CONFESSION OF FAITH,

ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD,

IN THIRTY-THREE ARTICLES.

ARTICLE FIRST.

OF THE UNITY OF GOD, AND HIS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.

Of the unity of the God of heaven and earth, we believe by the grace of God, and according to the holy scripture, That there is One only true, eternal, almighty, and omnipotent God; who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth, with all visible and invisible things; so that all things derive their existence, source and fountain, from him, and are upheld and governed by the power of his almighty word.

Who is

a just, perfect, holy, incomprehensible, inexpressible, spiritual Being. And in his self-existence needeth not the help of any thing; but is himself the life and source of every good thing. that exists. From whose overflowing goodness alone, every good and perfect gift springs and is derived. Who liveth for ever and ever, without beginning and without end. A God of hosts. A commanding king, whose kingdom extends over heaven and earth. A dreadful judge. A consuming fire. The true light; upright, just and holy; full of grace and peace;

and a God of love and comfort: long-suffering and abounding in mercy.

And this only good and infinitely wise God, who is all-in-all, dwelleth in the heavens, highly exalted above all powers, and in his glorious essence, has the heavens for his throne, and the earth for his footstool; dwelling in light which no man can approach unto; and in his omnipresence fills the heavens and the earth with his Spirit and power.

Before whose allseeing eyes, all things are plain and uncovered, and nothing can be hid or concealed; but in his omniscience he heareth and seeth all the actions, thoughts and intents, of the hearts of the sons of men.

And as he is a God of unbounded knowledge, full of grace, mercy and comfort; with whom alone is the fountain of wisdom, and the spring of every good and perfect gift, and who will not give his glory to another, it is the unbounded duty of all mankind, to bow and submit to him with holy reverence and awe, and with ardent prayer and supplication to seek and implore his grace and favour, the remission of sins and life everlasting.

And this supremely great and glorious God; who is King of kings and Lord of lords; before whose adorable Majesty the angels stand with awe; whose word is truth, and whose command is powerful. To this righteous Judge shall every knee bow, and every tongue shall confess that he is God, and that there is none besides him.

And this One eternal and true God-the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, consists in a true Father, and a true Son, and a true Holy Ghost. And besides this God there is none other, neither ever shall be.

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Of this one eternal, living and true God, read Hear, O Israel; the LORD our God is one LORD. Deut. 6: 4.-For I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.-I am the first and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.-I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God besides me.—I,even I, am the LORD; and besides me there is no Saviour. Isa. 43: 11.-44: 6, 8.-45: 5.-46: 8.-For there is one God, and there is none other but he. Mark 12: 32.-We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things. 1 Cor. 8: 4, 6.-One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Eph. 4: 6.

And in this only true God, we must necessarily believe, which is the beginning and foundation of our Christian doctrine and faith, to eter nal life and salvation. Of which read: And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Gen. 15: 6.--I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Ps. 27: 13.-So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no

manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. Dan. 6: 23.-For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim. 1: 12.-Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5: 24.-But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb. 11: 6.

ARTICLE SECOND.

OF THE ETERNAL BIRTH AND GODHEAD OF THE SON OF GOD, AND HIS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES.

Of the eternal birth and Godhead of the only begotten Son of God, we believe, That the Son of God, from all eternity, came forth, was born, and in an ineffable manner proceeded forth from the true God, his Father; of the same nature, essence and substance with the Almighty God A light from the true light. Truly God from the true God. Who being in the form of God, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. The immaculate mirror of his majesty and goodness; equal with God his Father in his person and in his attributes; as eternal, almighty, holy, omnipresent, omniscient. For in truth it must follow, that he that

is begotten, is essentially the same with him of whom he was begotten. For,

As the stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands, and became a great mountain that filled the whole earth, is of the same substance with the mountain from which it was taken; so also is the elect precious corner-stone, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, the same in his being and substance; co-cqual, coeternal with the Almighty Father, who is the mountain and rock of ages. Therefore, Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is to be received and acknowledged, by every true believer, to be equally worthy with God his Father to receive our highest worship, honour, adoration and praise. But as this is a matter of faith, and too high and incomprehensible for our limited reason, we must contemplate this mystery of faith and of godliness with the eyes of faith; and there, where mystery veils our vision, there, in silent meditation, admire and adore!

Of this divine birth of the Son of God, read: Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ps. 2: 7.--For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? Heb. 1: 5.--So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son; to-day have I begotten thee. 5: 5.

And we declare unto you glad tiding, how