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Form of Sound Words.

Upon the PLAN of the

ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISMS,

AND

Confeffion of Faith;

And fit to Bind with them.

To which is added,

A LIST of the DIVINES in that ASSEMBLY: The Vow taken by every Member at his Entrance; with a Word of their Character.

ASSEMBLIES CATECHISM,

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Question the Second.
Of the fcriptures as our rule.

THAT rule hath God given to direct

us

Answer. "The word of God (which is con"tained in the scriptures of the Old and New "Teftament) is the only rule to direct us how " we may glorify and enjoy him."

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Q. I.

Q. 1. If the word of God contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New Testament, is our only rule; are not publick catechisms and confeffions of faith useless?

A. No; by no means: tho' the word of God contain'd in the scriptures, be our only rule, to say publick catechisms and confeffions of faith fetch'd from the scriptures and founded upon them are useless; is to contradict experience, and offend against the generation of God's children.

Q. 2. Has it been the custom of the churches of Chrift to have their publick confessions of faith and catechisins for the use of their minifters and people?

A. It has fo; and a good custom it has been, notwithstanding it has been abused by Papifts on one fide, and is now so much decry'd by Pratestants of loose principles on the other.

Q. 3. Is there any thing in the fcriptures themfelves to countenance fuch compofures, and for a great regard to be had to them?

A. 'Tis St. Paul's express command to Timothy, Hold fast the form of found words, which thou kaft beard of me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim. i. 13.

Q. 4. What in this place may be understood by the form of found words?

A. The form of found words may be understood either of the doctrine of the gospel in general, or else very probably of a collection of some of its principal heads, which the apostle had chofen, and put together in the order and dress he thought best; and either preach'd in Timothy's hearing, or drew up in writing, and committed to Timothy as a trust and treasure,

not

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not only for his own use and direction in preaching, but to tranfmit to others for the use and benefit of fucceeding generations in the church of Chrift, 2 Tim. ii. 2. The things which thou haft beard of me among ft many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Q. 5. Upon what accounts may the apostle call the form of which he speaks, a form of found words?

A. 1. In regard of their nature, or what they were in themselves: and so found words, are words that are pure, in oppofition to any unwarrantable mixture.

2. With respect to their influence; and fo found words, are words that make found, or conduce to the health of fouls; as of unfound words, such as are not according to the purity of the gofpel, we may say the contrary. We read of found speech that cannot be condemned, Tit. ii. 8. And of words that eat as a canker, 2 Tim. ii. 17.

Q. 6. What, by the apostle's order, is Timothy's duty, as to the form of found words deliver'd to him?

A. To hold it fast, i. e. Having such a form or collection of gospel doctrine, as a pattern for his direction both as a christian and as a minister, not to swerve from it himself, nor, as far as in him lay, fuffer it to be corrupted by others; upon no terms to part with it, but firmly retain, and own, and be ready to defend it against all oppofition whatsoever.

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Q. 7.

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Q. 7. Was the injunction given to Timothy only for himself?

A. No; it equally concerns ministers and christians still. What the apostle says to Timothy, he is to be conceived saying to every one of us, Hold fast the form of found words.

Q. 8. What hereupon may be justly obferv'd? A. That 'tis of great use and advantage both for minifters and private christians, to have the great truths of the gospel cloath'd in found words, collected together and regularly disposed; and fuch compofures are faithfully and affectionately to be kept; or beld fast in faith and love, which is in Chrift fefus.

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Q. 9. What may be inferr'd from bence? A. That it is a justifiable practice of the churches of Chrift, to have their publick forms of the fundamental articles of the chriftian faith, drawn up by the joint labour of their learned and godly divines, after much and folemn seeking of God by fafting and prayer, in the folemn profeffion whereof they all confent and agree.

Q. 10. Besides the ancient creeds, what instances of publick confeffions have been pointed out with approbation?

A. Such are the confeffions which most of the reformed churches have drawn up for their own use, comprehending the most necessary and fundamental articles of the christian faith, to be generally owned and afferted by all within their affociations and jurifdictions, whether minifters or people.

Q. 11. Among fuch forms of found words,

which for excellency has been most admired and commended?

A. The confeffion of faith which was compiled by the reverend and learned divines of the affembly at Westminster, and presented to the two houfes of parliament, as their advice in matters of religion, has, by many capable judges, had the first place affign'd it amongst all the confeffions of the reformed churches, and their longer and shorter catechisms are equally valued.

Q. 12. For what purposes ferve fuch forms of found words?

A. Such forms of found words are of special

ufe.

1st, For the more easy instruction of the church and people of God in the most concerning and fundamental truths and principles of religion, fet together in their mutual connection and dependance, so as to give light and luftre to each other, and beauty and order to the whole.

2dly, To be a test of truth and error, by which doctrines and * men are to be examined and tried, and so a bank to keep out error, and prevent dissentions amongst pastors and teachers, as well as amongst the private members of the fame church, which cannot be avoided or eafily

* The church of Scotland requires every one admitted into it as a minister, to subscribe the Affembly's confeffion of faith, as the confeffion of his own, having found its advantage in it as to purity and peace; and the adversaries of that confeffion shall be attended to, when they say what they would have in its room, or shew it inconsistent with the sacred scriptures, in any of the articles they have a quarrel with. In the mean time, No man having drank old wine, ftraitway defireth new; for he faith, the old is better.

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