Creeds of the Evangelical Protestant Churches.

The Scotch Confession of Faith. A.D. 1560.

CONFESSIO FIDEI SCOTICANA I.

The Scotch Confession of Faith. A.D. 1560.

[The English and Latin texts are an exact reprint from (Dunlop's) Collection of Confessions of Faith, Catechisms, Directories, Books of Discipline, etc., of Publick Authority in the Church of Scotland (Edinb. 1719, 1722, 2 vols.), Vol. II. pp. 13 sqq. The English original is given in the old spelling from a copy in Sir John Skene's edition of the Acts of Parliament, compared with many other editions. The Scripture passages are from Tyndale's and Coverdale's Version, then generally used among Protestants in England and Scotland. The Latin translation was made by Patrick Adamson, at the desire of the Kirk, and printed by Robert Lekprevik, Andreapoli, 1572. Another but less accurate Latin translation is found in the Syntagma Confessionum (1654), pp. 110 sqq., and in Niemeyer's Collectio, pp. 340 sqq. For a German translation, see Böckel's Bekenntniss-Schriften, pp. 646 sqq.]

THE	CONFESSIO
CONFESSION
OF THE
Faith and Doctrine	FIDEI & DOCTRINÆ
Belevit and professit be the	Per Ecclesiam Reformatam
Protestantis of Scotland,	Regni SCOTIÆ professæ,
Exhibitit to the Estaitis of the same in Parliament, and be their publick Votis authorisit, as a Doctrine groundit upon the infallibil Worde of God, Aug. 1560. And afterwards stablished and publicklie confirmed be sundrie Acts of Parliaments, and of lawful General Assemblies.	Exihibitæ ordinibus Regni ejusdem in publicis Parliamenti, ut vocant, Comitiis, & eorum communi consensu approbatæ, uti certissimis fundamentis verbi Dei innixæ & consentaneæ, 1560; deinde in conventu ordinum, lege confirmatæ & stabilitæ, 1567.
The Preface.	Præfatio.
The Estaitis of Scotland with the Inhabitants of the same professand Christ Jesus his haly Evangel, to their natural Countrymen, and unto all uther realmes professand the same Lord Jesus with them, wish Grace, Mercie and Peace fra God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Spirit of richteous Judgement, for Salvatioun.	Ordines ac cives Regni Scotorum qui Christum profitentur, cœteris Scotis, regnis item et nationibus exteris eundem Christum Jesum profitentibus gratiam, misericordiam et pacem a Deo Patre Domini nostri Jesu Christi, una cum spiritu Justitiæ, ac recto Judicio.
Lang have we thristed, dear Brethren, to have notified to the Warld the Sum of that Doctrine quhilk we professe, and for the quhilk we have susteined Infamie and Danger: Bot sik hes bene the Rage of Sathan againis us, and againis Christ Jesus his eternal Veritie	Jampridem optabamus, Fratres charissimi, ut ejus quam profitemur, ac propter quam ignominiæ et periculis toties objecti fuimus doctrinæ ratio, si fieri posset, orbi terrarum clara existeret. Sed is fuit Sathanæ furor, non modo adversus nos sed adversus ipsum Jesum

438

latlie now againe born amangst us, that to this daie na Time hes been graunted unto us to cleir our Consciences, as maist gladlie we wald have done. For how we have been tossit heirtofoir, the maist part of Europe, as we suppose, dois understand.	Christum, et æternam ejus nuper hie renatam veritatem, ut ad hunc usque diem non licuerit, id quod unice optabamus, nostram vobis, hisce de rebus dilucide explicare sententiam. Major enim, ut arbitramur, Europæ pars non ignorat quibus toto superiore anno fuerimus afflicti calamitatibus.
But seing that of the infinit Gudnes of our God (quha never sufferis his afflickit utterlie to be confoundit) abone Expectation we have obteined sum Rest and Libertie, we culd not bot set furth this brefe and plaine Confessioun of sik Doctrine as is proponed unto us, and as we beleeve and professe; partlie for Satisfactioun of our Brethren quhaishartis, we nathing doubt, have been and zit ar woundit be the despichtful rayling of sik as zit have not learned to speke well: And partlie for stapping the mouthis of impudent blasphemers, quha bauldlie damne that quhilk they have nouther heard nor zit understude.	Nunc autem cum immensa Dei bonitate (qui sæpe premi, nunquam penitus opprimi suos patitur), tranquillitatis, et libertatis non nihil illuxerit, non potuimus nobis temperare, quo minus hanc brevem, et dilucidam ederemus Confessionem ejus doctrinæ quæ nobis promulgata fuit, quamque nos et persuasam habemus et profitemur: partim ut medicaremur fratrum nostrorum animis, in quibus adhuc proculdubio inhærebant vestigia vulnerum, quæ ex eorum, qui nondum recte loqui didicerunt, scurrilibus acceperant convitiis: partim ut os obstrueremus quibusdam impudenter blasphemis, qui, quæ nec audierunt unquam, nec satis intellexerunt, ea confidenter damnare non erubescunt.
Not that we judge that the cankred malice of sik is abill to be cured be this our simple confession; na, we knaw that the sweet savoure of the evangel is and sal be deathe unto the sonnes of perditioun. Bot we have chief respect to our weak and infirme brethren, to quham we wald communicate the bottom of our hartes, leist that they be troubiled or carried awaie be diversity of rumoris, quhilk Sathan spredis againist us to the defeating of this our maist godlie interprize: Protestand that gif onie man will note in this our confessioun onie Artickle or sentence repugnand to Gods halie word, that it wald pleis him of his gentleness and for Christian charities sake to admonish us of the same in writing; and we upon our honoures and fidelitie, be Gods grace do promise unto him satisfactioun fra the mouth of God, that is, fra his haly scriptures, or else reformation of that quhilk he sal prove to be amisse. For God we take to recorde in our consciences, that fra our heartis we abhorre	Neque tamen id eo facimus, quod aliquando fore speremus, ut inveterata illa pestis hac nostra simplici et nuda confessione sanari possit; præsertim cum non ignoremus suavem evangelii odorem filiis perditionis letiferum futurum: sed quod fratrum infirmorum rationem habendam duceremus; cum quibus sententiam nostram, velut ex intimis animi penetralibus prolatam, communicandam esse putavimus; ne videlicet perturbarentur, aut etiam auferrentur variorum rumorum ventis, quos Sathan adversus nos excitarat, ut nostrum illud sanctum, ac pium eluderet consilium. Denunciamus igitur, omnesque adeo rogamus, si quis aut caput aliquod, aut etiam sententiam cum sancto Dei verbo pugnantem hic animadverterit, ut pro sua humanitate, proque eo amore, quo Christum, Christique gregem prosequitur, nos per literas admoneat: id qui fecerit, sancte ei repromittimus nos eidem aut ex ore Dei, hoc est, ex sacræ scripturæ oraculo satisfacturos; aut quod secus a nobis dictum

