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Chapter 33 Of the Last Judgment 1. God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world, in righteousness, by Jesus Christ,a to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father.b In which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged,c but likewise all persons that have lived upon 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.d2. The end of God’s appointing this day is for the manifestation of the...

Chapter 32 Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead 1. The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption:a but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them:b the souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God, in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies.c And the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and...

Chapter 31 Of Synods and Councils 1. For the better government, and further edification of the church, there ought to be such assemblies as are commonly called synods or councils:a and it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the particular churches, by virtue of their office, and the power which Christ hath given them for edification and not for destruction, to appoint such assemblies;b and to convene together in them, as often as they shall judge it expedient for the good of the church.c2. It belongeth to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases...

Chapter 29 Of the Lord’s Supper 1. Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he was betrayed, instituted the sacrament of his body and blood, called the Lord’s Supper, to be observed in his church, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death; the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, their further engagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him; and, to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other, as members of...

Chapter 28 Of Baptism 1. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,a not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church;b but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,c of his ingrafting into Christ,d of regeneration,e of remission of sins,f and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life.g Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.h2. The outward element to be used in this...

Chapter 27 Of the Sacraments 1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,a immediately instituted by God,b to represent Christ, and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in him:c as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the church, and the rest of the world;d and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.e2. There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the...

Chapter 25 Of the Church 1. The catholic or universal church, which is 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 fullness of him that filleth all in all.a2. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation, as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion;b and of their children:c and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,d the...

Chapter 24 Of Marriage and Divorce 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.a2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife,b for the increase of mankind with legitimate issue, and of the church with an holy seed;c and for preventing of uncleanness.d3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent.e Yet it is the duty...

Chapter 23 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 the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evildoers.a2. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate, when called thereunto:b in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome...

Chapter 22 Of Lawful Oaths and Vows 1. A lawful oath is a part of religious worship,a wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth.b2. 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.c 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...

Chapter 21 Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day 1. The light of nature showeth that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all, is 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 with all the soul, and with all the might.a But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions...

Chapter 20 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 curse of the moral law;a and, in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin;b from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation;c as also, in their free access to God,d and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing...

Chapter 19 Of the Law of God 1. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, 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 endued him with power and ability to keep it.a2. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables:b the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the...

Chapter 18 Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation 1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favor of God, and estate of salvationa (which hope of theirs shall perishb): yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,c and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.d2. This...

Chapter 17 Of the Perseverance of the Saints 1. They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.a2. 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;b upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ,c the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed...

Chapter 16 Of Good Works 1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word,a and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.b2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:c and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,d strengthen their assurance,e edify their brethren,f adorn the profession of the gospel,g stop the mouths of the adversaries,h and glorify God,i whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,k that,...

Chapter 15 Of Repentance unto Life 1. Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace,a the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.b2. By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God,c...

Chapter 14 Of Saving Faith 1. The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls,a is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,b and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word,c by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.d2. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein;e and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands,f...

Chapter 13 Of Sanctification 1. They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection,a by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them:b the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,c and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified;d and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,e to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.f2. This sanctification is throughout, in the...

Chapter 12 Of Adoption 1. All those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,a by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,b have his name put upon them,c receive the Spirit of adoption,d have access to the throne of grace with boldness,e are enabled to cry, Abba, Father,f are pitied,g protected, h provided for,i and chastened by him, as by a father:k yet never cast off,l but sealed to the day of redemption;m and inherit...

Chapter 11 Of Justification 1. Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth:a not by infusing righteousness 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; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,b they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness, by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the...

Chapter 10 Of Effectual Calling 1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,a by his Word and Spirit,b out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ;a enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God,d taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh;e renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good,f and effectually drawing them...

Chapter 9 Of Free Will 1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil.a2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God;b but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.c3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation:d so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that...

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, to be the Mediator between God and man,a the Prophet,b Priest,c and King,d the Head and Savior of his church,e the Heir of all things,f and Judge of the world:g unto whom he did from all eternity give a people, to be his seed,h and to be by him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.i2. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance...

Chapter 7 Of God’s Covenant with Man 1. The distance between God and the creature is so great, that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have any fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he hath been pleased to express by way of covenant.a2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works,b wherein life was promised to Adam; and in him to his posterity,c upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.d3. Man, by his fall, having made himself...

