the westminster confession of faith -- latin
TRANSCRIPT
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 1/52
THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH. A.D. 1647.
Confessio Fidei Westmonasteriensis.
[The English text is taken from the second edition which appeared under the title, 'The Humble | Advice |
of the | Assembly | of | Divines, | now by Authority of Parliament | sitting at Westminster, | concerning | aConfession of Faith: | with the uotations and Te!ts of | "cri#ture anne!ed$ Presented by them lately to
both Houses of Parliament$ | Printed at %ondon& | and | re#rinted at 'dinburgh by 'van Tyler, Printer to |
the (ings most '!cellent )a*estie$ 1647' The spelling and punctuation are conformed to modern usage
The changes of the !merican re"ision, which occur chiefl# in $h %%&&&, relating to the $i"il agistrate,
and in $h %%%&, relating to (#nods and $ouncils, are inserted in their proper places, and marked )#italics inor changes are indicated in footnotes
The *atin translation of the +estminster $onfession and $atechisms )# - .see /reface0 appeared first
at $am)ridge, 166 .also 16203 at Edin)urgh, 1624, etc3 and at lasgow, 1660, under the title,
'$onfessio 5idei | in Conventu theologorum authoritate + Parliamenti Anglicani indicto + 'laborata& +
eidem Parliamento #ostmodum + '!hibita& + uin et ab eodem, deindeue ab 'cclesia "coticana +
Cognita et A##robata& + und cum | $atechismo | du#lici, aori, inoriue3 | ' "ermone Anglicano
summa cum fide + in %itinum versa$ Cantabrigi-: e!cudebat .ohannes Field, celeberrim- Academi-
ty#ogra#hus'8
Confession of Fait. Confessio Fidei.
Ca!ter I. Ca!. I.
/f the Holy "cri#ture$ -e (criptura (acrosancta
& !lthough the light of nature, and
the works of creation and pro"idence,
do so far manifest the goodness,wisdom, and power of od, as to lea"e
men inexcusa)le3946 #et are the# not
sufficient to gi"e that knowledge of
od, and of his will, which is
necessar# unto sal"ation3947 therefore it
pleased the *ord, at sundr# times, and
in di"ers manners, to re"eal himself,
and to declare that his will unto his
$hurch3949 and afterwards, for the
)etter preser"ing and propagating of
the truth, and for the more sureesta)lishment and comfort of the
$hurch against the corruption of the
flesh, and the malice
& uanuam natur- lumen,
o#eraue Dei cum Creationis tum
Providenti-, bonitatem e*us, sa#ientiam, #otentiamue eo usue
manifestant, ut homines vel inde
reddantur ine!cusabiles:942 eam tamen
Dei, voluntatisue divin-
cognitionem, u- #orro est ad salutem
necessaria, neueunt nobis
ingenerare$9 uocirca Domino
com#lacitum est, variis uidem modis
vicibusue 'cclesi- su- semeti#sum
revelare, suamue hanc voluntatem
#atefacere&91
sed et eandem omnem #ostea literis consignare, uo et
veritati su- tam conservand- uam
#ro#agand- melius consuleret, nec
'cclesia sua contra carnis
corru#telam, contra malitiam mundi
61
of (atan and of the world, to commit
the same wholl# unto writing39: which
maketh the hol# (cripture to )e most
necessar#39;
those former wa#s ofod's re"ealing his will unto his
"atan-ue, #r-sidio foret ac solatio
destituta$9 0nde factum est, ut,
#ostuam #ristini illi modi, uibus
olim #o#ulo suo Deus voluntatem suam revelabat, *am desiverint ,96
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 2/52
people )eing now ceased94 "cri#tura "acra sit ma!ime
necessaria$97
&& <nder the name of hol#
(cripture, or the +ord of od written,
are now contained all the =ooks of the>ld and ?ew Testament, which are
these@
&& "acr- "cri#tur-, nomine, seu
1erbi Dei scri#ti continentur hodie
omnes illi libri tam 1eteris uam 2ovi 3nstrumenti,99nem#e uorum inferius
subseuuntur nomina$
Of the Old Testament. "eteris Testamenti.
enesis Ecclesiastes 4enesis$ 'cclesiastes$
Exodus The (ong of (ongs '!odus$Canticum
Canticorum$
*e"iticus &saiah %eviticus$ 3saias$
?um)ers Aeremiah 2umeri$ .eremias$
-euteronom# *amentations Deuteronomium$ %amentationes$
Aoshua EBekiel .osua$ '5echiel$
Audges -aniel .udices$ Daniel$
Cuth Dosea 6uth$ Hosea$
& (amuel Aoel "amuelis 1 .oel$
&& (amuel !mos "amuelis : !mos
& ings >)adiah 6egum 1 /badias$
&& ings Aonah 6egum : .onas$
& $hronicles icah Chronicorum 1 )icheas$
&& $hronicles ?ahum Chronicorum : 2ahum$
EBra Da)akkuk '5ra$ Habucuc$
?ehemiah Fephaniah 2ehemias$ 7e#hanias$
Esther Daggai 'sther$ Hagg-us$
Ao) Fechariah .ob$ 7acharias$
/salms alachi Psalmi$ )alachias$
/ro"er)s Proverbia$
Of the New Testament. No#i a$tem.
The ospels according to 'vangelium secundem
atthew, *uke, )atth-um, %ucam,
ark, Aohn )arcum, .ohannem
6:
The !cts of the To Timoth# && Acta a#ostolorum$
!postles To Titus Titum$
/aul's Epistles to the To /hilemon Pauli es#istol- ad Philemonem$
Comans The Epistle to the 6omanos$ '#ist$ ad Hebr-os$
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 3/52
$orinthians & De)rews Corinthios 3$ 33$
$orinthians && The Epistle of Aames .acobi '#istola$
alatians The 5irst and (econd 4alatas$ Petri '#ist$ 3$ 33$
Ephesians Epistles of /eter '#hesios$
/hilippiansThe 5irst, (econd,and
Phili##enses$ .ohan$ '#ist$ 3$ 33$
$olossians Third Epistles of Collossenses$ 333$
Thessalonians & Aohn Thessalonicens 3$ 33$
Thessalonians && The Epistle of Aude .ud- '#istola$
To Timoth# & The Ce"elation Timotheum 3$ 33$ A#ocaly#sis$
!ll which are gi"en )# inspiration
of od, to )e the rule of faith and
life
92
ui omnes divina ins#iratione dati
sunt in Fidei vit-ue regulam$96
&&& The )ooks commonl# called
!pocr#pha, not )eing of di"ine
inspiration, are no part of the $anon of
the (cripture3 and therefore are of no
authorit# in the $hurch of od, nor to
)e an# otherwise appro"ed, or made
use of, than other human writings961
&&& %ibri A#ocry#hi, vulgo dicti,
uum non fuerint divinitus ins#irati,
Canonem "cri#tur- nullatenus
constituunt& #roindeue nullam aliam
authoritatem obtinere debent in
'cclesia Dei, nec aliter uam alia
humana scri#ta, sunt aut a##robandi
aut adhibendi96:
&G The authorit# of the hol#
(cripture, for which it ought to )e )elie"ed and o)e#ed, dependeth not
upon the testimon# of an# man or
church, )ut wholl# upon od .who is
truth itself0, the !uthor thereof3 and
therefore it is to )e recei"ed, )ecause it
is the +ord of od96;
&G Authoritas "cri#tur- sacr-
#ro#ter uam ei debetur fides etobservantia, non ab ullius aut hominis
aut 'cclesi- #endet testimonio, sed a
solo e*us authore Deo, ui est i#sa
veritas: eoue est a nobis reci#ienda,
uoniam est 1erbum Dei964
G +e ma# )e mo"ed and induced
)# the testimon# of the
G Testimonium 'cclesi- efficere
uidem #otest ut de "cri#tura sacra
6;
$hurch to an high and re"erent esteemof 96 the hol# (cripture3966 and the
hea"enliness of the matter, the efficac#
of the doctrine, the maest# of the
st#le, the consent of all the parts, the
scope of the whole .which is to gi"e
all glor# to od0, the full disco"er# it
makes of the onl# wa# of man's
sal"ation, the man# other
incompara)le excellencies, and the
entire perfection thereof, arearguments where)# it doth a)undantl#
uam honorifice sentiamus&969 materies insu#er e*us c8lestis,
doctrin- vis et efficacia, styli
ma*estas, #artium omnium consensus,
totiusue sco#us .ut Deo nem#e omnis
gloria tribuatur 0, #lena deniue uam
e!hibet unic- ad salutem vi-
commonstratio, #r-ter alias e*us
virtutes incom#arabiles, et
#erfectionem summam, argumenta
sunt uibus abunde se 1erbum Dei etluculenter #robat& nihilominus tamen
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 4/52
e"idence itself to )e the +ord of od3
#et, notwithstanding, our full
persuasion and assurance of the
infalli)le truth, and di"ine authorit#
thereof, is from the inward work of the
Dol# (pirit, )earing witness )# andwith the +ord in our hearts967
#lena #ersuasio et certitudo de e*us
tam infallibili veritate, uam
authoritate divina non aliunde
nascitur uam ab interna o#eratione
"#iritus "ancti, #er verbum et cum
verbo i#so in cordibus nostristestificantis962
G& The whole counsel of od,
concerning all things necessar# for his
own glor#, man's sal"ation, faith, and
life, is either expressl# set down in
(cripture, or )# good and necessar#
conseuence ma# )e deduced from
(cripture@ unto which nothing at an#
time is to )e added, whether )# new
re"elations of the (pirit, or traditionsof men97 ?e"ertheless we
acknowledge the inward illumination
of the (pirit of od to )e necessar# for
the sa"ing
G& Consilium Dei universum de
omnibus u- ad suam i#sius gloriam,
u-ue ad hominum salutem, fidem,
vitamue sunt necessaria, aut e!#resse
in "cri#tura continetur, aut
conseuentia bona et necessaria
derivari #otest a "cri#tura& cui nihil
deince#s addendum est, seu novis a
s#iritu revelationibus, sivetraditionibus hominum$971 3nternam
nihilominus illuminationem "#iritus
Dei ad salutarem eorum
#erce#tionem, u- in 1erbo Dei
64
understanding of such things as are
re"ealed in the +ord397: and that there
are some circumstances concerning the
worship of od, and go"ernment of
the $hurch, common to human actionsand societies, which are to )e ordered
)# the light of nature and $hristian
prudence, according to the general
rules of the +ord, which are alwa#s to
)e o)ser"ed97;
revelantur, agnoscimus esse
necessariam:974 uin etiam nonnullas
esse circumstantias cultum -ei
spectantes et EcclesiH regimen, iis
cum humanis actioni)us et societati)uscommunes, uH naturali lumine ac
prudentia $hristiana secundum
generales "er)i regulas .perpetuo
uidem illas o)ser"andas0 sunt
regulandH97
G&& !ll things in (cripture are not
alike plain in themsel"es, nor alike
clear unto all3976 #et those things which
are necessar# to )e known, )elie"ed,
and o)ser"ed, for sal"ation, are so
clearl# propounded and opened in
some place of (cripture or other, that
not onl# the learned, )ut the unlearned,
in a due use of the ordinar# means,
ma# attain unto a sufficient
understanding of them977
G&& u- in "cri#tura continentur
non sunt omnia -ue aut in se
#ers#icua, aut omnibus hominibus
evidentia ,979 ea tamen omnia u- ad
salutem necessaria sunt cognitu,
creditu, observatu, adeo #ers#icue,
alicubi saltem in "cri#tura,
#ro#onuntur et e!#licantur, ut eorum
non docti solum, verum indocti etiam
ordinariorum debito usu mediorum,
sufficientem asseui #ossint
intelligentiam$972
G&&& The >ld Testament in De)rew
.which was the nati"e language of the
people of od of old0, and the ?ew
Testament in reek .which at the timeof the writing of it was most generall#
G&&& 3nstrumentum 1etus Hebr-a
lingua 9antiua Dei #o#ulo nem#e
vernacula 2ovum autem 4r-ca .ut
u- a#ud 4entes ma!ime omniumtunc tem#oris, uum scriberetur illud,
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 5/52
known to the nations0, )eing
immediatel# inspired )# od, and )#
his singular care and pro"idence kept
pure in all ages, are therefore
authentical399 so as in all contro"ersies
obtinuerat 0, immediate a Deo
ins#irata, e*usue cura et Providentia
singulari #er omnia huc usue secula
#ura et intaminata custodita, ea
#ro#ter sunt authentica$991 Adeo sane
ut ad
6
of religion the $hurch is finall# to
appeal unto them99: =ut )ecause these
original tongues are not known to all
the people of od who ha"e right
unto, and interest in the (criptures, and
are commanded, in the fear of od, to
read and search them,99; therefore the#
are to )e translated into the "ulgar
language of e"er# nation unto whichthe# come,994 that the +ord of od
dwelling plentifull# in all, the# ma#
worship him in an accepta)le
manner ,99 and, through patience and
comfort of the (criptures, ma# ha"e
hope996
illa ultimo in omnibus de religione
controversiis 'cclesia debeat
a##ellare$997 uoniam autem
/riginales ist- lingu- non sunt toti
Dei #o#ulo intellect- .uorum tamen
et *us est ut scri#turas habeant, et
interest #lurimum, uiue eas in
timore Dei legere *ubentur et
#erscrutari0999
#roinde sunt invulgarem cu*usue 4entis, ad uam
#ervenerint linguam transferend- ,992
ut omnes, verbo Dei o#ulenter in i#sis
habitante, Deum grato acce#toue
modo colant,92 et #er #atientiam ac
consolationem "cri#turarum s#em
habeant$921
&% The infalli)le rule of
interpretation of (cripture is the
(cripture itself3 and therefore, whenthere is a uestion a)out the true and
full sense of an# (cripture .which is
not manifold, )ut one0, it must92: )e
searched and known )# other places
that speak more clearl#92;
&% 3nfallibilis "cri#turam
inter#retandi regula est "cri#tura
i#sa$ uoties igitur cunue orituru-stio de$ vero #lenoue "cri#tur-
cu*usvis sensu .unicus ille est non
multi#le!0, e! aliis locis, ui a#ertius
louuntur, est indagandus et
cognoscendus$924
% The (upreme Audge, )# which all
contro"ersies of religion are to )e
determined, and all decrees of
councils, opinions of ancient writers,
doctrines of men, and pri"ate spirits,
are to )e examined, and in whose
sentence we are to rest, can
% "u#remus *ude!, a uo omnes de
religione controversi- sunt
determinand-, omnia Conciliorum
decreta, o#iniones "cri#torum
1eterum, doctrin- deniue hominum,
et #rivati uicunue "#iritus sunt
e!aminandi, cu*usue sententia
tenemur
66
)e no other )ut the Dol# (pirit
speaking in the (cripture92
nemur acuiescere, nullus alius esse
#otest, #r-ter "#iritum "anctum in
"cri#tura #ronunciantem$926
Ca!ter II. Ca!. II.