439

Art. I.	Art. I.
all sectis of heresie and all teachers of erronious doctrine: and that with all humilitie we imbrace the purity of Christs Gospell, quhilk is the onelie fude of our sauls, and therefoir sa precious unto us, that we ar determined to suffer the extremest of wardlie daunger, rather than that we will suffer our selves to be defraudit of the sam. For heirof we ar maist certainlie perswadit, that quhasumever denieis Christ Jesus, or is aschamit of him in the presence of men, sal be denyit befoir the Father, and befoir his haly Angels. And therefoir be the assistance of the michtie Spirit of the same our Lord Jesus Christ, we firmelie purpose to abide to the end in the confessioun of this our faith, as be Artickles followis.	demonstraverit, emendaturos. Deum enim nostrorum consiliorum conscium attestamur, quod ab omni prava hæresi, atque adeo erroneæ assertionis authoribus animo abhorremus; quod cum summa humilitate evangelii Christi puritatem amplectimur, qui unicus est nostrorum animorum cibus, atque ideo eo usque carus, ut decreverimus omnia quæ possunt humanitus evenire potius experiri, quam ut nos eo cibo fraudari patiamur. Persuasissimum enim id habemus, quod quemcunque Christi puduerit, aut qui eum coram hominibus negaverit, hunc ille coram Patre, sanctisque ejus angelis negabit. Atque ideo ejusdem Domini nostri omnipotentis Jesu Christi præsenti ope freti, in animo habemus in hujus nostræ fidei, cujus capita sequuntur, confessione perseverare.
OF GOD.	DE DEO.
We confesse and acknawledge ane onelie God, to whom only we must cleave, whom onelie we must serve, whom onelie we must worship, and in whom onelie we must put our trust.⁶²³⁶²³ Deut. vi. 4; 1 Cor. viii. 6; Deut. iv. 35; Esai. xliv. 5, 6. Who is Eternall, Infinit, Unmeasurable, Incomprehensible, Omnipotent, Invisible:⁶²⁴⁶²⁴ 1 Tim. i. 17; 1 Kings viii. 27; 2 Chron. vi. 18; Psalm cxxxix. i. 1, 8; Gen. xvii. 1; 1 Tim. vi. 15, 16; Exod. iii. 14; v. 15. ane in substance, and zit distinct in thre personnis, the Father, the Sone, and the holie Gost.⁶²⁵⁶²⁵ Matt. xxviii. 19; 1 John v. 7. Be whom we confesse and beleve all thingis in hevin and eirth, aswel Visible as Invisible, to have been created, to be reteined in their being, and to	Confitemur atque agnoscimus unicum Deum, cui uni adhærere, uni servire, quem unum colere debeamus, in quo uno collocemus omnem spent salutis. Eundem etiam credimus æternum, infinitum, immensum, incomprehensibilem, omnipotentem, invisibilem; essentia quidem unum, in tres autem distinctum personas, Patrem, Filium, ac Spiritum sanctum. Per hunc Deum asseveramus atque etiam credimus quæcunque visibilia aut invisibilia cælo terraque continentur creata esse, constare, et inscrutabili

