

Gen 1:27; Ecc 7:29;

Rom 10:5;

Gal 3:10,12)

2 The same law that was first written in the heart of man

continued to be a perfect

rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in

ten

commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards

God, and the other six our duty to man.

(

Rom 2:14-15;

Deu 10:4)

3 Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of

Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship,

prefig-

uring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers

instructions

of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time

of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was fur-

nished with power from the Father for that end,

abrogated and taken away.

(

Heb 10:1; Col 2:17;

1Co 5:7;

Col 2:14,16-17; Eph 2:14,16)

Confession of Faith of 1689 27

4 To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of

that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general

equity only

being of moral use. (

1Co 9:8-10)

5 The moral law doth for ever bind all,

as well justified persons as others, to the obedi-

ence thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect

of the

authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any

way dissolve,

but much strengthen this obligation.

(

Rom 13:8-10; Jam 2:8,10-12;

Jam 2:10-11;

Mat 5:17-19; Rom 3:31)

6 Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works,

to be thereby

justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule

of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to

walk accordingly;

discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and

lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, hu-

miliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have

of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to re-

strain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew

what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them,

although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise

shew them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon

the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works;

so as man’s doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one

and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being

under the law and not under

grace.

(

Rom 6:14; Gal 2:16; Rom 8:1; 10:4;

Rom 3:20; 7:7; etc.;

Rom 6:12-14; 1Pe 3:8-13)

7 Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law

contrary to the grace of the Gospel,

but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing

and enabling the will of

man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth

to be done.

(

Gal 3:21;

Eze 36:27)

28 THE LONDON CONFESSION

Chapter 20

Of the Gospel, and Of the

Extent of the Grace Thereof

1 The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was

pleased to give forth the promise of Christ,

the seed of the woman, as the means of call-

ing the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the

gospel, as

to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and sal-

vation of sinners.

(

Gen 3:15;

Rev 13:8)

2 This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by

the Word of God;

neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature,

make discovery

of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that

men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel,

should be enabled

thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.

(

Rom 1:17;

Rom 10:14-15,17;

Pro 29:18; Isa 25:7; 60:2-3)

3 The revelation of the gospel unto sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts,

with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the

nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the

sovereign will and good

pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of

men’s natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever

did

make, or can do so; and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been

granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety,

according to the counsel of the will of God.

(

Psa 147:20; Act 16:7;

Rom 1:18-32)

4 Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace,

and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses

may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual

insuperable

work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a

new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect

their conversion unto God.

(

Psa 110:3; 1Co 2:14; Eph 1:19-20;

Joh 6:44; 2Co 4:4,6)

Confession of Faith of 1689 29

Chapter 21

Of Christian Liberty and

Liberty of Conscience

1 The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in

their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the rigour and

curse

of the law, and in their being delivered from this present evil

world, bondage to

Satan,

and dominion

of sin, from the

evil of afflictions, the fear and sting

of death, the victory

of the grave, and

everlasting damnation: as also in their

free access to God, and their

yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear,

but a child-like love and willing

mind. All which were common also to believers under the law

for the substance of

them; but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their

freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected,

and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of

the

free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.

(

Gal 3:13;

Gal 1:4;

Act 26:18;

Rom 8:3;

Rom 8:28;

1Co 15:54-57;

2Th 1:10;

Rom 8:15;

Luk 1:73-75; 1Jo 4:18;

Gal 3:9,14;

Joh 7:38-39; Heb 10:19-21)

2 God alone is

Lord of the conscience, and hath left it free from the doctrines and

commandments of men

which are in any thing contrary to his Word, or not contained

in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience,

is to

betray true liberty of conscience; and the requiring of an

implicit faith, an absolute and

blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.

(

Jam 4:12; Rom 14:4;

Act 4:19; 5:29; 1Co 7:23; Mat 15:9;

Col 2:20,22-23;

1Co 3:5; 2Co 1:24)

3 They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful

lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel

to their own

destruction, so they wholly destroy

the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being de-

livered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in ho-

liness and righteousness before him, all the days of our lives.

(

Rom 6:1-2;

Gal 5:13; 2Pe 2:18,21)

30 THE LONDON CONFESSION

Chapter 22

Of Religious Worship

and the Sabbath Day

1 The light of nature shews that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over

all; is just, good and doth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised,

called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul,

and with all the

might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is

instituted by himself, and

so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the im-

agination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representa-

tions, or

any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.

(

Jer 10:7; Mar 12:33;

Deu 12:32;

Exo 20:4-6)

2 Religious worship is to be given to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to him

alone; not to angels, saints, or any other

creatures; and since the fall, not without a

mediator, nor in the mediation of any other but

Christ alone.

(

Mat 4:9-10; Joh 4:23; Mat 28:19;

Rom 1:25;

Col 2:18; Rev 19:10;

Joh 14:6;

1Ti 2:5)

3 Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of

all men. But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the

name of the Son, by the

help

of the Spirit, according to

his will; with understanding, reverence, humility, fer-

vency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a

known tongue.

(

Psa 95:1-7; 65:2;

Joh 14:13-14;

Rom 8:26;

1Jo 5:14;

1Co 14:16-17)

4 Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living,

or that shall

live hereafter; but not

for the dead, nor for those of whom it may be known that they

have sinned

the sin unto death.

(

1Ti 2:1-2; 2Sa 7:29;

2Sa 12:21-23;

1Jo 5:16)

5 The

reading of the Scriptures, preaching, and

hearing the Word of God, teaching

and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace

in our hearts to

the Lord; as also the administration

of baptism, and

the Lord’s supper,

are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with un-

derstanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear; moreover, solemn humiliation,

with fast-

ings, and thanksgivings, upon

special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and

religious manner.

(

1Ti 4:13;

2Ti 4:2; Luk 8:18;

Col 3:16; Eph 5:19;

Mat 28:19-20;

1Co 11:26;

Est 4:16; Joel 2:12;

Exo 15:1-19, Psa 107)

Confession of Faith of 1689 31

6 Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the gospel, tied

unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is

performed, or towards which

it is directed; but God is to be worshipped everywhere in spirit and in truth; as in

private

families

daily, and

in secret each one by himself; so more solemnly in the public assem-

blies, which are not carelessly nor wilfully to be

neglected or forsaken, when God by his

Word or providence calleth thereunto.

(

Joh 4:21; Mal 1:11; 1Ti 2:8;

Act 10:2;

Mat 6:11; Psa 55:17;

Mat 6:6;

Heb 10:25; Act 2:42)

7 As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God’s appointment,

be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual

commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in

seven for a

sabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world to

the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of

Christ was changed into the first day of the week,

which is called the Lord’s Day: and is

to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the

last day of the week being abolished.

(

Exo 20:8;

1Co 16:1-2; Act 20:7; Rev 1:10)

8 The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of

their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy

rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment

and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises

of his worship, and in the duties

of necessity and mercy.

(

Isa 58:13; Neh 13:15-22;

Mat 12:1-13)

Chapter 23

Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

1 A lawful oath is a part of religious worship,

wherein the person swearing in truth,

righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he sweareth,

and

to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.

(

Exo 20:7; Deu 10:20; Jer 4:2;

2Ch 6:22-23)

2 The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be

used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious

and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be

abhorred;

yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth,

and ending all strife,

an oath is warranted by the Word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed

by lawful au-

thority in such matters, ought to be taken.

32 THE LONDON CONFESSION

(

Mat 5:34,37; Jam 5:12;

Heb 6:16, 2Co 1:23;

Neh 13:25)

3 Whosoever taketh an oath warranted by the Word of God, ought duly to consider the

weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knoweth to

be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the

Lord is provoked, and for them this

land mourns. (

Lev 19:12; Jer 23:10)

4 An oath is to be taken in the plain and

common sense of the words, without equivo-

cation or mental reservation. (

Psa 24:4)

5 A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone,

is to be made and

performed with all religious care and faithfulness; but popish monastical vows

of per-

petual single life, professed

poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being de-

grees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious

and sinful snares, in which no

Christian may entangle himself. (

Psa 76:11; Gen 28:20-22;

1Co 7:2,9;

Eph 4:28;

Mat

19:11)

Chapter 24

Of the Civil Magistrate

1 God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil

magistrates to

be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good; and to this end

hath armed them with the power of the sword, for defence and encouragement of them

that do good, and for the punishment of evil doers. (

Rom 13:1-4)

2 It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called

there unto; in the management whereof, as they ought especially to maintain

justice

and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth, so for

that end they may lawfully now, under the New Testament

wage war upon just and nec-

essary occasions. (

2Sa 23:3; Psa 82:3-4;

Luk 3:14)

3 Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful

things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath,

but for conscience sake;and we ought 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 god-

liness and honesty.

(

Rom 13:5-7; 1Pe 2:17;

1Ti 2:1-2)

Confession of Faith of 1689 33

Chapter 25

Of Marriage

1 Marriage is to be between one man and one woman;

neither is it lawful for any man

to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the

same time. (

Gen 2:24; Mal 2:15; Mat 19:5-6)

2 Marriage was ordained for the mutual help

of husband and wife,

for the increase of

mankind with a legitimate issue, and the

preventing of uncleanness. (

Gen 2:18;

Gen

1:28;

1Co 7:2,9)

3 It is lawful for

all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their

consent; yet it is the duty of Christians

to marry in the Lord; and therefore such as pro-

fess the true religion, should not marry with infidels,

or idolaters; neither should such

as are godly, be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are wicked in their life, or

maintain damnable heresy. (

Heb 13:4; 1Ti 4:3;

1Co 7:39;

Neh 13:25-27)

4 Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity

or affinity, forbidden

in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful, by any law of man

or consent of parties,

so as those persons may live together as man and wife. (

Lev 18;

Mar 6:18; 1Co 5:1)

Chapter 26

Of the Church

1 The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the

Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole

number of the

elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof;

and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (

Heb 12:23; Col 1:18;

Eph 1:10,22-23; 5:23,27,32)

2 All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience

unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors

everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation,

are and may be called visible

saints;

and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.

