Modern 1689 Confession

Original

Reeves

Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, Of Sin, And of the Punishment Thereof

1. Although God created man upright and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof, yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to subdue Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the law of their creation, and the command given unto them, in eating the forbidden fruit, which God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel to permit, having purposed to order it to his own glory.

( Genesis 2:16, 17; Genesis 3:12,13; 2 Corinthians 11:3 )

2. Our first parents, by this sin, fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and we in them whereby death came upon all: all becoming dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body.

( Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12, etc; Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19 )

3. They being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room and stead of all mankind, the guilt of the sin was imputed, and corrupted nature conveyed, to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation, being now conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free.

( Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49; Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:20 Romans 5:12; Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10 )

4. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.

( Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21; James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19 )

5. The corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be through Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and the first motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.

( Romans 7:18,23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8; Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17 ) 

Chapter 6

The Fall of Mankind, and Sin and Its Punishment

1. God created mankind upright and perfect.  He gave him a righteous law that would have led to life if he had kept it but threatened death if he broke it.¹  Yet he did not remain for long in this position of honor.  Satan used the craftiness of the serpent to overcome Eve, who then seduced Adam.  He acted without any outside compulsion and deliberately transgressed the law of their creation and the command given to them by eating the forbidden fruit.² God was pleased, in keeping with his wise and holy counsel, to permit this act, because he had purposed to direct it for his own glory.

¹Genesis 2:16, 17. ²Genesis 3:12, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3.

2. By this sin our first parents fell from their original righteousness and communion with God.  We fell in them, and through this, death came upon all.³  All became dead in sin⁴ and completely defiled in all the capabilities and parts of soul and body.⁵

³Romans 3:23. ⁴Romans 5:12ff. ⁵Titus 1:15; Genesis 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-19.

3. By God's appointment, they were the root and the representatives of the whole human race. Because of this, the guilt of their sin was accounted, and their corrupt nature passed on, to all their offspring who descended from them by ordinary birth.⁶  Their descendants are now conceived in sin⁷ and are by nature children of wrath,⁸ the servants of sin, and partakers of death⁹ and all other miseries—spiritual, temporal, and eternal—unless the Lord Jesus sets them free.¹⁰

⁶Romans 5:12-19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49. ⁷Psalms 51:5; Job 14:4. ⁸Ephesians 2:3. ⁹Romans 6:20; 5:12. ¹⁰Hebrews 2:14, 15; 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

4. All actual transgressions arise from this first corruption.¹¹  By it we are thoroughly biased against, and disabled and antagonistic toward all that is good, and we are completely inclined toward all that is evil.¹²

¹¹James 1:14, 15; Matthew 15:19. ¹²Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21.

5. During this life, this corruption of nature remains in those who are regenerated.¹³  Even though it is pardoned and put to death through Christ, yet both this corruption of nature and all actions arising from it are truly and actually sin.¹⁴

¹³Romans 7:18,23; Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 1:8. ¹⁴Romans 7:23-25; Galatians 5:17. 

Original

Reeves

Chapter 5

Of Divine Providence

1.   God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.

( Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11 )

2.   Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.

( Acts 2:23; Proverbs 16:33; Genesis 8:22 )

3.   God, in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at his pleasure.

( Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11; Hosea 1:7; Romans 4:19-21; Daniel 3:27 )

4.   The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.

( Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1; 2 Kings 19:28; Psalms 76;10; Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6, 7, 12; Psalms 1:21; 1 John 2:16 )

5.   The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good.

( 2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Romans 8:28 )

6.   As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God useth for the softening of others.

( Romans 1:24-26, 28; Romans 11:7, 8; Deuteronomy 29:4; Matthew 13:12; Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13; Psalms 81:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8 )

7.   As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.

( 1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isaiah 43:3-5 )

Chapter 5

Divine Providence

1.   God the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, upholds, directs, arranges, and governs all creatures and things,¹ from the greatest to the least, by his perfectly wise and holy providence, to the purpose for which they were created.  He governs according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free and unchangeable counsel of his own will.  His providence leads to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.³

¹Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6. ²Matthew 10:29-31. ³Ephesians 1:11.

2.   All things come to pass unchangeably and certainly in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God,⁴ who is the first cause.  The certainty of God’s decree means that nothing happens to anyone by chance or outside of God’s providence.⁵  Yet by the same providence God arranges them to occur according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or in response to other causes.⁶

⁴Acts 2:23. ⁵Proverbs 16:33. ⁶Genesis 8:22.