440

Art. II.	Art. II.
be ruled and guyded be his inscrutable Providence, to sik end, as his Eternall Wisdome, Gudnes, and Justice hes appoynted them, to the manifestatioun of his awin glorie.⁶²⁶⁶²⁶ Gen. i. 1; Acts xvii. 28; Prov. xvi. 4.	ejus providentia regi et gubernari: omniaque eo referri, quo ejus æternæ sapientiæ, bonitati et justitiæ visum est; nempe ad gloriæ majestatisque ipsius illustrationem.
OF THE CREATIOUN OF MAN.	DE CREATIONE HOMINIS.
We confesse and acknawledge this our God to have created man, to wit, our first father Adam, to his awin image and similitude, to whome he gave wisdome, lordship, justice, free-wil, and cleir knawledge of himselfe, sa that in the haill nature of man there culd be noted no imperfectioun.⁶²⁷⁶²⁷ Gen. i. 26, 27, 28, etc.; Col. iii. 10; Eph. iv. 24. Fra quhilk honour and perfectioun, man and woman did bothe fal: the woman being deceived be the Serpent, and man obeying the voyce of the woman, both conspyring against the Soveraigne Majestie of God, who in expressed words had before threatned deith, gif they presumed to eit of the forbidden tre.⁶²⁸⁶²⁸ Gen. iii. 6; ii. 17.	Credimus item et confitemur ab hoc nostro Deo, hominem, id est, humani generis primum parentem Adamum, ad imaginem et similitudinem ipsius fuisse creatum, Item ah eodem sapientia, imperio, justitia, libertate arbitrii, et perspicua ipsius cognitione donatum: adeo ut in universa hominis natura nil animadverti posset, quod non omni ex parte foret absolutum. Ab hac autem dignitate, et naturæ perfectione vir mulierque exciderunt; vir a muliere, mulier a serpente decepta: vir mulieris voci obtemperans, uterque conjuratione inita adversus Dei majestatem, qui aperte antea mortem iis comminatus fuerat, si de arbore ve tita gustassent.
Art. III.	Art. III.
OF ORIGINAL SINNE.	DE PECCATO ORIGINALI.
Be quhilk transgressioun, commonlie called Original sinne, wes	Hoc imperii contemptione, quod originale peccatum vulgo dici solet,

441

Art. IV.	Art. IV.
the Image of God utterlie defaced in man, and he and his posteritie of nature become enimies to God, slaves to Sathan, and servandis unto sin.⁶²⁹⁶²⁹ Psalm li. 5; Rom. v. 10; vii. 5; 2 Tim. ii. 26; Eph. ii. 1, 2, 3. In samekle that deith everlasting hes had, and sall have power and dominioun over all that have not been, ar not, or sal not be regenerate from above: quhilk regeneratioun is wrocht be the power of the holie Gost, working in the hartes of the elect of God, ane assured faith in the promise of God, reveiled to us in his word, be quhilk faith we apprehend Christ Jesus, with the graces and benefites promised in him.⁶³⁰⁶³⁰ Rom. v. 14, 21; v. 23; John iii. 5; Rom. v. 1; Phil. i. 29.	imago Dei in homine penitus obliterata fuit: eaque contemptio, ipsum hominem totamque ejus posteritatem ita Deo inimicam, Sathanæ mancipium, et peccato reddidit obnoxiam, ut sempiterna mors dominata fuerit, atque adeo in posterum dominatura sit in omnes, qui non fuerint, sunt, aut erunt divinitus regenerati. Hæc autem regeneratio est actio Spiritus sancti, qui in corda eorum quos Deus elegit, constantem inserit fidem de promissis, quæ Deus verbo suo nobis revelavit: qua fide Jesum Christum, omnemque gratiam et beneficentiam in Christo nobis promissam apprehendimus.
OF THE REVELATIOUN OF THE PROMISE.	DE REVELATIONE PROMISSORUM.
For this we constantlie beleeve, that God, after the feirfull and horrible defectioun of man fra his obedience, did seek Adam againe, call upon him, rebuke his sinne, convict him of the same, and in the end made unto him ane most joyful promise, to wit, That the seed of the woman suld break down the serpents head, that is, he suld destroy the works of the Devill. Quhilk promise, as it was repeated, and made mair cleare from time to time; so was it imbraced with joy,	Constanter enim credimus, quod post formidabilem illam atque horrendam hominis ab obedientia Dei defectionem, rursus Deus Adamum requisierit, vocaverit nominatim, accusaverit, convicerit: denique promissione illa gaudii plena eum sic consolans promisit, Futurum ut semen mulieris caput serpentis contereret, hoc est, universa diaboli opera destrueret ac everteret. Hæc promissio, ut aliis atque aliis temporibus sæpe repetita fuit, ac dilucidius explicata, ita cum summa

