Courteous Reader,
It is now many Years since divers of us (with other sober Christians then living, and walking in the way of the Lord, that we profess) did conceive ourselves to be under a necessity of Publishing a Confession of our Faith, for the information and satisfaction of those, that did not throughly understand what our Principles were, or had entertained Prejudices against our Profession, by reason of the strange representation of them, by some Men of Note, who had taken very wrong Measures, and accordingly led others into Misapprehensions, of us, and them: And this was first put forth about the Year 1643. in the Name of Seven Congregations then gathered in London; since which time, divers Impressions thereof have been dispersed abroad, and our end proposed, in good measure answered, in asmuch as many (and some of those Men eminent both for Piety and Learning) were thereby satisfied, that we were no way guilty of those Heterodoxies and fundamental Errors, which had too frequently been charged upon us without ground, or occasion given on our Part. And forasmuch, as that Confession is not now commonly to be had, and also that many others have since embraced the same Truth which is owned therein; it was judged necessary by us to joyn together in giving a Testimony to the World, of our firm adhering to those wholsom Principles, by the Publication of this which is now in your Hand.
And forasmuch as our method and manner of expressing our Sentiments, in this, doth vary from the former (although the substance of this Matter is the same) we shall freely impart to you the Reason and Occasion thereof. One thing that greatly prevailed with us to undertake this Work was (not only to give a full account of our selves to those Christians that differ from us about the Subject of Baptism, but also) the Profit that might from thence arise, unto those that have any account of our Labours, in their Instruction and Establishment in the great Truths of the Gospel; in the clear understanding, and steady belief of which our comfortable walking with God, and fruitfulness before him, in all our ways, is most nearly concerned; and therefore we did conclude it necessary to express our selves the more fully, and distinctly; and also to fix on such a Method as might be most comprehensive of those things we designed to explain our sense and belief of; and finding no defect, in this regard, in that fixed on by the Assembly, and after them, by those of the Congregational way, we did readily conclude it best to retain the same Order in our present Confession; and also when we observed, that those last mentioned, did in their Confessions (for Reasons which seemed of weight both to themselves and others) chuse not only to express their Mind in Words concurrent with the former in Sense, concerning all those Articles wherein they were agreed, but also for the most part, without any variation of the Terms, we did in like manner conclude it best to follow their Example, in making use of the very same Words with them both, in these Articles (which are very many) wherein our Faith and Doctrine is the same with theirs, and this we did, the more abundantly, to manifest our consent with both, in all the fundamental Articles of the Christian Religion, as also with many others, whose Orthodox Confessions have been Published to the World, on the behalf of the Protestants in divers Nations and Cities: And also to convince all, that we have no itch to Clog Religion with new Words, but do readily acquiesce in that form of sound Words, which hath been in consent with the Holy Scriptures, used by others before us; hereby declaring before God, Angels, and Men, our hearty agreement with them, in that wholesome Protestant Doctrine, which with so clear evidence of Scriptures they have asserted: Some things indeed, are in some places added, some Terms omitted, and some few changed; but these Alterations are of that Nature, as that we need not doubt, any charge or suspicion of unsoundness in the Faith, from any of our Bretheren upon the account of them.
In those things wherein we differ from others, we have exprest our selves with all candor and plainness, that none might entertain jealousie of ought secretly lodged in our Breasts, that we would not the World should be acquainted with; yet we hope we have also observed those Rules of modesty and humility, as will render our freedom in this respect inoffensive, even to those whose Sentiments are different from ours.
We have also taken care to affix Texts of Scripture at the Bottom, for the confirmation of each Article in our Confession; in which Work we have studiously endeavoured to select such as are most clear and pertinent, for the proof of what is asserted by us: And our earnest desire is, that all into whose Hands this may come, would follow that (never enough commanded) Example of the Noble Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily that they might find out whether the things preached to them were so or not.
There is one thing more which we sincerely profess, and earnestly desire credence in, viz. That Contention is most remote from our Design in all that we have done in this matter: And we hope, the Liberty of an ingenuous unfolding our Princiciples, and opening our Hearts unto our Brethren, with the Scripture-grounds on which our Faith and Practice will by none of them be either denied to us, or taken ill from us. Our whole design is accomplished if we may obtain that Justice, as to be measured in our Principles, and Practice, and the judgment of both by others, according to what we have now Published; which the Lord (whose Eyes are as a flame of Fire) knoweth to be the Doctrine, which with our Hearts we most firmly believe, and sincerely endeavour to conform our Lives to. And oh that other Contentions being laid asleep, the only Care and Contention of all, upon whom the Name of our Blessed Redeemer is called, might for the future be, to walk humbly with their God, in the Exercise of all Love and Meekness towards each other, to perfect Holiness in the fear of the Lord, each one endeavouring to have his Conversation such as becometh the Gospel; and also suitable to his place and capacity, vigorously to promote in others the Practice of true Religion, and undefiled in the sight of God our Father. And that in this back-sliding Day, we might not spend our Breath in fruitless complaints of the Evils of others, but may every one begin at home, to reform in the first place our own Hearts and Ways, and then to quicken all, that we may have Influence upon, to the same Work; that if the Will of God were so, none might deceive themselves, by resting in, and trusting to a form of Godliness, without the Power of it, and inward experience of the efficacy of those Truths that are professed by them.
And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of Religion in our Day, which we cannot but touch upon, and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the Worship of God in Families, by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed. May not the gross Ignorance and Instability of many, with the Profaneness of others, be justly charged upon their Parents and Masters who have not trained them up in the Way wherein they ought to Walk when they were young? But have neglected those frequent and solemn Commands which the Lord hath laid upon them so to Catechize and Instruct them, that their tender Years might be seasoned with the Knowledge of the Truth of God, as revealed in the Scriptures; and also by their own omission of Prayer, and other Duties of Religion of their Families, together with the ill example of their loose Conversation, have inured them first to a neglect, and then contempt of all Piety and Religion; we know this will not excuse the Blindness and Wickedness of any; but certainly it will fall heavy upon those that have been thus the occasion thereof; they indeed die in their Sins, but will not their Blood be required of those under whose Care they were, who yet permitted them to go on without Warning, yea, led them into the Paths of Destruction? and will not the Diligence of Christians, with respect to the discharge of these Duties, in Ages past, rise up in judgment against, and condemn many of those who would be esteemed such now.
We shall conclude with our earnest Prayer, That the God of all Grace, will pour out those measures of his holy Spirit upon us, that the Profession of truth may be accompanied with the sound belief, and diligent practice of it by us, that his name may in all things be glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