(

1Co 1:2; Act 11:26;

Rom 1:7; Eph 1:20-22)

3 The purest churches under heaven are subject

to mixture and error; and some have

so degenerated as to become

no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; neverthe-

34 THE LONDON CONFESSION

less Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a

kingdom in this world, to the end

thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.

(

1Co 5; Rev 2-3;

Rev 18:2; 2Th 2:11-12;

Mat 16:18; Psa 72:17; 102:28; Rev 12:17)

4 The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the

Father,

all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is in-

vested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense

be head thereof, but is

that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that ex-

alteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord

shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

(

Col 1:18; Mat 28:18-20; Eph 4:11-12;

2Th 2:2-9)

5 In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth

out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his Word, by his Spirit,

those

that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the

ways of

obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his Word. Those thus called, he com-

mandeth to walk together in particular societies, or

churches, for their mutual edifica-

tion, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the

world. (

Joh 10:16;

Joh 12:32; Mat 28:20;

Mat 18:15-20)

6 The members of these churches are

saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evi-

dencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ;

and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giv-

ing up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God,

in professed sub-

jection to the ordinances of the Gospel. (

Rom 1:7; 1Co 1:2;

Act 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 2Co

9:13)

7 To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his

Word, he hath given all that

power and authority, which is in any way needful for their

carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to

observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that

power.

(

Mat 18:17-18; 1Co 5:4-5; 5:13; 2Co 2:6-8)

8 A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of

Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be cho-

sen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration

of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls

them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are

bishops or elders, and deacons.

(

Act 20:17,28; Phi 1:1)

Confession of Faith of 1689 35

9 The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Ho-

ly Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto

by the common

suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and pray-

er, with imposition of hands of the

eldership of the church, if there be any before consti-

tuted therein; and of a deacon

that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by

prayer, and the like imposition of hands. (

Act 14:23;

1Ti 4:14;

Act 6:3,5-6)

10 The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches,

in the ministry of the Word and prayer,

with watching for their souls, as they that must

give an account to him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not on-

ly to give them all due respect,

but also to communicate to them of all their good things

according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being

themselves

entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising

hospitali-

ty towards others; and this is required by the

law of nature, and by the express order of

our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the gospel should live of the

gospel.

(

Act 6:4; Heb 13:17;

1Ti 5:17-18; Gal 6:6-7;

2Ti 2:4;

1Ti 3:2;

1Co 9:6-14)

11 Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in

preaching the Word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the Word is not so pecu-

liarly confined to them but that others also

gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and

approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it. (

Act 11:19-21; 1Pe 4:10-

11)

12 As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where

they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church,

are also

under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ. (

1Th 5:14; 2Th 3:6,14-15)

13 No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty

required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-

order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any

ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait

upon Christ,

in the further proceeding of the church. (

Mat 18:15-17; Eph 4:2-3)

14 As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to

pray continually for the

good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to

further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their

gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may

enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold

communion among themselves,

for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.

(

Eph 6:18; Psa 122:6;

Rom 16:1-2; 3Jo 8-10)

36 THE LONDON CONFESSION

15 In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration,

wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace,

union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by

any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind

of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers,

meet to consider,

and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be re-

ported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not in-

trusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the

churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or

to impose their determination on the churches or officers. (

Act 15:2,4,6,22-23,25;

2Co

1:24; 1Jo 4:1)

Chapter 27

Of the Communion of Saints

1 All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although

they are not made thereby one person with him, have

fellowship in his graces, suffer-

ings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they

have

communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such

duties, public and private, in an orderly way,

as do conduce to their mutual good, both

in the inward and outward man.

(

1Jo 1:3; Joh 1:16; Phi 3:10; Rom 6:5-6;

Eph 4:15-16; 1Co 12:7; 3:21-23;

1Th 5:11,14; Rom 1:12; 1Jo 3:17-18; Gal 6:10)

2 Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the

worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services

as tend to their mutual

edification; as also in relieving each other in

outward things according to their several

abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though

especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in

fami-

lies, or

churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household

of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; never-

theless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or

infringe the

title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.

(

Heb 10:24-25; 3:12-13;

Act 11:29-30;

Eph 6:4;

1Co 12:14-27;

Act 5:4; Eph 4:28)

Confession of Faith of 1689 37

Chapter 28

Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

1 Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution,

appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church

to the end

of the world. (

Mat 28:19-20; 1Co 11:26)

2 These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and

thereunto called, according

to the commission of Christ.

(

Mat 28:19; 1Co 4:1)

Chapter 29

Of Baptism

1 Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto

the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death

and resurrection; of

his being engrafted into him; of

remission of sins; and of

giving up into God, through

Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. (

Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; Gal 3:27;

Mar 1:4;

Act 22:16;

Rom 6:4)

2 Those who do actually profess

repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to,

our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance. (

Mar 16:16; Act

8:36-37; 2:41; 8:12; 18:8)

3 The outward element to be used in this ordinance

is water, wherein the party is to be

baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (

Mat 28:19-

20; Act 8:38)

4 Immersion, or dipping of the person

in water, is necessary to the due administration

of this ordinance. (

Mat 3:16; Joh 3:23)

Chapter 30

Of the Lord’s Supper

1 The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was

betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual

remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death,

confirmation of

38 THE LONDON CONFESSION

the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth

in him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe to him;

and to be a

bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.

(

1Co 11:23-26;

1Co 10:16-17,21)

2 In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at

all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that

one offering up

of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all

possible

praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is

most abominable, injurious to Christ’s own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the

sins of the elect. (

Heb 9:25-26,28;

1Co 11:24; Mat 26:26-27)

3 The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the

elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use,

and to take and break the bread; to take the cup,

and, they communicating also them-

selves, to give both to the communicants. (

1Co 11:23-26, etc.)

4 The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up,

or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious

use,

are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ. (

Mat 26:26-28; 15:9; Exo 20:4-5)

5 The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ,

have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively,

they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the

body

and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only

bread and wine, as they were before. (

1Co 11:27;

1Co 11:26,28)

6 That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the

substance of Christ’s body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecra-

tion of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture

alone, but even to

common sense and reason, overthroweth the

nature of the ordinance, and hath been,

and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.

(

Act 3:21; Luk 24:6,39;

1Co 11:24-25)

7 Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do

then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spirit-

ually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified,

and all the benefits of his death; the body

and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the

faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward

senses.

(

1Co 10:16; 11:23-26)

Confession of Faith of 1689 39

8 All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion

with

Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord’s table, and cannot, without great sin against

him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries,

or be admitted thereunto;

yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord,

eating and drinking judgment to themselves.

(

2Co 6:14-15;

1Co 11:29; Mat 7:6)

Chapter 31

Of the State of Man after Death and

Of the Resurrection of the Dead

1 The bodies of men after death return to dust,

and see corruption; but their souls,

which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately

return to

God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are

received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light

and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked

are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to

the

judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bod-

ies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.

(

Gen 3:19; Act 13:36;

Ecc 12:7;

Luk 23:43; 2Co 5:1,6,8;

Phi 1:23; Heb 12:3;

Jude 1:6-7; 1Pe 3:19; Luk 16:23-24)

2 At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be

changed;

and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and

none other; although

with different

qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.

(

1Co 15:51-52; 1Th 4:17;

Job 19:26-27;

1Co 15:42-43)

3 The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the

bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour,

and be made conformable to his own glo-

rious body.

(

Act 24:15; Joh 5:28-29; Phi 3:21)

Chapter 32

Of the Last Judgment

1 God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by

Jesus

Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only

40 THE LONDON CONFESSION

the

apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the

earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ,

to give an account of their thoughts,

words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether

good or evil.

(

Act 17:31; Joh 5:22,27;

1Co 6:3; Jude 1:6;

2Co 5:10;

Ecc 12:14; Mat 12:36; Rom 14:10,12; Mat 25:32-46)

2 The end of God’s appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mer-

cy, in the eternal salvation of the elect;

and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of

the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into ever-

lasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the

presence

of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Je-

sus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and

punished with everlasting

destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

(

Rom 9:22-23;

Mat 25:21,34; 2Ti 4:8;

Mat 25:46; Mar 9:48; 2Th 1:7-10)

3 As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judg-

ment, both

to deter all men from sin, and for the greater

consolation of the godly in

their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all car-

nal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the

Lord will

come, and may ever be prepared to say,

Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.

(

2Co 5:10-11;

2Th 1:5-7;

Mar 13:35-37; Luk 12:35-40;

Rev 22:20)



We, the ministers and messengers of, and concerned for, upwards of one hundred

baptized congregations in England and Wales (denying Arminianism

), being met to-

gether in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same,

1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of

these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that

differ from us in the point of baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of

our faith, which confession we own as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice,

and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves

therewith,

Arminianism – system of doctrine taught by Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), Dutch theologian. He

rejected the Reformers’ understanding of salvation by God’s sovereign election, teaching instead

that God’s election of individuals was based on His foreknowledge of their accepting or rejecting

Christ by their own free will.

Confession of Faith of 1689 41

Hanserd Knollys Pastor Broken Wharf London

William Kiffin Pastor Devonshire-square London

John Harris Pastor Joiner's Hall London

William Collins Pastor Petty France London

Hercules Collins Pastor Wapping London

Robert Steed Pastor Broken Wharf London

Leonard Harrison Pastor Limehouse London

George Barret Pastor Mile End Green London

Isaac Lamb Pastor Pennington-street London

Richard Adams Minister Shad Thames Southwark

Benjamin Keach Pastor Horse-lie-down Southwark

Andrew Gifford Pastor Bristol, Fryars Som. & Glouc.