442

Art. V.	Art. V.
and maist constantlie received of al the faithfull, from Adam to Noe, from Noe to Abraham, from Abraham to David, and so furth to the incarnatioun of Christ Jesus, all (we meane the faithfull Fathers under the Law) did see the joyfull daie of Christ Jesus, and did rejoyce.⁶³¹⁶³¹ Gen. iii. 9; iii. 15; xii. 3; xv. 5, 6; 2 Sam. vii. 14; Esai. vii. 14; ix. 6; Hag. ii. 7, 9; John viii. 56.	lætitia recepta, et constanter credita est ab omnibus fidelibus, ab Adamo ad Noam, a Noa ad Abrahamum, ab Abrahamo ad Davidem, ac reliquis deinceps patribus, qui vixerunt sub lege fideles usque ad incarnationem Christi. Hi inquam omnes jucundissimos Jesu Christi dies viderunt, et gavisi sunt.
OF THE CONTINUANCE, INCREASE, AND PRESERVATIOUN OF THE KIRK.	DE PERPETUA SUCCESSIONE, INCREMENTO ET CONSERVATIONE ECCLESIÆ.
We maist constantly beleeve, that God preserved, instructed, multiplied, honoured, decored, and from death called to life, his Kirk in all ages fra Adam, till the cumming of Christ Jesus in the flesh.⁶³²⁶³² Ezek. xvi. 6–14. For Abraham he called from his Fathers cuntry, him he instructed, his seede he multiplied;⁶³³⁶³³ Gen. xii. etc. the same he marveilouslie preserved, and mair marveilouslie delivered from the bondage and tyrannie of Pharaoh;⁶³⁴⁶³⁴ Exod. i. etc. to them he gave his lawes, constitutions and ceremonies;⁶³⁵⁶³⁵ Exod. xx. etc. them he possessed in the land of Canaan;⁶³⁶⁶³⁶ Jos. i. 3; xxiii. 4. to them after Judges,⁶³⁷⁶³⁷ Judges i. etc. and after Saul,⁶³⁸⁶³⁸ 1 Sam. x.. he gave David to be king,⁶³⁹⁶³⁹ 1 Sam. xvi. 13. to whome hee made promise, that of the fruite of his loynes suld ane	Illud quoque constanter persuasum habemus, quod Deus cunctis deinceps ætatibus, ab Adamo ad Jesu Christi adventum in carnem, ecclesiam suam conservaverit, erudierit, multiplicaverit, honore affecerit, decoraverit, et a morte ad vitam evocaverit. Evocavit enim Abrahamum e patria, ac majorum suorum sedibus: eum erudiit, semen ejus multiplicavit, multiplicatum mirabiliter conservavit; mirabilius etiam e servitute ac tyrannide Pharaonis exemit. His (posteros Abrahami intelligimus) leges suas, instituta, et ceremonias dedit. Hos ad possidendam terram Canaan introduxit. His judices, his Saulem, his Davidem regem dedit: cui

443

Art. VI.	Art. VI.
sit for ever upon his regall seat.⁶⁴⁰⁶⁴⁰ 2 Sam. vii. 12. To this same people from time to time he sent prophets, to reduce them to the right way of their God:⁶⁴¹⁶⁴¹ 2 Kings xvii. 13. from the quhilk oftentimes they declined be idolatry.⁶⁴²⁶⁴² 2 Kings xvii. 14, 15, etc. And albeit that for their stubborne contempt of Justice, he was compelled to give them in the hands of their enimies,⁶⁴³⁶⁴³ 2 Kings xxiv. 3, 4. as befoir was threatned be the mouth of Moses,⁶⁴⁴⁶⁴⁴ Deut. xxviii. 36, etc. in sa meikle that the haly cittie was destroyed, the temple burnt with fire,⁶⁴⁵⁶⁴⁵ 2 Kings xxv.. and the haill land left desolate the space of lxx years:⁶⁴⁶⁶⁴⁶ Dan. ix. 2. zit of mercy did he reduce them againe to Jerusalem, where the cittie and temple were reedified, and they against all temptations and assaultes of Sathan did abide, till the Messias come, according to the promise.⁶⁴⁷⁶⁴⁷ Jer. xxx.; Ezra i. etc.; Hag. i. 14.; ii. 7, 8, 9; Zech. iii. 8.	promisit e fructu lumborum ejus futurum, qui perpetuo super regium ejus thronum sederet. Ad hanc ipsam gentem diversis subinde temporibus misit prophetas, qui eam in viam Dei sui reducerent: a qua sæpe ad idolorum cultus deflexerant. Et quanquam ob protervum justitiæ contemptum sæpe eos potestati inimicorum permiserat (quemadmodum antea per Mosen comminatus erat) adeo ut sancta civitas eversa fuerit, templum incensum, ac universa eorum regio per spatium septuaginta annorum in vastam redacta solitudinem: nihilominus misericordia adductus, eos Hierosolymam reduxit; ac civitate instaurata, templo restituto, juxta promissionem eis factam, adversus omnes artes atque oppugnationes Satanæ adventum ibi Messiæ expectaverunt.
OF THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST JESUS.	DE INCARNATIONE JESU CHRISTI.
Quhen the fulnes of time came, God sent his Sonne, his eternall Wisdome, the substance of his awin glory in this warld, quha tuke the nature of man-head of the substance of woman, to wit, of a virgine, and that be operatioun of the holie Ghost: and so was borne the just	Cum plenitudo temporis venisset, Deus Filium suum, æternam suam sapientiam, et gloriæ suæ substantiam misit in hunc mundum. Isque Filius, co-operante Spiritu Sancto, humanam assumpsit naturam ex feminæ, ejusdemque virginis, substantia. Atque ita editum

