The Covenant of Gods Free Grace Unfolded and Applied, Profession of faith
A Profeſsion of Faith, made by the Reverend Divine, Mr. John Davenport, at his admiſſion into one of the Churches of God in New-England, viz.
I believe with all my heart, and confeſſe with my mouth.
1. Concerning the Scriptures.
THat all Scripture is by divine inſpiration, or inbreathing of God (by Scripture I mean, the Books of the old Teſtament, as Moſes and the Prophets, and of the new Teſtament) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inſtruction in righteouſneſſe, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good works, 1 Tim. 3.16, 17. and that in all things which concern faith and obedience, whether in Gods Worſhip, or in the whole converſation of men, it holdeth forth a moſt perfect rule, wherunto nothing may be added, nor from it may ought be diminiſhed, Deut. 4.2. Rev. 22.18, 19. Which alſo is ſo clear in truths neceſſary to ſalvation, that the entrance into it giveth light, yea, underſtanding to the ſimple, Pſal. 19.7.
2. Concerning the Godhead in the
Ʋnity of Eſſence, and
Trinity of Perſons.
That God is a Spirit moſt holy, immutable, eternall, every way infinite, in greatneſſe, goodneſſe, power, wiſdome, juſtice, truth, and in all divine perfections, 1 Tim. 6.15, 16. Joh. 4.24. Iſai. 6.6. Exod. 34.6, 7. And that in this Godhead, are three diſtinct Perſons, coeternall, coequall, and coeſſentiall, being every one of them one and the ſame God, not three Gods, and therefore not divided in eſſence, nature, or being, Deut. 4.3. but diſtinguiſhed one from another, by their ſeverall and peculiar relative property; the Father is of none but of himſelf, the Son is begotten of the Father before all worlds, the Holy Ghoſt proceedeth from the Father and the Son, from all eternity, all together are to be worſhipped and glorified.
3. Concerning the Decrees of God.
That God hath unchangeably decreed in himſelf from everlaſting, touching all things, great and ſmall, neceſſary, contingent, and voluntary, with all the circumſtances of them, to work, and diſpoſe them according to the counſell of his own will (yet without being Author of, or having fellowſhip with the ſins of any) to the praiſe and glory of his great name. And touching the eternall eſtate of men, that God hath according to his moſt wiſe, free, and unchangeable purpoſe in himſelf, before the foundation of the world, choſen ſome in Jeſus Chriſt to eternall life, to the praiſe and glory of his grace, and rejected or reprobated others to the praiſe of his juſtice.
4. Concerning Creation and Providence.
That in the beginning God made by his Word all things of nothing very good, and made man, male and female, after his own Image righteous; and as a faithfull Creator doth ſtill uphold, diſpoſe, and govern all things to the ends for which they were created, having care eſpecially for man, and amongſt men, chiefly for the righteous and believers; ſo that neither good nor evill befalls any man without Gods providence.
5. Concerning the fall of man, and originall ſin.
That in as much as Adam was the root of all mankind, the Law and Covenant of works was given to him, as to a publike perſon, and to an head from whence all good or evill was to be derived to his poſterity: Seeing therefore that by the ſubtilty of the Serpent, which Satan uſed as his Inſtrument, firſt Eve, then Adam being ſeduced, did wittingly and willingly fall into the diſobedience of the Commandment of God; Death came upon all juſtly, and reigned over all, yea, over Infants alſo which have not ſinned after the like manner of the tranſgreſſion of Adam: Hence alſo it is, that all ſince the fall of Adam, are begotten in his own likeneſſe, after his Image, being conceived and born in iniquity, and ſo by nature children of wrath, dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, altogether filthy and polluted throughout in ſoule and body; utterly averſe from any ſpirituall good, ſtrongly bent to all evill, and ſubject to all calamities due to ſin in this world, and for ever.
6. Concerning mans reſtitution.
That all mankind being thus fallen, yet the elect, and only they, are redeemed, reconciled to God, and ſaved, not of themſelves, neither by their own works, but only by the mighty power of God, of his unſearchable, rich, free grace and mercy, through faith in Jeſus Chriſt, who of God is made unto us wiſdom, righteouſneſs, ſanctification, and redemption; in the relation both of a ſurety to ſatisfie God juſtice for us, and of an head to reſtore the Image of God that was loſt, and repair the nature that was corrupted in us.
