Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Friday, July 06, 2007 7:23:31 PM
A Comparison of 17th Century Protestant Confessions of Faith
Released from the yoke of human authority the Protestant Reformers were agreed that their authority was the Scriptures alone. By the grace of God they rediscovered the gospel; the doctrines of salvation being plainly laid out in the Bible. They were also agreed that the way of salvation was justification by faith alone in Christ alone. The way of grace was opened again for all who would to enter in the Kingdom of God.
Out of this great work of the Holy Spirit came two major confessions of faith that became the standard for future generations of Protestants. They played significant roles in the advance of the gospel and the advance of freedom. In particular the American Constitution made the great contribution of religious liberty to the advancement of human government.
The Westminster confession of 1646 represents the thinking of the paedo-baptists and Presbyterian Reformers and the 1689 Baptist confession represents the Reformers who held to a view of baptism that allows only the regenerate to be baptized. These confessions have more in common than differences. But the major difference other than baptism is the relationship between church and civil governments. These differences would be the cause of persecution of the Baptists in post Reformation Europe and in colonial America.
Let’s compare the two confessions at the point of civil authority over the church…
Westminster Confession chapter 23 of the Civil Magistrate paragraph 3:
http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
‘Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven; yet he has authority, and it is his duty, to take order that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administrated, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he has power to call synods, to be present at them and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.’
1689 London Baptist Confession chapter 24 of the Civil Magistrate paragraph 3:
http://www.reformedreader.org/ccc/1689lbc/english/Chapter24.htm
‘Civil magistrates being set up by God for the ends aforesaid; subjection, in all lawful things commanded by them, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and we ought to make supplications and prayers for kings and all that are in authority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.’
It is significant that the Baptist confession removed the language from the Westminster confession having to do with the authority of the civil government over church practice and doctrine.
The Puritan forefathers in colonial America held to the Westminster confession. Most colonies had state churches, and taxes were collected to support state appointed clergy. The Reformed Baptists in the colonies objected to this practice. They advocated for a separation of church and state, meaning a free church and a free state. The state was not to have authority over the church, nor the church over the state. Their governments were to be independent.
The Baptist influence was seen in the ratification of the first amendment to the Constitution in 1789 prohibiting a national church and guaranteeing a free exercise of religion. The religious liberties begun at the Reformation had now come to fruition.
The Reformation was a huge step in the history of freedom, but it was incomplete by retaining a mixture of church and state governments. By the grace of God the consistent application of revealed truth had discovered the ways of liberty. Let us press on in advancing the cause of truth and liberty.
That saying of Jesus Christ, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s," is a revolutionary and history changing statement. Once and for all it marked the separation of church and state. A new era had come for the advancement of the Kingdom of God and for the advancement of human freedom. His words echo through history. Faithful men rest in the belief that His doctrine is true and for the good of all men; therefore they work and pray for a free church in a free state.
[Last paragraph adapted from BAPTISTS AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY by George W. Truett] http://www.biblebelievers.com/truett_baptist_religious.html