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The Baptist Confession of Faith, 1660
The following confession
of faith, signed by John Bunyan and forty other
"elders, deacons, and brethren," and approved
by more than twenty thousand others, was presented to
Charles II in London, in 1660. In presenting this
confession of their faith, these Baptists declared:
"We are not only resolved to suffer persecution to
the loss of our goods, but also life itself, rather than
decline from the same."
"Article 22. We believe that the same Lord Jesus who
showed Himself alive after His passion, by many
infallible proofs (Acts 1:3), which was taken up into
heaven (Luke 24:51), shall so come in like manner as He
was seen go into heaven (Acts 1:9-11); and when Christ,
who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with
him in glory (Col. 3:4). For the kingdom is his, and he
is the governor among the nations (Ps. 22:28), and king
over all the earth (Zech. 14:9), and we shall reign with
Him on the earth (Rev. 5:10). The kingdom of this world,
which men so mightily strive after here to enjoy; shall
become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ (Rev.
11:15). For all things are yours (ye that overcome this world),
for ye are Christ's and Christ is God's (1 Cor. 3:21-23). For
unto the saints shall be given the kingdom, and the
greatness of the dominion, under the whole heaven (Dan.
7:27). Though, alas! how many men be scarce content that
the saints should have so much as a being among them; but
when Christ shall appear, then shall be given unto them
power over the nations, to rule them with a rod of iron
(Rev. 2:26-29). Then shall they receive a crown of life,
which no man shall take from them, nor they by any means
be turned or overturned from; for the oppressor shall be
broken in pieces (Ps. 72:4), and their vain rejoicings be
turned into mourning and lamentations, as it is written
(Job 20:5,7).
"We believe that there will be an order in the
resurrection. Christ is the first fruits, and then next,
or after, they that are Christ's at His coming; then, or
afterwards, cometh the end. Concerning the kingdom and
reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we do believe that He
is now in heaven at His Father's right hand, so do we believe
that, at the time appointed of the Father, He shall come again
in power and great glory; and that at or after His coming
the second time, He will not only raise the dead, and
judge and restore the world, but will also take to
Himself His kingdom, and will, according to the
Scriptures, reign on the throne of His father David, on
Mount Zion, in Jerusalem, for ever. "We believe that
the kingdom of our Lord will be a universal kingdom, and
that in this kingdom the Lord Jesus Christ himself will
be alone, visible, supreme king of the whole earth.
"We believe that, as this kingdom will be universal,
so will it also be an everlasting kingdom, that shall
have no end, and cannot be shaken; in which kingdom the
saints and faithful in Christ Jesus shall receive the end
of their faith, even the salvation of their souls: where
the Lord is they shall be also."
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