7. Concerning the Perſon and Natures in Chriſt.
That the Lord Jeſus, of whom Moſes and the Prophets wrote, and whom the Apoſtles preached, is, as touching his Perſon, the everlaſting Son of God the Father, by eternall generation, coeſſentiall, coequall, and coeternall, God with him, and with the holy Ghoſt; by whom he made the world, and by whom hee upholdeth and governs all the works he hath made: who alſo, when the fulneſſe of time was come, was made of a woman, of the Tribe of Judah, of the ſeed of David and Abraham, viz. of Mary, that bleſſed Virgin, by by the Holy Ghoſt coming upon her, and the power of the moſt high overſhadowing her; and was in all things like unto us, ſin only excepted; ſo that in the perſon of Chriſt, the two natures, the divine and humane, are truly, perfectly, indiviſibly, and diſtinctly united.
8. Concerning the Offices of Chriſt.
That Jeſus Chriſt is the only Mediatour of the new Teſtament, even of the Covenant of Grace between God and man; the Prophet, Prieſt, and King of the Church of God for evermore; and this office is ſo proper to Chriſt, as, neither in the whole, nor any part thereof, it can be transferred from him to any other. And to this office hee was from everlaſting, and in reſpect of his Manhood, from the womb, called, ſeparated, and anointed moſt fully with all neceſſary gifts, as it is written, God hath not meaſured out of the Spirit unto him.
9. Concerning Chriſts propheticall Office.
That Chriſt hath perfectly revealed the whole will of God, ſo far as it is needfull for his people, either joyntly, or ſeverally to know, believe, or obey, and that he hath ſpoken, and doth ſpeak to his Church, in his own Ordinances by thoſe inſtruments whom hee ſendeth, and by his Spirit.
10. Concerning the Prieſthood of Chriſt.
That Chriſt being conſecrated, hath appeared once to put away ſin, by the offering and ſacrificing of himſelf, and hath fully performed and ſuffered all thoſe things, by which, God through the blood of his croſſe, in a ſacrifice of a ſweet ſmelling ſavor, might be reconciled to his elect; and having broken down the partition wall, and finiſhed and removed thoſe ceremoniall rites and ſhadowes, is now entred into the moſt holy place, (not made with hands) to the very heavens and preſence of God, where he for ever liveth, and ſitteth at the right hand of Majeſty, to make interceſſion for ſuch as come unto the Throne of Grace by that new and living way; and he maketh his people a ſpirituall houſe, and an holy Prieſthood to offer up ſpirituall ſacrifices acceptable to God through him.
11. Concerning Chriſts Kingly Office: 1. In generall.
That Chriſt being riſen from the dead, aſcended up to heaven, ſet at the right hand of God the Father, hath all power in heaven and earth given to him, and doth exerciſe his power in his government of this world over all Angels and men, good and bad, to the preſervation and ſalvation of his elect, and to the ruling and deſtruction of the reprobate; communicating and applying to his elect, the benefits, vertue, and fruit of his prophecie, and prieſthood to their regeneration, juſtification, ſanctification, preſervation, and ſtrengthening in all their ſpirituall conflicts againſt Satan, the world and the fleſh, continually dwelling in them by his holy Spirit, begetting and nouriſhing in them faith, hope, love, repentance, obedience, with peace and joy unto immortality: but on the contrary, limiting, uſing, reſtraining the reprobates his enemies, by his mighty power, as ſeemeth good in his divine wiſdome and juſtice, to their ſeduction, hardening and condemnation, till his appearing in glory with his mighty Angels to judge both quick and dead; where he will be, and ſeparate all his elect from them for ever, puniſhing the wicked with everlaſting perdition from his preſence; and joyning together the godly with himſelf in endleſſe glory.
