office of secular authority in his spiritual kingdom--the Church of
the New Testament--or added it to the offices of his church; nor has
he given them laws adapted for such office and government; but he said
to his disciples: The kings and lords of the Gentiles, and they that
exercise authority among them, are called gracious lords. But it shall
not be so among you. Matt. 20:25,26; Luke 22:25,26. Here we leave
the matter, as we do not consider it necessary to enter into farther
details.
OF THE SWEARING OF OATHS.
For the confirmation of a cause which was just and true in itself, the
Old Testament fathers were permitted to swear by the name of God. Deut.
6:13; Matt. 5:33.
But the Son of the living God, the King and Lawgiver of the New
Testament, whose command we are bound, through a voice from God out
of heaven, to obey, has forbidden Christians all swearing, as does,
likewise, the apostle James; therefore, the swearing of oaths is
forbidden to the believers of the New Testament. Matt. 3:17; 17:5;
5:34; James 5:12.
OF SEPARATION.
Separation, or the putting away from the church, is a decree or
sentence of the same, by virtue and authority of the word of God,
against a member, or members, of the church, who, through open sins,
a scandalous life, heresy, or stubbornness, have separated themselves
from God and the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and no longer belong into
Christ’s kingdom, or to his church; therefore, their brotherhood, or
sisterhood, is renounced, by virtue of the word of God, in the name of
the whole church. 1 Cor. 5:3; Matt. 18:18; 1 Cor. 5:1; Rom. 16:17; Tit.
3; Matt. 18:17; Is. 59; Tit. 1:16; 1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:21; 1 Cor. 5:12;
2 Cor. 2:8.
The reasons for which this is done, and to which the church must
have respect in the separation, are principally these: 1. To show
that her doctrine does by no means permit such sins, but is wholly
opposed to them: that, by so doing, the doctrine may be preserved
pure, and the name of God glorified. 1 Tim. 1:20; Tit. 1:13; 2 Tim.
4:15,23; 2. Through separation to prove in fact that she is the enemy
of sin, and will in no wise tolerate it, in order that all causes for
reproach to the church may be averted. 1 Cor. 5:1,2; Tit. 2:8; 3. That
not, by constant intercourse and fellowship with the evil, the good
become leavened or corrupted. 1 Cor. 5:7; 2 Tim. 2:17; 4. That the
sinner, through excommunication and withdrawal may be convicted in his
conscience, and moved to shame and reformation, that he may be saved. 2
Thess. 3; 1 Cor. 5:5, and 5. That others, by hearing and seeing this,
may be admonished, so that they will fear to follow such evil.
But when the separated sinner shows genuine fruits of repentance,
we must at all times be ready to receive him again in peace to the
Christian communion of the church, if he earnestly requests it. 2 Cor.
2.
OF SHUNNING.
Since daily intercourse and mingling with ungodly apostates, in common
eating, drinking, buying, selling, and similar unnecessary temporal
or worldly transactions, is not only dangerous for the pious, who,
thereby, may become contaminated, or be counted as companions of the
apostate, but is also hurtful to the apostate himself, since he,
through such mingling, may probably harden in sin, and esteem his
offense of less consequence, therefore, we understand from the word of
God, that--in order to avoid, according to the unction of the Spirit,
the dangers of sin, and offenses, and to bring the apostate sinner to
shame and repentance--the true members of Christ must withdraw from the
daily intercourse and communion with impenitent apostates; must shun
them, and have nothing to do with them; and this without respect to
persons, as far as they are not bound to the apostate by any command
of God; for as one may do anything in the matter of shunning, which is
contrary to love, benevolence, Christian propriety and justice, which
supreme virtues a Christian is in duty bound to show unto all men,
even to his enemies, for which purpose God has given all laws, which
may, for no reason, be diminished, much less, broken or transgressed. 1
Cor. 5:5; 2 Tim. 2:21; 2 Thess. 3; Tit. 3; 2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Pet. 1:6;
Tit. 2:12; Rom. 13:8; Matt. 5:44; Rom. 13:9,10; 1 Tim. 1:5; Rev. 22:19;
Matt. 5:19; James 2:1.
OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND THE
LAST JUDGMENT.