Thomas Vaux Pastor Broadmead Som. & Glouc.

Thomas Winnel Pastor Taunton Som. & Glouc.

James Hitt Preacher Dalwood Dorset

Richard Tidmarsh Minister Oxford City Osen

William Facey Pastor Reading Berks

Samuel Buttall Minister Plymouth Devon

Christopher Price Minister Abergavenny Monmouth

Daniel Finch Minister Kingsworth Herts

John Ball Minister Tiverton Devon

Edmond White Pastor Evershall Bedford

William Pritchard Pastor Blaenau Monmouth

Paul Fruin Minister Warwick Warwick

Richard Ring Pastor Southampton Hants

John Tompkins Minister Abingdon Berks

Toby Willes Pastor Bridewater Somerset

John Carter Steventon Bedford

James Webb Devizes Wilts.

Richard Sutton Pastor Tring Herts

Robert Knight Pastor Stukeley Bucks

Edward Price Pastor Hereford-City Hereford

William Phipps Pastor Exon Devon

William Hawkins Pastor Dimmock Gloucester

Samuel Ewer Pastor Hemstead Herts

Edward Man Pastor Houndsditch London

Charles Archer Pastor Hick-Norton Oxon

In the name of and on the behalf of the whole assembly. 

THE BAPTIST CATECHISM

Benjamin Keach, a pastor who was involved in the

development of the Confession, is often attributed with

writing this catechism, which is also commonly known as

“Keach's Catechism.” It is likely that it was actually compiled

by William Collins, another prominent pastor involved in

drafting the Confession. The catechism was officially

published by the British Baptists in 1693.

God’s Word

1. Q. Who is the first and chiefest being?

A. God is the first and chiefest being (Isa 44:6; 48:12; Psa 97:9).

2. Q. Ought everyone to believe there is a God?

A. Everyone ought to believe there is a God (Heb 11:6); and it is their great sin and

folly who do not (Psa 14:1).

3. Q. How may we know there is a God?

A. The light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare there is a God

(Rom 1:19-20; Psa 19:1-3; Act 17:24); but His Word and Spirit only do it fully and ef-

fectually for the salvation of sinners (1Co 2:10; 2Ti 3:15-16).

4. Q. What is the Word of God?

A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, and the

only certain rule of faith and obedience (2Ti 3:16; Eph 2:20).

5. Q. May all men make use of the holy Scriptures?

A. All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted to read, hear, and

understand the holy Scriptures (Joh 5:38; 17:17-18; Rev 1:3; Act 8:30).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 171, The Majesty of God, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See The Infallible Word of God by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), and The Doctrine of Revelation by A.

W. Pink (1886-1952); both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 43

6. Q. What things are chiefly contained in the holy Scriptures?

A. The holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man ought to believe concerning God,

and what duty God requireth of man (2Ti 1:13; 3:15-16).

God

7. Q. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit (Joh 4:24), infinite (Job 11:7-9), eternal (Psa 110:2); and un-

changeable (Jam 1:17) in His being (Exo 3:14), wisdom (Psa 147:5), power (Rev 4:8),

holiness (Rev 15:4), justice, goodness, and truth (Exo 34:6).

8. Q. Are there more gods than one?

A. There is but one only: the living and true God (Deu 6:4; Jer 10:10).

9. Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;

and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory (1Jo 5:7;

Mat 28:19).

10. Q. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsel of His will,

whereby, for His own glory, He hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass (Eph

1:4, 11; Rom 9:22-23; Isa 46:10; Lam 3:37).

11. Q. How doth God execute His decrees?

A. God executeth His decrees in the works of creation and providence.

12. Q. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of His

power, in the space of six days, and all very good (Gen 1; Heb 11:3).

13. Q. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, right-

eousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures (Gen 1:26-28; Col 3:10;

Eph 4:24).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 231, The Triune God, and The Trinity by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758);

both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

See FGB 237, God’s Decrees, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See Evolution or Creation? and Understanding the Times by Ken Ham; both available from CHAPEL LI-

BRARY

44 THE LONDON CONFESSION

14. Q. What are God’s works of providence?

A. God’s works of providence are His most holy (Psa 145:17), wise (Isa 28:29; Psa

104:24), and powerful preserving (Heb 1:3) and governing all His creatures, and all

their actions (Psa 103:19; Mat 10:29-31).

15. Q. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate where-

in he was created?

A. When God had created man, He entered into a covenant of life with him upon condi-

tion of perfect obedience: forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and

evil, upon pain of death (Gal 3:12; Gen 2:17).

Sin

16. Q. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate

wherein they were created by sinning against God (Gen 3:6-8, 13; Ecc 7:29).

17. Q. What is sin?

A. Sin is any want

of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God (1Jo 3:4).

18. Q. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were

created?

A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created

was their eating the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:6, 12, 16-17).

19. Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself but for his posterity,

all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation sinned in him, and fell

with him in his first transgression (Gen 2:16-17; Rom 5:12; 1Co 15:21-22).

20. Q. Into what estate did the Fall bring mankind?

A. The Fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery (Rom 5:12).

21. Q. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of Adam’s

first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature,

which is commonly called original sin, together with all actual transgressions which

proceed from it (Rom 5:12 to the end; Eph 2:1-3; Jam 1:14-15; Mat 15:19).

See God’s Providence by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), and The Sovereignty of God in Providence by

John Reisinger; both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

want – lack.

See Vile and The Doctrine of Human Depravity by A. W. Pink (1886-1952); both available from CHAP-

LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 45

22. Q. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God (Gen 3:8, 10, 24), are under

His wrath and curse (Eph 2:2-3; Gal 3:10), and so made liable to all miseries in this

life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever (Lam 3:39; Rom 6:23; Mat 25:41,

46).

Jesus Christ

23. Q. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God—having out of His mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to ev-

erlasting life (Eph 1:4-5)—did enter into a Covenant of Grace, to deliver them out of

the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Re-

deemer (Rom 3:20-22; Gal 3:21-22).

24. Q. Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ (1Ti 2:5-6); Who, being

the eternal Son of God, became man (Joh 1:14; Gal 4:4), and so was and continueth

to be God and man in two distinct natures, and one person forever (Rom 9:5; Luk

1:35; Col 2:9; Heb 7:24-25).

25. Q. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

A. Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to Himself a true body (Heb 2:14,

17; 10:5) and a reasonable

soul (Mat 26:38); being conceived by the power of the

Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her (Luk 1:27, 31, 34-35,

42; Gal 4:4), yet without sin (Heb 4:15; 7:26).

26. Q. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ as our Redeemer executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of king,

both in His estate of humiliation and exaltation (Act 3:22; Heb 12:25; 2Co 13:3; Heb

5:5-7; 7:25; Psa 2:6; Isa 9:6-7; Mat 21:5; Psa 2:8-11).

27. Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?

A. Christ executeth the office of prophet in revealing to us, by His Word and Spirit,

the will of God for our salvation (Joh 1:18; 1Pe 1:10-12; Joh 15:15; 20:31).

28. Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executeth the office of priest in His once offering up Himself a sacrifice to

satisfy divine justice (Heb 9:14, 28) and reconcile us to God (Heb 2:17), and in making

continual intercession for us (Heb 7:24-25).

reasonable – capable of rational thought as a man.

See Free Grace Broadcaster 234, Incarnation, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

46 THE LONDON CONFESSION

29. Q. How doth Christ execute the office of king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to Himself (Act 15:14-16), in

ruling (Isa 33:22) and defending us (Isa 32:1-2), and in restraining and conquering all

His and our enemies (1Co 15:25; Psa 110).

30. Q. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition (Luk

2:7), made under the Law (Gal 4:4); undergoing the miseries of this life (Heb 12:2-3;

Isa 53:2-3), the wrath of God (Luk 22:44; Mat 27:46), and the cursed death of the

cross (Phi 2:8); in being buried (1Co 15:3-4), and continuing under the power of

death for a time (Act 2:24-27, 31; Mat 12:40).

31. Q. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?

A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in His rising again from the dead on the third day

(1Co 15:4), in ascending up into heaven (Mar 16:19), in sitting at the right hand of

God the Father (Eph 1:20), and in coming to judge the world at the Last Day (Act

1:11; 17:31).

Salvation

32. Q. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual appli-

cation of it to us (Joh 1:11-12) by His Holy Spirit (Ti 3:5-6).

33. Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in

us (Eph 1:13-14; Joh 6:37, 39; Eph 2:8), and thereby uniting us to Christ in our ef-

fectual calling (Eph 3:17; 1Co 1:9).

34. Q. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit (2Ti 1:9; 2Th 2:13-14) whereby—

convincing us of our sin and misery (Act 2:37), enlightening our minds in the

knowledge of Christ (Act 26:18), and renewing our wills (Eze 36:26-27)—He doth

persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel

(Joh 6:44-45; Phi 2:13).

35. Q. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification (Rom 8:30),

adoption (Eph 1:5), sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do ei-

ther accompany or flow from them (1Co 1:30).

See The Fountain of Life Opened (an excerpt) by John Flavel (1630-1691), available from CHAPEL LI-

BRARY

See The Holy Spirit’s Work in Salvation by A. W. Pink (1886-1952), available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 47

36. Q. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace wherein He pardoneth all our sins (Rom

3:24-25; 4:6-8) and accepteth us as righteous in His sight (2Co 5:19, 21), only for

the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom 5:17-19) and received by faith alone

(Gal 2:16; Phi 3:9).

37. Q. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace (1Jo 3:1), whereby we are received into the

number and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (Joh 1:12; Rom 8:14-

17).

38. Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace (2Th 2:13) whereby we are renewed

in the whole man after the image of God (Eph 4:23-24), and are enabled more and

more to die unto sin and live unto righteousness (Rom 6:4, 6; 8:1).