12. Concerning his Kingdome: 2. In ſpeciall.
That in the mean time, beſides his abſolute rule in the world, Chriſt hath here on earth, a ſpirituall Kingdome in his Church, which hee hath purchaſed and redeemed to himſelf as a peculiar inheritance, into the body whereof he doth by the power of his Word, and Spirit, gather his heople, calling them through the Miniſtery of the Goſpel out of the world, and from Idolatry, ſuperſtition, and from all works of darkneſſe to fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, and by him with the Father, and the Holy Ghoſt, and with his people, making them a royall Prieſthood, an holy nation, a people ſet at liberty, to ſhew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of darkneſs into his marvellous light, and uniteth them together as members of one body in his faith, love, and holy order unto all generall and mutuall duties: and inſtructs and governs them by thoſe inſtruments and ordinances which he himſelf hath preſcribed in his word for the edification of his body the Church.
13. Concerning the Application of Redemption.
That the Holy Ghoſt is ſent by the Father and the Son to make application of Redemption only to thoſe whom the Father hath by his eternall Decree given to Chriſt, and for whom Chriſt maketh interceſſion to his Father, and whom the Father accepts in Chriſt unto fellowſhip of the everlaſting Covenant of his free Grace, having called them out of the world to fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt by the Goſpel, made effectually to that end, by the mighty power and operation of the Holy Ghoſt. Which grace of effectuall calling is thus diſpenſed to a poor loſt ſinner, awakened and humbled by the Law through the effectuall working of the ſpirit of bondage, judging himſelf worthy to be deſtroyed for his ſins; and ſeeing himſelf utterly deſtitute of all help or hope of himſelf: The Lord, in the preaching of the Goſpel by the powerfull work of the Holy Ghoſt, revealeth the fulneſſe and all-ſufficiencie of that grace, and ſalvation which is laid up in Jeſus Chriſt, as the only ſutable good to him; that hee alſo enableth him ſpiritually and ſavingly to apprehend Jeſus Chriſt as given him of the Father. And the ſame Spirit, having thus enlightened him, doth leave a ſupernaturall vertue and impreſſion of Gods love upon the ſoul, whereby the ſoul is drawn to cloſe with Chriſt, and with that grace of God in him ſo entirely, that there is now nothing between Chriſt and the ſoul, but it willingly parts with all things that hinder his enjoying of Chriſt; and by this effectuall calling all that are brought to Chriſt, are, 1. juſtified, that is, abſolved from ſin and death, and accounted righteous unto life, for, and through Chriſt apprehended, received, and relied upon by faith. 2. They are adopted, that is, accepted for Chriſts ſake to the dignity of Gods children: They are alſo, 3. ſanctified, that is really changed by degrees from the impurity of ſin, to the purity of Gods Image; and laſtly, they are glorified, that is, changed from the miſery or puniſhment of ſin, unto everlaſting happineſſe, which begins in the inward ſenſe of Gods love to them in Chriſt, whence they have hope of glory, boldneſſe in acceſſe to God, certainty of ſalvation, peace, joy unſpeakable; and it endeth in their full perfection in ſoul and body.
14. Concerning a particular inſtituted Church, and the Priviledges thereof.
That it is a company of faithfull and holy people, or perſons called out of the world to fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt, and united in one Congregation to him as members to their head, and one with another, by a holy covenant for mutuall fellowſhip in all ſuch wayes of holy worſhip of God, and of edification of one towards another, as God himſelf hath required in his Word of every Church of Chriſt, and the members thereof.