444

Art. VII.	Art. VII.
seede of David, the Angell of the great counsell of God, the very Messias promised, whome we confesse and acknawledge Emmanuel, very God and very man, two perfit natures united, and joyned in one persoun.⁶⁴⁸⁶⁴⁸ Gal. iv. 4; Luke i. 31; Matt. i. 18; ii. 1; Rom. i. 3; Matt. i. 23; John i. 45; 1 Tim. ii. 5. Be quhilk our Confessioun we condemne the damnable and pestilent heresies of Arius, Marcion, Eutyches, Nestorius, and sik uthers, as either did denie the eternitie of his God-head, or the veritie of his humaine nature, or confounded them, or zit devided them.	est justum illud semen Davidis, Angelus ille magni consilii. Idem verus fuit Christus in lege promissus; quem nos agnoscimus et confitemur Emmanuel, verum Deum, verum hominem, unamque, quæ ex duabus perfectis naturis constet, personam. Hoc itaque nostra confessione damnamus perniciosam et pestilentem Arii, Marchionis, Eutychis, Nestorii, et aliorum id genus hominum, hæresim, qui aut æternitatem divinitatis ejus negant, aut humanæ naturæ veritatem; aut utramque in eo naturam confundunt, aut separant.
WHY IT BEHOOVED THE MEDIATOR TO BE VERY GOD AND VERY MAN.	CUR OPORTEAT MEDIATOREM ET PACIFICATOREM VERUM ESSE DEUM ET VERUM HOMINEM.
We acknawledge and confesse, that this maist wonderous conjunction betwixt the God-head and the man-head in Christ Jesus, did proceed from the eternall and immutable decree of God, from quhilk al our salvatioun springs and depends.⁶⁴⁹⁶⁴⁹ Eph. i. 3, 4, 5, 6.	Agnoscimus item et fatemur, hanc maxime admirabilem divinitatis cum humanitate conjunctionem, ab æterno et immutabili Dei decreto profectam: unde omnis nostra solus emanat ac pendet.
Art. VIII.	Art. VIII.
OF ELECTION.	DE ELECTIONE.
For that same eternall God and Father, who of meere grace elected	Idem enim sempiternus Deus, ac Pater, qui ex mera sua gratia

445

us in Christ Jesus his Sonne, befoir the foundatioun of the warld was laide,⁶⁵⁰⁶⁵⁰ Epph. i. 11; Matt. xxv. 34. appointed him to be our Head,⁶⁵¹⁶⁵¹ Eph. i. 22, 23. our Brother,⁶⁵²⁶⁵² Heb. ii. 7, 8, 11, 12. our Pastor, and great Bischop of our sauls.⁶⁵³⁶⁵³ Heb. xiii. 20; 1 Pet. ii. 25; v. 4. Bot because that the enimitie betwixt the justice of God and our sins was sik, that na flesh be it selfe culd or might have attained unto God:⁶⁵⁴⁶⁵⁴ Psalm cxxx. 3; cxliii. 2. It behooved that the Sonne of God suld descend unto us, and tak himselfe a bodie of our bodie, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bones, and so become the Mediator betwixt God and man,⁶⁵⁵⁶⁵⁵ 1 Tim. ii. 5. giving power to so many as beleeve in him, to be the sonnes of God;⁶⁵⁶⁶⁵⁶ John i. 12. as himselfe dois witnesse, I passe up to my Father, and unto zour Father, to my God, and unto zour God.⁶⁵⁷⁶⁵⁷ John xx. 17. Be quhilk maist holie fraternitie, quhatsaever wee have tynt in Adam, is restored unto us agayne.⁶⁵⁸⁶⁵⁸ Rom. v. 17, 18, 19. And for this cause, ar we not affrayed to cal God our Father,⁶⁵⁹⁶⁵⁹ Rom. viii. 15; Gal. iv. 5, 6. not sa meikle because he hes created us, quhilk we have common with the reprobate;⁶⁶⁰⁶⁶⁰ Acts xvii. 26. as for that, that he hes given to us his onely Sonue, to be our brother,⁶⁶¹⁶⁶¹ Heb. ii. 11, 12. See above note 3. and given unto us grac e, to acknawledge and imbrace him for our onlie

nos in Christo Jesu Filio suo elegit, antequam mundi jacta essent fundamenta, eum nobis caput, fratrem, pastorem, ac magnum animorum nostrorum pontificem designavit. Sed quia tam aversa, atque inimica peccatis nostris erat Dei justitia, ut nulla per se caro ad Deum pervenire posset, Deum Filium oportuit ad nos descendere, et corpus e nostro corpore, carnem e carne, os ex ossibus assumere, atque ita idoneum mediatorem et pacificatorem inter Deum et hominem fieri; qui potestatem daret iis qui in eum crederent, ut filii Dei fierent, quemadmodum ipse testificatur, Vado ad Patrem meum, et Patrem vestrum, Deum meum, et Deum vestrum: ac per hanc sanctissimam fraternitatem, quicquid in Adamo amiseramus, iterum nobis est restitutum; ideoque Deum patrem nostrum appellare non dubitamus, non tam quod ab eo creati sumus id enim nobis cum reprobis est commune, quam quod indulserit, ut unicus ejus Filius frater nobis fieret; idque nobis gratificatus est, ut hunc unum interpretem et pacificatorem, ut est