Finally, we believe, that the Son of the living God, the Lord Jesus
Christ, our only Prophet, Priest and King, will visibly, as he
ascended, descend from heaven, in the clouds, and all the holy angels
of God with him, with power and great glory, with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, which shall be heard
everywhere. Then all men who have lived upon earth, and have died, good
and evil, just and unjust, shall rise from the dead, in incorruption,
with their own body, in which they have lived; but those who still
live on that day, and have not tasted death, shall be changed, in the
twinkling of an eye, to incorruption, at the last sound of the last
trumpet. Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; 2 Thess. 1:7; 1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:50;
Zeph. 1:16; Matt. 25:7; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:11; Jer. 5:29; Acts 24:15;
1 Cor. 15:42; Jer. 26:19; 1 Cor. 15:38,52.
Thus, the whole human family shall be placed before the judgment seat
of Christ; that every one may receive in his body, according to that
he hath done, whether it be good or bad. For the Lord Jesus Christ
shall then, as a shepherd, separate the sheep from the goats. Those
who have done good, he shall set on his right hand, but those that
have done evil, on the left; and he shall there pronounce the eternal,
irrevocable sentence. 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:32,33,46; Jude 14.
To the true believers, who, through faith, have done works of love
and mercy, he shall say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” These shall
be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord, who shall take them away
with him into life eternal, in the heavenly glory and splendor, where
they shall forever be with the Lord, in the innumerable company of
the holy angels, in the society of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the
pious, with great, unspeakable joy and gladness. 2 Pet. 1:5; Matt.
25:35; Luke 16:9; 2 Pet. 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:17,14; John 14:3; 17:24; Dan.
12:12; 1 Pet. 1:8,9.
But the unrighteous who have not known God, nor obeyed the Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have done no works of love or mercy,
shall then be sentenced to everlasting fire, in these grievous and
intolerable words: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels;” “there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.” 1 Cor. 6:9; 2 Thess. 1:8; Rom. 2:9; Matt. 25:41;
22:13.
These shall go, where their worm dieth not, and their fire is
not quenched. There will come upon them tribulation and anguish,
displeasure, wrath, and everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Is. 66:24; Mark 9:46; Mal.
4:1; Rom. 2:9; 2 Thess. 1:9; 4 Esdr. 9:10; Luke 16:24.
May the God of grace and mercy preserve us, through Jesus Christ,
his dear and beloved Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, from this
dreadful punishment of the ungodly, and grant us his grace, that we
may live holy here on earth, and die happy, to a glad resurrection and
joyful appearance in the presence of his glory, Amen.
Here follow two other questions and the answers to the same, which we
could adduce, but we deem it unnecessary, since the treatise given
embraces the substance or whole sum of the confession of saving faith,
if it is only well apprehended.
Added was also a letter, as a preparative for peace, and signed by
various persons (elders and teachers).
Given at Amsterdam, the 26th of September, 1627.
SECOND CONFESSION,
Also drawn up at Amsterdam, on the 7th of October, 1630, called:
Confession of Faith, and the principal articles of the Christian
doctrine.
[Not divided into separate articles, except the articles of belief in
God, and the manner of life in the church.]
We believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there
is one only, eternal, incomprehensible, spiritual Being, which, in
Scripture, is called God; to whom alone is ascribed omnipotence, mercy,
righteousness, perfection, wisdom, all goodness, and omniscience, and
who is called a fountain of life, and the source of all good, the
Creator of all things, and the Preserver of the same; who in the Old
Testament bears various appellations--the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob, the God Schadai, the God Jehovah, the God of Israel, I am that I
am, the Alpha and Omega, etc.; but who in the New Testament is called
by three distinct names--God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, whom we
confess to differ thus far, namely: that the Father, as far as he is
Father, is an other than the Son; and the Son, as far as he is Son, is
an other than the Father, and the Holy Ghost, as far as he is a true
Holy Ghost, is an other than the Father and the Son, and that they,
although differing in name, are nevertheless in their divine nature and
attributes, one only, undivided God, according to the testimony of the
Apostle: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Rom. 10:9; Deut.
6:4; Is. 45:5,21; Rom. 3:30; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; Gen. 21:33; Ps.
90:2; Is. 49:28; Ps. 145:3; 4 Esdr. 8:21; Gen. 17:1; 2 Cor. 6:18; Ex.
34:6,7; Luke 6:36; Ps. 11:7; Col. 3; Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48; 1 Tim. 1:2;
Ps. 103:8; Matt. 19:17; Ps. 139; James 1:17; Gen. 1:1; Job 38 and 39;
Ex. 3:6; 6:6; 5:1; Rev. 1:8; 22:13; Matt. 28:19; John 14:16; 1 John 5:7.