Chapter 6 Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof 1. Our first parents, being seduced by the subtilty and temptation of Satan, sinned, in eating the forbidden fruit.a This their sin, God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.b2. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God,c and so became dead in sin,d and wholly defiled in all the parts and faculties of soul and body.e3. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this...

Chapter 5 Of Providence 1. God the great Creator of all things doth uphold,a direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least,c by his most wise and holy providence,d according to his infallible foreknowledge,e and the free and immutable counsel of his own will,f to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.g2. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the First Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly;h yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out, according to...

Chapter 4 Of Creation 1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,a for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,b in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days; and all very good.c 2. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,d with reasonable and immortal souls,e endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image;f having the law of God written in their hearts,g and power to fulfill it:h...

Chapter 3 Of God’s Eternal Decree 1. God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass:a yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,b nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.c 2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions,d yet hath he not decreed anything because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to...

Preface In 1643, during a period of civil war, the English "Long Parliament" (under the control of Presbyterian Puritans) convened an Assembly of Divines (mostly Puritan ministers, including a few influential Scottish commissioners) at Westminster Abbey in London. Their task was to advise Parliament on how to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Scotland and the Continental Reformed churches. The Westminster Assembly produced documents on doctrine, church government, and worship that have largely defined Presbyterianism down to this day. These documents included a Confession of Faith (1646), a Larger Catechism (1647), and a Shorter...

Chapter 1 Of the Holy Scripture 1. 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 unexcusable;a yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation.b Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his church;c and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the...

May 11 In 1189 Emperor Frederik I Barbarossa and 100,000 crusaders left Regensburg in southern Germany for the Holy Land. In 1421, Jews were expelled from Styria in Austria. In 1610, Italian Matteo Ricci, a renowned Christian missionary in China, died. In 1676, beggars were told that they needed permission from priests to beg in Montreal and Quebec City. In 1816, the American Bible Society was founded in New York. In 1921, Tel Aviv was declared the first all-Jewish municipality. In 1949, Israel was admitted to the United Nations as the world body's 59th member. In 1960, Israeli security forces...

Chapter 2 Of God, and of the Holy Trinity 1. There is but one only,a living, and true God,b who is infinite in being and perfection,c a most pure spirit,d invisible,e without body, parts,f or passions;g immutable,h immense,i eternal,k incomprehensible, l almighty,m most wise,n most holy,o most free,p most absolute;q working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will,r for his own glory;s most loving,t gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;u the rewarder of them that diligently seek him;w and withal, most just, and terrible in his...

MEDIA ADVISORY, April 27 /Christian Newswire/ -- Reacting to a resolution passed yesterday by the European Parliament – condemning Poland for "homophobia" – World Congress of Families International Secretary Allan Carlson charged, "The European Union is engaging in Soviet-style mind-control." World Congress of Families IV – the largest international pro-family conference – will convene in Warsaw exactly two weeks from today (May 11-13). The resolution – which passed by a vote of 325 to 124 (with 150 abstentions) – was in response to legislation proposed by Polish Education Minister Roman Giertych to prevent teachers from indoctrinating children on the gay...

NEW YORK — The scandal engulfing the United Nations Procurement Department () now appears to be bottomless. It also shows signs of growing more sinister, especially where it involves a mysterious private company called IHC Services (), which did big business with the procurement department until it was removed from U.N. rosters in June. New details of how dark the scandal could prove to be have emerged from the private sale of IHC on June 3, 2005, just as the procurement scandal was about to break. It now appears that while doing business with the U.N., IHC had links both to Saddam...

AUGUSTA - A Hampden state senator staged a losing one-woman debate Wednesday night in an attempt to convince the Maine Senate that parents should be consulted before abortions are performed on their minor children. Following the lead of the Maine House, which rejected LD 1575 Tuesday, the Senate voted 21-14 against the measure which included a fiscal note of $241,000 for court-related expenses associated with any resulting judicial review and appeal of a minor's court-approved abortion. Sen. Debra D. Plowman, R-Hampden, told her seatmates that "as a woman and a mother," she would want to know if one of her...