/f 4od, and of the Holy Trinity$ -e -eo et (acroIsancta Trinitate
& There is )ut one onl#927 li"ing and & 0nus est unicusue,212 vivens ille
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 6/52
true od,929 who is infinite in )eing
and perfection,922 a most pure spirit,2
in"isi)le,21 without )od#, parts,2: or
passions,2; immuta)le,24 immense,2
eternal,26 incomprehensi)le,27
almight#,29 most wise,22 most hol#,21 most free,211 most a)solute,21: working
all things according to the counsel of
his own immuta)le and most righteous
will,21; for his own glor#3214 most
lo"ing,21 gracious, merciful,
longsuffering, a)undant in goodness
and truth, forgi"ing iniuit#,
transgression, and sin3216 the rewarder
of them that diligentl# seek him3217 and
withal most ust and terri)le in his
udgments3219
et verus Deus:2: ui idem est essentia
et #erfectione infinitus ,2:1 "#iritus
#urissimus ,2:: invisibilis,2:; sine
cor#ore, sine #artibus,2:4 sine
#assionibus,2: immutabilis,2:6
immensus,2:7 Hternus,2:9 incom#rehensibilis,2:2 omni#otens,2;
summe sa#iens,2;1 summe sanctus,2;:
liberrimus ,2;; ma!ime absolutus&2;4
o#erans omnia secundum consilium
immutabilis su- ac *ustissim-
voluntatis,2; ad suam i#sius
gloriam&2;6 idemue summa
benignitate ,2;7 gratia, misericordia, et
longanimitate& bonitate abundans et
veritate& condonans iniuitatem,
transgressionem et #eccatum&2;9
studiose u-rentium i#sum
remunerator&2;2 sed et in *udiciis suis
*ustissimus idem ac tremendus
ma!ime&24
67
hating all sin,241 and who will )# no
means clear the guilt# 24:
#eccatum omne #erosus,24; et ui
sontem nullo unuam absolvet
modo$244
&& od hath all life,24
glor#,246
goodness,247 )lessedness,249 in and of
himself3 and is alone in and unto
himself allsufficient, not standing in
need of an# creatures which he hath
made,242 nor deri"ing an# glor# from
them,2 )ut onl# manifesting his own
glor# in, )#, unto, and upon them@ he
is the alone foundation of all )eing, of
whom, through whom, and to whom
are all things321 and hath most
so"ereign dominion o"er them, to do )# them, for them, or upon them
whatsoe"er himself pleaseth2: &n his
sight all things are open and
manifest32; his knowledge is infinite,
infalli)le, and independent upon the
creature324 so as nothing is to him
contingent or uncertain2 De is most
hol# in all his counsels, in all his
works, and in all his commands26 To
him is due from angels and men, and
e"er# other creature, whatsoe"erworship, ser"ice, or o)edience, he is
&& /mnem vitam ,29
omnem gloriam ,22 bonitatem,26
beatitudinemue261 omnem in sese
habet et a sei#so Deus& ui solus in se
sibiue est ad omnia sufficiens&
creaturarum, uas i#se condidit,
nullius egens ,26: nec gloriam ab eis
derivans ullam,26; verum in iis, #er
eas, iis i#sis, ac su#er eas #ro#riam
i#sius gloriam tantummodo
manifestans$ 3s omnis entitatis fans est
unicus, a uo, #er uem et ad uemomnia&264 summumue in ea dominium
habet, ac #er illa, #ro illis, in illa #ro
suo arbitrio uidlibet agendi
#otestatem$26 3n cons#ectu e*us a#erta
sunt omnia ac manifesta&266 scientia
e*us infinita est, infallibilis, atue a
creatura inde#endens,267 adeo ut illi
contingens incertumve nihil sit&269 in
omnibus e*us consiliis, o#eribus et
mandatis est sanctissimus$262 uicuid
cultus, uicuid officii, uicuidobseuii ab Angelis illi, ab hominibus,
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 7/52
pleased to reuire of them27 aut a uavis creatura e!igere #lacet,
id illi omne *ure o#timo debetur $27
&&& &n the unit# of the odhead &&& &n -eitatis unitate personH
69
head there )e three persons, of onesu)stance, power, and eternit#@ od
the 5ather, od the (on, and od the
Dol# host271 The 5ather is of none,
neither )egotten nor proceeding3 the
(on is eternall# )egotten of the
5ather327: the Dol# host eternall#
proceeding from the 5ather and the
(on27;
tres sunt unius e*usdemue essenti-, #otential ac -ternitatis& Deus Pater,
Deus Filius, ac Deus "#iritus
"anctus$274 Pater uidem a nullo est,
nec genitus nem#e nec #rocedens:
Filius autem a Patre est -terne
genitus:27 "#iritus autem "anctus
-terne #rocedens a Patre Filioue$276
Ca!ter III. Ca!. III.
/f 4od;s 'ternal Decree$277 -e Hterno -ei -ecreto
& od from all eternit# did, )# the
most wise and hol# counsel of his own
will, freel# and unchangea)l# ordain
whatsoe"er comes to pass3279 #et so as
there)# neither is od the author of
sin,272 nor is "iolence offered to the
will of the creatures, nor is the li)ert#
or contingenc# of second causes taken
awa#, )ut rather esta)lished29
& Deus, e sa#ientissimo
sanctissimoue consilio voluntatis
su-, libere ac immutabiliter, uicuid
unuam evenit, ab omni -terno
ordinavit&291 ita tamen, id inde nec
author #eccati evadat Deus,29: nec
voluntati creaturarum sit vis illata,
neue libertas aut contingentia
causarum secundarum ablata sit,
verum #otius stabilita$29;
&& !lthough od knows whatsoe"er
ma# or can come to pass upon all
supposed conditions,294 #et hath he not
decreed an# thing )ecause he foresaw
it as future, or as that which would
come to pass upon such conditions29
&& uamvis omnia cognoscat Deus,
u- su##ositis uibusvis
conditionibus sunt eventu #ossibilia&296
non tamen ideo uicuam decrevit
uoniam illud #r-viderat aut futurum,
aut #ositis talibus conditionibus
eventurum$297
&&& =# the decree of od, for the
manifestation of his glor#,
&&& Deus, uo gloriam suam
manifestaret, nonnullos hominum
62
some men and angels299 are
predestinated unto e"erlasting life, and
others foreordained to e"erlasting
death292
ac Angelorum22 decreto suo ad
-ternam vitam #r-destinavit, alios
autem ad mortem -ternam
#r-ordinavit$221
&G These angels and men, thus
predestinated and foreordained, are
particularl# and unchangea)l#
designed3 and their num)er is so
certain and definite that it can not )eeither increased or diminished22:
&G #r-destinati illi et #r-ordinati
homines Angeliue, #articulariter sunt
ac immutabiliter designati, certusue
illorum est ac definitus numerus, adeo
ut nec augeri #ossit nec imminui$22;
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 8/52
G Those of mankind that are
predestinated unto life, od, )efore the
foundation of the world was laid,
according to his eternal and immuta)le
purpose, and the secret counsel and
good pleasure of his will, hath chosenin $hrist, unto e"erlasting glor#,224 out
of his mere free grace and lo"e,
without an# foresight of faith or good
works, or perse"erance in either of
them, or an# other thing in the
creature, as conditions, or causes
mo"ing him thereunto322 and all to the
praise of his glorious grace226
G ui e! humano genere sunt ad
vitam #r-destinati, illos Deus ante
*acta mundi fundamenta, secundum
-ternum suum ac immutabile
#ro#ositum, secretumue voluntatis
su- consilium et bene#lacitum, elegitin Christo ad -ternam gloriam,227
idue e! amore suo et gratia mere
gratuita& nec fide, nec bonis o#eribus,
nec in his illave #erseverantia, sed
neue ulla alia re in creatura,
#r-visis, i#sum tanuam causis aut
conditionibus ad id moventibus&229 uo
totum nem#e in laudem cederet
glorios- su- grati-$222
G& !s od hath appointed the electunto glor#, so hath he, )# the eternal
and most free purpose of his will,
foreordained all the means
thereunto1 +herefore the# who are
elected, )eing fallen in
G& uemadmodum autem Deuselectos ad gloriam destinavit, sic
omnia etiam uibus illam
conseuantur media #r-ordinavit,
voluntatis su- #ro#osito -terno simul
et liberrimo$11 ua#ro#ter electi,
#ostuam
61
!dam, are redeemed )# $hrist,1: are
effectuall# called unto faith in $hrist
)# his (pirit working in due season3are ustified, adopted, sanctified,1;
and kept )# his power through faith
unto sal"ation14 ?either are an#
other redeemed )# $hrist, effectuall#
called, ustified, adopted, sanctified,
and sa"ed, )ut the elect onl#1
la#si essent in Adamo, a Christo sunt
redem#ti&16 #er "#iritum e*us
o##ortuno tem#ore o#erantem, ad fidem in Christum vocantur
efficaciter& *ustificantur,
sanctificantur,17 et #otentia i#sius
#er fidem custodiuntur ad salutem$19
2ec alii uivis a Christo redimuntur,
vocantur efficaciter *ustificantur,
ado#tantur, sanctificantur et
salvantur, #r-ter electos solos$12
G&& The rest of mankind od was
pleased, according to the unsearcha)le
counsel of his own will, where)# he
extendeth or withholdeth merc# as he
pleaseth, for the glor# of his so"ereign
power o"er his creatures, to pass )#,
and to ordain them to dishonor and
wrath for their sin, to the praise of his
glorious ustice11
G&& 6eliuos humani generis Deo
#lacuit secundum consilium voluntatis
su- inscrutabile Juo misericordiam
#ro libitu e!hibet abstinetve0 in
gloriam su#rem- su- in creaturas
#otestatis, #r-terire& eosue ordinare
ad ignominiam et iram #ro #eccatis
suis, ad laudem *ustiti- su-
glorios-$111
G&&& The doctrine of this high
m#ster# of predestination is to )e
handled with special prudence and
care,11: that men attending the will ofod re"ealed in his +ord, and
G&&& Doctrina de sublimi hoc
#r-destinationis mysterio non sine
summa cura et #rudentia tractari
debet ,11 uo nimirum homines, dumvoluntati Dei in verbo e*us revelat-
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 9/52
#ielding o)edience thereunto, ma#,
from the certaint# of their effectual
"ocation, )e assured of their eternal
election11; (o shall this doctrine
afford matter of praise, re"erence, and
admiration of od3114 and of humilit#,diligence, and a)undant consolation
advertant animos, eiue debitam
e!hibeant obedientiam, de efficaci sua
vocatione certiores facti, ad -tern-
su- electionis assurgere #ossint
certitudinem$116 3ta demum
su##editabit h-c doctrina laudandi,reverendi, admirandiue Deum
argumentum,117uin etiam humilitatis,
611
to all that sincerel# o)e# the gospel119 diligenti- et consolationis co#ios-
omnibus sincere obedientibus
evangelio$112
Ca!ter I". Ca!. I".
/f Creation$ -e $reatione
& &t pleased od the 5ather, (on,and Dol# host,1: for the
manifestation of the glor# of his
eternal power, wisdom, and
goodness,1:1 in the )eginning, to
create or make of nothing the world,
and all things therein, whether "isi)le
or in"isi)le, in the space of six da#s,
and all "er# good1::
& Deo, Patri, Filio et "#iritui sancto, com#lacitum est,1:; uo
-tern- su- cum #otenti- tum
sa#ienti- bonitatisue gloriam
manifestaret ,1:4 mundum hunc, et u-
in eo continentur universa tam
visibilla uam invisibilia, in #rinci#io
intra se! dierum s#atium creare, seu
e! nihilo condere, atue omnia uidem
bona valde$1:
&& !fter od had made all othercreatures, he created man, male and
female,1:6 with reasona)le and
immortal souls,1:7 endued with
knowledge, righteousness, and true
holiness, after his own image,1:9
ha"ing the law of od written in their
hearts,1:2 and power to fulfill it31;
and #et under a possi)ilit# of
transgressing, )eing left to the li)ert#
of their own will, which was su)ect
unto change1;1 =eside this law writtenin their hearts, the# recei"ed a
command not to eat of the tree of the
knowledge of good
&& Postuam omnes alias creaturascondidisset Deus, creavit hominem
marem et f8minam ,1;: animabus
inditis rationalibus ac
immortalibus ,1;; imbutos cognitione,
*ustitia, veraue sanctitate, ad suam
i#sius imaginem,1;4 habentes in
cordibus suis inscri#tam Divinam
legem,1; simul et eandem im#lendi
vires&1;6 non tamen sine uadam
violandi #ossibilitate& libertati
siuidem #ermissi erant voluntatis su-haud immutabilis$1;7 Pr-ter autem
hanc in cordibus eorum inscri#tam
legem de non comedendo e! arbore
scienti- boni maliue
61:
and e"il3 which while the# kept the#
were happ# in their communion with
od,1;9 and had dominion o"er the
creatures1;2
mandatum insu#er acce#erunt& uod
certe uam diu observabant,
communione Dei beati erant ,14
dominiumue habebant in
creaturas$141
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 10/52
Ca!ter ". Ca!. ".
>f /ro"idence -e /ro"identia
od, the great $reator of all things,
doth uphold,14: direct, dispose, and
go"ern all creatures, actions, andthings,14; from the greatest e"en to the
least,144 )# his most wise and hol#
pro"idence,14 according to his
infalli)le foreknowledge146 and the
free and immuta)le counsel of his own
will,147 to the praise of the glor# of his
wisdom, power, ustice, goodness, and
merc#149
& )agnus ille rerum omnium
creator Deus sa#ientissima sua et
sanctissima simul #rovidentia142
creaturas, actiones, resue1 a
ma!imis usue ad
minimas11universas sustentat,1:
dirigit, ordinat, gubernatue
secundum infallibilem suam
#r-scientiam,1; et voluntatis su-
consilium liberum ac immutabile,14
ad laudem glori- sa#ienti- su-,
#otenti-, *ustiti-, bonitatis, ac
misericordi-$1
&& !lthough in relation to the
foreknowledge and decree of od, the
first cause, all things come to pass
immuta)l# and infalli)l#,16 #et )# the
same pro"idence he ordereth them to
fall out, according to the nature of
second causes, either necessaril#,
freel#, or contingentl#17
&& uamvis res#ectu #r-scienti-
ac decreti Dei .caus- #rim-0 omnia
immutabiliter atue infallibiliter
eveniant,19 #er eandem tamen ille
#rovidentiam eadem ordinat evenire
necessario, libere, aut contingenter,
#ro natura causarum secundarum$12
&&& od, in his ordinar# pro"idence,
maketh use of means,16 #et is free to
work without,161
&&& Deus in #rovidentia sua
ordinaria mediis utitur ,16: iis tamen
non astringitur, uo minus absue
eis,16;
61;
a)o"e,164 and against them, at his
pleasure16
su#ra166 aut etiam contra ea #ro
arbitrio suo o#eretur$167
&G The almight# power,
unsearcha)le wisdom, and infinite
goodness of od so far manifest
themsel"es in his pro"idence that it
extendeth itself e"en to the first fall,and all other sins of angels and
men,169 and that not )# a )are
permission,162 )ut such as hath oined
with it a most wise and powerful
)ounding,17 and otherwise ordering
and go"erning of them, in a manifold
dispensation, to his own hol# ends3171
#et so as the sinfulness thereof
proceedeth onl# from the creature, and
not from od3 who, )eing most hol#
and righteous, neither is nor can )e theauthor or appro"er of sin17:
&G /mni#otentem Dei #otentiam,
sa#ientiam inscrutabilem,
bonitatemue infinitam #rovidentia
e*us eo usue manifestat, ut vel ad
#rimum la#sum, omniaue reliua #eccata, seu hominum sint sive
angelorum, se e!tendat&17; neue id
uidem #ermissione nuda,174 verum
cui con*uncta est sa#ientissima
#otentissimaue eorum limitatio,17 ac
aliusmodi ad sanctos sibi #ro#ositos
fines dis#ensatione multi#lici
ordinatio et gubernatio&176 ita tamen
ut omnis eorum vitiositas a sola
#roveniat creatura, a Deo neutiuam,
ui sanctissimus uum sit *ustissimusue neue est, nec esse
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 11/52
uidem #otest #eccati autor aut
a##robator$177
G The most wise, righteous, and
gracious od doth oftentimes lea"e for
a season his own children to manifoldtemptations and the corruption of their
own hearts, to chastise them for their
former sins, or to disco"er unto them
the hidden strength of corruption and
deceitfulness of their hearts, that the#
ma# )e hum)led3179 and to raise them
to a more close and constant
G "a#ientissimus, *ustissimus, et
gratiosissimus idem Deus,
s-#enumero filios suos tentationibusmultifariis, suorumue cordium
corru#tioni ad tem#us #ermittit& uo
ob admissa #rius #eccata castiget eos,
vel corru#tionis iis detegat vim
occultam, cordiumue suorum
fraudulentiam ut humilientur&172
uoue eos e!citet ad strictam magis
et constantem a sei#so #roferendis
su##etiis
614
dependence for their support unto19
himself, and to make them more
watchful against all future occasions of
sin, and for sundr# other ust and hol#
ends191
de#endentiam& uo deniue adversus
onmes occasiones #eccati de futuro
reddat cautiores$ "ed et ob alios etiam
varios fines, *ustos sanctosue sibi
#ro#ositos$19:
G& !s for those wicked and
ungodl# men whom od, as a
righteous udge, for former sins, doth
)lind and harden,19; from them he not
onl# withholdeth his grace, where)#
the# might ha"e )een enlightened intheir understandings and wrought upon
in their hearts,194 )ut sometimes also
withdraweth the gifts which the#
had,19 and exposeth them to such
o)ects as their corruption makes
occasion of sin3196 and withal, gi"es
them o"er to their own lusts, the
temptations of the world, and the
power of (atan3197 where)# it comes
to pass that the# harden themsel"es,
e"en under those means which od
useth for the softening of others199
G& uod scelestos illos s#ectat
im#iosue homines, uos Deus, ut
*ustus *ude!, ob #eccata #r-cedentia
e!c-cat induratue&192 eis ille non
solum gratiam suam non im#ertit, ua
i#sis cum illuminari intellectus, tumaffici corda #otuissent&12 sed
interdum subtrahit eis uibus imbuti
erant dona,121 et i#sos e!#onit
illiusmodi ob*ectis, unde corru#tio
eorum arri#it sibi #eccandi
occasiones&12: simulue tradit eos suis
i#sorum concu#iscentiis et
tentationibus mundi, et #otestati
"atan-&12; e! uo fit ut sei#sos i#si
indurent, et uidem sub iisdem mediis
uibus utitur Deus ad alios
emolliendos$124
G&& !s the pro"idence of od doth,
in general, reach to all creatures, so,
after a most special manner, it taketh
care of his $hurch, and disposeth all
things to the good thereof12
G&& Providentia Dei sicut ad omnes
creaturas universali modo se e!tendit&
ita modo #lane #eculiari 'cclesi- su-
curam gerit, ac in e*us bonum dis#onit
universa$126
61
Ca!ter "I. Ca!. "I.