446

Art. IX.	Art. IX.
Mediatour, as before is said. It behooved farther the Messias and Redemer to be very God and very man, because he was to underlie the punischment due for our transgressiouns, and to present himselfe in the presence of his Fathers Judgment, as in our persone, to suffer for our transgression and inobedience,⁶⁶²⁶⁶² 1 Pet. iii. 18; Esa. liii. 8. be death to overcome him that was author of death. Bot because the onelie God-head culd not suffer death,⁶⁶³⁶⁶³ Acts ii. 24. neither zit culd the onlie man-head overcome the samin, he joyned both togither in one persone, that the imbecillitie of the ane, suld suffer and be subject to death, quhilk we had deserved: And the infinit and invincible power of the uther, to wit, of the God-head, suld triumph and purchesse to us life, libertie, and perpetuall victory:⁶⁶⁴⁶⁶⁴ 1 John i. 2; Acts xx. 28; 1 Tim. iii. 16; John iii. 16. And so we confesse, and maist undoubtedly beleeve.	superius memoratum, agnosceremus et amplecteremur. Præterea necesse erat, ut qui verus Messias et redemptor esset futurus, idem verus homo et verus esset Deus: quippe qui pœnas esset pensurus, quas nostro delicto commeriti eramus; et ante tribunal patris sese repræsentaturus esset, ut in pœna luenda pro nostro delicto et inobedientia, nostram sustineret personam, ac morte sua mortis autorem superaret. Et quia nec sola divinitas pati, nec sola humanitas vincere mortem poterat, utramque in unam coaptavit personam: ut alterius infirmitas morti, quam commerueramus esset obnoxia; alterius, id est divinitatis, invicta et immensa vis, de morte triumpharet, nobisque vitam, libertatem, ac perpetuam pareret victoriam. Atque sic confitemur, maximeque indubitanter credimus.
OF CHRIST'S DEATH, PASSION, AND BURIAL.	DE MORTE PASSIONE, ET SEPULTURA CHRISTI.
That our Lord Jesus offered himselfe a voluntary Sacrifice unto his Father for us,⁶⁶⁵⁶⁶⁵ Heb. x. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. that he suffered contradiction of sinners, that he was wounded and plagued for our transgressiouns,⁶⁶⁶⁶⁶⁶ Esa. liii. 5; Heb. xii. 3. that hee being the	Item asseveramus, et pro certo persuasum habemus quod Dominus noster Jesus Christus Patri sese victimam ultro pro nobis obtulerit: quod a peccatoribus contumeliis sit vexatus, quod pro nostris

447

Art. X.	Art. X.
cleane innocent Lambe of God,⁶⁶⁷⁶⁶⁷ John i. 29. was damned in the presence of an earthlie Judge,⁶⁶⁸⁶⁶⁸ Matt. xxvii. 11, 26; Mark xv.; Luke xxiii. that we suld be absolved befoir the tribunal seat of our God.⁶⁶⁹⁶⁶⁹ Gal. iii. 13. That hee suffered not onlie the cruell death of the Crosse, quhilk was accursed be the sentence of God;⁶⁷⁰⁶⁷⁰ Deut. xxi. 23. bot also that he suffered for a season the wrath of his Father,⁶⁷¹⁶⁷¹ Matt. xxvi. 38, 39. quhilk sinners had deserved. Bot zit we avow that he remained the only welbeloved and blessed Sonne of his Father, even in the middest of his anguish and torment, quhilk hee suffered in bodie and saule, to mak the full satisfaction for the sinnes of the people.⁶⁷²⁶⁷² 2 Cor. v. 21. After the quhilk we confesse and avow, that there remaines na uther Sacrifice for sinne,⁶⁷³⁶⁷³ Heb. ix. 12; x. 14. quhilk gif ony affirme, we nathing dout to avow, that they ar blasphemous against Christs death, and the everlasting purgatioun and satisfactioun purchased to us be the same.	peccatis vulnera passus, quod cum purus et innocens Dei agnus esset, ad tribunal terreni judicis fuerit damnatus, ut nos ante tribunal Dei nostri absolveremur: quod non modo mortem incruce atrocem, et Dei ore execratam subierit; sed, quam peccatores meruerunt, iram patris ad tempus tulerit. Nihilo tamen minus asseveramus, quod in medio etiam dolore et cruciatu, quos animo pariter et corpore pertulit (ut peccata hominum plene lueret), semper unice charus et benedictus patri filius esse perseveravit, Deinde fatemur atque etiam affirmamus, nullum post illud pro peccato restare sacrificium. Si qui autem contra affirment, nihil dubitamus eos blasphemos adversus Christi mortem, et æternam ejus purgationem, ac satisfactionem, per quam sua morte patrem nobis placavit, asserere.
OF THE RESURRECTION.	DE RESURRECTIONE.
We undoubtedly beleeve, that in sa mekle as it wes impossible, that the dolours of death sulde reteine in bondage the Author of life,⁶⁷⁴⁶⁷⁴ Acts ii. 24. that our Lord Jesus crucified, dead and	Pro certo etiam credimus, quod quatenus fieri non poterat, ut mortis dolores perpetuam haberent potestatem adversus autorem vitæ, Dominus Jesus, qui cruci affixus,