That this Holy God, by his great power and incomprehensible wisdom,
created, in six days, out of nothing, heaven and earth, together with
all things visible and invisible; and on the sixth day prepared man a
body of the dust of the earth, breathed into his nostrils the breath of
life, and thus made him a living soul, or man; that he exalted this man
above all creatures, endowed him with wisdom, understanding and reason,
and made him Lord over all creatures; nay, above all this, created him
in his divine image, in holiness and righteousness, for immortality,
and placed him in the garden of Eden, where he might have been happy
forever, yet requiring of him true obedience, saying: “Of every tree
of the garden thou mayst freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” From this we see the free will
of man. Gen. 1:6,9,14,24; Jer. 32:17; Acts 17:24; Gen. 1:26,28; 2:7;
Sir. 17:5; Wis. 2:23; Gen. 2:8,9.
That man, through the subtlety of the serpent and the envy of the
devil, was brought to disobey his Creator; whereby he, with all his
posterity, fell into death and condemnation, and thus, from the most
glorious, became the most miserable creature. Gen. 3:1; Wis. 2:24; 4
Esdr. 7:48; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21.
That the Lord God, seeing the fall of his most glorious creature, and
that he could neither through himself nor through any other creature
be redeemed therefrom, showed that he was a gracious and merciful God,
yea, the supreme or only goodness, in that he sought to reconcile unto
himself, out of pure grace and without any merit, man and all who had
fallen in him. Ps. 49:8; Rev. 5:3; Ps. 33:5; Matt. 19:17; Rom. 5:12;
3:24; 2 Cor. 5:19.
But, as the justice of God required, that the sin committed should not
go unpunished, and as no creature could satisfy the former, he not only
frequently promised man to send his only beloved Son as a Savior, but
prefigured it by various types. Gen. 3:15; 12:3,7; 16:18; 24:19; 7:14;
9:6; 11:10; 53; Jer. 23:5,6; 33:15; Dan. 7:13; 9:24; Micah 5:2; Hagg.
2:23; Matt. 3:1; Ex. 12:3; 25:17; Num. 21:9; Deut. 30:15; Sir. 15:14.
That the Lord, after as well as before the fall, left man his free will
to accept, through faith in the promised Savior, the proffered grace of
God, or to reject it, is evident not only from the sending out of his
prophets, apostles, and disciples, but also from the kind invitation
of his beloved Son; and this justly, in order that he, as a righteous
judge, might have just cause, on the last day, to punish the despisers
with the pains of hell, and reward the obedient lambs with the joys of
heaven. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 17:31; Matt. 11:28; 22:9; 1 Tim.
1:15; Tit. 2:11; 2 Thess. 1:8; Acts 3:46; Rom. 2:5; Bar. 3:29; John
3:16,36; 1 Thess. 1:6; Heb. 6:10.
That the Lord, being a true God, who does not repent of that which he
has promised, when the time which he, in the secret counsels of his
divine will, had determined was fulfilled, sent his only, own and true
Son as a redeemer unto the world. 1 John 5:20; Deut. 7:8; Gal. 4:4.
And since there has been for many years, and still is daily, much
disputation, concerning this birth of our Savior, according to the
flesh; therefore, we believe and confess, that it is a supernatural
birth, which cannot be fathomed by human reason. Yet, we believe and
confess, by virtue of the Scriptures, that the eternal, not _spoken_,
but itself _speaking_, real Word, which was before the foundation of
the world in great glory with the Father, was before Abraham, was in
the beginning with God, and was itself God; whose goings forth have
been from of old, from everlasting, and through which all things
are created and have their being; that this same, real Word, in the
fullness of the time, came forth from the Father, and descended from
heaven into the lowest parts of the earth, and, according to the
prophecy (Is. 7), was (at Nazareth, that he might be called a Nazarene)
conceived in the virgin body of Mary (who, although betrothed to Joseph
of the house of David, yet was not known of him) by the power of the
most high God, and the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and became
flesh, remaining what he had been namely, God and the Son of God, and
becoming what he had not been, namely, man and the son of man; in this
manner, that we confess that the child which Mary bore, and which was
born at Bethlehem, grew up, and suffered on the cross, was outwardly
and inwardly, visibly and invisibly, as he sojourned here, the only,
own, and true Son of God, and the Redeemer of us all. John 1:1; 17:5;
8:58; Micah 5:1; John 1:3; 16:28; Eph. 4:9; Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:31;
Matt. 2:23; John 1:14; Rom. 9:5; Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; Luke 2:6,40;
Matt. 27; 17:5.
