Some Worcestershire Sauce from Baxter
A good dash of Worcestshire sauce gives flavour and piquancy to the most
bland of dishes. (Do they have it in the
USA?)
Well here is some good strong Worcestshire theology, courtesy of Richard
Baxter who quotes the Worcestshire Profession, (sic). Baxter accepted the role of Confessions of Faith as guides, although he
felt that it was restrictive to impose them.
He had a high opinion of the Westminster Standards, but preferred the
use of a core confession that was not as detailed.
Baxter says that the Worcestersire Profession expressed in brief the sum of his own
belief. I quote from Joshua Wilson’s “ An
Historical Enquiry concerning the Principles, Opinions and Usages of the
English Presbyterians” (1836) who quotes the introductory portion of every
paragraph to serve as a specimen of the whole:
" I believe that there is one only God, the Father, infinite in
being, wisdom, goodness, and power, &c.
" I believe that mankind, being fallen by sin from God and happiness,
under the wrath of God, the curse of his law, and the power of the devil, God
so loved the world, that he gave his only Son to be their Redeemer, who, being
God, and one with the Father, did take to him our nature, and became man, being
conceived of the Holy Ghost in the virgin Mary, and born of her, and named
Jesus Christ; and, having lived on earth without sin, and wrought many miracles
for awitness of his truth, he gave up himself a sacrifice for our sins, and a ransom
for us, in suffering death on the cross, &c.
"I believe that God the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the Father and
the Son, was sent from the Father by the Son, to inspire and guide the prophets
and apostles, that they might fully reveal the doctrine of Christ,"
&c.
The above he entitles in the margin, " Profession of Assent ;"
what follows he calls, " Profession of Consent."
" I do heartily take this one God, for my only God and my chief
good; and this Jesus Christ for my only Lord, Redeemer, and Saviour ; and this
Holy Ghost for my Sanctifier, &c.
" I do also take the ten commandments for a general standing rule
of obedience; and the Lord's Prayer for a perfect rule for prayer, most admirable
for comprehension of matter, and exactness of method," &c.
" This," he adds, " is my religion : this I profess,
subscribe, and stand to. He that professeth this, and lives accordingly, shall by me be taken for a good Christian, by what name or title soever men call him."
I have not been able to source a copy of the Worcestershire Profession / Confession. Can anyone help?
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