448

Art. XI.	Art. XI.
buryed, quha descended into hell, did ryse agayne for our Justificatioun,⁶⁷⁵⁶⁷⁵ Acts iii. 26; Rom. vi. 5, 9; iv. 25. and destroying of him quha wes the Author of death, brocht life againe to us, that wer subject to death, and to the bondage of the same.⁶⁷⁶⁶⁷⁶ Heb. ii. 14, 15.. We knaw that his Resurrectioun wes confirmed be the testimonie of his verie Enemies,⁶⁷⁷⁶⁷⁷ Matt. xxviii. 4. be the resurrectioun of the dead, quhais Sepultures did oppen, and they did ryse, and appeared to mony, within the Cittie of Jerusalem.⁶⁷⁸⁶⁷⁸ Matt. xxvii. 52, 53. It wes also confirmed be the testimonie of his Angels,⁶⁷⁹⁶⁷⁹ Matt. xxviii. 5, 6. and be the senses and judgements of his Apostles, and of uthers, quha had conversatioun, and did eate and dnnk with him, after his Resurrection.⁶⁸⁰⁶⁸⁰ John xx. 27; xxi. 7, 12, 13; Luke xxiv. 41, 42, 43.	mortuus et sepultus fuerat, quique ad inferos descenderat, iterum surrexit, ut nos justificaret: et autore mortis (cui æque ac morti eramus obnoxii) devicto, vitam nobis restituit. Scimus etiam resurrectionem ejus fuisse confirmatam acerbissimorum ipsius inimicorum testimoniis; item resurrectione mortuorum, qui apertis sepulchris revixerunt, ac in urbe Hierosolyma compluribus se videndos exhiberunt: Confirmata est etiam testimoniis angelorum, item apostolorum, qui eum viderunt et contrectarunt; aliorum item complurium, qui post resurrectionem, consuetudine ejus usi familiariter, cum eo ederunt et biberunt.
OF THE ASCENSION.	DE ASCENSIONE.
We nathing doubt, bot the self same bodie, quhilk was borne of the Virgine, was crucified, dead, and buried, and quhilk did rise againe, did ascend into the heavens, for the accomplishment of all thinges:⁶⁸¹⁶⁸¹ Luke xxiv. 51; Acts i. 9. Quhere in our names, and for our comfort, he hes received all power in heaven and eirth,⁶⁸²⁶⁸² Matt. xxviii. 18. quhere he sittes at the richt hand of the Father, inaugurate in his kingdome,	Neque dubitamus quin idem corpus, quod ex virgine natum, cruci affixum, mortuum, et resuscitatum fuerat, in cœlum ascendent, ut omnia impleret nostro nomine, et ad nostri consolationem accepit omnium potestatem in cœlo et in terra; et regno suscepto sedet ad dextram patris, patronus et unicus intercessor pro nobis. Atque hanc gloriam, honorem et prærogativam

449

Advocate and onlie Mediator for us.⁶⁸³⁶⁸³ 1 John ii. 1; 1 Tim. ii. 5. Quhilk glorie, honour, and prerogative, he alone amonges the brethren sal posses, till that all his Enimies be made his futestule,⁶⁸⁴⁶⁸⁴ Psalm cx. 1; Matt. xxii. 44; Luke xx. 42, 43. as that we undoubtedlie beleeve they sall be in the finall Judgment: To the Execution whereof we certainelie beleve, that the same our Lord Jesus sall visiblie returne, as that hee was sene to ascend.⁶⁸⁵⁶⁸⁵ Acts i. 11. And then we firmely beleve, that the time of refreshing and restitutioun of all things sall cum,⁶⁸⁶⁶⁸⁶ Acts iii. 19. in samekle that thir, that fra the beginning have suffered violence, injurie, and wrang, for richteousnes sake, sal inherit that blessed immortalitie promised fra the beginning.⁶⁸⁷⁶⁸⁷ Matt. xxv. 34; 2 Thess. i. 4. etc.

ille unus e fratribus tenebit, donec ponat inimicos suos scabellum pedum suorum. Ibique credimus usque ad ultimum judicium, futurum; ad quod exercendum, credimus constanter eundem Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum visibilem, et qualis erat cum ascenderat, venturum: ac tum omnia instauratum et redintegratum iri, usque adeo, ut qui tolerarant [passi sunt] vim, contumelias, injurias, justitiæ ergo [propter justitiam], beatæ illius quæ ab initio promissa est immortalitatis fient heredes.

Bot contrariwise the stubburne, inobedient, cruell oppressours, filthie personis, idolaters, and all such sortes of unfaithfull, sal be cast in the dungeoun of utter darkenesse, where their worme sall not die, nether zit their fyre sall bee extinguished.⁶⁸⁸⁶⁸⁸ Rev. xxi. 27; Esa. lxvi. 24; Matt. xxv. 41; Mark ix. 44, 46, 48; Matt. xxii. 13. The remembrance of quhilk day, and of the Judgement to be executed in the same, is not onelie to us ane brydle, whereby our carnal lustes are refrained, bot alswa sik inestimable comfort, that nether may the threatning of worldly

Contra protervi, inobedientes, crudeles, violenti, impuri, idololatræ, ac cætera impiorum genera conjicientur in carcerem tenebrarum exteriorum, ubi nec vermis eorum morietur, nec ignis extinguetur: cujus judicii exercendi dies, ejusque memoria non solum nobis pro fræno est ad voluptates carnis coercendas, sed inestimabilis etiam animi confirmatio, quæ nos ita corroboret, ut neque minis principum terrenorum, neque mortis hujus momentaneæ admoto metu, nec