>f the 5all of an, of (in, and of the/unishment thereof
-e hominis lapsu, de peccato eusue pKna
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 12/52
& >ur first parents, )eing seduced )#
the su)tilt# and temptation of (atan,
sinned in eating the for)idden fruit127
This their sin od was pleased,
according to his wise and hol#
counsel, to permit, ha"ing purposed toorder it to his own glor#129
& Primi #arentes, "atan- subtilitate
ac tentatione seducti, fructus vetiti esu
#eccaverunt$122 Hoc eorum #eccatum
secundum sa#iens suum sanctumue
consilium Deo #lacuit #ermittere, non
sine #ro#osito illud ad suam i#sius gloriam ordinandi$11
&& =# this sin the# fell from their
original righteousness and communion
with od,111 and so )ecame dead in
sin,11: and wholl# defiled in all the
faculties and parts of soul and )od#11;
&& Hoc illi #eccato, *ustitia sua
originali et communione cum Deo
e!ciderunt&114 itaue facti sunt in
#eccato mortui,11 atue in omnibus
facultatibus ac #artibus anim-
cor#orisue #enitus contaminati$116
&&& The# )eing the root of all
mankind,117 the guilt of this sin was
imputed, and the same death in sin and
corrupted nature con"e#ed to all their
posterit# descending from them )#
ordinar# generation119
&&& uumue illi fuerint radi! totius
humani112 generis, hu*usce #eccati
reatus fuit im#utatus, eademue in
#eccato mors ac natura corru#ta
#ro#agata, omnibus illorum #osteris,
uotuot ab iis ordinaria uidem
generatione #rocreantur$111
&G 5rom this original corruption,
where)# we are utterl# indisposed,
disa)led, and made opposite to all
good,1111 and wholl# inclined to all
e"il,111: do proceed all actual
transgressions111;
&G Ab hac originali labe .ua ad
omne bonum facti sumus inhabiles
#rorsus ac im#otentes, eiue #lane
o##ositi,1114 ad malum autem omne
#roclives #enitus0111 #roveniunt
omnia #eccata actualia$1116
G This corruption of nature, G H-c natur- corru#tio durante
616
during this life, doth remain in those
that are regenerated31117 and although it
)e through $hrist pardoned and
mortified, #et )oth itself and all the
motions thereof are trul# and properl#
sin1119
hac vita manet etiam in regenitis&1112 et
uamvis #er Christum et condonata sit
et mortificata& nihilo minus tam i#sa,
uam e*us motus universi vere sunt ac
#ro#rie #eccata$11:
G& E"er# sin, )oth original andactual, )eing a transgression of the
righteous law of od, and contrar#
thereunto,11:1 doth, in its own nature,
)ring guilt upon the sinner,11:: where)#
he is )ound o"er to the wrath of
od11:; and curse of the law,11:4 and so
made su)ect to death,11: with all
miseries spiritual,11:6 temporal,11:7 and
eternal11:9
G& Peccatum omne cum originaletum actuale, uum *ust- Dei legis
transgressio sit eiue contraria ,11:2
#eccatori sua#te natura reatum
infert ,11; uo ad iram Dei ,11;1 ac
maledictionem legis11;: subeundam
obligatur, adeoue redditur obno!ius
mort i11;; simul et miseriis omnibus
s#iritualibus,11;4 tem#oralibus ,11; ac
-ternis$11;6
Ca!ter "II. Ca!. "II.
/f 4od;s Covenant with )an$ -e fKdere -ei cum nomine
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 13/52
& The distance )etween od and the
creature is so great that although
reasona)le creatures do owe o)edience
unto him as their $reator, #et the#
could ne"er ha"e an# fruition of him
as their )lessedness and reward )ut )#some "oluntar# condescension on
od's part, which he hath )een pleased
to express )# wa# of co"enant11;7
& Tanta est inter deum et creaturam
distantia, ut licet creatur- rationales
obedientiam illi ut creatori suo
debeant, nullam tamen fruitionem e*us
tanuam su- beatitudinis ac #r-mii
habere unuam #otuissent, nivoluntaria fuisset aliua e! #arte Dei
condescentio& uam i#si e!#rimere
#lacuit icto f8dere$11;9
&& The first co"enant made with && Primum f8dus cum hominibus
617
man was a co"enant of works,11;2
wherein life was promised to !dam,
and in him to his posterit#,114 upon
condition of perfect and personal
o)edience1141
initum erat f8dus o#erum,114: uo vita
Adamo #romissa erat, e*usue in eo
#osteris ,114; sub conditione obedienti-
#erfect- ac #ersonalis$1144
&&& an )# his fall ha"ing made
himself incapa)le of life )# that
co"enant, the *ord was pleased to
make a second,114 commonl# called
the co"enant of grace@ wherein he
freel# offered unto sinners life and
sal"ation )# Aesus $hrist, reuiring of
them faith in him that the# ma# )e
sa"ed,1146 and promising to gi"e unto
all those that are ordained unto life hisDol# (pirit, to make them willing and
a)le to )elie"e1147
&&& uum autem homo la#su suo
omnem sibi #r-stru!isset ad vitam
aditum #er illud f8dus, com#lacuit
Domino secundum inire,1149 uod
vulgo dicimus 5Kdus ratiH3 in uo
#eccatoribus offert gratuito vitam ac
salutem #er .esum Christum, fidem in
illum ab iis reuirens ut salventur&1142
#romittensue omnibus ui ad vitam
ordinantur se s#iritum suum sanctumdaturum, ui in illis o#eretur credendi
cum voluntatem tum #otentiam$11
&G This co"enant of grace is
freuentl# set forth in the (cripture )#
the name of a testament, in reference
to the death of Aesus $hrist the
testator, and to the e"erlasting
inheritance, with all things )elonging
to it, therein )eueathed111
&G Hoc f8dus 4rati- in "cri#tura
s-#e nomine Testamenti indigitatur,
res#ectu nimirum mortis Testatoris
.esu Christi, -tern-ue illius
h-reditatis, uam is una cum omnibus
eam s#ectantibus inibi legabat $11:
G This co"enant was differentl#
administered in the time of the law and
in the time of the gospel@11; under the
law it was administered )# promises,
prophecies,
G Hoc f8dus sub %ege atue sub
'vangelio administratum est modo
alio atue alio$114 "ub %ege uidem
#er #romissiones, #ro#hetias et
sacrificia, #er circumcisionem, agnum
619
sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal
lam), and other t#pes and ordinances
deli"ered to the people of the Aews, all
foreIsignif#ing $hrist to come,11
which were for that time sufficient and
#ascalem, aliosue ty#os ac instituta
#o#ulo .udaico tradita, u- omnia
1enturum Christum
#r-significabant&119 erantue #ro
ratione illorum tem#orum sufficientia,
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 14/52
efficacious, through the operation of
the (pirit, to instruct and )uild up the
elect in faith in the promised
essiah,116 )# whom the# had full
remission of sins and eternal sal"ation3
and is called the >ld Testament117
et #er o#erationem s#iritus efficacia
ad electos instruendum ac
-dificandum in fide in #romissum
)essiam,112 #er uem #lenum
#eccatorum remissionem et salutem
-ternam sunt consecuti& diciturue Getus Testamentum116
G& <nder the gospel, when $hrist
the su)stance1161 was exhi)ited, the
ordinances in which this co"enant is
dispensed are the preaching of the
word and the administration of the
sacraments of =aptism and the *ord's
(upper3116: which, though fewer in
num)er, and administered with more
simplicit# aud less outward glor#, #etin them it is held forth in more
fullness, e"idence, and spiritual
efficac#,116; to all nations, )oth Aews
and entiles31164 and is called the ?ew
Testament116 There are not, therefore,
two co"enants of grace differing in
su)stance, )ut one and the same under
"arious dispensations1166
G& "ub evangelio autem, e!hibito
*am Christo, substantia1167 scilicet ac
antity#o, #r-scri#t- rationes in
uibus hoc f8dus dis#ensatur, sunt
#r-dicatio verbi, et administratio
sacramentorum, ba#tismi nem#e ac
c8n- Dominic-&1169 in uibus uidem
utut numero #aucioribus, iisue
sim#licius ac minore cum e!terna gloria administratis, cum ma*ore
tamen #lenitudine, evidentia, et
efficacia s#irituali1162 #o#ulis cunctis
tam .ud-is uam 4entibus<<=>
e!hibetur& Diciturue ?o"um
Testamentum1171 2on sunt ergo duo
f8dera grati-, re atue natura
discre#antia& sed unum idemue, licet
non uno modo dis#ensatum$117:
612
Ca!ter "III. Ca!. "III.
>f $hrist the ediator -e $hristo ediatore
& &t pleased od, in his eternal
purpose, to choose and ordain the *ord
Aesus, his onl#I)egotten (on, to )e the
ediator )etween od and man,117;
the /rophet,1174 /riest,117 and ing31176
the Dead and (a"iour of his
$hurch,1177 the Deir of all things,1179
and Audge of the world31172
whom hedid, from all eternit#, gi"e a people to
)e his seed,119 and to )e )# him in
time redeemed, called, ustified,
sanctified, and glorified1191
& Com#lacitum est Deo Filium e*us
unigenitum Dominum .esum in -terno
suo #ro#osito eligere atue ordinare
ut )ediator esset inter Deum et
hominem ,119: Pro#heta,119;
"acerdos,1194 et 6e!,119 ca#ut idem et
salvator 'cclesi- su-31196 rerum
omnium h-res,1197
)undiue .ude!31199
cui ab -terno #o#ulum dedit futurum
illi in semen,1192 ac #er illum stato
tem#ore redimendum, vocandum,
*ustificandum, sanctificandum ac
glorificandum112
&& The (on of od, the second
person in the Trinit#, )eing "er# and
eternal od, of one su)stance, and
eual with the 5ather did, when the
fullness of time was come, fake upon
him man's nature,1121 with all the
&& Filius Dei #ersona secunda in
Trinitate, verus nem#e idem
-ternusue Deus, substanti- cum
Patre unius e*usdemue, eiue
co-ualis, cum advenerat tem#oris
#lenitudo, assum#sit naturam
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 15/52
essential properties and common
infirmities thereof, #et without sin@112:
)eing concei"ed )# the power of the
Dol# host in the wom) of the Girgin
ar#, of her su)stance112; (o that two
whole, perfect, and distinct natures,the odhead and the manhood, were
insepara)l# oined together
humanam,1124una cum omnibus e*us
#ro#rietatibus essentialibus,
communibusue infirmitatibus,
immunem tamen a #eccato,112
conce#tus scilicet in utero eue
substantia )ari- 1irginis ,1126 virtute"#iritus "ancti$ Adeo sane ut natur-
du-, integr-, #erfect-, distinct-ue
Deitas ac humanitas in una eademue
6:
in one person, without con"ersion,
composition, or confusion1127 +hich
person is "er# od and "er# man, #et
one $hrist, the onl# mediator )etween
od and man1129
#ersona indissolubili ne!u con*unct-
fuerint, sine conversione,
com#ositione, aut confusione$1122 u-
uidem #ersona vere Deus est ac vere
homo, unus tamen Christus, unicus
inter Deum et hominem )ediator$1:
&&& The *ord Aesus, in his human
nature thus united to the di"ine, was
sanctified and anointed with the Dol#
(pirit a)o"e measure31:1 ha"ing in him
all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge,1:: in whom it pleased the
5ather that all fullness should
dwell31:; to the end that, )eing hol#,
harmless, undefiled, and full of grace
and truth,1:4
he might )e thoroughl#furnished to execute the office of a
mediator and suret#1: +hich office
he took not unto himself, )ut was
thereunto called )# his 5ather,1:6 who
put all power and udgment into his
hand, and ga"e him commandment to
execute the same1:7
&&& Dominus .esus in humana sua
natura divin- hunc modum con*uncta
sanctificatus est, ac "#iritu sancto
su#ra mensuram unctus,1:9 in se
habens omnes sa#ienti- notiti-um
thesauros&1:2 in uo Patri visum est ut
omnis #lenitudo inhabitaret,1:1 atue
eo uidem fine ut sanctus, innocuus,
intaminatus, #lenusue grati- ac
veritatis e!istens,1:11
ad )ediatoris1adisue munus e!euendum #erfecte
esset instructus$1:1: uod ille officium
non arri#uit sibi, verum a Patre erat
ad id vocatus ,1:1; ui omnem ei
#otestatem ac *udicium in manus
dedit, und cum mandato e!ercendi$1:14
&G This office the *ord Aesus did
most willingl# undertake,1:1 which,
that he might discharge, he was made
under the law,1:16 and did perfectl#
fulfill it31:17 endured most grie"ous
torments immediatel# in his soul,1:19
&G Hoc munus #romtissima
voluntate in se susce#it Dominus
.esus ,1:12 uod ut e!#leret factus est
sub %ege ,1:: eam #erfecte im#levit,1::1
immediate in anima,1::: sua
gravissimos subiit cruciatus, in
cor#ore1::;
6:1
and most painful sufferings in his
)od#31::4 was crucified, and died31::6
was )uried, and remained under the
power of death, #et saw no
corruption1::7 >n the third da# he
arose from the dead,1::9 with the same )od# in which he suffered31::2 with
vero #er#essiones uam ma!ime
dolorificas& crucifi!us est, ac
mortuus&1:;; se#ultus est, mansitue
sub mortis #otestate& nec tamen ullam
vidit corru#tionem$1:;4 Tertio die
surre!it a mortuis ,1:; cum eodem inuo #assus fuerat cor#ore,1:;6 cum uo
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 16/52
which also he ascended into hea"en,
and there sitteth at the right hand of his
5ather,1:; making intercession31:;1 and
shall return to udge men and angels at
the end of the world1:;:
etiam ascendit in c8lum, ibiue sedens
ad de!tram Patris1:;7 intercedit,1:;9
rediturus inde in consummatione
mundi, ad homines angelosue
*udicandum$1:;2
G The *ord Aesus, )# his perfect
o)edience and sacrifice of himself,
which he through the eternal (pirit
once offered up unto od, hath full#
satisfied the ustice of his 5ather,1:4
and purchased not onl# reconciliation,
)ut an e"erlasting inheritance in the
kingdom of hea"en, for all those
whom the 5ather hath gi"en unto
him1:41
G Dominus .esus obedientia sua
#erfecta, suiue i#sius sacrificio& uod
#er -ternum "#iritum Deo semel
obtulit, *ustiti- Patris #lene
satisfecit,1:4: ac omnibus ei a Patre
datis non modo reconciliationem&
verum etiam -ternam h-reditatem in
regno c8lorum acuisivit$1:4;
G& !lthough the work of
redemption was not actuall# wrought
)# $hrist till after his incarnation, #et
the "irtue, efficac#, and )enefits
thereof were communicated unto the
elect, in all ages successi"el# from the
)eginning of the world, in and )#
those promises, t#pes,
G& uamvis redem#tionis o#us non
nisi #ost incarnationem e*us, a Christo
uidem actu effectum fuerit, vis tamen
e*us, efficacia, et beneficia #er omnia
iam inde a mundi #rimordiis ela#sa
secula electis sunt communicata, in et
#er #romissiones illas, ty#os, et
sacrifica,
6::
and sacrifices, wherein he was
re"ealed, and signified to )e the seedof the woman which should )ruise the
serpent's head, and the lam) slain from
the )eginning of the world, )eing
#esterda# and toda# the same and
fore"er1:44
uibus revelatum erat et significatum
hunc esse semen illud mulieris, uodcontriturum erat ser#entis ca#ut,
agnumue illum mactatum ab initio
mundi& ut ui heri ac hodie idem est et
in sem#iternum$1:4
G&& $hrist, in the work of
mediation, acteth according to )oth
natures3 )# each nature doing that
which is proper to itself31:46 #et, )#
reason of the unit# of the person, thatwhich is proper to one nature is
sometimes, in (cripture, attri)uted to
the person denominated )# the other
nature1:47
G&& Christus in o#ere )ediatorio
agit secundum utramue naturam, id
agens #er utramvis, uod eidem
#ro#rium est,1:49 nonnunuam tamen
fit #ro#ter #erson- unitatem ut uoduni natur- #ro#rium est, #erson- ab
altera natura denominat- in "cri#tura
tribuatur$1:42
G&&& To all those for whom $hrist
hath purchased redemption he doth
certainl# and effectuall# appl# and
communicate the same31: making
intercession for them,1:1 and re"ealing
unto them, in and )# the +ord, them#steries of sal"ation31:: effectuall#
G&&& Pro uibus Christus
redem#tionem acuisivit, iis omnibus
certo uidem ac efficaciter eam
a##licat im#ertitue,1: #ro eis
intercedens,1:6 eisue in verbo et #er
verbum revelans mysterium salutis ,1:7
#er "#iritum suum eis ut credere velint
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 17/52
persuading them )# his (pirit to
)elie"e and o)e#3 and go"erning their
hearts )# his +ord and (pirit31:;
o"ercoming all their enemies )# his
almight# power and wisdom, in such
manner and wa#s as are mostconsonant to his wonderful and
unsearcha)le dispensation1:4
ac obedire #ersuadens efficaciter,1:9
eorumue gubernans corda verbo suo
s#irituue& sed et vi sua omni#otenti,
ac sa#ientia debellans omnes eorum
hostes, iis autem modis mediisue u-
admirabili et inscrutabili e*usdis#ensationi sunt ma!ime
consentanea$1:2
6:;
Ca!ter I%. Ca!. I%.