39. Q. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification,

adoption, and sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption,

and sanctification are assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience (Rom 5:1-2, 5),

joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5, 17), increase of grace (Pro 4:18), and perseverance

therein to the end (1Jo 5:13; 1Pe 1:5).

40. Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Heb 12:23), and

do immediately pass into glory (2Co 5:1, 6, 8; Phi 1:23; Luk 23:43); and their bodies

being still united to Christ (1Th 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isa 57:2) till the resur-

rection (Job 19:26-27).

41. Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?

A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory (1Co 15:43), shall be openly

acknowledged and acquitted in the Day of Judgment (Mat 25:23; 10:32), and made

perfectly blessed both in soul and body, in the full enjoyment of God (1Jo 3:2; 1Co

13:12) to all eternity (1Th 4:17-18).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 187, Justification, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See Free Grace Broadcaster 215, Sanctification, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See Concerning Death by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See FGB 175, The Resurrection, and Heaven—A World of Love by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758); both

available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

48 THE LONDON CONFESSION

Judgment

42. Q. But what shall be done to the wicked at their death?

A. The souls of the wicked shall, at their death, be cast into the torments of hell, and

their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and judgment of the great day

(Luk 16:23-24; Act 2:24; Jude 1:5, 7; 1Pe 3:19; Psa 49:14).

43. Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the Day of Judgment?

A. At the Day of Judgment, the bodies of the wicked, being raised out of their graves,

shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil

and his angels forever (Joh 5:28-29; Mat 25:41, 46; 2Th 1:8-9).

Obedience

44. Q. What is the duty which God requireth of man?

A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to His revealed will (Mic 6:8;

1Sa 15:22).

45. Q. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law

(Rom 2:14-15; 10:5).

46. Q. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?

A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments

(Deu

10:4; Mat 19:17).

47. Q. What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?

A. The sum of the Ten Commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our

heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neigh-

bour as ourselves (Mat 22:37-40).

48. Q. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words: “I am the Lord thy

God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage”

(Exo 20:2).

49. Q. What doth the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?

A. The preface to the Ten Commandments teacheth us that, because God is the

Lord, and our God and redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all His com-

mandments (Luk 1:74-75; 1Pe 1:15-19).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 210, Day of Judgment, and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jona-

than Edwards (1703-1758); both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

See FGB 232, Obedience, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See The Ten Commandments from the Westminster Larger Catechism, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 49

50. Q. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exo

20:3).

51. Q. What is required in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the on-

ly true God and our God (1Ch 28:9; Deu 26:17), and to worship and glorify Him ac-

cordingly (Mat 4:10; Psa 29:2).

52. Q. What is forbidden in the first commandment?

A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying (Psa 14:1), or not worshipping

and glorifying, the true God (Rom 1:21) as God and our God (Psa 81:10-11), and the

giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due unto Him alone (Rom

1:25-26).

53. Q. What are we especially taught by these words before me in the first command-

ment?

A. These words before me in the first commandment teach us that God, Who seeth

all things, taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other

god (Exo 8:5 to the end).

54. Q. Which is the second commandment?

A. The second commandment is, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,

or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,

or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them,

nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of

the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that

hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my

commandments” (Exo 20:4-6).

55. Q. What is required in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure

and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in His

Word (Deu 32:46; Mat 23:20; Act 2:42).

56. Q. What is forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images (Deu

4:15-19; Exo 32:5, 8), or any other way not appointed in His Word (Deu 7:31-32).

See Pictures of the Christ by J. Marcellus Kik, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

50 THE LONDON CONFESSION

57. Q. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are God’s sovereignty over us

(Psa 45:2-3, 6), His propriety in us (Psa 45:11), and the zeal He hath to His own

worship (Exo 34:13-14).

58. Q. Which is the third commandment?

A. The third commandment is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God

in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exo

20:7).

59. Q. What is required in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names

(Mat 6:9; Deu 28:58), titles (Psa 68:4), attributes (Rev 15:3-4), ordinances (Mal 1:11,

14), Word (Psa 136: 1-2) and works (Job 36:24).

60. Q. What is forbidden in the third commandment?

A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning and abusing of anything

whereby God makes Himself known (Mal 1:6-7, 12; 2:2; 3:14).

61. Q. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is that, however the breakers of

this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will

not suffer them to escape His righteous judgment (1Sa 2:12, 17, 22, 29; 3:13; Deu

28:58-59).

62. Q. What is the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment is, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six

days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the

LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daugh-

ter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is

within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all

that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath

day, and hallowed it” (Exo 20:8-11).

63. Q. What is required in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as

He hath appointed in His Word, expressly, one whole day in seven to be a holy Sab-

bath to Himself (Exo 20:8-11; Deu 5:12-14).

See The Swearer’s Prayer: His Oath Explained, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See Free Grace Broadcaster 233, The Lord’s Day; available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 51

64. Q. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

A. Before the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to

be the weekly Sabbath (Exo 20:8-11; Deu 5:12-14); and the first day of the week ever

since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath (Psa

118:24; Mat 28:1; Mar 2:27-28; Joh 20:19-20, 26; Rev 1:10; Mar 16:2; Luk 24:1, 30-

36; Joh 20:1; Act 1:3; 2:1-2; 20:7; 1Co 16:1-2).

65. Q. How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day (Exo 20:8, 10), even

from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days (Exo

16:25-28; Neh 13:15-22); and spending the whole time in the public and private ex-

ercises of God’s worship (Luk 4:16; Act 20:7; Psa 92 title; Isa 66:23), except so much

as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy (Mat 12:1-13).

66. Q. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of

the duties required (Eze 22:26; Amo 8:5; Mal 1:13), and the profaning the day by

idleness (Act 20:7, 9), or doing that which is in itself sinful (Eze 23:38), or by un-

necessary thoughts, words, or works about worldly employments or recreations (Jer

17:24-27; Isa 58:13).

67. Q. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are God’s allowing us six days

of the week for our own lawful employments (Exo 20:9), His challenging a special

propriety in a seventh, His own example, and His blessing the Sabbath day (Exo

20:11).

68. Q. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may

be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exo 20:12).

69. Q. What is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour and performing the

duties belonging to everyone in their several places and relations: as superiors (Eph

5:21), inferiors (1Pe 2:17), or equals (Rom 12:10).

70. Q. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglect of, or doing any thing against,

the honour and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and rela-

tions (Mat 15:4-6; Eze 34:24; Rom 13:8).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 208, Duties of Sons and Daughters and The Duties of Children and Parents by

Richard Adams (1626-1698); both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

52 THE LONDON CONFESSION

71. Q. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and pros-

perity (as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good) to all such as keep

this commandment (Deu 5:16; Eph 6:2-3).

72. Q. What is the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment is, “Thou shalt not kill” (Exo 20:13).

73. Q. What is required in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life

(Eph 5:28-29) and the life of others (1Ki 18:4).

74. Q. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment absolutely forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or

the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto (Act 26:28; Gen

9:9).

75. Q. Which is the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment is, “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exo 20:14).

76. Q. What is required in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our

neighbors’ chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior (1Co 7:2-3, 5, 34, 36; Col 4:6; 1Pe

3:2).

77. Q. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions

(Mat 15:19; 5:28; Eph 5:3-4).

78. Q. Which is the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment is, “Thou shalt not steal” (Exo 20:15).

79. Q. What is required in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the

wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others (Gen 30:30; 1Ti 5:8; Lev 25:35;

Deu 22:1-5; Exo 23:4-5; Gen 47:14, 20).

80. Q. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder

our own (1Ti 5:8; Pro 28:19) or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate (Pro

21:17; 23:20-21; Eph 4:28).

See Greasy the Robber by Charles Lukesh, and The Sin of Stealing by L. R. Shelton, Jr.; available from

HAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 53

81. Q. Which is the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment is, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy

neighbour” (Exo 20:16).

82. Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth be-

tween man and man (Zec 8:16), and of our own neighbour’s good name (Joh 5:12),

especially in witnessbearing (Pro 14:5, 25).

83. Q. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?

A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to the truth, or in-

jurious to our own or our neighbour’s good name (1Sa 17:28; Lev 19:16; Psa 15:2-

3).

84. Q. Which is the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment is, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou

shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor

his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exo 20:17).

85. Q. What is required in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition

(Heb 13:5; 1Ti 6:6), with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour

and all that is his (Job 31:29; Rom 7:15; 1Ti 1:5; 1Co 8:4, 7).

86. Q. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate (1Ki

21:4; Est 5:13; 1Co 10:10), envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour (Gal

5:26; Jam 3:14, 16), and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his

(Rom 7:7-8; 13:9; Deu 5:21).

87. Q. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No mere man since the Fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the command-

ments of God (Ecc 7:20; 1Jo 1:8, 10; Gal 5:17), but doth daily break them in

thought, word, or deed (Gen 4:5; 7:21; Rom 3:9-21; Jam 3:2-13).

88. Q. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous

in the sight of God than others (Eze 8:6, 13, 15; 1Jo 5:16; Psa 78:17, 32, 56).

See The Sin of Lying by L. R. Shelton, Jr.; available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

See Free Grace Broadcasters 213, Contentment; and 167, Covetousness; and The Rare Jewel of Christian

Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646); all available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

54 THE LONDON CONFESSION

89. Q. What doth every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to

come (Eph 5:6; Gal 3:10; Lam 3:39; Mat 25:41; Rom 6:23).

Faith and Repentance

90. Q. What doth God require of us that we may escape His wrath and curse due to us

for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith

in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life (Act 20:21), with the diligent use of all the out-

ward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption (Pro

2:1-6; 8:33 to end; Isa 55:2-3).

91. Q. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace (Heb 10:39) whereby we receive and rest

upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel (Joh 1:12; Isa 26:3-

4; Phi 3:9; Gal 2:16).