We believe and confess also, that he came to redeem us from the curse,
and, therefore, became obedient unto the law, was circumcised on the
eighth day, and named after the name announced by the angel before he
was born, namely, Jesus, that he might make his holy name to agree with
his holy work, namely, to save his people from their sins. Gal. 3:13;
4:5; Gen. 17:12; Gal. 4:4; Luke 2:21; Matt. 1:21; 18:11; Luke 19:10.
We also confess that he is our only true high Prophet, High Priest, and
spiritual King, who, in his office as a prophet has proclaimed unto us
God’s great, secret counsel of the eternal peace with God, through the
holy Gospel, and, moreover, all that is necessary for us to the new
life. Deut. 18:15; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 3:1; Jer. 33:15; Matt. 21:5; 13:35;
Luke 10:5; John 3:3; Matt. 18:9.
Who, in his office as priest, has not only offered up on the cross a
sacrifice for his believing lambs that will avail forever; but, after
his glorious resurrection, has entered into the holy of holies, yea,
the most holy, namely heaven, not by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood; by which he has obtained eternal redemption for all
those who believe in him, yea, sitteth on the right hand of God his
heavenly Father, where, as a high priest, he pours out his holy prayers
for the ignorance of his people, and obtains forgiveness for them. Eph.
5:2; Heb. 10:12; 9:12; Col. 3:1; Heb. 5:2,5.
Who, in his office as king, as a victorious prince has vanquished
death, the devil, hell, and all our enemies, and has prepared a place
for the members of his kingdom; ruling with the scepter of his word,
and protecting those who put their trust in him, helping them to
triumph till they receive the everlasting kingdom at his hand. 2 Tim.
1:10; Heb. 2:14,15; John 14:2; Ps. 45:6; Eccl. 29:25; 2 Cor. 2:14.
But since his kingdom was not of this world, he did not take possession
of it by carnal weapons of iron or steel, but through suffering and
fighting in the flesh; to which end he prepared himself for temptation,
tribulation and suffering, and took upon him the cursed death of the
cross, under Pontius Pilate; we confess, moreover, that this same
Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified at Jerusalem, and tasted death
on mount Calvary, with exclamation of his groaning Spirit, and amidst
the convulsions of heaven and earth, was the only and own Son of God,
and that we are reconciled unto God by the blood and death of his Son,
who by himself purged our sins. John 18:36; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1; Matt.
16:21; Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23; 1 Tim. 6:13; Matt. 27; Luke 23; 1 John
3:16; Rom. 8:22; 5:10; Heb. 1:3.
Who, also, as a sign that he was really dead, was taken down from the
cross by Joseph of Arimathea; who wrapped him in a clean white cloth,
and laid him in a new hewn tomb, before which a great stone was rolled,
and a guard placed. Matt. 27:57.
But, since it was impossible that he should be held by the hands of
death, or that the Holy One should see corruption, therefore we believe
and confess also, that by the glory of the Father, according to the
predictions of the prophets, he was raised from the dead on the third
day, amidst the convulsions of heaven and earth, and arose bodily; and
that he certainly also confirmed his resurrection for forty days by
words, signs, and miracles, that he taught, comforted, and admonished
his disciples, and finally, on Mount Olivet, was received by a cloud,
and in their sight ascended visibly unto heaven, and entered into the
holy of holies, seating himself, as a true high priest, mediator, and
advocate between God and man, on the right hand of the Majesty on
high, where he appears continually before his Father’s face to make
intercession for his believers. Acts 2:24; Ps. 16:10; Rom. 6:4; Acts
13:34; Matt. 28:2; John 20:4; Luke 24:36; Acts 1:12; Heb. 9:12; 1 John
2:1; 1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 8:34.
And since before his precious suffering he taught and comforted them,
not to let their hearts be afraid; that when he should have ascended
to heaven, he would send them another comforter, the Holy Ghost;
therefore, we believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, blessed
forever, was, as true God, also found true in this particular, and did
send, ten days after his ascension, the Holy Ghost in visible form
to, or upon, his apostles in Jerusalem; which Holy Ghost is a wisdom,
strength, and power of God, that proceeds from the Father through the
Son, and, no less than the Father and the Son, is with them an eternal,
undivided God; also a teacher, leader and guide to all godfearing
and consolation-seeking souls, showing them the way to and into the
spiritual Canaan. John 14:1; 15:26; 16:7; Matt. 21:3; Rom. 9:5; John
5:20; Acts 2:2; Luke 1:35; Acts 5:3; John 14:26.