/f Free?will$ De libero arbitrio$
& od hath endued the will of man
with that natural li)ert#, that 1:6is
neither forced nor )# an# a)solute
necessit# of nature determined to goodor e"il1:61
& 'am human- voluntati naturalem
Deus indidit libertatem, ut nec cogatur
unuam, neue absoluta ulla natur-
necessitate ad bonum aut malumdeterminetur $1:6:
&& an, in his state of innocenc#,
had freedom and power to will and to
do that which is good and wellI
pleasing to od, )ut #et muta)l#, so
that he might fall from it1:6;
&& Homo in statu innocenti-
libertatem habuit ac #otentiam, uod
bonum erat Deoue gratum volendi
agendiue&1:64 mutabiliter tamen, ita
ut illa #otuerit e!cidere$1:6
&&& an, )# his fall into a state of
sin, hath wholl# lost all a)ilit# of will
to an# spiritual good accompan#ing
sal"ation31:66 so as a natural man, )eingaltogether a"erse from that good,1:67
and dead in sin,1:69 is not a)le, )# his
own strength, to con"ert himself, or to
prepare himself thereunto1:62
&&& Homo #er la#sum suum in
statum #eccati, #otentiam omnem
uam habuerat voluntas e*us ad
bonum aliuod s#irituals et saluticontiguum amisit #enitus&1:7 adeo
sane ut naturalis homo, ut#ote ab
e*usmodi bono abhorrens #rorsus,1:71
ac in #eccato mortuus,1:7: non #ossit
unuam suis i#sius viribus convertere
semet, sed ne uidem ad conversionem
se vel #r-#arare$1:7;
&G +hen od con"erts a sinner,
and translates him into the state of
grace, he freeth him from his natural )ondage under sin,1:74 and )# his grace
alone ena)les him freel# to will and to
do that which is spirituall# good31:7
#et so
&G uandocunue Deus convertit
ac in statum grati- transfert
#eccatorem, eundem e!imit naturali sua sub #eccato servitute,1:76 solaue
gratia sua #otentem reddit ad
s#irituale bonum volendum
#r-standumue&1:77 ita tamen ut
#ro#ter
6:4
as that, )# reason of his remaining
corruption, he doth not perfectl#, nor
onl#, will that which is good, )ut doth
also will that which is e"il
1:79
manentem adhuc in eo corru#tionem,
bonum nec #erfecte velit& neue id
tantummodo, verum etiam uandoue
malum$
1:72
G The will of man is made G 1oluntas humana #erfecte ac
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 18/52
perfectl# and immuta)l# free to good
alone, in the state of glor# onl#1:9
immutabiliter libera ad bonum solum
redditur non nisi in statu glori-$1:91
Ca!ter %. Ca!. %.
/f 'ffectual Calling$ De vocatione efficaci
& !ll those whom od hath
predestinated unto life, and those onl#,
he is pleased, in his appointed and
accepted time, effectuall# to call,1:9: )#
his +ord and (pirit,1:9; out of that state
of sin and death, in which the# are )#
nature, to grace and sal"ation )# Aesus
$hrist31:94 enlightening their minds,
spirituall# and sa"ingl#, to understand
the things of od31:9 taking awa# their
heart of stone, and gi"ing unto them anheart of flesh31:96 renewing their wills,
and )# his almight# power
determining them to that which is
good,1:97 and effectuall# drawing them
to Aesus $hrist31:99 #et so as the# come
most freel#, )eing made willing )# his
grace1:92
& Deus uos ad vitam #r-destinavit
omnes, eosue solos dignatur #er
verbum suum et s#iritum1:2 constituto
suo acce#toue tem#ore vocare
efficaciter 1:21 e statu illo #eccati et
mortis in uo sunt natura constituti,
ad gratiam ac salutem #er .esum
Christum&1:2: idue mentes eorum
illuminando, ut modo s#irituali et
salutari u- Dei sunt intelligant&1:2;
tollendo eorum cor lapideum,donandoue eis cor carneum31:24
voluntates eorum renovando ac #ro
#otentia sua omni#otente ad bonum
determinando,1:2 et ad .esum
Christum trahendo efficaciter&1:26 ita
tamen ut illi nihilominus liberrime
veniant, volentes nem#e facti #er illius
gratiam$1:27
&& This effectual call is of od's && 'ffica! h-c vocatio est a sola
6:free and special grace alone, not from
an# thing at all foreseen in man31:29
who is altogether passi"e therein, until,
)eing uickened and renewed )# the
Dol# (pirit,1:22 he is there)# ena)led to
answer this call, and to em)race the
grace offered and con"e#ed in it1;
Dei gratia:, gratuita illa et s#eciali& a
nulla autem re in homine #r-visa&1;1
ui in hoc negotio se habet omnino
#assive, donec #er s#iritum sanctum
vivificatus ac renovatus ,1;: #otis inde
factus sit vocationi huic res#ondere,
gratiamue inibi oblatam et e!hibitam
am#le!ari$1;;
&&& Elect infants, d#ing in infanc#,
are regenerated and sa"ed )# $hristthrough the (pirit,1;4 who worketh
when, and where, and how he
pleaseth1; (o also are all other elect
persons, who are incapa)le of )eing
outwardl# called )# the ministr# of the
+ord1;6
&&& 'lecti infantes in infantia sua
morientes regenerantur salvanturuea Christo #er s#iritum1;7 Jui uando
et ubi, et uo sibi #lacuerit modo
o#erator 031;9 sicut et reliui electi
omnes, uotuot e!tern- vocationis
#er ministerium verbi sunt
inca#aces$1;2
&G >thers, not elected, although
the# ma# )e called )# the ministr# of
the +ord,1;1 and ma# ha"e some
common operations of the (pirit,
1;11
#et the# ne"er trul# come unto1;1:
&G Alii autem, ui non electi sunt,
ut ut verbi ministerio vocari #ossint,1;1
communesue nonnullas o#erationes
"#iritus e!#eriri,
1;16
nunuam tamenvere ad Christum accedunt,
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 19/52
$hrist, and therefore can not )e
sa"ed@1;1; much less can men, not
professing the $hristian religion, )e
sa"ed in an# other wa# whatsoe"er, )e
the# ne"er so diligent to frame their
li"es according to the light of natureand the law of that religion the# do
profess31;14 and to assert and maintain
that the# ma# is
#roindeue nec salvari #ossunt$1;17
)ulto uidem minus #oterunt illi,
uotuot religionem Christianam non
#rofitentur 9summam licet o#eram
navaverint moribus suis ad natur-
lumen, istiusue uam #rofitenturreligionis legem com#onendis, e!tra
hanc unicam viam salutem unuam
obtinere$1;19 Atue huic uidem
contrarium
6:6
"er# pernicious, and to )e detested1;12 statuere ac defendere, #erniciosum
admodum est ac detestandum$1;:
Ca!ter %I. Ca!. %I.
/f .ustification De .ustificatione
& Those whom od effectuall#
calleth he also freel# ustifieth31;:1 not
)# infusing righteousness into them,
)ut )# pardoning their sins, and )#
accounting and accepting their persons
as righteous@ not for an# thing wrought
in them, or done )# them, )ut for
$hrist's sake alone3 nor 1;:: )# imputing
faith itself, the act of )elie"ing, or an#
other e"angelical o)edience to them,
as their righteousness3 )ut )# imputing
the o)edience and satisfaction of
$hrist unto them,1;:; the# recei"ing
and resting on him and his
righteousness )# faith3 which faith
the# ha"e not of themsel"es, it is the
gift of od1;:4
& uos Deus vocat efficaciter,
eosdem etiam gratis *ustificat,1;: non
uidem *ustitiam iis infundendo, sed
eorum #eccata condonando,
#ersonasue #ro *ustis re#utando
atue acce#tando& neue id certe
#ro#ter uicuam aut in iis
#roductum, aut ab iis #r-stitum,
verum Christi solius ergo& eisue ad
*ustitiam non fidem i#sam, non
credendi actum, aut aliam
uamcunue obedientiam
evangelicam, verum obedientiam ac
satisfactionem Christi im#utando ,1;:6
eum nem#e reci#ientibus, eiue ac
*ustiti- e*us #er fidem innitentibus&
uam illi fidem e! dono Dei, non a
sei#sis, habent$1;:7
&& 5aith, thus recei"ing and resting
on $hrist and his righteousness, is the
alone instrument of ustification31;:9 #etis it not alone in the person ustified,
)ut is e"er accompanied with all other
sa"ing graces, and is no dead faith, )ut
worketh )# lo"e1;:2
&& Fides hoc modo Christum
reci#iens, eiue innitens ac *ustiti-
e*us, est *ustificationis unicuminstrumentum&1;; in homine tamen
*ustificato h-c non est solitaria, verum
gratiis aliis omnibus salutaribus
sem#er comitata& neue est h-c fides
mortua, sed u- #er charitatem
o#eratur $1;;1
&&& $hrist, )# his o)edience and &&& ui hunc in modum
*ustificantur,
6:7
death, did full# discharge the de)t of eorum omnium debita Christus #er
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 20/52
all those that are thus ustified, and did
make a proper, real, and full
satisfaction to his 5ather's ustice in
their )ehalf 1;;: Let inasmuch as he
was gi"en )# the 5ather for them,1;;;
and his o)edience and satisfactionaccepted in their stead,1;;4 and )oth
freel#, not for an# thing in them, their
ustification is onl# of free grace31;;
that )oth the exact ustice and rich
grace of od might )e glorified in the
ustification of sinners1;;6
obedientiam suam mortemue #rorsus
dissolvit& eorumue vice *ustiti-
Patris sui realem, #lenum, et #ro#rie
dictam satisfactionem #r-stitit $1;;7
uum tamen non #ro#ter in iis
uicuam, verum gratuito Pater cumChristum i#sum #ro eis dederit,1;;9 tum
obedientiam e*us ac satisfactionem
tanuam eorum loco constituti1;;2
acce#taverit& omnino a gratia gratuita
est eorum *ustificatio&1;4 uo nimirum
Dei tum accurata *ustitia tum locu#les
gratia glorificata foret in *ustificatione
#eccatorum$1;41
&G od did, from all eternit#,
decree to ustif# all the elect,1;4:
and$hrist did, in the fullness of time, die
for their sins, and rise again for their
ustification@1;4; ne"ertheless, the# are
not ustified until the Dol# (pirit doth,
in due time, actuall# appl# $hrist unto
them1;44
&G Ab -terno decrevit Deus electos
omnes *ustificare,1;4
Christusue intem#oris #lenitudine mortuus est #ro
eorum #eccatis, et in *ustificationem
eorum resurre!it:1;46 nihilo minus
tamen *ustificati #rius non sunt, uam
Christum eis in tem#ore suo
o##ortuno "#iritus "anctus actu
a##licuerit$1;47
G od doth continue to forgi"e the
sins of those that are ustified31;49 and
although the# can ne"er fall from thestate of ustification,1;42 #et the# ma#
)# their sins fall under od's fatherl#
displeasure, and not ha"e the light of
his countenance restored unto them,
until the# hum)le themsel"es,
G Perseverat Deus eorum #eccata
condonare uos semel *ustificavit,1;
uin et etiamsi e!cidere statu *ustificationis nunuam #ossint&1;1
fieri tamen #otest ut ir- Dei, #atern-
uidem illi, #er #eccata sua se
e!#onant, nec lumen #aterni vultus
#rius sibi habeant restitutum, uam
semet i#sos humiliaverint,
6:9
confess their sins, )eg pardon, and
renew their faith and repentance1;:
#eccata agnoverint, im#loraverint
veniam, fidem deniue et #8nitentiam
suam renovaverint$1;;
G& The ustification of )elie"ers
under the >ld Testament was, in all
these respects, one and the same with
the ustification of )elie"ers under the
?ew Testament1;4
G& .ustificatio fidelium sub 1etere
ac 2ovo1; Testamento uoad isth-c
omnia est una eademue$1;6
Ca!ter %II. Ca!. %II.
/f Ado#tion$ De Ado#tione$
!ll those that are ustified od
"ouchsafeth, in and for his onl# (onAesus $hrist, to make partakers of the
Deus *ustificatos omnes dignatur in
filio suo unigenito .esu Christo, et #ro#ter eundem #artici#es facere
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 21/52
grace of adoption31;7 )# which the#
are taken into the num)er, and eno#
the li)erties and pri"ileges of the
children of od31;9 ha"e his name put
upon them31;2 recei"e the (pirit of
adoption31;6 ha"e access to the throneof grace with )oldness31;61 are ena)led
to cr#, !))a, 5ather31;6: are pitied,1;6;
protected,1;64 pro"ided for,1;6 and
chastened )# him as )# a father31;66 #et
ne"er cast off,1;67 )ut sealed to the da#
of redemption,1;69 and inherit the
promises,1;62 as heirs of e"erlasting
sal"ation1;7
grati- Ado#tionis&1;71 #er uam in
numerum filiorum Dei assumuntur,
taliumue immunitatibus ac #rivilegiis
#otiuntur,1;7: im#ositum sibi habent
nomen Dei,1;7; "#iritum ado#tionis
acci#iunt,1;74 aditum habent adthronum grati- cum confidentia ,1;7
#otestatem conseuuntur clamandi
Abba Pater ,1;76 commiserationem,1;77
tutelam ,1;79 et #rovidentiam1;72
sortiuntur& uin et castigationem Dei
#aternam e!#eriuntur&1;9 nunuam
tamen abdicantur ,1;91 verum in diem
redem#tionis consignati1;9:
#romissiones obtinent h-reditario
*ure,1;9; ut ui h-redes sunt -tern-
salutis$1;94
6:2
Ca!ter %III. Ca!. %III.
/f "anctification De "anctificatione
& The# who are effectuall# called
and regenerated, ha"ing a new heart
and a new spirit created in them, are
further sanctified, reall# and
personall#, through the "irtue of
$hrist's death and resurrection,1;9
)#his +ord and (pirit dwelling in
them31;96 the dominion of the whole
)od# of sin is destro#ed,1;97 and the
se"eral lusts thereof are more and
more weakened and mortified,1;99and
the# more and more uickened and
strengthened, in all sa"ing graces,1;92
to the practice of true holiness, without
which no man shall see the *ord1;2
& uotuot efficaciter vocantur, ac
regenerantur, cor novum habentes
novumue s#iritum in se creatum, sunt
virtute mortis et resurrectionis
Christi1;21 #er verbum e*us
s#iritumue in eis inhabitantem1;2:
ulterius sandificati, realiter uidem ac
#ersonaliter: totius cor#oris #eccati
dominium in eos destruitur,1;2; e*usue
vari- libidines debilitantur indies
magis magisue ac mortificantur&1;24
illi interim magis magisue in omni
gratia salutari vivificantur et
corroborantur indies ,1;2 ad #ra!im
ver- sanctimoni-, ua uidem
destitutus nemo unuam videbit
Dominum$1;26
&& This sanctification is throughout
in the whole man,1;27 #et imperfect in
this life3 there a)ideth still some
remnants of corruption in e"er#
part,1;29 whence ariseth a continual and
irreconcila)le war, the flesh lusting
against the spirit, and the spirit against
the flesh1;22
&& 0niversalis est h-c et #er totum
hominem diffusa sanctificatio ,14
verum in hac vita est im#erfecta
nonnullis corru#tionis reliuiis adhuc
in omni #arte remanentibus ,141 unde
bellum e!oritur #er#etuum et
im#lacabile& hinc carne adversus
s#iritum, illinc s#iritu adversus
carnem concu#iscente$14:
&&& &n which war, although the &&& 3n uo uidem bello licet
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 22/52
remaining corruption for a time ma#
much pre"ail,14; #et, through the
continual suppl# of strength from the
sanctif#ing (pirit of
corru#tio residua #ossit aliuandiu
#r-valere #lurimum,144 #ars tamen
regenita, sanctificante Christi s#iritu
#er#etuas ferente su##etias,
6;
$hrist, the regenerate part doth
o"ercome314 and so the saints grow in
grace,146 perfecting holiness in the fear
of od147
evadit victri!03149 adeoue sancti in
gratia crescunt ,142 sanctitatem in
timore Domini #erficientes$141
Ca!ter %I". Ca!. %I".
