Chapter 2: Of God and of the Holy Trinity
The Westminster Confession (1646), the Savoy Declaration (1658) and the Second London Confession (1677/1689), paragraph by paragraph. Marked: what each has that the one before it lacks.
| Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) |
|---|---|---|
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 2.1 There is but one only, living, and true God: who is infinite in Being and Perfection, a most pure Spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternall, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the Counsell of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory; most loving, gracious, mercifull, long-suffering, abundant in goodnesse and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and with all, most just and terrible in his judgements, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 2.1 There is but one onely living and true God; who is infinite in Being and Perfection, a most pure Spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the Counsel of his own immutable and most righteous Will, for his own Glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal, most just and terrible in his Judgements, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 2.1 The Lord our God is but one only living, and true God; whose subsistence is in and of himself, infinite in Being, and Perfection, whose Essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself; a most pure Spirit, invisible, without Body, Parts, or Passions, who only hath Immortality, dwelling in the Light, which no Man can approach unto, who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, Almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute, working all Things according to the Counsel of his own immutable, and most righteous Will, for his own Glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving Iniquity, Transgression and Sin, the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, and withal most just, and terrible in his Judgments, hating all sin, and will by no means clear the guilty. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 2.2 God hath all life, glory, goodnesse, blessednesse, in, and of himself; and is alone in, and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any Glory from them, but only manifesting his own Glory, in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone Fountain of all Being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and, hath most Soveraigne Dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth. In his sight all things are open and manifest; his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands. To him is due from Angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience he is pleased to require of them. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 2.2 God hath all Life, Glory, Goodness, Blessedness, in, and of himself; and is alone, in, and unto himself, All-sufficient, not standing in need of any Creatures which he hath made, nor deriving any glory from them, but onely manifesting his own glory in, by, unto, and upon them: He is the alone Fountain of all Being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things; and hath most Soveraign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth: In his sight all things are open and manifest, his Knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the Creature, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his Counsels, in all his Works, and in all his Commands. To him is due from Angels and Men, and every other Creature, whatsoever Worship, Service or Obedience, as Creatures, they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 2.2 God, having all Life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself, is alone in, and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any Creature which he hath made, nor deriving any Glory from them, but only manifesting his own Glory in, by, unto, and upon them, he is the alone Fountain of all Being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things, and he hath most soveraign Dominion over all Creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth; in his sight all things are open and manifest, his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independant upon the Creature, so as nothing is to him contingent, or uncertain; he is most holy in all his Counsels, in all his Works, and in all his Commands; to him is due from Angels and Men, whatsoever Worship, Service, or Obedience, as Creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them. |
Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) 2.3 In the Unity of the God-head there be Three Persons, of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father: the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. | Savoy Declaration of Faith and Order (1658) 2.3 In the Unity of the God-head there be three Persons, of one Substance, Power, and Eternity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Ghost: The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; The Son is eternally begotten of the Father; The holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. Which Doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable Dependence upon him. | Second London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689) 2.3 In this Divine and Infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word, (or Son) and Holy Spirit, of one Substance, Power, and Eternity, each having the whole Divine Essence, yet the Essence undivided, the Father is of none neither begotten, nor proceeding, the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in Nature and Being, but distinguished by several peculiar, relative Properties, and personal Relations; which Doctrine of the Trinity is the Foundation of all our Communion with God, and comfortable dependance on him. |