from the scriptures; and if satisfied, they must be asked whether they have experienced the power of the truth in their hearts, and are willing and desirous to be saved by Jesus Christ from their sins and whether they propose, by the grace of God, to persevere in this doctrine, to forsake the world, and to lead a new Christian life.
Lastly, they are to be asked, whether they will submit themselves to the Christian discipline.
Which being done, they are to be exhorted to peace, love and concord with all men, and to reconciliation, if there is any variance subsisting between them and their neighbours.
THE CONFESSION OF FAITH
OF THE
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH,
Revised in the National Synod held at Dordrecht, in the years, 1618, and 1619.
Article I.
That there is one only God.
We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.
II. By what means God is made known unto us.
We know him by two means: first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely, his eternal power and Godhead, as the apostle Paul saith Rom. i. 20. All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, he makes himself more clearly and fully known to us, by his holy and divine word; that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to his glory and our salvation.