/f "aving Faith De Fide salvifica
& The grace of faith, where)# the
elect are ena)led to )elie"e to the
sa"ing of their souls,1411 is the work of
the (pirit of $hrist in their hearts,141: and is ordinaril# wrought )# the
ministr# of the +ord3141; )# which
also, and )# the administration of the
sacraments and pra#er, it is increased
and strengthened1414
& 4ratia Fidei, ua electi credere
valent ad animarum suarum
salutem,141 "#iritus Christi o#us est in
eorum cordibus o#erantis ,1416 effectum #lerumue verbi Dei ministerio ,1417
uo eodem etiam, ut et
administratione "acramentorum atue
oratione robur ei accedit ac
incrementum$1419
&& =# this faith a $hristian )elie"eth
to )e true whatsoe"er is re"ealed in the
+ord, for the authorit# of od himself
speaking therein31412 and acteth
differentl# upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth3
#ielding o)edience to the
commands,14: trem)ling at the
threatenings,14:1 and em)racing the
promises of od for this life and that
which is to come14:: =ut the principal
acts of sa"ing faith are accepting,
recei"ing, and resting upon $hrist
alone
&& Hac Fide credit Christianus
verum esse uicuid in verbo
revelatur, #ro#ter authoritatem i#sius
inibi louentis Dei&14:; et varie uidem
in illud agit tum obseuendomandatis ,14:4 tum ad minas
contremiscens,14: tum etiam #romissa
Dei, seu #r-sentem hanc vitam seu
futuram s#ectent, am#le!ando ,14:6 #ro
varia nem#e ratione illarum rerum,
u- in singulis verbi #artibus
continentur$ 1erum fidei salvific-
actus illi sunt #r-ci#ui, Christi
acce#tatio et rece#tio, in eumue
solum
6;1
for ustification, sanctification, and
eternal life, )# "irtue of the co"enant
of grace14:7
recumbentia #ro *ustificatione,
sanctificatione, i#saue adeo vita
-terna, virtute f8deris grati-
conseuendis$14:9
&&& This faith is different in degrees,
weak or strong314:2 ma# )e often and
man# wa#s assailed and weakened, )ut
gets the "ictor#314; growing up in
man# to the attainment of a fullassurance through $hrist,14;1 who is
&&& Fides h-c #ro diversis e*us
gradibus debilior est aut fortior&14;;
im#ugnari uidem s-#enumero
multisue modis ac debilitari #otest,
non ita tamen uin victri! evadat&
14;4
et uidem in multis ad #lenum usue
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 23/52
)oth the author and finisher of our
faith14;:
certitudinem #er Christum
adolescit,14; ui fidei nostr- idem
author est et consummator$14;6
Ca!ter %". Ca!. %".
/f 6e#entance unto %ife De resi#iscentia ad vitam
& Cepentance unto life is an
e"angelical grace,14;7 the doctrine
whereof is to )e preached )# e"er#
minister of the gospel, as well as that
of faith in $hrist14;9
& 6esi#iscentia ad vitam est gratia
'vangelica ,14;2 cuius uidem doctrina
#ariter ac illa de fide in Christum est a
singulis ministris 'vangelii
#r-dicanda$
&& =# it a sinner, out of the sight
and sense, not onl# of the danger, )ut
also of the filthiness and odiousness of
his sins, as contrar# to the hol# nature
and righteous law of od, and uponthe apprehension of his merc# in
$hrist to such as are penitent, so
grie"es for and hates his sins as to turn
from them all unto od,144 purposing
and endea"oring
&& Per eam #eccator e! ins#ectu
sensuue non solum #ericuli verum
etiam tur#itudinis, ac natur-
#eccatorum suorum #rorsus
abominand-$1441 ut#ote sanct- Deinatur-, *ust-ue legi adversantium,
atue e #ers#ecta e*us erga #8nitentes
in Christo misericordia, ita #eccata
sua deflet ac detestatur, ut ab eis
omnibus ad Deum convertatur 144: cum
#ro#osito conatuue in cunctis
mandatorum
6;:
to walk with him in all the wa#s of his
commandments144;
e*us viis cum eodem ambulandi$1444
&&& !lthough repentance )e not to
)e rested in as an# satisfaction for sin,
or an# cause of the pardon thereof,144
which is the act of od's free grace in
$hrist31446 #et is it of such necessit# to
all sinners that none ma# expect
pardon without it1447
&&& 'tsi resi#iscenti- nobis
fidendum non sit, ac si ea esset ulla
aut #ro #eccatis satisfactio, aut causa
remissionis #eccatorum1449 .ui grati-
Dei in Christo gratuit- actus est 0,1442
est nihilominus cunctis #eccatoribus
usue adeo necessaria, ut sine ea
nulla cuivis unuam remissio sit
e!#ectanda$14
&G !s there is no sin so small )ut it
deser"es damnation,141 so there is no
sin so great that it can )ring damnation
upon those who trul# repent14:
&G uemadmodum nullum est
#eccatum adeo e!iguum ut
damnationem non mereatur,14; ita
neue magnum adeo #eccatum ullum
est, ut damnationem inferre #ossit vere
#8nitentibus$144
G en ought not to content
themsel"es with a general repentance,
)ut it is e"er# man's dut# to endea"or
to repent of his particular sins
particularl#14
G 3n resi#iscentia generali
acuiescendum non est, verum ad id
contendere tenetur uisue, ut
singulorum suorum #eccatorum uam
#articularem agat #8nitentiam$146
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 24/52
G& !s e"er# man is )ound to make
pri"ate confession of his sins to od,
pra#ing for the pardon thereof,147
upon which, and the forsaking of
them, he shall find merc#3149 so he that
scandaliBeth his )rother, or the $hurchof $hrist, ought to )e willing, )# a
pri"ate or pu)lic confession and
sorrow for his sin, to declare his
repentance
G& uemadmodum autem tenetur
uivis #eccata sua Deo #rivatim
confiteri, et #ro remissione illorum
#recibus contendere:142 .uod si
#r-stiterit et #eccata simul
dereliuerit, misericordiamconseuetur 0146 ita ui fratri suo, aut
'cclesi- Christi, scandalo fuerit,
#rom#tus et #aratus esse debet ua
confessione sive #rivata, sive etiam
#ublica, ua de #eccatis
6;;
6;4
works is not at all of themsel"es, )ut
wholl# from the (pirit of $hrist1497
!nd that the# ma# )e ena)ledthereunto, )esides the graces the# ha"e
sint #r-standis omnino id a s#iritu
Christi est, nullatenus autem e
sei#sis$
142
't uo eis #r-standis #ares fiant, #rater habitus grati- iam
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 25/52
alread# recei"ed, there is reuired an
actual influence of the same Dol#
(pirit to work in them to will and to do
of his good pleasure31499 #et are the#
not hereupon to grow negligent, as if
the# were not )ound to perform an#dut# unless upon a special motion of
the (pirit3 )ut the# ought to )e diligent
in stirring up the grace of od that is
in them1492
infusos, e*usdem "#iritus sancti
actualis #orro reuiritur influentia,
ua nem#e in iis o#eretur tum velle
tum etiam efficere #ro suo i#sius
bene#lacito:1421 sed neue tamen iis
#roinde socordi- sese licet #ermittere& ac si nisi s#ecialiter eos
e!citante "#iritu ad nulla #ietatis
officia #r-standa tenerentur& verum
sedulam debent navare o#eram
sustitand- illi u- in iis est divin-
grati-$142:
&G The# who in their o)edience
attain to the greatest height which is
possi)le in this life, are so far from
)eing a)le to supererogate and to domore than od reuires, as142; that the#
fall short of much which in dut# the#
are )ound to do1424
&G ui gradum obedienti-
summum uidem in hac vita
#ossibilem asseuuntur, tantum abest
ut su#ererogare uicuam #ossint ac #lus #r-stare uam uod Deus
reuisiverit, ut multum sane subsidant
infra illud, uod e! officio #r-stare
obligantur$142
G +e can not, )# our )est works,
merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at
the hand of od, )# reason of the great
disproportion that is )etween them and
the glor# to come, and the infinite
distance that is )etween us and od,whom )# them we can neither profit
nor satisf#
G Peccatorum veniam, aut vitam
-ternam de Deo mereri non valemus,
ne o#timis uidem o#eribus nostris&
cum #ro#ter summam illam inter ea et
futuram gloriam dis#aritatem& tum
etiam #ro#ter infinitam distantiamu- inter nos ac Deum intercedit& cui
nos #er illa nec #rodesse
6;
for the de)t of our former sins31426 )ut
when we ha"e done all we can, we
ha"e done )ut our dut#, and are
unprofita)le ser"ants31427 and )ecause,
as the# are good, the# proceed from
his (pirit31429 and as the# are wrought
)# us, the# are defiled and mixed with
so much weakness and imperfection
that the# can not endure the se"erit# of
od's udgment1422
uicuam #ossumus, neue #ro
antecedentium #eccatorum nostrorum
debito satisfacere&1 verum cum
uantum #ossumus fecerimus, non nisi
uod debemus #r-stiterimus, ac servi
inutiles futuri sumus&11 tum deniue
uoniam a s#iritu Dei in uantum
bona sunt #roficiscuntur ,1: ita vero
sunt coinuinata, tantumue
im#erfectionis ac infirmitas admistum
habent, #rout a nobis efficiuntur, ut
strictum Dei *udicium non sint
ferendo$1;
G& Let notwithstanding, the
persons of )elie"ers )eing accepted
through $hrist, their good works also
are accepted in him,14 not as though
the# were in this life wholl#un)lama)le and unrepro"a)le in od's
G& 2ihilominus tamen acce#tis in
gratiam #er Christum fidelium
#ersonis, eorum etiam o#era bona #er
eundem acce#ta sunt&17 non uod in
hac vita sint omnis cul#- #rorsusimmunia, u-ue in cons#ectu Dei
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 26/52
sight31 )ut that he, looking upon
them in his (on, is pleased to accept
and reward that which is sincere,
although accompanied with man#
weaknesses and imperfections16
nullam re#rehensionem mereantur&19
verum uod illa res#iciens in filio suo
Deus, uod sincerum est, utcunue
multis infirmitatibus ac
im#erfectionibus involutum, acce#tare
dignetur ac remunerari$12
G&& +orks done )# unregenerate
men, although for the matter of them
the# ma# )e things which od
commands, and of good use )oth to
themsel"es and others311
G&& /#era nondum regenitorum,
licet, uoad materiam #r-ce#to divino
conformia esse #ossint, sibiue i#sis et
aliis item utilia&111 cum tamen neue a
corde #rofluant #er fidem
6;6
#et )ecause the# proceed not from a
heart purified )# faith,11: nor are done
in a right manner, according to the
+ord,11; nor to a right end, the glor#
of od3114 the# are therefore sinful,
and can not please od, or make a
man meet to recei"e grace from
od11 !nd #et their neglect of them
is more sinful and displeasing unto
od116
de#urato,117 nec secundum verbum eo
uo #ar est #r-stentur modo,119 sed
neue ad finem debitum, Dei nem#e
gloriam, destinentur&112 sunt #roinde
#eccata, nec Deo grata esse #ossunt,
nec reddere uenuam valent idoneum
ad gratiam a Deo reci#iendum$1:
'*usmodi tamen o#erum neglectu,
gravius uidem illi #eccant Deumue
offendunt vehementius$1:1
Ca!ter %"II. Ca!. %"II.
/f the Perseverance of the "aints De #erseverantia "anctorum
& The# whom od hath accepted inhis =elo"ed, effectuall# called and
sanctified )# his (pirit, can neither
totall# nor finall# fall awa# from the
state of grace3 )ut shall certainl#
perse"ere therein to the end, and )e
eternall# sa"ed1::
& uotuot Deus in dilecto suoacce#tavit, vocavit efficaciter ac #er
"#iritum suum sanctificavit, non
#ossunt illi statu grati- aut finaliter
e!cidere aut totaliter& verum in eo ad
finem usue certo #erseverabunt, ac
salutem -ternam conseuentur $1:;
&& This perse"erance of the saints
depends, not upon their own freewill,
)ut upon the immuta)ilit# of the
decree of election, flowing from thefree and unchangea)le lo"e of od the
5ather31:4 upon the efficac# of the
merit and intercession of Aesus
$hrist31: the a)iding
&& h-c autem sanctorum
#erseverantia, non #endet a libero
i#sorum arbitrio, verum a decreti
electionis immutabilitate .uod e!amore Dei Patris flu!it, gratuito illo
ac immutabili0,1:6 a meriti .esu
Christi ac intercessionis efficacia,1:7 a
"#iritus et seminis Dei in iis
#ermansione&1:9
6;7
of the (pirit and of the seed of od
within them31:2 and the nature of the
co"enant of grace@1; from all which
ariseth also the certaint# andinfalli)ilit# thereof 1;1
a natura deniue fKderis gratiH31;: e
ui)us omni)us etiam emergit
certitudo eusdem et infalli)ilitas1;;
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 27/52
&&& ?e"ertheless the# ma#, through
the temptations of (atan and of the
world, the pre"alenc# of corruption
remaining in them, and the neglect of
the means of their preser"ation, fall
into grie"ous sins31;4 and for a timecontinue therein@1; where)# the#
incur od's displeasure,1;6 and grie"e
his Dol# (pirit31;7 come to )e depri"ed
of some measure of their graces and
comforts31;9 ha"e their hearts
hardened,1;2 and their consciences
wounded314 hurt and scandaliBe
others,141 and )ring temporal
udgments upon themsel"es14:
&&& 2ihilo tamen minus fieri #otest
ut iidem illi, ua "atan- mundiue
tentatione, ua manentis adhuc in iis
corru#tionis #r-valentia, et neglectu
mediorum conservationis su-, in
#eccata gravia incidant ,14; in eisuead tem#us commorentur&144 unde iram
Dei sibi i#sis contrahunt,14& e*usue
"#iritum "anctum contristant,146
gratias suas et consolationes
uadantenus et uoad gradus
nonnullos amittunt,147 corda sibi
habent indurata ,149 et vulneratas
conscientias&142 aliis nocumento sunt
et offendiculo,1 sibimet i#sis deniue
accersunt *udicia Dei tem#oralia$11
Ca!ter %"III. Ca!. %"III.