15. Concerning the manner of gathering a Church.
That it is the duty of all Chriſtians, having renounced all falſe wayes of Idolatrous, Antichriſtian, and ſuperſtitious worſhip, and of ſin, and the world (as to inſtruct and govern their own families according to God, ſo) to joyn willingly together in Chriſtian communion and orderly covenant, and by free confeſſion of the faith, and profeſſion of their ſubjection to the Goſpel of Chriſt, to unite themſelves unto peculiar and viſible Congregations, wherein as members of one body, whereof Chriſt is the head, they are to worſhip God according to his Word: To this Church he hath given royall priviledges, as the holy Oracles, the Promiſes, the Seals of the Covenant, his preſence, love, protection and bleſſing in a ſpeciall manner, here all that acknowledge him to be their Prophet, Prieſt, and King, are to be inrolled amongſt his houſhold ſervants, and to preſent their bodies, and ſoules, and gifts, and ſolemn ſervices for a ſpirituall ſacrifice acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt. Being thus united, they, to whom God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures, being approved by the Church, and appointed thereunto, may, and ought to teach publikely the Word of God, by prophecying according to the proportion of faith for edification, exhortation, and comfort of the Church, till ſuch time as men may be had, fit for ſuch office or offices, as Chriſt hath appointed to the publike Miniſtery of his Church; and then they are upon due triall, to proceed to the choyce and ordination of thoſe officers according to God: and then the officers are to diſpenſe the ſeals of the Covenant, viz. Baptiſme to the ſeed of the faithfull in their Infancy, and to others not yet baptized, when by profeſſion of their faith they are added to the Church: And all of the Church that are of yeers, and are able to examine themſelves, muſt communicate alſo in the Lords Supper in both kindes, viz. Bread and Wine.
16. Concerning the Sacraments.
That they are in the ordinance of God, ſigns and ſeals of Gods everlaſting Covenant with us, repreſenting and offering to all receivers, but exhibiting only to true believers the Lord Jeſus Chriſt and all his benefits unto righteouſneſſe, ſanctification, and eternall life, through faith in his name, to the Glory and praiſe of God.
17. Concerning the power of every Church.
That Chriſt hath given the power of chuſing Officers, and of receiving in, or calling of any member, to the whole body together of every Church, and not to any one member apart, or to more members ſequeſtred from the whole, or to any other Congregation to do it for them; yet ſo, as every Church ought to uſe the beſt help they can hereunto, and the moſt meet member they have to pronounce the ſame in their publike Aſſemblies, if they want Officers. And to this cenſure and judgement of Chriſt, duly and orderly diſpenſed, every member of the Congregation, yea, and officer alſo how exellent, or learned ſoever he be, is ſubject. Yet ought not the Church without great care and advice to proceed againſt ſuch publike perſons.
18. Concerning the Communion of Churches.
That although particular Churches be diſtinct and ſeverall Independent bodies, every one as a city compact within it ſelf, without ſubordination under, or dependence upon any other but Jeſus Chriſt, yet are all Churches to walk by one and the ſame rule, and by all means convenient, to have the counſell and help one of another, when need requireth, as members of one body, in the common faith under Chriſt their only Head.
19. Concerning Church-officers.
That Chriſt, when hee aſcended up on high, gave gifts unto men, and diſpoſed of them in ſeverall functions, and for publike ordinary miniſtery, he gave Paſtors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, helpers for the inſtruction, government, and ſervice of his Church, to the worlds end; and that none may uſurp or execute a Miniſtery in the Church, but ſuch as are rightly called by the Church, whereof they ſtand Miniſters, and being ſo called, they ought to give all diligence to fulfill their Miniſtery, and to be found faithfull, and unblamable in all things: And that this miniſtery is alike given to every Church of Chriſt, with like and equall power, and commiſſion to have and enjoy the ſame as God offereth fit men, and means, and the ſame rules are given to all for the election and execution thereof in all places: which rules & lawes it is not lawfull for thoſe Miniſters, or for the Church, wittingly to neglect or tranſgreſſe in any part. And thoſe Miniſters thus choſen, and executing their office faithfully, every Church is bound to have them in ſingular love for their works ſake, to reverence them according to the dignity of their office wch they execute, and to provide for them, that they be not entangled with the cares of this life, according to the Law of Chriſt: And this to do, not as in way of courteſie or mercy, but out of duty to them in the Lord; and having hope in God, that the reſurrection ſhall be of the juſt and of the unjuſt; of the juſt, to the reſurrection of life, and of the unjuſt, to the reſurrection of condemnation.
20. Concerning giving every man his due.
That unto all men is to be given whatſoever is due to them, in regard of their office, place, gifts, wages, eſtate, and condition; endeavouring our ſelves to have alwayes a conſcience void of offence towards God, and towards men.
FINIS.
End of the text · John Cotton, The Covenant of Gods Free Grace Unfolded and Applied (1645)