Outline.
Lesson 22. (The Authority of the Confession against the Cavils of the Baptist Heretics)

Such forms of sound words (however in these days decried) have been in use in the Church ever since God himself wrote the Decalogue, as a summary of things to be done. 

Review/Intro. 

1. The general statement. 
The Christian religion has a history of piety, holiness and faithfulness to sound doctrine, which is confirmed and manifested by creeds and confessions. We’ve mentioned before the historical occasion for confessions, they were a public vindication of our doctrine brought before kings and princes.

This is the general statement, the particular proof is in the confession itself.

The preparation of a good meal requires quality ingredients, proper equipment and time. This confession contains statements pertaining to all major doctrinal heads (quality ingredients), was produced by over 120 learned divines (proper equipment), and is the product of over 1,500 years of church history (time).
App. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. This spiritual food found in the confession for the nourishment of the soul is food for eternal life.

2. The particular proof. 
i. The confession teaches justification by faith alone. (the doctrine necessary to be believed for salvation) 
ii. The confession teaches the vital importance of good works. (we are not saved by them, but we are not saved without the regeneration of the Spirit who according to His Holy nature works them in all those elected by the Father and sanctified by the blood of Christ) These are important elements as we formulate an argument for the utility and even necessity of a confession of faith. If reason separates man from beast, this coherent logical formula of doctrine separates us from the spiritual beasts incapable of harmonizing scripture. For there are those who decry confessions in general and Reformed in particular. 

Definition of decry. 

The anabaptists (or anyone who argues against confessions or fails to submit to its doctrine) have historically been considered enemies of the Christian religion. Pelagius vs Augustine.
They have no such history of piety, but of anarchy, rebellion and heresy.
They were hated by the Catholics as well as the Reformers. Calvin calls them mad beasts for their schism and dissent. Why, but because those who will not be united with the true church of God but go to establish their own community are outsiders, rebels and the most accursed of hypocrites. 
The Baptist churches established in America are the product of heresy, schism, compromise and false doctrine. Note, The allowance of Catholic and Baptist influence was the beginning of the destruction of all morality in America.
App. If such is the nature of rebellion, God’s curse is on America if her religion is largely Baptist. “in these days decried”

i. The number of Baptists in America.
They are considered the largest protestant denominaton in America. They are NOT protestant. Protestants are against Rome and her free will doctrine. Our confession is the bondage (not the freedom) of the will. 

ii. The tendency to decry Confessions. 
Not all Baptists formally and outspokenly decry confessions. There were hundreds of Baptist confessions written throughout the Reformation and Puritan era. But none with any standing authority.  However, it is essential to Baptist theology to decry confessions. No creed but Christ (doesn’t matter which Christ). No confession but the Bible (and your own private interpretation.) The priesthood (autonomy) of all believers (heretics and hypocrites).
App. A reminder of the necessity of confessions (sound doctrine) for the establishment of the Christian religion. 
Many Baptist theologians and preachers make an attempt to establish creedalism in their churches. Without repentance and true Reformation subscription to the Westminster Confession it is all vain hypocrisy. 

iii. The presumption to refuse to conform to a Reformed Confession. 
Autonomy is an excuse to believe heresy. 
The Papists are outspoken enemies of the protestant faith. Baptists have infiltrated and attempted to reconcile their heresy with protestant dogma. 
“Let all things be done decently, and in order.”
We have arranged confessions for the benefit of God’s people and they reject them to their own destruction.
Recall to mind all we have said regarding the benefit and use of confessions hitherto, and then call to mind the pride and arrogancy of those who will not submit to it. Let them prove us liars and our doctrine false or let them forever be ashamed of their schismatic behavior. The Baptists have always been and are to this day heretics. They claim a trail of blood, but the only blood they leave behind is the chaste and pure doctrine of the apostles. They make the claim that they are more radical in their call to Reformation, but this is a cloak because they will not be Reformed.

Calvin writes, 
“Therefore, if we want to be known as the children of God, the Church must be our mother, and the ministers must be our fathers. And all they that will not submit themselves to this, let them go (as I have said) and seek their abode in hell with Satan. For they are not part of the Church of God. What is more, since there are these types who act like they are believers and pretend to be reformed by the Gospel, yet have nothing in them but hypocrisy, this is why Saint Paul calls Timothy his natural son in the faith. Paul adds this to show the difference between Timothy and those who are illegitimate children in the faith. ” (sermons on Timothy)

For the sake of argument, let’s suppose a person is convinced of the gospel, but not of the baptizing of infants, yet he has no authority or basis to abstain from worship in the true church of God nor join himself with a false congregation. God’s ministers are sent by Him to preach His word. There is no such thing as a Baptist minister, therefore there is no such thing as a Baptist church. All who join themselves to congregations outside the Reformed confession are outsiders and heretics. 
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15

Key doctrine opposed by the Baptists. 
1. Free grace. 
2. Covenantal (infant) Baptism. 
3. Duty of the magistrate to promote true religion.
4. Duty of the state to execute heretics. 
5. Duty of the people to submit to church authority (the doctrine of the apostles). 

Conclusion. 
i. The marks of the visible church.
Our confession of faith is proof of the sincerity of our religion. No salvation outside of the church. Not that there is a guarantee of salvation for those who profess it. 
ii. The marks of the invisible church. 
Hearty and confident trust in the word of God followed by a life of sanctity is the proof of faith. 
However,
1. Professing the faith. (even according to the confession) 
2. Going to church. 
3. Prayer 
4. Thanksgiving. 
5. Works of charity to neighbors. 
All of these may or may NOT be good works according to the law of SINCERITY. 

But belief in sound doctrine because it comes from the Holy Spirit CANNOT be the result of hypocrisy. To believe the word of God is to be born again and begun anew with the grace of the Spirit who works in us all piety, holiness and faithfulness to the word which is sound doctrine. 

The Baptists have neither sound doctrine nor purity of life. Their doctrine is heretical, their lives are disorderly. 
App. God is glorified by the sincere worship of His people, on account of their precise doctrine. We have the form of sound words delivered from the apostles. Christ Himself hath said, “He that heareth you heareth me…” Does this sound like individual autonomy? Therefore God is on our side, and If God is for us who can be against us? Let them decry our confessions and maintain their devotion to an undefined, nebulous Christ. We decry them with the authority of the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and Reformers, and denounce them as traitors. Let God be true and every man a liar. 
Therefore, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Tim. 1:13, see also Titus 1:9

A point that we condemn all churches that don’t conform to the historical Reformed standards. 

There WILL BE those who are not satisfied with our explanation of sound doctrine. These are called heretics. They will challenge our doctrine of confessional authority, infant baptism, and church government, but our confession is proof that we agree with scripture. There will always be anabaptists to oppose the true church. 
“A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”  Titus 3:10-11

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