/f the Assurance of 4race and "alvation De certitudine grati- et salutis
& !lthough h#pocrites and other
unregenerate men ma# "ainl# decei"e
themsel"es with false hopes and carnal
presumptions of )eing in the fa"or of
od and estate of sal"ation,1: which
hope of theirs
& uamvis fieri #otest ut hy#ocrit-
aliiue homines non regeniti s#e vana
falsisue 9#ro corru#t- natur- more
o#inionibus #r-sum#tis, se deci#iant,
favorem Dei, statumue salutis sibi
falso arrogantes&1; u- illorum
6;9
shall perish@14 #et such as trul#
)elie"e in the *ord Aesus, and lo"e him
in sincerit#, endea"oring to walk in all
good conscience )efore him, ma# in
this life )e certainl# assured that the#
are in a state of grace,1 and ma#
reoice in the hope of the glor# of od,
which hope shall ne"er make them
ashamed16
s#es #eribit:17 ui tamen in Dominum
.esum vere credunt, eumue sincere
diligunt, studentes coram i#so in omni
bona conscientia ambulare& evadere
#ossunt in hac vita certi se in statu
grati- esse constitutos&19 uin etiam
l-tari #ossunt s#e glori- Dei, u-
uidem s#es nunuam eos
#udefaciet $12
&& This certaint# is not a )are
conectural and pro)a)le persuasion,grounded upon a falli)le hope316 )ut
an infalli)le assurance of faith,
founded upon the di"ine truth of the
promises of sal"ation,161 the inward
e"idence of those graces unto which
these promises are made,16: the
testimon# of the (pirit of adoption
witnessing with our spirits that we are
the children of od@16; which (pirit is
the earnest of our inheritance, where)#
we are sealed to the da# of
&& H-c certitudo non est #ersuasio
mere con*ecturalis et #robabilis,inni!a s#e fallaci&16 verum infallibilis
u-dam fidei certitudo, fundamentum
habens divinam #romissionum salutis
veritatem&166 gratiarum, uibus
#romissiones ill- fiunt internam
evidentiam&167 testimonium deniue
s#iritus ado#tionis una cum s#iritibus
nostris testificantis nos esse filios
Dei&169 ui uidem s#iritus arrhabo
est h-reditatis nostr-, uo in diem
redemtionis sigillamur $162
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 28/52
redemption164
&&& This infalli)le assurance doth
not so )elong to the essence of faith,
)ut that a true )elie"er ma# wait long,
and conflict with man# difficulties )efore he )e partaker of it@17 #et,
)eing ena)led )# the (pirit to know
the things which are freel# gi"en him
of od, he
&&& H-c certitudo infallibilis, non
ita s#ectat essentiam fidei, uin vere
fidelis e!#ectare uandoue diutius, et
cum variis difficultatibus confligere #rius #ossit, uam illius com#os
fiat ,171 verum #oterit idem
ordinariorum usu debito mediorum,
absue revelatione ulla e!traordinaria
6;2
ma#, without extraordinar# re"elation,
in the right use of ordinar# means,
attain thereunto17: !nd therefore it is
the dut# of e"er# one to gi"e all
diligence to make his calling and
election sure317; that there)# his heart
ma# )e enlarged in peace and o# in
the Dol# host, in lo"e and
thankfulness to od, and in strength
and cheerfulness in the duties of
o)edience, the proper fruits of this
assurance@174 so far is it from inclining
men to looseness17
eam adi#isci ,176 s#iritu nem#e u-
Deus illi gratuito donaverit
cognoscendi facultatem
subministrante$ Proindeue tenetur
uisue, uo vocationem suam sibi et
electionem certmn faciat, omnem
adhibere diligentiam,177 unde cor
suum habeat #ace et gaudio in s#iritu
sancto, in Deum amore et gratitudine,
in actibus observanti- robore et
alacritate dilatatum& ui certitudinus
huius fructus #ro#rii sunt ac
genuini$179 Tantum abest ut homines
inde ad omnem neuitiam
discingantur$172
&G True )elie"ers ma# ha"e theassurance of their sal"ation di"ers
wa#s shaken, diminished, and
intermitted3 as, )# negligence in
preser"ing of it3 )# falling into some
special sin, which woundeth, the
conscience, and grie"eth the (pirit3 )#
some sudden or "ehement temptation3
)# od's withdrawing the light of his
countenance, and suffering e"en such
as fear him to walk in darkness and to
ha"e no light@19 #et are the# ne"er
utterl# destitute of that seed of od,
and life of faith, that lo"e of $hrist and
the )rethren, that sincerit# of heart and
conscience of dut#, out
&G Certitudo salutis vere fidelibusmultifariam concuti #otest et imminui
imo et uandoue interrum#i&
conservandi scilicet eam incuria&
la#su in #eccatum aliuod insigne,
uod conscientiam vulnerat,
s#iritumue contristat& tentatione
aliua vehementi ac subitanea& uti
etiam Deo vultus sui lumen
subducente, ac #ermittente ut vel illi
ui i#sum timent in tenebris ambulent
omni #rorsus lumine viduati:191
nunuam tamen destituuntur #enitus
illo Dei semine vitaue fidei$ Christi
illa fratrumue dilectione, ea
sinceritate cordis et #ietatis officia
#r-standi conscientia& unde #er
64
of which, )# the operation of the
(pirit, this assurance ma# in due time
)e re"i"ed,19: and )# the which, in the
mean time, the# are supported fromutter despair19;
o#erationem s#iritus eadem illa
certitudo tem#estive #ossit
reviviscere:194 uibusue interim ne
#rorsus in des#erationem ruant suffulciuntur$19
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 29/52
Ca!ter %I%. Ca!. %I%.
/f the %aw of 4od De %ege Dei
& od ga"e to !dam a law, as a
co"enant of works, )# which he )ound
him and all his posterit# to personal,entire, exact, and perpetual o)edience3
promised life upon the fulfilling, and
threatened death upon the )reach of it3
and endued him with power and a)ilit#
to keep it196
& Deus Adamo legem dedit ut f8dus
o#erum, uo cum illum i#sum tum
#osteros e*us omnes, ad obedientiam #ersonalem, integram, e!uisitam
simul et #er#etuam obligavit,
#ollicitus vitam si observarent,
violatoribus autem mortem
interminatus& eundemue #otentia et
viribus imbuit, uibus #ar esset illam
observando$197
&& This law, after his fall, continued
to )e a perfect rule of righteousness3
and, as such, was deli"ered )# odupon mount (inai in ten
commandments, and written in two
ta)les3199 the first four commandments
containing our dut# towards od, and
the other six our dut# to man192
&& %e! ista #ost la#sum non desiit
esse *ustiti- regula #erfectissima& uo
etiam nomine a Deo est in monte "inaitradita, tabulis duabus descri#ta,
decem #r-ce#tis com#rehensa&12
uorum uatuor #rima officium
nostrum erga Deum, se! autem reliua
nostrum erga homines officium
com#lectuntur$121
&&& =eside this law, commonl#
called moral, od was pleased to gi"e
to the people of &srael, as a $hurch
under age, ceremonial laws, containing
se"eral t#pical ordinances,
&&& Pr-ter autem hanc legem, u-
moralis vulgo audit, visum est Deo ut
#o#ulo 3sraelitico tanuam 'cclesi-
minorenni leges daret ceremoniales
instituta ty#ica multifaria
641
partl# of worship, prefiguring $hrist,
his graces, actions, sufferings, and
)enefits312: and partl# holding forth
di"ers instructions of moral duties12;
!ll which ceremonial laws are now
a)rogated under the ?ew
Testament124
continentes& #artim de cultu, Christi
gratias, actiones, #er#essiones ac
beneficia #r-figurantia&12 #artim
autem de moralibus officiis
institutiones varias e!hibentia$126 u-
leges ceremoniales omnes hodie sub
novo instrumento sunt abrogat-$127
&G To them also, as a )od# politic,he ga"e sundr# udicial laws, which
expired together with the state of that
people, not o)liging an# other, now,
further than the general euit# thereof
ma# reuire129
&G 3isdem etiam tanuam cor#ori #olitico leges multas dedit *udiciales,
u- una cum istius #o#uli #oliteia
e!#irarunt, nullos hodie alios
obligantes su#ra uod generalis et
communis earum -uitas
#ostularit$122
G The moral law doth fore"er )ind
all, as well ustified persons as others,
to the o)edience thereof316 and that
not onl# in regard of the mattercontained in it, )ut also in respect of
G %e! moralis omnes tam
*ustificatos uam alios uosvis
#er#etuo ligat ad obedientiam illi
e!hibendam&
16;
neue id uidem solummodo vi materi- u- in illa
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 30/52
the authorit# of od the $reator who
ga"e it161 ?either doth $hrist in the
gospel an# wa# dissol"e, )ut much
strengthen, this o)ligation16:
continetur, verum etiam virtute
authoritatis eandem constituentis
creatoris Dei&164 neue sane hoc e*us
vinculum in evangelio ulla ratione
dissolvit Christus, verum idem
#lurimum confirmavit $16
G& !lthough true )elie"ers )e not
under the law as a co"enant of works,
to )e there)# ustified or
condemned3166 #et is it of great use to
them, as well as to others3 in that, as a
rule of life, informing them of the will
of od and their
G& uamvis vere fideles non sint
sub lege tanuam sub o#erum f8dere,
unde aut *ustificari #ossint aut
condemnari:167 est tamen ea illis non
minus uam aliis vehementer utilis, ut
u- uum sit vit- norma, illos
voluntatem divinam suumue officium
64:
dut#, it directs and )inds them to walk
accordingl#3169 disco"ering also the
sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts,
and li"es3162 so as, examining
themsel"es there)#, the# ma# come to
further con"iction of, humiliation for,
and hatred against sin3161 together with
a clearer sight of the need the# ha"e of
$hrist, and the perfection of his
o)edience1611 &t is likewise of use to
the regenerate, to restrain their
corruptions, in that it for)ids sin3161:
and the threatenings of it ser"e to show
what e"en their sins deser"e, and what
afflictions in this life the# ma# expect
for them, although freed from the
curse thereof threatened in the law161;
The promises of it, in like manner,
show them od's appro)ation of
o)edience, and what )lessings the#
ma# expect upon the performance
thereof31614 although not as due to them
)# the law as a co"enant of words@161 so as a man's doing good, and
refraining from e"il, )ecause the law
encourageth to the one, and deterreth
from the other, is no e"idence of his
)eing under the law, and not under
grace1616
edocendo dirigit simul et obligat ad
consentanee ambulandum&1617 i#sisue
#atere facit natur-, cordis, vit-ue
su- nefaria inuinamenta:1619 adeo ut
ad illam semet e!igentes, cum #eccati
ulterius convinci, #ro eodem
humiliari, ac e*usdem odio inflammari
#ossint&1612 tum vero etiam ut
#ers#icere #ossint evidentius uam
#lane necessarius eis Christus,
uamue #erfecta sit e*usdem
obedientia$16:
1erum ulterius etiamregenitis ea utilis esse #ossit, in
uantum nem#e corru#tiones eorum
#eccata #rohibendo co@rcet ,16:1
graviter autem interminando indicat
tum uid vel eorum #eccata
commeruerint, tum etiam uas ea
#ro#ter in hac vita afflictiones
e!#ectare #ossint, utcunue ab earum
maledictione, uam le! minatur,
liberentur $16:: uinetiam #romissiones
e*us demonstrant iis obedientia Deouam acce#ta sit et a##robata&
uasue illa #r-stita benedictiones16:;
.licet non tanuam lege debitas e!
o#erum f8dere016:4 #ossint illi
e!#ectare$ Adeo ut uod uis bonum
#r-stet invitante lege, a malo autem
abhorreat lege deterritus, nullo
#rorsus argumento sit, eum sub lege
esse, non vero sub gratia
constitutum$16:
64;
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 31/52
G&& ?either are the forementioned
uses of the law contrar# to the grace of
the gospel, )ut do sweetl# compl# with
it@16:6 the (pirit of $hrist su)duing and
ena)ling the will of man to do that
freel# and cheerfull# which the will ofod, re"ealed in the law, reuireth to
)e done16:7
G&& ?eue interim *egis usus isti
iam memorati, E"angelii gratiH
ad"ersantur, sed cum eadem
conspirant sua"iter ,16:9 "oluntatem
humanam ita su)ugante ac im)uente
$hristi (piritu, ut idem illud prHstare"aleat spontanee ac alacriter, uod a)
illa exigit "oluntas -ei in lege sua
re"elata16:2
Ca!ter %%. Ca!. %%.
/f Christian %iberty, and %iberty of
Conscience
De %ibertate Christiana deue %ibertate
Conscienti-
& The li)ert# which $hrist hath
purchased for )elie"ers under the
gospel consists in their freedom fromthe guilt of sin, the condemning wrath
of od, the curse of the moral law316;
and in their )eing deli"ered from this
present e"il world, )ondage to (atan,
and dominion of sin,16;1 from the e"il
of afflictions, the sting of death, the
"ictor# of the gra"e, and e"erlasting
damnation316;: as also in their free
access to od,16;; and their #ielding
o)edience unto him, not out of sla"ish
fear, )ut a childlike lo"e and16;4
willingmind16; !ll which were common also
to )elie"ers under the law316;6 )ut
under the ?ew Testament the li)ert#
of $hristians is further enlarged in
& %ibertas uam Christus acuisivit
fidelibus sub 'vangelio in eo sita est,
uod a reatu #eccati, ab ira Deicondemnante, a legis )oralis
maledictione immunes fiant,16;7 uod a
#r-senti malo seculo, a dura "atan-
servitute, dominioue #eccati:16;9 ab
afflictionum malo, ab aculeo mortis, a
se#ulchri victoria ab -terna deniue
damnation16;2 liberentur& uodue
libere eis liceat ad Deum accedere:164
eiue non e metu servile, verum e
filiali dilectione, #romtoue animo
#r-bere valeant obedientiam$1641
Atue h-c uidem omnia cum
fidelibus sub lege habent
communia$164: 1erum sub 2ovo
Testamento ulterius adhuc se e!tendit
libertas Christiana& in uantum
644
their freedom from the #oke of the
ceremonial law, to which the Aewish
$hurch was su)ected3164; and in
greater )oldness of access to thethrone of grace,1644 and in fuller
communications of the free (pirit of
od, than )elie"ers under the law did
ordinaril# partake of164
nem#e %egis ceremonialis *ugo, cui
sub*ecta erat 'cclesia .udaica,
e!imuntur&1646 ma*oremue
confidentiam ad thronum grati-accedendi,1647 sed et effusiorem
gratuiti "#iritus Dei
communicationem sunt consecuti,
uam ordinarie sub %ege fideles
#artici#arunt $1649
&& od alone is *ord of the
conscience,1642 and hath left it free
from the doctrines and commandments
of men which are in an# thing contrar#
to his +ord, or )eside it in matters of
faith or worship16 (o that to )elie"e
&& Deus solus Dominus est
conscienti-,16 uam certe e!emit
doctrinis et mandatis hominum, ubi
aut verbo e*us adversantur, aut in
rebus fidei et cultus uicuam ei
su#eraddunt $166 0nde ui e*usmodi
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 32/52
such doctrines, or to o)e# such
commands161 out of conscience, is to
)etra# true li)ert# of conscience316:
and the reuiring of 16; an implicit
faith, and an a)solute and )lind
o)edience, is to destro# li)ert# ofconscience, and reason also164
aut doctrinas credunt, aut mandatis
obtem#erant, uasi ad id e!
conscientia teneantur, veram ii
conscienti- libertatem #rodunt $167
ui autem vel fidem im#licitam, vel
obedientiam absolutam c-camuee!igunt, n- illi id agunt, ut cum
conscienti-, tum rationis etiam
destruant libertatem$169
&&& The# who, upon pretense of
$hristian li)ert#, do practice an# sin,
or cherish an# lust, do there)# destro#
the end of $hristian li)ert#3 which is,
that, )eing deli"ered out of the hands
of our enemies, we might ser"e the
*ord without fear, in holiness andrighteousness )efore him, all the da#s
of our life162
&&& ui sub #r-te!tu Christian-
libertatis, cuivis aut cu#iditati
indulgent aut #eccato assuescunt, eo
i#so libertatis Christian- finem
corrum#unt& nem#e ut e manibus
inimicorum nostrorum liberati,
Domino in sanctimonia et *ustitiacoram i#so omnibus diebus vit-
nostr- absue metu serviamus$166
64
&G !nd )ecause the power 1661
which od hath ordained, and the
li)ert# which $hrist hath purchased,
are not intended )# od to destro#, )ut
mutuall# to uphold and preser"e one
another3 the# who, upon pretense of
$hristian li)ert#, shall oppose an#lawful power, or the lawful exercise of
it, whether it )e ci"il or ecclesiastical,
resist the ordinance of od166: !nd for
their pu)lishing of such opinions, or
maintaining of such practices, as are
contrar# to the light of nature, or to the
known principles of $hristianit#,
whether concerning faith, worship, or
con"ersation3 or to the power of
godliness3 or such erroneous opinions
or practices, as, either in their ownnature, or in the manner of pu)lishing
or maintaining them, are destructi"e to
the external peace and order which
$hrist hath esta)lished in the $hurch3
the# ma# lawfull# )e called to
account, and proceeded against )# the
censures of the $hurch,166; and )# the
power of the $i"il agistrate1664166
&G uoniam vero #otestates uas
Deus ordinavit, et libertas uam
acuisivit Christus non in eum finem a
Deo destinat- sunt ut se mutuo
#erimant, verum ut se sustentent ac
conservent invicem& ui itaue sub
libertatis Christian- #r-te!tu #otestati cuivis legitim- .civilis sit
sive 'cclesiastica0 aut legitimo
e*usdem e!ercitio contraiverint,
ordinationi divin- resistere censendi
sunt ,1666 uiue vel e*usmodi
o#iniones #ublicaverint, #ra!esve
defenderint, u- lumini natur-, aut
religionis Christian- de fide, de cultu,
aut moribus #rinci#iis notis, aut
#ietatis deniue vi ac efficaci-
adversantur& vel e*usmodi o#iniones #ra!esve erroneas, u- aut sua natura
aut #ublicationis defensionisve modo,
e!tern- #aci ac euta!i-, uas in
'cclesia sua stabilivit Christus,
#erniciem minitantur& omnino licitum
est tum ab iis facti rationem
re#oscere, tum in eos ua censuris
'cclesiasticis,1667 ua civilis
magistratus #otestate
animadvertere$1669
646
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 33/52
Ca!ter %%I. Ca!. %%I.