3.  In his ordinary providence, God makes use of means,⁷ though He is free to work apart from them,⁸ beyond them,⁹ and contrary to them¹⁰ at his pleasure.

⁷Acts 27:31, 44; Isaiah 55:10, 11. ⁸Hosea 1:7. ⁹Romans 4:19-21. ¹⁰Daniel 3:27.

4.   The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God are so thoroughly demonstrated in his providence, that his sovereign plan includes even the first fall and every other sinful action both of angels and humans.¹¹  God’s providence over sinful actions does not occur by simple permission but by a form of permission that God most wisely and powerfully limits and in other ways arranges and governs.¹²  Through a complex arrangement of methods he channels sinful actions to accomplish his perfectly holy purposes.¹³  Yet he does this in such a way that the sinfulness of their acts arises only from the creatures and not from God.  Because God is altogether holy and righteous, he can neither originate nor approve of sin.¹⁴

¹¹Romans 11:32-34; 2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Chronicles 21:1. ¹²2 Kings 19:28; Psalms 76;10. ¹³Genesis 1:20; Isaiah 10:6, 7, 12. ¹⁴Psalms 1:21; 1 John 2:16.

5.   The perfectly wise, righteous, and gracious God often allows his own children for a time to experience a variety of temptations and the sinfulness of their own hearts.  He does this to chastise them for their former sins or to make them aware of the hidden strength of the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts so that they may be humbled.  He also does this to lead them to a closer and more constant dependence on him to sustain them, to make them more cautious about all future circumstances that may lead to sin, and for other just and holy purposes.¹⁵ So whatever happens to any of his elect happens by his appointment, for his glory, and for their good.¹⁶

¹⁵2 Chronicles 32:25, 26, 31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. ¹⁶Romans 8:28.

6.   God, as the righteous judge, sometimes blinds and hardens wicked and ungodly people because of their sins.¹⁷  He withholds his grace from them, by which they could have been enlightened in their understanding and had their hearts renewed.¹⁸  Not only that, but sometimes he also takes away the gifts they already had¹⁹ and exposes them to situations that their corrupt natures turn into opportunities for sin.²⁰  Moreover, he gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,²¹ so that they harden themselves in response to the same influences that God uses to soften others.²²

¹⁷Romans 1:24-26, 28; Romans 11:7, 8. ¹⁸Deuteronomy 29:4. ¹⁹Matthew 13:12. ²⁰Deuteronomy 2:30; 2 Kings 8:12, 13. ²¹Psalms 81:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. ²²Exodus 8:15, 32; Isaiah 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 2:7, 8.

7.   The providence of God in a general way includes all creatures, but in a special way it takes care of his church and arranges all things to its good.²³

²³1 Timothy 4:10; Amos 9:8, 9; Isaiah 43:3-5.

Original

Reeves

Chapter 4

Of Creation

1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.

( John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31 )

2. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, with reasonable and immortal souls, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.

( Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26; Romans 2:14, 15; Genesis 3:6 )

3. Besides the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which whilst they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.

( Genesis 2:17; Genesis 1:26, 28 )

Chapter 4

Creation

1. In the beginning God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit¹ was pleased to create or make the world and all things in it, both visible and invisible, in a six-day period, and all very good.² He did this to manifest the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness.³

¹John 1:2, 3; Hebrews 1:2; Job 26:13. ²Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:31. ³Romans 1:20.

2. After God had made all the other creatures, he created mankind. He made them male and female,⁴ with rational and immortal souls,⁵ thereby making them suited to that life lived unto God for which they were created. Accordingly, they were made in the image of God and endowed with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.⁶ They had the law of God written in their hearts⁷ and the power to fulfill it. Even so, they could still transgress the law, because they were left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change.⁸

⁴Genesis 1:27. ⁵Genesis 2:7. ⁶Ecclesiastes 7:29; Genesis 1:26. ⁷Romans 2:14, 15. ⁸Genesis 3:6.

3. In addition to the law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.⁹ As long as they obeyed this command, they were happy in their communion with God and had dominion over the creatures.¹⁰

⁹Genesis 2:17; ¹⁰Genesis 1:26, 28.