92. Q. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace (Act 11:28) whereby a sinner, out of a true

sense of his sin (Act 2:37-38) and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ (Joe

2:12; Jer 3:22), doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God (Jer

31:18-19; Eze 36:31), with full purpose of and endeavour after new obedience (2Co

7:11; Isa 1:16-17).

93. Q. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits

of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the bene-

fits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, baptism, the Lord’s Sup-

per, and prayer; all which means are made effectual to the elect for salvation (Mat

28:19-20; Act 2:42, 46-47).

94. Q. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word

an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in

holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation (Neh 8:8; Act 26:18; Psa 19:8; Act

20:32; Rom 1:15-16; 10:13-17; 15:4; 1Co 14:24-25; 2Ti 3:15-17).

See Free Grace Broadcaster 157, Faith, and Faith by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892); both available

from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

See FGB 203, Repentance, and The Marks of True Repentance and Saving Faith, by Jonathan Dickinson

(1688-1747); both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 55

95. Q. How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation?

A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with

diligence (Pro 8:34), preparation (1Pe 2:1-2), and prayer (Psa 119:18); receive it with

faith and love (Heb 4:2; 2Th 2:10), lay it up in our hearts (Psa 119:18), and practice

it in our lives (Luk 8:15; Jam 1:25).

Baptism

96. Q. How do baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means of salvation?

A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means of salvation, not for any

virtue in them or in him that doth administer them, but only by the blessing of

Christ (1Pe 3:21; Mat 3:11; 1Co 3:6-7) and the working of the Spirit in those that by

faith receive them (1Co 12:3; Mat 28:19).

97. Q. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament instituted by Jesus Christ, to be

unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship with Him in His death, burial, and

resurrection; of his being engrafted into Him (Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:12; Gal 3:27); of re-

mission of sins (Mar 1:4; Act 2:38; 22:16); and of his giving up himself unto God

through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life (Rom 6:3-4).

98. Q. To whom is baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance to-

wards God (Act 2:38; Mat 3:6), faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, and

to none other (Act 8:12, 36-38; 10:47-48).

99. Q. Are the infants of such as are professing believers to be baptized?

A. The infants of such as are professing believers are not to be baptized, because

there is neither command or example in the holy Scriptures, or certain conse-

quence from them, to baptize such (Exo 23:13; Pro 30:6; Luk 3:7-8).

100. Q. How is baptism rightly administered?

A. Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the

party in water, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

according to Christ’s institution and the practice of the apostles (Mat 3:16; Joh 3:23;

4:1-2; Mat 28:19-20; Act 8:38; Rom 6:4; Col 2:12); and not by sprinkling or pouring

of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of men.

101. Q. What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized?

A. It is the duty of such who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some par-

ticular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the command-

See Baptism: A Burial by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) and Baptism: The Heaven-drawn Picture by

Peter Masters; both available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

56 THE LONDON CONFESSION

ments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Act 2:41-42; 5:13-14; 9:26; 1Pe 2:5;

Luk 1:6).

The Lord’s Supper

102. Q. What is the Lord’s Supper?

A. The Lord’s Supper is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus

Christ, wherein by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to His appoint-

ment, His death is shown forth and the worthy receivers are—not after a corporal

and carnal manner, but by faith—made partakers of His body and blood, with all His

benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace (Mat 26:26-28; 1Co

11:23-26; 10:16).

103. Q. Who are the proper subjects of this ordinance?

A. They who have been baptized upon a personal profession of their faith in Jesus

Christ, and repentance from dead works (Act 2:41-42).

104. Q. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?

A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they

examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body (1Co 11:28-29), of

their faith to feed upon Him (2Co 13:5), of their repentance (1Co 11:31), love (1Co

10:16-17), and new obedience (1Co 5:7-8), lest coming unworthily they eat and

drink judgment to themselves (1Co 11:28-29).

Prayer

105. Q. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up our desires to God (Psa 62:8), by the assistance of the Ho-

ly Spirit (Rom 8:26), for things agreeable to His will (1Jo 5:14; Rom 8:27), in the

name of Christ (Joh 16:23), believing (Mat 21:22; Jam 1:6), with confession of our

sins (Psa 32:5-6; Dan 9:4) and thankful acknowledgments of His mercies (Phi 4:6).

106. Q. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?

A. The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer (1Jo 5:14); but the special

rule of direction is that prayer which Christ taught His disciples, commonly called

the Lord’s Prayer (Mat 6:9-13; Luk 11:2-4).

107. Q. What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us?

A. The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is “Our Father which art in heaven” (Mat

6:9), teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as

children to a father able and ready to help us (Rom 8:15; Luk 11:13; Isa 24:8); and

that we should pray with and for others (Act 12:5; 1Ti 2:1-2).

See True Prayer—True Power and Effective Prayer by Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), and A Call to

Prayer by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900); all available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.

The Baptist Catechism 57

108. Q. What do we pray for in the first petition?

A. In the first petition, which is “Hallowed be thy name” (Mat 6:9), we pray that God

would enable us and others to glorify Him in all that whereby He maketh Himself

known (Psa 67:2-3), and that He would dispose all things to His own glory (Psa 83;

Rom 11:36).

109. Q. What do we pray for in the second petition?

A. In the second petition, which is “Thy kingdom come” (Mat 6:10), we pray that Sa-

tan’s kingdom may be destroyed (Psa 68:1, 18) and that the kingdom of grace may

be advanced (Rev 12:10-11), ourselves and others brought into it and kept in it (2Th

3:1; Rom 10:1; Joh 17:19-20), and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened (Rev

22:10).

110. Q. What do we pray for in the third petition?

A. In the third petition, which is “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven” (Mat

6:10), we pray that God by His grace would make us able and willing to know, obey,

and submit to His will in all things (Psa 67; 119:36; 2Sa 15:25; Job 1:21), as the angels

do in heaven (Psa 103:20-21).

111. Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

A. In the fourth petition, which is “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mat 6:11), we

pray that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of

this life, and enjoy His blessing with them (Pro 30:8; Gen 28:20; 1Ti 4:4-5).

112. Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

A. In the fifth petition, which is “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debt-

ors” (Mat 6:12), we pray that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins

(Psa 51:1-2, 7, 9; Dan 9:17-19); which we are rather encouraged to ask because, of

His grace, we are enabled from the heart to forgive others (Luk 11:4; Mat 18:35).

113. Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

A. In the sixth petition, which is “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us

from evil” (Mat 6:13), we pray that God would either keep us from being tempted to

sin (Mat 26:31), or support and deliver us when we are tempted (2Co 12:8).

114. Q. What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach?

A. The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is “For thine is the kingdom, and the

power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Mat 6:13), teacheth us to take our encour-

agement in prayer from God only (Dan 9:4, 7-9, 16-19), and in our prayers to praise

Him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to Him (1Ch 29:10-13). And in testimony

of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, “Amen” (1Co 4:16; Rev 11:20; 22:20-

21). 

Appendix 1

ON BAPTISM

Why the Baptist authors of the Confession advocated

baptism of believers and rejected infant baptism

Introduction

Whosoever reads and impartially considers what we have in our foregoing confession

declared may readily perceive that we do not only concenter

with all other true Chris-

tians on the Word of God (revealed in the Scriptures of truth) as the foundation and rule

of our faith and worship, but that we have also industriously endeavoured to manifest

that, in the fundamental articles of Christianity, we mind the same things—and have

therefore expressed our belief in the same words

that have on the like occasion been

spoken by other societies of Christians before us.

This we have done that those who are desirous to know the principles of religion

which we hold and practice may take an estimate from ourselves (who jointly concur in

this work) and may not be misguided, either by undue reports or by the ignorance or

errors of particular persons, who, going under the same name with ourselves, may give

an occasion of scandalizing the truth we profess.

And although we do differ from our brethren who are paedobaptists

in the subject

and administration of baptism, and such other circumstances as have a necessary de-

pendence on our observance of that ordinance, and do frequent our own assemblies for

our mutual edification and discharge of those duties and services which we owe unto

God, and in His fear to each other—yet we would not be from hence misconstrued, as if

the discharge of our own consciences herein did any ways disoblige or alienate our affec-

tions or conversation from any others that fear the Lord; but that we may and do, as we

have opportunity, participate of the labors of those whom God hath endued with abilities

above ourselves, and qualified and called to the ministry of the Word, earnestly desiring

to approve ourselves to be such as follow after peace with holiness, and therefore we al-

ways keep that blessed Irenicum, or healing Word of the apostle before our eyes: “If in

any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless,

concenter – meet in a common center.

same words – reference to The Westminster Confession (1647) and Savoy Declaration (1658).

paedobaptists – those who believe the Scriptures teach the baptism of infants.

Appendix 1: On Baptism 59

whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same

thing” (Phi 3:15-16).

Let it not therefore be judged of us (because much hath been written on this subject,

and yet we continue this our practice different from others) that it is out of obstinacy,

but rather as the truth is: that we do herein according to the best of our understandings

worship God, out of a pure mind yielding obedience to His precept in that method which

we take to be most agreeable to the Scriptures of truth and primitive practice.

It would not become us to give any such intimation as should carry a semblance that

what we do in the service of God is with a doubting conscience, or with any such temper

of mind that we do thus for the present, with a reservation that we will do otherwise

hereafter upon more mature deliberation. Nor have we any cause so to do, being fully

persuaded that what we do is agreeable to the will of God. Yet we do heartily propose

this, that if any of the servants of our Lord Jesus shall, in the spirit of meekness, attempt

to convince us of any mistake either in judgment or practice, we shall diligently ponder

his arguments and account him our chiefest friend that shall be an instrument to con-

vert us from any error that is in our ways—for we cannot wittingly do anything against

the truth, but all things for the truth.

And therefore we have endeavoured seriously to consider what hath been already of-

fered for our satisfaction in this point, and are loath to say any more lest we should be

esteemed desirous of renewed contests thereabout. Yet forasmuch as it may justly be ex-

pected that we show some reason why we cannot acquiesce in what hath been urged

against us, we shall with as much brevity as may consist with plainness, endeavour to

satisfy the expectation of those that shall peruse what we now publish in this matter al-

so.