>f Celigious +orship and the (a))athIda# -e cultu religioso et de (a))ato
& The light of nature showeth that
there is a od, who hath lordship and
so"ereignt# o"er all3 is good, anddoeth good unto all3 and is therefore to
)e feared, lo"ed, praised, called upon,
trusted in, and ser"ed with all the
heart, and with all the soul, and with
all the might1662 =ut the accepta)le
wa# of worshiping the true od is
instituted )# himself, and so limited
to167 his own re"ealed will, that he
ma# not )e worshiped according to the
imaginations and de"ices of men, or
the suggestions of (atan, under an#"isi)le representations1671 or an# other
wa# not prescri)ed in the Dol#
(cripture167:
& Constat uidem natur- lumine
esse Deum ui in universa Primatum
obtinet ac absolutum Dominium,eundemue bonum esse ac omnibus
beneficum, #roindeue toto corde, tota
anima, totisue viribus timendum esse
et diligendum, laudandum ac
invocandum, eiue fidendum esse ac
serviendum$167; At rationem verum
Deum colendi acce#tabilem i#se
instituit, itaue voluntate sua revelata
definivit, ut coli non debeat secundum
imaginationes ac inventa hominum,
aut suggestiones "atan-, sub s#ecieuavis visibili, aut alia via
uaviscunue uam scri#tura sacra
non #r-scri#sit $1674
&& Celigious worship is to )e gi"en
to od, the 5ather, (on, and Dol#
host3 and to him alone@167 not to
angels, saints, or an# other creature@1676
and since the fall, not without a
ediator3 nor in the mediation of an#
other )ut of $hrist alone1677
&& Cultus religiosus Deo Patri Filio
et "#iritui sancto, eiue soli est
e!hibendus ,1679 non angelis, non
sanctis, neue alii cuivis creatur-,1672
nec i#si Deo uidem #ost la#sum citra
)ediatorem, aut uidem #er
)ediatorem alium uam .esumChristum$169
&&& /ra#er with thanksgi"ing, )eing
one special part of religious
worship,1691 is )# od reuired of all
&&& "u##licationem cum gratiarum
actione, u- est inter #artes
#r-ci#uas divini cultus ,169: Deus fieri
647
men3169; and that it ma# )e accepted, it
is to )e made in the name of the
(on,1694 )# the help of his (pirit,169
according to his will,1696 with
understanding, re"erence, humilit#,fer"enc#, faith, lo"e, and
perse"erance31697 and, if "ocal, in a
known tongue1699
iubet ab hominibus universis&1692 u-,
uo Deo grata sit et acce#ta, est in
nomine Filii ,<B> subsidio s#iritus
e*us,1621 et secundum i#sius
voluntatem,162: cum intellectu,reverentia, humilitate, fervore, fide,
amore, ac #erseverantia offerenda&162;
et uidem, si vocalis sit, in lingua nota
est efferenda$1624
&G /ra#er is to )e made for things
lawful,162 and for all sorts of men
li"ing, or that shall li"e hereafter31626
)ut not for the dead,1627 nor for those of
whom it ma# )e known that the# ha"e
sinned the sin unto death1629
&G Preces #ro rebus non nisi licitis
sunt faciend-,1622 #ro hominibus
autem cuiuscunue generis, vivis
scilicet, aut etiam victuris
aliuando&17 #ro mortuis autem
neutiuam&171 sed neue #ro iis, deuibus constare #ossit eos #eccatum
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 34/52
ad mortem #er#etrasse$17:
G The reading of the (criptures
with godl# fear317; the sound
preaching3174 and consciona)le
hearing of the +ord, in o)edience untood with understanding, faith, and
re"erence317 singing of psalms with
grace in the heart3176 as, also, the dne
administration and worth# recei"ing of
the sacraments instituted )# $hrist3 are
all parts of the ordinar# religious
worship of od@177 )esides religious
oaths,179 "ows,172 solemn
G "cri#turarum lectio cum timore
#io&171 verbi #r-dicatio solida,1711
e*usdemue auditio religiosa e!
obedientia erga Deum, cum intellectu, fide et reverentia&171: Psalmorum cum
gratia in corde cantatio,171; #rout
etiam "acramentorum, u- Christus
instituit, debita administratio, et
#artici#atio digna, sunt divini cultus
reiigiosi #artes, et uidem
ordinarii1714 6eligiosa insu#er
*uramenta,171 votaue&1716 solennia
*e*unia,1717
649
fastings,1719 and thanksgi"ings upon
se"eral1712 occasions317: which are, in
their se"eral times and seasons, to )e
used in an hol# and religious
manner 17:1
solennesue gratiarum actiones, #ro
varietate eventuum17::& suo u-ue
tem#ore ac o##ortunitate sancte
uidem ac religiose sunt adhibenda$17:;
G& ?either pra#er, nor an# other
part of religious worship, is now,
under the gospel, either tied unto, or
made more accepta)le )# an# place in
which it is performed, or towards
which it is directed@17:4 )ut od is to )eworshiped e"er# where17: in spirit
and17:6 truth317:7 as in pri"ate
families17:9 dail#,17:2 and in secret each
one )# himself,17; so more solemnl#
in the pu)lic assem)lies, which are not
carelessl# or willfull# to )e neglected
or forsaken, when od, )# his +ord or
pro"idence, calleth thereunto17;1
G& Hodie sub evangelio neue
#reces, nec ulla #ars alia religiosi
cultus ita cuivis alligatur loco in uo
#r-stetur aut versus uem
dirigatur,17;: ut inde gratior evadat et
acce#tior& verum ubiue Deuscolendus est 17;; in s#iritu ac
veritate&17;4 uotidie17; uidem inter
#rivatos #arietes a uavis familia,17;6
ut etiam a uolibet seorsim in
secreto&17;7 at solenniter magis in
conventibus #ublicis, ui certe uoties
eo nos Deus vocat, seu verbo suo seu
#rovidentia, non sunt vel e! incuria
vel obstinatione animi aut negligendi
aut deserendi$17;9
G&& !s it is of the law of nature,
that, in general, a due proportion of
time )e set apart for the worship of
od3 so, in his +ord, )# a positi"e,
moral, and perpetual commandment,
)inding all men in all ages, he hath
particularl# appointed one da# in
se"en for a (a))ath, to )e kept hol#
unto him@17;2 which, from the
G&& uemadmodum est de lege
natur- ut indefinite #ortio u-dam
tem#oris idonea divino cultui
celebrando se*uncta sit ac assignata&
ita in verbo suo Deus . #r-ce#to
morali, #ositivo ac #er#etuo, homines
omnes cu*uscunue fuerint seculi
obligante0 s#eciatim e se#tenis
uibusue diebus diem unum in
"abbatum designavit, sancte sibi
observandum$174 uod
642
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 35/52
)eginning of the world to the
resurrection of $hrist, was the last da#
of the week3 and, from the resurrection
of $hrist, was changed into the first
da# of the week,1741 which in (cripture
is called the *ord's da#,174: and is to )econtinued to the end of the world, as
the $hristian (a))ath174;
uidem ab orbe condito ad
resurrectionem usue Christi dies
ultimus erat in se#timana& deinde
autem a Christi resurrectione in
se#timan- diem #rimum
transferebatur&1744 ui uidem in"cri#tura -ies -ominicus174
nuncu#atur, estue #er#etuo ad finem
mundi tanuam "abbatum
Christianum celebrandus$1746
G&&& This (a))ath is then kept hol#
unto the *ord, when men, after a due
preparing of their hearts, and ordering
of their common affairs )eforehand,
do not onl# o)ser"e an hol# rest all the
da# from their own works, words, andthoughts, a)out their worldl#
emplo#ments and recreations31747 )ut
also are taken up the whole time in the
pu)lic and pri"ate exercises of his
worship, and in the duties of necessit#
and merc#1749
G&&& Tunc autem hoc "abbatum
Deo sancte celebratur, uum #ost
corda rite #r-#arata, et com#ositas
suas res mundanas, homines non
solum a suis i#sorum o#eribus, dictis,
cogitatis& .u- circa illas e!erceri solent 0 a recreationibus etiam ludicris
uietem sanctam toto observant die&1742
verum etiam in e!ercitiis divini cultus
#ublicis #rivatisue, ac in officiis
necessitatis et misericordi- toto illo
tem#ore occu#antur $17
Ca!ter %%II. Ca!. %%II.
/f %awful /aths and 1ows De .uramentis, votisue licitis
& ! lawful oath is a part of religious
worship,171 wherein, upon ust
occasion, the person swearing
solemnl# calleth od to witness what
he asserteth or promiseth3 and to udge
him according to the truth or falsehood
of what he sweareth17:
& .uramentum licitum est #ars
cultus religiosi,17; ua .occasione
*usta oblata0 ui *urat, Deum, de eo
uod asserit aut #romittit, solenni
modo testatur& eundemue a##ellat se
secundum illius uod *urat veritatem
aut falsitatem *udicaturum$174
&& The name of od onl# is that && Per solum Dei nomen *urare
6
)# which, men ought to swear, and
therein it is to )e used with all hol#fear and re"erence317 therefore to
swear "ainl# or rashl# )# that glorious
and dreadful name, or to swear at all
)# an# other thing, is sinful, and to )e
a)horred176 Let as, in matters of
weight and moment, an oath is
warranted )# the +ord of od, under
the ?ew Testament, as well as under
the >ld,177 so a lawful oath, )eing
imposed )# lawful authorit#, in such
matters ought to )e taken179
debent homines, uod uidem cum
omni timore sancto ac reverentia estinibi usur#andum$172 Proindeue #er
nomen illud gloriosum ac tremendum
*urare leviter, aut temere, vel etiam
omnino *urare #er rem aliam
uamviscunue, sceleratum est et
uam ma!ime #erhorrescendum$176
1eruntamen sicut in rebus ma*oris
#onderis et momenti secundum
verbum Dei licitum est *us*urandum
non minus uidem sub 2ovo uam sub
1etere Testamento:1761 ita sane *us*urandum licitum, authoritate
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 36/52
legitima si e!igatur, non est in rebus
e*usmodi declinandum$176:
&&& +hosoe"er taketh an oath ought
dul# to consider the weightiness of so
solemn an act, and therein to a"ouchnothing )ut what he is full# persuaded
is the truth176; ?either ma# an# man
)ind himself )# oath to an# thing )ut
what is good and ust, and what he
)elie"eth so to )e, and what he is a)le
and resol"ed to perform1764 Let it is a
sin to refuse an oath touching an#
thing that is good and ust, )eing
imposed )# lawful authorit#176
&&& uicunue *uramentum #r-stat
eum #ondus actionis tam solennis rite
secum #er#endere o#ortet, atue *uratum de nullo asseverare uod
verum esse non habeat sibi
#ersuasissimum$1766 2eue licet cuivis
ad agendum uicuam obstringere
semet *ure*urando, nisi uod revera
bonum *ustumue est, uod ille
e*usmodi esse credit, uodue i#se
#r-stare #otest statuitue$1767
1eruntamen de re bona *ustaue
*us*urandum, legitima authoritate si
e!igatur, #eccat ille ui detrectat$1769
&G !n oath is to )e taken in the
plain and common sense of
&G .uramentum #r-standum est
sensu verborum vulgari uidem ac
61
the words, without eui"ocation or
mental reser"ation1762 &t can not o)lige
to sin3 )ut in an# thing not sinful,
)eing taken, it )inds to performance,
although to a man's own hurt@177 nor is
it to )e "iolated, although made to
heretics or infidels1771
manifesto, sine -uivocatione aut
reservatione mentali uaviscunue$177:
Ad #eccandum uenuam obligare
neuit, verum in re ualibet cui abest
#eccatum, ui semel illud #r-stitit,
adim#lere tenetur, vel etiam cum
damno suo&177; neue sane licet,uamvis h-reticis datum aut
infidelibus, violare$1774
G ! "ow is of the like nature with a
promissor# oath, and ought to )e made
with the like religious care, and to )e
performed with the like
faithfulness177
G 1otum, natur- consimilis est
cum *uramento #romissorio, #ariue
debet tum religione nuncu#ari tum
fide #ersolvi$1776
G& &t is not to )e made to an#
creature, )ut to od alone@
1777
and thatit ma# )e accepted, it is to )e made
"oluntaril#, out of faith and conscience
of dut#, in wa# of thankfulness for
merc# recei"ed, or for the1779 o)taining
of what we want3 where)# we more
strictl# )ind oursel"es to necessar#
duties, or to other things, so far and so
long as the# ma# fitl# conduce
thereunto1772
G& 2on est ulli creatur-, sed Deo
soli nuncu#andum,
179
et uo gratumilli esse #ossit acce#tumue, est
uidem lubenter, e fide, officiiue
nostri conscientia susci#iendum, vel
gratitudinis nostr- ob acce#ta
beneficia testand- causa, vel boni
alicu*us, uo indigemus, conseuendi&
#er hoc autem nosmet ad officia
necessaria arctius obligamus& vel
etiam ad res alias uatenus uidem et
uamdiu istis subserviunt$1791
G&& ?o man ma# "ow to do an# G&& 2emini uicuam vovere licet
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 37/52
thing for)idden in the +ord of od, or
what would hinder an# dut# therein
commanded, or which is not in his
own power, and for the performance
whereof he hath no promise
se acturum, uod aut verbo Dei
#rohibetur& aut officium aliuod inibi
#r-ce#tum im#ediret, uodve non est
in voventis #otestate, et cui #r-stando
vires illi Deus non est #ollicitus$179:
6:
or a)ilit# from od179; &n which
respect,1794 popish monastical "ows of
perpetual single life, professed
po"ert#, and regular o)edience, are so
far from )eing degrees of higher
perfection, that the# are superstitions
and sinful snares, in which no
$hristian ma# entangle himself179
0nde Pontificiorum illa de #er#etuo
c8libatu, de #au#ertate, deue
obedientia regulari vota )onastica,
tantum abest ut #erfectionis gradus
sint sublimiores, ut su#erstitionis
#lane sint ac #eccati lauei, uibus
nulli unuam Christiano semeti#sum
licet im#licare$1796
Ca!ter %%III. Ca!. %%III.