450

Art. XII.	Art. XII.
Princes, nether zit the feare of temporal death and present danger, move us to renounce and forsake that blessed societie, quhilk we the members have with our Head and onelie Mediator Christ Jesus:⁶⁸⁹⁶⁸⁹ 2 Pet. iii. 11; 2 Cor. v. 9, 10, 11; Luke xxi. 27, 28; John xiv. 1, etc. Whom we confesse and avow to be the Messias promised, the onlie Head of his Kirk, our just Lawgiver, our onlie hie Priest, Advocate, and Mediator.⁶⁹⁰⁶⁹⁰ Esa. vii. 14; Eph. i. 22; Col. i. 18; Heb. ix. 11, 15; x. 21; 1 John. ii. 1; 1 Tim. ii. 5. See note 1, p. 13. In quhilk honoures and offices, gif man or Angell presume to intruse themself, we utterlie detest and abhorre them, as blasphemous to our Soveraigne and supreme Governour Christ Jesus.	præsentia ulla periculi commoveamur, ut beatam illam dirimamus societatem quæ nobis, utpote membris, conflata est cum capite nostro, et unico intercessore Jesu Christo. Quem nos profitemur et asseveramus esse Messiam in lege promissum, unicum ecclesiæ suæ caput, justum nostrum legislatorem, unicum nobis summum pontificem, patronum, et pacificatorem. Ejus hos honores, atque hæc munera si quis hominum aut angelorum arroganter et superbe sibi attribuat, eum nos aspernamur, et detestamur velut blasphemum adversus supremum nostrum rectorem Jesum Christum.
OF FAITH IN THE HOLY GOSTE.	DE FIDE IN SPIRITUM SANCTUM.
This our Faith and the assurance of the same, proceeds not fra flesh and blude, that is to say, fra na natural poweris within us, bot is the inspiration of the holy Gost:⁶⁹¹⁶⁹¹ Matt. xvi. 17; John xiv. 26; xv. 26; xvi. 13. Whome we confesse God equall with the Father and with his Sonne,⁶⁹²⁶⁹² Acts. v. 3, 4. quha sanctifyis us, and bringis us in al veritie be his awin operation, without whome we sulde remaine for ever enimies to God, and ignorant of his Sonne Christ Jesus; for	Hæc nostra fides, ejusque certitudo, non a carne et sanguine proficiscitur, hoc est, a nulla quæ in nobis est vi et potentia naturali, sed ab inspiratione et instinctu Sancti Spiritus, quem nos item Deum confitemur æqualem Patri et Filio: qui nos sanctificat, qui omnem in nobis veritatem operatur, sine quo perpetuo maneremus inimici Deo, et Jesum Christum Filium ejus ignoraremus. Natura

451

of nature we are so dead, so blind, and so perverse, that nether can we feill when we ar pricked, see the licht when it shines, nor assent to the will of God when it is reveiled, unles the Spirit of the Lord Jesus quicken that quhilk is dead, remove the darknesse from our myndes, and bowe our stubburne hearts to the obedience of his blessed will.⁶⁹³⁶⁹³ Col. ii. 13; Eph. ii. 1; John ix. 39; Rev. iii. 17; Matt. xvii. 17; Mark ix. 19; Luke ix. 41; John vi. 63; Mic. vii. 8; 1 Kings viii. 57, 58. And so as we confesse, that God the Father created us, when we were not,⁶⁹⁴⁶⁹⁴ Psalm c. 3. as his Sonne our Lord Jesus redeemed us, when wee were enimies to him;⁶⁹⁵⁶⁹⁵ Rom. v. 10. so also do we confesse that the holy Gost doth sanctifie and regenerat us, without all respect of ony merite proceeding from us, be it before, or be it after our Regeneration⁶⁹⁶⁶⁹⁶ John iii. 5; Tit. iii. 5; Rom. v. 8. To speak this ane thing zit in mair plaine words: As we willingly spoyle our selves of all honour and gloir of our awin Creation and Redemption,⁶⁹⁷⁶⁹⁷ Phil. iii. 9. so do we also of our Regeneration and Sanctification, for of our selves we ar not sufficient to think one gude thocht, bot he quha hes begun the wark in us, is onlie he that continewis us in the same,⁶⁹⁸⁶⁹⁸ Phil. i. 6; 2 Cor. iii. 5. to the praise and glorie of his undeserved grace.⁶⁹⁹⁶⁹⁹ Eph. i. 6.

enim ita sumus mortui, obcæcati, depravati, ut neque stimulis confessi quicquam sentiamus, neque lumen oblatum videamus, neque cum voluntas Dei revelata est nobis, ei assentiamur; nisi Dei Spiritus, et mortuos ad vitam revocet, et a mentis nostræ oculis tenebras discutiat, et contumaces flectat animos, ut sanctæ ipsius voluntati pareamus. Et quemadmodum confitemur a Deo patre nos creatos, cum antea nihil essemus, ab Jesu Christo redemptos, cum inimici essemus; similiter fatemur nos a Spiritu Sancto renatos, et sanctificatos esse, nulla ratione habita meritorum nostrorum, sive quæ regenerationem præcesserint, sive quæ sequantur. Atque ut hanc rem paulo explicatius dicamus, quemadmodum non inviti nosmetipsos omni creationis et redemptionis nostræ gloria spoliamus; ita regenerationis et sanctificationis nostræ ne minimam quidem partem nobis nostrisque meritis arrogamus: nam naturæ nostræ sponte, ne ad cogitandum quidem quicquam boni sumus idonci; sed is qui bene operari in nobis cœpit, idem solus etiam opus continuat ad gloriam et laudem nominis sui; quippe qui sua munera nobis gratis impartitur, non meritis vendit.

452

Art. XIII.	Art. XIII.
OF THE CAUSE OF GUDE WARKIS.	DE CAUSA BONORUM OPERUM.
Sa that the cause of gude warkis, we confesse to be not our free wil, bot the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, who dwelling in our hearts be trewe faith, bringis furth sik warkis, as God hes prepared for us to walke in. For this wee maist boldelie affirme, that blasphemy it is to say, that Christ abydes in the heartes of sik, as in whome there is no spirite of sanctif