1. Tradition

As to those Christians who consent with us that repentance from dead works, and

faith towards God and our Lord Jesus Christ, is required in persons to be baptized, and

do therefore supply the defect of the infant (being incapable of making confession of ei-

ther) by others who do undertake these things for it—although we do find by Church

history

that this hath been a very ancient practice—yet considering that the same

Scripture which does caution us against censuring our brother, with whom we shall all

stand before the judgment seat of Christ, does also instruct us that every one of us shall

give an account of himself to God, and whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:4, 10, 12,

23): therefore we cannot, for our own parts, be persuaded in our own minds to build

such a practice as this upon an unwritten tradition; but do rather choose in all points of

faith and worship to have recourse to the holy Scriptures for the information of our

judgment and regulation of our practice—being well assured that a conscientious at-

tending thereto is the best way to prevent and rectify our defects and errors (2Ti 3:16-

17). And if any such case happen to be debated between Christians, which is not plainly

See A Glorious Institution: The Church in History, Part 3, by Stanford E. Murrell; available from CHAP-

LIBRARY.

60 THE LONDON CONFESSION

determinable by the Scriptures, we think it safest to leave such things undecided until

the second coming of our Lord Jesus—as they did in the Church of old until there

should arise a priest with Urim and Thummim,

that might certainly inform them of the

mind of God thereabout (Ezr 2:62-63).

2. Covenant

As for those our Christian brethren who do ground their arguments for infants’ bap-

tism upon a presumed federal

holiness or church membership, we conceive they are

deficient in this: that albeit this covenant-holiness and membership should be as is sup-

posed in reference unto the infants of believers, yet no command for infant baptism does

immediately and directly result from such a quality or relation.

All instituted worship receives its sanction from the precept, and is to be thereby gov-

erned in all the necessary circumstances thereof.

So it was in the covenant that God made with Abraham and his seed, the sign whereof

was appropriated only to the male, notwithstanding that the female seed as well as the

male were comprehended in the covenant and part of the Church of God; neither was

this sign to be affixed to any male infant till he was eight days old, albeit he was within

the covenant from the first moment of his life; nor could the danger of death, or any

other supposed necessity, warrant the circumcising of him before the set time, nor was

there any cause for it; the commination

of being cut off from his people being only up-

on the neglect or contempt of the precept.

Righteous Lot was nearly

related to Abraham in the flesh, and contemporary with

him, when this covenant was made (Gen 17:10); yet inasmuch as he did not descend

from his loins, nor was of his household family (although he was of the same household

of faith with Abraham), yet neither Lot himself nor any of his posterity (because of their

descent from him) were signed with the signature of this covenant that was made with

Abraham and his seed.

This may suffice to show that where there was both an express covenant and a sign

thereof (Gen 17:4, 10)—such a covenant as did separate the persons with whom it was

made and all their offspring from all the rest of the world as a people holy unto the Lord,

and did constitute them the visible Church of God (though not comprehensive of all the

faithful in the world)—yet the sign of this covenant was not affixed to all the persons

that were within this covenant, nor to any of them till the prefixed season, nor to other

faithful servants of God that were not of descent from Abraham. And consequently, that

it depends purely upon the will of the Lawgiver to determine what shall be the sign of

His covenant: unto whom, at what season, and upon what terms it shall be affixed.

Urim and Thummim – Two items on the breastplate of the high priest (Exo 28:30), exactly what

these were cannot be determined with certainty; a specific divinely-given means by which God im-

parted, through the high priest, direction and counsel to Israel when these were needed.

federal – pertaining to a covenant.

commination – threat of punishment.

nearly – closely.

Appendix 1: On Baptism 61

If our brethren do suppose baptism to be the seal of the covenant which God makes

with every believer (of which the Scriptures are altogether silent), it is not our concern

to contend with them herein. Yet, we conceive the seal of that covenant is the indwelling

of the Spirit of Christ in the particular and individual persons in whom He resides, and

nothing else. Neither do they or we suppose that baptism is in any such manner substi-

tuted in the place of circumcision, as to have the same (and no other) latitude, extent, or

terms than circumcision had, for that was suited only for the male children; baptism is

an ordinance suited for every believer, whether male or female. That extended to all the

males that were born in Abraham’s house, or bought with his money, equally with the

males that proceeded from his own loins; but baptism is not so far extended in any true

Christian church that we know of, as to be administered to all the poor infidel

servants

that the members thereof purchase for their service and introduce into their families,

nor to the children born of them in their house.

But we conceive the same parity

of reasoning may hold for the ordinance of baptism

as for that of circumcision (Exo 12:49); viz., one law for the stranger as for the home

born. If any desire to be admitted to all the ordinances and privileges of God’s house, the

door is open. Upon the same terms that any one person was ever admitted to all or any of

those privileges that belong to the Christian Church, may all persons of right challenge

the like admission.

As for that text of Scripture, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the

righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised” (Rom 4:11), we con-

ceive if the apostle’s scope in that place be duly attended to, it will appear that no argu-

ment can be taken from thence to enforce infant baptism. Forasmuch as we find a full

and fair account of those words given by the learned Dr. Lighfoot

(a man not to be sus-

pected of partiality in this controversy) in his Hor. Hebrai,

on 1 Corinthians 7:19 (p.

42-43), we shall transcribe his words at large, without any comment of our own upon

them:

Circumcision is nothing, if we respect the time, for now it was without use, that end

of it being especially fulfilled for which it had been instituted. This end the apostle de-

clares in these words: “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal [σφραγιδα] of

the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised” (Rom 4:11), etc.

But I fear that by most translations they are not sufficiently suited to the end of cir-

cumcision and the scope of the apostle, whilst something of their own is by them in-

serted.

infidel – unbelieving; adhering to another religion.

parity – equality.

John Lightfoot (1602-1675) – English churchman, rabbinical scholar, Master of St. Catharine’s Col-

lege, Cambridge, minister of St. Bartholomew's Church, London, and Vice-Chancellor of the Uni-

versity of Cambridge. He was one of the Westminster Assembly divines. His best known works are a

commentary on the proceedings of the Westminster Assembly and A Few and New Observations upon

the Book of Genesis.

Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae, a commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 1 Corinthians.

62 THE LONDON CONFESSION

And after the doctor hath represented diverse versions of the words agreeing for the

most part in sense with that which we have in our Bibles, he thus proceeds:

Other versions are to the same purpose; as if circumcision was given to Abraham for a

seal of that righteousness which he had being yet uncircumcised, which we will not

deny to be in some sense true, but we believe that circumcision had chiefly a far dif-

ferent respect.

Give me leave thus to render the words:

“And he received the sign of circumcision, a

seal of the righteousness of faith, which was to be in the uncircumcision”—“which

was to be,” I say, not “which had been”—not that which Abraham had whilst he was

yet uncircumcised, but that which his uncircumcised seed should have; that is, the

Gentiles, who in time to come should imitate the faith of Abraham.

Now consider well on what occasion circumcision was instituted unto Abraham, set-

ting before thine eyes the history thereof in Genesis 17.

This promise is first made unto him: “Thou shalt be the father of many nations”

(17:4)—in what sense the apostle explaineth in that chapter—and then there is sub-

joined a double seal for the confirmation of the thing—to wit, the change of the name

Abram into Abraham, and the institution of circumcision. “Behold, as for me, my

covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of many nations” (v. 4). Wherefore

was his name called Abraham? For the sealing of this promise: “Thou shalt be the fa-

ther of many nations.” And wherefore was circumcision instituted to him? For the

sealing of the same promise: “Thou shalt be the father of many nations.” So that this

is the sense of the apostle, most agreeable to the institution of circumcision: he re-

ceived the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith which in time to

come the uncircumcision (or the Gentiles) should have and obtain.

Abraham had a twofold seed: natural, of the Jews; and faithful, of the believing Gen-

tiles. His natural seed was signed with the sign of circumcision, first indeed for the

distinguishing of them from all other nations whilst they as yet were not the seed of

Abraham, but especially for the memorial of the justification of the Gentiles by faith,

when at length they should become his seed. Therefore, circumcision was of right to

cease when the Gentiles were brought in to the faith, forasmuch as then it had ob-

tained its last and chief end, and thenceforth circumcision is nothing.

Thus far he, which we earnestly desire may be seriously weighed; for we plead not his

authority, but the evidence of truth in his words.

3. Holiness

Of whatsoever nature the holiness of the children mentioned be (1Co 7:12), yet they

who do conclude that all such children (whether infants or of riper years) have from

hence an immediate right to baptism, do as we conceive put more into the conclusion

than will be found in the premises.

For although we do not determine positively concerning the apostle’s scope in the ho-

liness here mentioned, so as to say it is this or that and no other thing; yet it is evident

Here and following, Dr. Lightfoot gives his own translation from the Greek original.

Appendix 1: On Baptism 63

that the apostle does by it determine not only the lawfulness, but the expedience also, of

a believer’s cohabitation with an unbeliever in the state of marriage.

And we do think that—although the apostle’s asserting of the unbelieving yokefellow

to be sanctified by the believer should carry in it somewhat more than is in the bare

marriage of two infidels, because although the marriage covenant has a divine sanction

so as to make the wedlock of two unbelievers a lawful action, and their conjunction and

cohabitation in that respect undefiled, yet there might be no ground to suppose from

thence that both or either of their persons are thereby sanctified; and the apostle urges

the cohabitation of a believer with an infidel in the state of wedlock from this ground:

that the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife—nevertheless, here you

have the influence of a believer’s faith ascending from an inferior to a superior relation;

from the wife to the husband who is her head, before it can descend to their offspring.