We believe, also, that the Lord God chose, first, the holy angels in
heaven, then, two sanctified persons in paradise, and finally, of all
the various nations of the earth, a penitent and believing people for
his people; which is not only called a general Christian church or
congregation of godfearing men; but which the Lord Christ has purchased
with his precious blood, and washed and cleansed with the waters of the
Holy Ghost, that he might present to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. And since the same is so
dear to him, he would, for the prosperity and growth of his kingdom,
not leave this holy church unprovided for; but provided her, not only
before, but also after his ascension, with faith, love, hope, and other
ordinances, and also with two special ministries, namely, the ministry
of the holy Word, and the care for the poor, or the office of deacon;
and appointed in it, some prophets, pastors, teachers, helpers and
rulers, to provide by common counsel wisely for the church of God; and
sent them out. Gen. 2:22; 4 Esdr. 5:27; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor.
6:20; Luke 10:1; Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28; Mark 16:15.
In like manner, the apostles also commanded their followers, to choose
such men with fasting and prayer. First, they shall be examined, then
let them minister; and the believers shall honor, love and obey these
men. Acts 6:3; 16:2; 1 Tim. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:13; Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim.
5:17,18.
And, inasmuch as this church bears the figure of the true church in
heaven, they practice here on earth, externally in the preaching of
the Word, of baptism, the supper, and other Christian ordinances, and
internally in the spirit, a true communion, here and also in heaven
with God and all the sanctified of the Lord, after which, in the last
day, the true reality will follow. Acts 4:32; Heb. 12:22.
Matters, whereby those who unite in this church, submit willingly and
obediently to the customs, laws and ordinances, which the Lord Christ,
as the chief Head of his church, Eph. 5:23, and only Lawgiver of the
New Testament, Matt. 28:20, has ordained in his church, and which are
also taught and, in our weakness, practiced by us, viz,:
1. _The Baptism of penitent and believing adults_, which is an external
evangelical act, in which the man who truly repents of his sins, who
clothes his heart with faith in Christ, and thereby mortifies and
buries his earthly members, and arises to a new, penitent life, is
baptized by an unblamable minister ordained thereto, with common water,
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, for
the remission of all his sins; and such a man, once baptized upon true
repentance and scriptural faith, we do not baptize again. Acts 2:38;
Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:14,34,36,37; 10:43; 1 Cor. 3:5; Rom. 6:4; Matt.
3:11; Acts 10; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:5; Heb. 6:2.
2. The _holy Supper of the Lord_, also called the Christian communion,
which is to be held among believers only, not with _consecrated_, but
with _common_ bread and wine; not only in remembrance of the precious,
holy, and bitter suffering and death, and the glorious resurrection
of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, but also of the consolatory
fruits thereby prepared for all believers; that they, by virtue of
this, may not only be moved to sincerely deplore the bitter suffering
and death of Jesus Christ, which he endured for the remission of
their sins; but also to praise and bless the Lord, with an internal,
spiritual thanksgiving, for the benefits which have sprung therefrom;
and, also, to confirm their Christian, brotherly, and spiritual
communion by a holy and godly life, to the praise of the Lord. Matt.
26:26; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:46; 20:7; Mark 14:22,23; John 6:51; 1 Cor.
10:16,17; 1 Cor. 11:23,24.
3. Then follows the _Washing of the saints’ feet_; that is, when our
fellow-believers from distant places come to visit us, we wash their
feet, according as opportunity offers, after the custom of the Old
Testament, and the example of Christ; thereby declaring our humility
toward God and our neighbor, with an humble prayer, that the Lord would
strengthen us more and more in humility, and that, like as we have
washed one another’s feet, he would be pleased to wash and cleanse our
souls with his blood and the waters of the Holy Ghost, from every stain
and impurity of sin, that we may appear pure and blameless before his
Father. Gen. 18:4; John 13:5; 1 Tim. 5:10; Luke 22:26; Phil. 2:3.
4. Likewise, _The Works of love_, which we divide into three parts:
1. That a believer is bound to bring his alms, according as the Lord
has blessed him, to the deacons, that they may have wherewith to
properly support the poor believers. 2. To visit, comfort, attend, and
nurse, according to the nature of the case, the sick, imprisoned and
sorrowing hearts. 3. When we see our fellow-believers in oppressive
household cares, bad circumstances, or with an insufficient income, to
assist them with advice and in deed, and by giving them our custom in
preference to a stranger. Matt. 6:1; Luke 12:33; 16:9; Acts 6:13; Matt.
25:35; Heb. 13:1–3.