And therefore we say, whatever be the nature or extent of the holiness here intended, we

conceive it cannot convey to the children an immediate right to baptism, because it

would then be of another nature, and of a larger extent, than the root and original from

whence it is derived—for it is clear by the apostle’s argument that holiness cannot be

derived to the child from the sanctity of one parent only. If either father or mother be (in

the sense intended by the apostle) unholy or unclean, so will the child be also. Therefore,

for the production of an holy seed it is necessary that both the parents be sanctified; and

this the apostle positively asserts, in the first place, to be done by the believing parent,

although the other be an unbeliever—and then, consequentially from thence, argues the

holiness of their children. Hence it follows that, as the children have no other holiness

than what they derive from both their parents, so neither can they have any right by this

holiness to any spiritual privilege but such as both their parents did also partake of: and

therefore, if the unbelieving parent (though sanctified by the believing parent) have not

thereby a right to baptism, neither can we conceive that there is any such privilege de-

rived to the children by their birth holiness.

Besides, if it had been the usual practice in the apostles’ days for the father or mother

that did believe to bring all their children with them to be baptised, then the holiness of

the believing Corinthians’ children would not at all have been in question when this

epistle was written; but might have been argued from their passing under that ordinance

which represented their new birth, although they had derived no holiness from their

parents by their first birth; and would have laid as an exception against the apostle’s in-

ference, “else were your children unclean,” etc. But of the sanctification of all the chil-

dren of every believer by this ordinance, or any other way than what is before mentioned,

the Scripture is altogether silent.

This may also be added: that if this birth holiness do qualify all the children of every

believer for the ordinance of baptism, why not for all other ordinances—for the Lord’s

Supper as was practiced for a long time together? For if recourse be had to what the

Scriptures speak generally of this subject, it will be found that the same qualities which

do entitle any person to baptism, do so also for the participation of all the ordinances

and privileges of the house of God that are common to all believers.

64 THE LONDON CONFESSION

Whosoever can and does interrogate his good conscience towards God when he is bap-

tised (as everyone must do that makes it to himself a sign of salvation), is capable of do-

ing the same thing in every other act of worship that he performs.

4. Whole Families

The arguments and inferences that are usually brought for or against infant baptism

from those few instances which the Scriptures afford us of whole families being baptised,

are only conjectural, and therefore cannot of themselves be conclusive on either hand.

Yet, in regard, most that treat on this subject for infant baptism do (as they conceive)

improve these instances to the advantage of their argument; [therefore,] we think it

meet

(in like manner as in the cases before mentioned, so in this) to show the invalidity

of such inferences.

Cornelius worshipped God with all his house (Act 10:44); the jailor and Crispus, the

chief ruler of the synagogue, believed God with each of their houses (Act 16:34; 18:8).

The household of Stephanus addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints (1Co 1:16;

16:15)—so that, thus far, worshipping and believing run parallel with baptism. And, if

Lydia had been a married person when she believed, it is probable her husband would

also have been named by the apostle, as in like cases, inasmuch as he would have been

not only a part, but the head of that baptised household (Act 16:14-15).

Who can assign any probable reason why the apostle should make mention of four or

five households being baptized, and no more? Or why he does so often vary in the meth-

od of his salutations (Rom 1:6), sometimes mentioning only particular persons of great

note, other times such and the church in their house, [or] the saints that were with

them; and them belonging to Narcissus who were in the Lord (Rom 16:11); thus saluting

either whole families, or part of families, or only particular persons in families consid-

ered as they were in the Lord? For if it had been an usual practice to baptize all children

with their parents, there were then many thousands of the Jews which believed, and a

great number of the Gentiles, in most of the principle cities in the world. And among so

many thousands, it is more than probable there would have been some thousands of

households baptised; why then should the apostle in this respect signalize one family of

the Jews, and three or four of the Gentiles, as particular instances in a case that was

common?

Whoever supposes that we do willfully debar our children from the benefit of any

promise or privilege that of right belongs to the children of believing parents, they do

entertain over-severe thoughts of us: to be without natural affections is one of the char-

acters of the worst of persons in the worst of times. We do freely confess ourselves guilty

before the Lord, in that we have not with more circumspection and diligence trained up

those that relate to us in the fear of the Lord; and do humbly and earnestly pray that our

omissions herein may be remitted, and that they may not redound to the prejudice of

ourselves or any of ours. But with respect to that duty that is incumbent on us, we

acknowledge ourselves obliged by the precepts of God to bring up our children in the

meet – fitting; appropriate.

Appendix 1: On Baptism 65

nurture and admonition of the Lord, to teach them His fear, both by instruction and ex-

ample. And should we set light by this precept, it would demonstrate that we are more

vile than the unnatural heathen that like not to retain God in their knowledge—our bap-

tism might then be justly accounted as no baptism to us.

There are many special promises that do encourage us, as well as precepts that do

oblige us, to the close pursuit of our duty herein: that God, Whom we serve, being jeal-

ous of His worship, threatens the visiting of the father’s transgression upon the children

to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him (Exo 20:5); yet does more

abundantly extend His mercy even to thousands (respecting the offspring and succeed-

ing generations) of them that love Him and keep His commands.

When our Lord rebuked His disciples for prohibiting the access of little children that

were brought to Him—that He might pray over them, lay His hands upon them, and

bless them—[He] does declare that of such is the kingdom of God (Mar 10:14). And the

Apostle Peter, in answer to their inquiry that desired to know what they must do to be

saved, does not only instruct them in the necessary duty of repentance and baptism; but

does also thereto encourage them by that promise which had reference both to them and

their children (Act 2:38-39). If our Lord Jesus, in the aforementioned place, does not re-

spect the qualities of children (as elsewhere) as to their meekness, humility, and sinceri-

ty, and the like, but intends also that those very persons and such like appertain to the

kingdom of God; and if the apostle Peter, in mentioning the aforesaid promise, does re-

spect not only the present and succeeding generations of those Jews that heard him (in

which sense the same phrase doth occur in Scripture), but also the immediate off-spring

of his auditors,

whether the promise relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit, or of eternal

life, or any grace or privilege tending to the obtaining thereof—it is neither our concern

nor our interest to confine the mercies and promises of God to a more narrow or less

compass than He is pleased graciously to offer and intend them; nor to have a light es-

teem of them; but are obliged in duty to God, and affection to our children, to plead ear-

nestly with God and use our utmost endeavours, that both ourselves and our offspring

may be partakers of His mercies and gracious promises. Yet we cannot from either of

these texts collect a sufficient warrant for us to baptize our children before they are in-

structed in the principles of the Christian religion.

For as to the instance in little children, it seems, by the disciples forbidding them,

that they were brought upon some other account, not so frequent as baptism must be

supposed to have been, if from the beginning believers’ children had been admitted

thereto; and no account is given whether their parents were baptised believers or not.

And as to the instance of the apostle, if the following words and practice may be taken as

an interpretation of the scope of that promise, we cannot conceive it does refer to infant

baptism, because the text does presently subjoin: “Then they that gladly received the

word were baptized” (Act 2:41).

auditors – hearers.

66 THE LONDON CONFESSION

That there were some believing children of believing parents in the apostles’ days is

evident from the Scriptures, even such as were then in their fathers’ family, and under

their parents’ tuition and education—to whom the apostle, in several of his epistles to

the churches, giveth commands to obey their parents in the Lord, and does allure their

tender years to hearken to this precept, by reminding them that it is the first command

with promise (Eph 6:2).

And it is recorded by him for the praise of Timothy, and encouragement of parents be-

times

to instruct, and children early to attend to godly instruction, that from a child he

had known the holy Scriptures (2Ti 3:15).

The apostle John rejoiced greatly when he found the children of the elect lady walking

in the truth; and the children of her elect sister join with the apostle in his salutation

(2Jo 1:1-4).

But…this was not generally so, that all the children of believers were accounted for

believers (as they would have been if they had been all baptised). [This] may be collected

from the character which the apostle gives of persons fit to be chosen to eldership in the

church, which was not common to all believers: among others this is expressly one, viz.,

if there be any “having faithful [or believing] children not accused of riot or unruly” (Ti

1:6). And we may from the apostle’s writings on the same subject collect the reason of

this qualification, viz., that in case the person designed for this office, to teach and rule

in the house of God, had children capable of it, there might be first a proof of his ability,

industry, and success in this work in his own family and private capacity, before he was

ordained to the exercise of this authority in the church, in a public capacity as a bishop

in the house of God.

5. Unity of Spirit

These things we have mentioned as having a direct reference unto the controversy be-

tween our brethren and us. Other things that are more abstruse and prolix,

which are

frequently introduced into this controversy but do not necessarily concern it, we have

purposely avoided, [so] that the distance between us and our brethren may not be by us

made more wide—for it is our duty and concern, so far as is possible for us (retaining a

good conscience towards God), to seek a more entire agreement and reconciliation with

them.

We are not insensible that, as to the order of God’s house and entire communion

therein, there are some things wherein we (as well as others) are not at a full accord

among ourselves; as for instance the known principle, and state of the consciences of

diverse of us that have agreed in this confession is such, that we cannot hold church

communion with any other than baptized believers and churches constituted of such;

yet some others of us have a greater liberty and freedom in our spirits that way. And

therefore we have purposely omitted the mention of things of that nature, that we might

concur in giving this evidence of our agreement, both among ourselves and with other

betimes – early; before it is too late.

prolix – verbose; tiresomely wordy.

Appendix 1: On Baptism 67

good Christians, in those important articles of the Christian religion mainly insisted on

by us. And this notwithstanding, we all esteem it our chief concern—both among our-

selves and all others that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our

Lord, both theirs and ours, and love Him in sincerity—to endeavour “to keep the unity

of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3); and in order thereunto, to exercise “all low-

liness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Eph 4:2).

And we are persuaded, if the same method were introduced into frequent practice be-

tween us and our Christian friends who agree with us in all the fundamental articles of

the Christian faith (though they do not so in the subject and administration of baptism),

it would soon beget a better understanding and brotherly affection between us.

6. Conclusion

In the beginning of the Christian Church, when the doctrine of the baptism of Christ

was not universally understood, yet those that knew only the baptism of John were the

disciples of the Lord Jesus, and Apollos, an eminent minister of the gospel of Jesus (Act

18:24-19:5).

In the beginning of the reformation of the Christian Church—and recovery from that

Egyptian darkness wherein our forefathers for many generations were held in bondage—

upon recourse had to the Scriptures of truth, different apprehensions were conceived,

which are to this time continued, concerning the practice of this ordinance.

Let not our zeal herein be misinterpreted: that God Whom we serve is jealous of His

worship (Exo 34:14). By His gracious providence, the law thereof is continued amongst us.

And we are forewarned by what happened in the Church of the Jews, that it is necessary for

every generation, and that frequently in every generation, to consult the divine oracle,

compare our worship with the rule, and take heed to what doctrines we receive and prac-

tice.

If the ten commands exhibited in the popish idolatrous service books

had been re-

ceived as the entire law of God because they agree in number with His Ten Commands,

and also in the substance of nine of them, the second Commandment forbidding idolatry

had been utterly lost.

If Ezra and Nehemiah had not made a diligent search into the particular parts of

God’s Law and His worship, the Feast of Tabernacles (which for many centuries of years

had not been duly observed according to the institution, though it was retained in the

general notion) would not have been kept in due order (Ezr 3:4).

So may it be now as to many things relating to the service of God, which do retain the

names proper to them in their first institution, but yet, through inadvertency (where

there is no sinister design), may vary in their circumstances from their first institution.

And if by means of any ancient defection—or of that general corruption of the service of

God, and interruption of His true worship, and persecution of His servants by the anti-

The traditional Roman Catholic version of the Ten Commandments combines the second and third

commandments and splits the tenth into two.

68 THE LONDON CONFESSION

christian bishop of Rome for many generations—those who do consult the Word of God

cannot yet arrive at a full and mutual satisfaction among themselves [regarding] what

was the practice of the primitive Christian Church in some points relating to the wor-

ship of God. Yet inasmuch as these things are not of the essence of Christianity, but that

we agree in the fundamental doctrines thereof, we do apprehend there is sufficient

ground to lay aside all bitterness and prejudice, and in the spirit of love and meekness to

embrace and own each other therein; leaving each other at liberty to perform such other

services (wherein we cannot concur) apart unto God, according to the best of our under-

standing.



Appendix 2

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

“Ye should earnestly contend for the faith which

was once delivered unto the saints.”

—Jude 1:3

In England during the 1630s and 1640s, Congregationalists and Baptists emerged

from the Church of England. Their early existence was marked by repeated cycles of per-

secution at the hands of Parliament and of the established religion of the crown. The in-

famous Clarendon Code was adopted in the 1660s to crush all dissent from the official

religion of the state. Periods of rigorous application and intervals of relaxation of these

coercive laws haunted Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Baptists alike.

Presbyterians and Congregationalists suffered no less than did Baptists under this

harassment. Their united front of doctrinal agreement was a main reason for their rela-

tive success in resisting government tyranny. All Presbyterians stood by the Westminster

Confession of 1647. Congregationalists adopted virtually the same articles of faith in the

Savoy Declaration of 1658.

The Westminster Confession (1647)

While the Civil War raged in England between the Puritan Parliament and the king

(1642-1649), changes were made in the Anglican Church. In 1643, the Episcopal form of

government, with its hierarchical parishes and bishops, was abolished by Parliament. A

new structure was requested. It would be formulated by an assembly of one hundred

twenty-one clergymen (the “divines”)

and thirty laymen: ten members of the House of

Lords and twenty members of the House of Commons. This “Westminster Assembly of

Divines” met at the historic Westminster Abbey (which adjoins the Houses of Parlia-

ment) in London, from which the confession derives its name.

Most of those who were present when the Assembly convened in 1643 were Presby-

terian Puritans. Eight Scottish commissioners were allowed to be part of the gathering,

in appreciation for their aid in fighting the king. While the Scottish representatives had

no official role in the proceedings, their presence remained influential. The Assembly

held 1,163 sessions between July 1, 1643, and February 22, 1649.

divines – theologically learned men.

70 THE LONDON CONFESSION

As work proceeded, a Directory of Worship was prepared to replace the Episcopal

prayer book. In addition, a new confession of faith was drafted for the Church of Eng-

land. This Westminster Confession has become the most important of the great

Protestant creeds of the Reformation era. Work on the confession began in July, 1645,

and continued with many interruptions until its completion in December, 1646. The

confession was presented to both Houses of Parliament in 1647 under the title: “The

Humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines, Quotations and Texts of Scripture Annexed,

Presented by Them Lately to Both Houses of Parliament.”

The Westminster Confession is a summary of major Christian beliefs in thirty-three

chapters. Classic Reformed biblical theology permeates the confession, with emphasis on

the covenant relationships between God and man. In the matter of church government,

it presents the Presbyterian view, with presbyteries (or synods) which oversee local con-

gregations. In the matter of baptism, it holds infant baptism, consistent with the cove-

nant approach to Christian heritage. This believes that God often saves whole

households, and that an infant is considered a part of the covenant through his godly

parents until he proves otherwise by his lifestyle choices.

To help explain the confession, a Larger Catechism was prepared by the Westminster

Assembly, to be used by ministers in the pulpit for public teaching. A Shorter Catechism

was published for instructing children at home.

Though the Westminster Confession was used only briefly by the Church of England,

it was adopted for common use in 1647 by the General Assembly of the Church of Scot-

land. Today, the Westminster Confession remains the authoritative statement of faith in

most Presbyterian churches.

The Savoy Declaration (1658)

Many conservative evangelical Christians found the Westminster Confession to be an

accurate statement of faith according to the Scriptures, but some differed in the matters

of church government and baptism. These fell into two groups: the Congregationalists

and the Baptists.

To maintain the growth they enjoyed, an assembly of Congregationalist leaders met

in the Savoy Palace in London on September 29, 1658. The Synod adopted a “Declara-

tion of Faith and Order, Honored and Practiced in the Congregational Churches.” Based

largely on the Westminster Confession, the Savoy Declaration included a section on

“The Institution of Churches and the Order Appointed in Them by Jesus Christ.” The

Congregational form of church government was advocated.

The London Baptist Confession of 1677

Those who understood the Scriptures to teach believer’s baptism also needed a clear

statement of faith. These were known as “Baptists.” Feeling their substantial unity with

the suffering of the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists under the same cruel in-

justice, Baptists met to publish their substantial harmony with them in doctrine.

Appendix 2: Historical Background 71

A circular letter was sent to Particular Baptist churches in England and Wales, ask-

ing each assembly to send representatives to a meeting in London in 1677. A confession

consciously modeled after the Westminster Confession was approved. It has ever since

born the name of The London Confession of 1677. Because this document was drawn up

in dark hours of oppression, it was issued anonymously.

The preface to the original document of 1677 says in part:

It is now many years

since diverse of us...did conceive ourselves under a necessity of

publishing a confession of our faith, for the information and satisfaction of those that

did not thoroughly understand what our principles were, or had entertained prejudic-

es against our profession…

Forasmuch as this confession is not now commonly to be had; and also that many

others have since embraced the same truth which is owned therein; it was judged

necessary by us to join together in giving a testimony to the world of our firm adher-

ing to those wholesome principles…

We did conclude it necessary to confess ourselves the more fully and distinctly...and

finding no defect in this regard in that fixed on by the [Westminster] Assembly, and

after them by those of the Congregational way, we did conclude it best to retain the

same order in our present confession...for the most part without any variation of the

terms...making use of the very same words with them both...This we did to...convince

all that we have no itch to clog religion with new words, but to readily acquiesce in

that form of sound words which hath been used by others before us…In those things

wherein we differ from others, we have expressed ourselves with all candor and plain-

ness...Contention is most remote from our design in all that we have done in this

matter.

The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689

William and Mary assumed the English throne in 1689. On May 24 of that very year

the Act of Toleration was enacted. Within two months, several London pastors called for

a general meeting of Baptists from England and Wales. Representatives of one hundred

and seven congregations met in London from September third to the twelfth. They

adopted the London Confession of 1677 with some important corrections.

One of the reasons for the growth of Baptist congregations was the movement’s dis-

tinctives. The Baptists did not recognize sacraments per se, as did the Anglicans and the

Roman Catholics. They believed in two ordinances: the Lord’s Supper and baptism of

professing believers. Early Baptists preferred to be baptized by immersion in “living wa-

ters,” water flowing in a river or stream. In the Baptist church government, the congre-

gation had authority under Christ’s headship. It had autonomy with respect to men: it

could call a pastor and dismiss him. There were no bishops or superintendents in the

It had been 33 years since a former London Confession had been issued (in 1644) by seven Baptist con-

gregations in London. That document had been drawn up to distinguish the Baptist churches, who

followed the historic evangelical faith of the Reformation, from the Anabaptists and the newly

forming Arminian Baptists.

72 THE LONDON CONFESSION

Baptist structure; no group had any governmental power over other individual congre-

gations.

In summary, the understandings of the evangelical Christian faith as proclaimed in

the Scriptures were set forth in the Westminster Confession in 1647. Updates were made

1) for congregational church government in the Savoy Declaration in 1658, and 2) for

believer’s baptism in the London Confession of 1677.

The main body of the Westminster Confession was again preserved in the London

Confession of Faith of 1689, which incorporated the minor revisions of both the Savoy

Declaration and the first London Confession. This London Baptist Confession of 1689

has stood the test of time and become one of the most important statements of evangeli-

cal faith in the history of the Church. It is used this day by thousands of congregations

around the world.



This article is adapted from A Glorious Institution:

The Church in History, a concise and readable history

of the Christian Church by Stanford E. Murrell,

available from C

HAPEL LIBRARY.