/f the Civil )agistrate De )agistratu Civili
& od, the (upreme *ord and ing
of all the world, hath ordained ci"il
magistrates to )e under him, o"er the
people, for his own glor# and the
pu)lic good, and to this end hath
armed them with the power of the
sword, for the defense and
encouragement of them that are good,
and for the punishment of e"ilI
doers1797
& "u#remus totius )undi 6e! ac
Dominus Deus, )agistratus Civiles
ordinavit ui vices e*us gerant su#ra
#o#ulum ad suam i#sius gloriam, ac
bonum #ublicum& in uem finem
eosdem armavit #otestate gladii,
#ro#ter bonorum uidem animationem
ac tutamen, animadversionem autem
in maleficos$1799
&& &t is lawful for $hristians to
accept and execute the office of a
magistrate when called thereunto31792 in
the managing whereof, as the# ought
especiall# to maintain piet#, ustice,
and peace, according to the
wholesome laws of each
commonwealth,172 so, for that end,
the# ma# lawfull#, now under the ?ew
Testament, wage war upon ust andnecessar# occasion1721M172:
&& Christianis, uoties ad id
vocantur, )agistratus munus et
susci#ere licet et e!eui&172; in uo
uidem gerendo, ut #ietatem
#r-ci#ue, *ustitiam, ac #acem
secundum salubres cu*usue
6ei#ublic- leges tueri debent,1724 ita
uo illum finem conseuantur, licitum
est iis vel hodie sub 2ovo Testamento
in causis *ustis ac necessariis bellum gerere$172
6;
&&& The ci"il magistrate ma# not
assume to himself the administration
of the +ord and (acraments, or the
power of the ke#s of the kingdom of
hea"en@1726 #et he hath authorit#, and it
is his dut# to take order, that unit# and
peace )e preser"ed in the $hurch, that
the truth of od )e kept pure andentire, that all )lasphemies and
&&& )agistratui Civili verbi et
sacramentorum administrationem, aut
clavium regni c8lorum #otestatem
assumere sibi non est licitum:1722
nihilo tamen minus et *ure #otest ille,
eiue incumbit #rovidere ut 'cclesi-
unitas ac tranuillitas conservetur, ut
veritas Dei #ura et integracustodiatur, ut su##rimantur
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 38/52
heresies )e suppressed, all corruptions
and a)uses in worship and discipline
pre"ented or reformed, and all the
ordinances of od dul# settled,
administered, and o)ser"ed1727 5or the
)etter effecting whereof he hath powerto call s#nods, to )e present at them,
and to pro"ide that whatsoe"er is
transacted in them )e according to the
mind of od1729
blas#hemi- omnes, h-resesue, ut in
cultu ac disci#lina omnes corru#tel-
ac abusus aut #r-caveantur aut
reformentur, omnia deniue instituta
divina, ut rite statuminentur,
administrentur, observentur$19 u-omnia uo melius #r-stare #ossit,
#otestatem habet tum "ynodos
convocandi, tum ut i#sis intersit,
#ros#iciatue, ut uicuid in iis
transigatur sit menti divin-
consentaneum$191
The a)o"e section is changed in the !merican re"ision, and adapted to the separation of $hurch and
(tate, as follows@
[&&& Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and"acraments .: $hron xx"i 190& or the #ower of the eys of the ingdom of heaven
.att x"i 123 1 $or i" 1, :0& or, in the least, interfere in matters of faith .Aohn x"iii
;63 al ii 73 !cts " :20$ et as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to
#rotect the Church of our common %ord, without giving the #reference to any
denomination of Christians above the rest, in such a manner that all ecclesiastical
#ersons whatever 64 shall en*oy the full, free, and unuestioned liberty of discharging
every #art of their sacred functions, without violence or danger .&sa xlix :;0$ And, as
.esus Christ hath a##ointed a regular government and disci#line in his Church, no law
of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due e!ercise thereof,
among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their
own #rofession and belief ./sa c" 13 !cts x"iii 14N160$ 3t is the duty of civil
magistrates to #rotect the #erson and good name of all their #eo#le, in such an effectual
manner as that no #erson be suffered, either u#on #retence of religion or infidelity, to
offer any indignity, violence, abuse, or in*ury to any other #erson whatsoever: and to
tae order, that all religious and ecclesiastical assemblies be held without molestation
or disturbance .: (am xxiii ;3 1 Tim ii 13 Com xiii 408
&G &t is the dut# of people19: to
pra# for magistrates,19; to honor their
persons,194 to pa# them tri)ute and
other dues,19 to o)e# their lawfulcommands, and to )e su)ect to their
authorit#, for conscience' sake196
&nfidelit# or difference in religion doth
not make "oid the magistrate's ust and
legal authorit#, nor free the people
from their due o)edience to him@197
from which ecclesiastical persons are
not exempted3199 much less hath the
/ope an# power or urisdiction o"er
them in their dominions, or o"er an#
of their people3 and least of all todepri"e them of their dominions or
&G Debet #o#ulus #ro
)agistratibus #reces fundere,192
#ersonas eorum honore #roseui ,191
tributa aliaue eis debita #ersolvere,1911 obtem#erare licitis
eorum mandatis, ac #ro#ter
conscientiam sub*ici illorum
authoritati&191: u- si *usta sit ac
legitima, non eam illorum infidelitas,
non religio diversa cassam reddit,
neue #o#ulum liberat a debit-, illis
obedienti- #r-statione,191; ua viri
uidem 'cclesiastici non e!imuntur,1914
multo minus in i#sos magistratus,
intra ditionem suam, ant e! eorum #o#ulo uemvis #otestatem ullam
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 39/52
li"es, if he shall udge them to )e habet aut *urisdictionem Pa#a
6omanus, minime vero omnium vita
illos aut #rinci#atu e!uendi, si i#se
6
heretics, or upon an# other pretensewhatsoe"er191 scilicet eos h-reticos esse *udicaverit,vel etiam alio #r-te!tu
uoviscunue$1916
Ca!ter %%I". Ca!. %%I".
/f )arriage and Divorce De Con*ugio et Divortio
& arriage is to )e )etween one
man and one woman@ neither is it
lawful for an# man to ha"e more than
one wife, nor for an# woman to ha"e
more than one hus)and at the same
time1917
& Con*ugium inter unum virum ac
f8minam unam contrahi debet& neue
viro ulli u!ores #lures, nec ulli
f8min- ultra unum maritum eodem
tem#ore habere licet$1919
&& arriage was ordained for the
mutual help of hus)and and wife31912
for the increase of mankind with a
legitimate issue, and of the $hurch
with an hol# seed319: and for
pre"enting of uncleanness19:1
&& Con*ugium erat institutum, cum
#ro#ter mariti u!orisue au!ilium
mutuum,19:: tum #ro#ter humani
generis #role legitima, 'cclesi-eu
sancto semine incrementum,19:; tum
vero etiam ad im#udicitiam
declinandam$19:4
&&& &t is lawful for all sorts of people
to marr# who are a)le with udgmentto gi"e their consent19: Let it is the
dut# of $hristians to marr# onl# in the
*ord19:6 !nd, therefore, such as
profess the true reformed religion
should not marr# with infidels, /apists,
or other idolaters@ neither should such
as are godl# )e uneuall# #oked, )#
marr#ing with such as are notoriousl#
wicked in their life, or maintain
damna)le heresies19:7
&&& )atrimonio *ungi cuivis
hominum generi licitum est, uiconsensum suum #r-bere valent cum
*udicio&19:9 1eruntamen solum in
Domino connubia inire debent
Christiani&19:2 #roindeue uotuot
religionem veram reformatamue
#rofitentur, non debent 3nfidelibus,
Pa#istis, aut aliis uibuscunue
idololatris connubio sociari& neue
sane debent ui #ii sunt im#ari *ugo
co#ulari, con*ugium cum illis
contrahendo ui aut im#robitate vit- sunt notabiles, aut damnabiles tuentur
h-reses$19;3
66
&G arriage ought not to )e within
the degrees of consanguinit# or
affinit# for)idden in the +ord319;1 nor
can such incestuous marriages e"er )e
made lawful )# an# law of man, or
consent of parties, so as those persons
ma# li"e together, as man and wife
19;:
The man ma# not marr# an# of his
&G Connubia intra consanguinitatis
affinitatisue gradus in verbo Dei
vetitos iniri non est licitum&19;4 neue
#ossunt e*usmodi incesta con*ugia
uavis aut humana lege, aut
consensione #artium fieri legitima,
adeo ut #ersonis illis ad instar maritiet u!oris liceat unuam cohabitare$19;
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 40/52
wife's kindred nearer in )lood than he
ma# of his own, nor the woman of her
hus)and's kindred nearer in )lood than
of her own19;;
2on licet viro e cognatione u!oris su-
ducere, uam si -ue sei#sum
attingeret sanguine, ducere non
liceret& sicuti nec f8min- licet viro
nubere a mariti sui sanguine minus,
uam a suo liceret, alieno$19;6
G !dulter# or fornication,
committed after a contract, )eing
detected )efore marriage, gi"eth ust
occasion to the innocent part# to
dissol"e that contract19;7 &n the case of
adulter# after marriage, it is lawful for
the innocent part# to sue out a
di"orce,19;9 and after the di"orce to
marr# another, as if the offending
part# were dead19;2
G Adulterium aut scortatio si
admittatur #ost s#onsalia, ac ante
con*ugium detegatur, #erson-
innocenti *ustam #r-bet occasionem
contractum illum dissolvendi&194 uod
si adulterium #ost con*ugium
admittatur, licebit #arti innocenti
divortium lege #ostulare ac
obtinere&1941 atue uidem #ost factum
divortium con*ugio alteri sociari, #erinde acsi mortua esset #ersona illa
u- con*ugii fidem violabat$194:
G& !lthough the corruption of man
)e such as is apt to stud# arguments,
undul# to put asunder those whom
od hath oined together in marriage3
#et nothing )ut adulter#, or such
willful desertion as can no wa# )e
remedied )#
G& uamvis ea sit hominis
corru#tio ut #roclivis sit ad
e!cogitandum argumenta, indebite
illos uos Deus connubio *un!it
dissociandi& nihilominus tamen e!tra
adulterium ac desertionem ita
obstinatam, ut cui nullo remedio, nec
ab 'cclesia nec a67
the $hurch or ci"il magistrate, is cause
sufficient of dissol"ing the )ond of
marriage3194; wherein a pu)lic and
orderl# course of proceeding is to )e
o)ser"ed3 and the persons concerned
in it, not left to their own wills and
discretion in their own case1944
)agistratu civili subveniri #ossit,
sufficiens causa nulla esse #otest
con*ugii vinculum dissolvendi$194
Atue hac uidem in re #rocedendi
ordo #ublicus et regularis est
observandus, nec #erson- ill-,
uarum *us agitur, sunt suo arbitrio
*udiciove in causa #ro#ria
#ermittend-$1946
Ca!ter %%". Ca!. %%".
/f the Church De 'cclesia
& The catholic or uni"ersal $hurch,
which is in"isi)le, consists of the
whole num)er of the elect, that ha"e
)een, are, or shall )e gathered into
one, under $hrist the head thereof3 and
is the spouse, the )od#, the fullness of
him that filleth all in all1947
& Catholica sive 0niversalis
'cclesia ea u- est invisibilis constat
e toto electorum numero, uotuot
fuerunt, sunt, aut erunt unuam in
unum collecti, sub Christo e*usdem
Ca#ite& estue s#onsa, cor#us ac
#lenitudo e*us ui im#let omnia in
omnibus$1949
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 41/52
&& The "isi)le $hurch, which is also
catholic or uni"ersal under the gospel
.not confined to one nation as )efore
under the law0 consists of all those,
throughout the world, that profess the
true religion,1942 and of 19 theirchildren3191 and is the kingdom of the
*ord Aesus $hrist,19: the house and
famil# of od,19; out of which there is
no ordinar# possi)ilit# of sal"ation194
&& 'cclesia visibilis .u- etiam sub
'vangelio, Catholica est et
universalis, non autem unius gentis
finibus, ut #ridem sub lege,
circumscri#ta0 e! iis omnibus constat,
undecunue terrarum sint, ui veramreligionem #rofitentur ,19 una cum
eorundem liberis&196 estue 6egnum
Domini .esu Christi,197 Domus et
familla Dei,199 e!tra uam uidem
ordinarie fieri neuit ut uivis salutem
conseuatur$192
69
&&& <nto this catholic "isi)le
$hurch $hrist hath gi"en the ministr#,
oracles, and ordinances of od, for thegathering and perfecting of the saints,
in this life, to the end of the world@ and
doth )# his own presence and (pirit,
according to his promise, make them
effectual thereunto196
&&& Catholic- huic 'cclesi- visibili
dedit Christus ministrorum ordinem,
oracula, ac instituta Dei ad sanctosusue ad finem mundi in hac vita
colligendos simul et #erficiendos& in
uem finem #r-sentia sua, s#irituue
secundum i#sius #romissionem, eadem
reddit efficacia$1961
&G This catholic $hurch hath )een
sometimes more, sometimes less
"isi)le196: !nd particular churches,
which are mem)ers thereof, are more
or less pure, according as the doctrineof the gospel is taught and em)raced,
ordinances administered, and pu)lic
worship performed more or less purel#
in them196;
&G 'cclesia h-c Catholica e!titit
uandoue magis uandoue minus
visibilis$1964 'cclesi- autem
#articulares .u- sunt illius membra0
eo magis minusve #ur- sunt, uima*ori aut minori cum #uritate in iis
docetur e!ci#iturue 'vangelii
doctrina, administrantur divina
instituta, cultusue #ublicus
celebratur $196
G The purest churches under
hea"en are su)ect )oth to mixture and
error31966 and some ha"e so
degenerated as to )ecome no churches
of $hrist, )ut s#nagogues of (atan1967
?e"ertheless, there shall )e alwa#s a
$hurch on earth to worship od
according to his will1969
G Purissim- omnium u- in terris
sunt 'cclesi-, cum mi!tur- tum etiam
errori sunt obno!i-,1962 eousue autem
nonnull- degenerarunt, ut e! 'cclesiis
Christi fact- demum sint i#sius
"atan- "ynagog-&197 nihilominus
tamen nunuam deerit in terris
'cclesi-, u- Deum colat secundum
i#sius voluntatem$1971
G& There is no other head of the
$hurch )ut the *ord Aesus $hrist@197:
nor can the /ope of Come, in an#
G& 'cclesi- ca#ut e!tra unum
Dominum .esum Christum nullum
est&197; nec ullo sensu ca#ut e*us esse
62
sense )e head thereof3 )ut is that
!ntichrist, that man of sin and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the
#otest Pa#a 6omanus, ui est insignis
ille Antichristus, homo ille #eccati et #erditionis filius& in 'cclesia semet
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 42/52
$hurch against $hrist, and all that is
called od1974
efferens adversus Christum, et su#ra
uicuid dicitur Deus$197
Ca!ter %%"I. Ca!. %%"I.
/f the Communion of "aints De Communione "anctorum
& !ll saints that are united to Aesus
$hrist their head, )# his (pirit and )#
faith, ha"e fellowship with him in his
graces, sufferings, death, resurrection,
and glor#@1976 and )eing united to one
another in lo"e, the# ha"e communion
in each other's gifts and graces,1977 and
are o)liged to the performance of such
duties, pu)lic and pri"ate, as do
conduce to their mutual good, )oth in
the inward and outward man1979
& "ancti omnes, ui ca#iti suo .esu
Christo #er "#iritum e*us ac #er fidem
uniuntur, gratiarum e*us,
#er#essionum, mortis, resurrectionis
ac glori- e*us habent
communionem&1972 atue inde etiam
amore con*uncti sibimet invicem
mutuam donorum suorum
gratiarumue societatem uandam
ineunt ,199 ac ad e*usmodi officia
#r-standa #ublica et #rivataobligantur, u- ad mutuum eorum
bonum conducant, cum uoad
internum tum etiam uoad e!ternum
hominem$1991
&& (aints, )# profession, are )ound
to maintain an hol# fellowship and
communion in the worship of od,
and in performing such other spiritual
ser"ices as tend to their mutual
edification3199: as also in relie"ing each
other in outward things, according to
their se"eral a)ilities and necessities
&& ui sanctos sese #rofitentur,
sanctam illi societatem et
communionem inire tenentur et
conservare, cum in divino cultu, tum
alia officia s#iritualia #r-stando, u-
ad mutuam eorum -dificationem
conferre #ossint&199; uin etiam #orro
sublevando se mutuo in rebus e!ternis,
#ro ratione cu*usue vel facultatum
66
+hich communion, as od offereth
opportunit#, is to )e extended unto all
those who, in e"er# place, call upon
the name of the *ord Aesus1994
vel indigenti-$ u- uidem
communio, #rout o##ortunitatem Deus
obtulerit, est ad eos omnes, ui ubivis
locorum Domini .esu nomen invocant,
e!tendenda$199
&&& This communion which thesaints ha"e with $hrist, doth not make
them in an#wise partakers of the
su)stance of his odhead, or to )e
eual with $hrist in an# respect@ either
of which to affirm is impious and
)lasphemous1996 ?or doth their
communion one with another, as
saints, take awa# or infringe the title or
propriet#1997 which each man hath in
his goods and possessions1999
&&& H-c autem communio ua sancti cum Christo #otiuntur, eos
substanti- Deitatis e*us neutiuam
reddit #artici#es, nec ullo res#ectu
-uales Christo: uorum utrumvis
affirmare im#ium est ac
blas#hemum&1992 neue sane
communio illa, u- iis secum mutuo
uatenus sanctis intercedit&
cu*usuam ad bona et #ossessiones
suas *us #rivatum vel tollit vel
imminuit$192
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 43/52
Ca!ter %%"II. Ca!. %%"II.
/f the "acraments De "acramentis
& (acraments are hol# signs and
seals of the co"enant of grace,1921
immediatel# instituted )# od,192:
torepresent $hrist and his )enefits, and
to confirm our interest in him@192; as
also to put a "isi)le difference )etween
those that )elong unto the $hurch and
the rest of the world31924 and solemnl#
to engage them to the ser"ice of od
in $hrist, according to his +ord192
& "acramenta sunt f8deris grati-
signa sacra et sigilla,1926 immediate a
Deo instituta,1927
ad Christum e*usuebeneficia re#r-sentandum, ad *us
nostrum in illo confirmandum,1929
#rout etiam ad illos ui 'cclesiam
s#ectant a reliuis illis ui sunt e
mundo, visibili discrimine
se#arandum,1922 utue ii solenniter
devinciantur ad obedientiam et cultum
Deo in Christo *u!ta verbum e*us
e!hibendum$12
&& There is in e"er# sacrament && 3n "acramento uolibet est inter661
a spiritual relation or sacramental
union, )etween the sign and the thing
signified3 whence it comes to pass that
the names and the121 effects of the one
are attri)uted to the other12:
signum et rem significatam relatio
u-dam s#iritualis, sive
"acramentalis unio& unde fit ut
alterius nomina et effectus alteri
uandoue tribuantur$12;
&&& The grace which is exhi)ited in
or )# the sacraments, rightl# used, is
not conferred )# an# power in them3
neither doth the efficac# of asacrament depend upon the piet# or
intention of him that doth administer
it,124 )ut upon the work of the
(pirit,12 and the word of institution,
which contains, together with a
precept authoriBing the use thereof, a
promise of )enefit to worth#
recei"ers126
&&& u- in "acramentis sive #er ea
rite adhibita e!hibetur gratia, #er vim
aliuam iis intrinsecam non confertur,
neue e! intentione vel #ietateadininistrantis #endent "acramenti vis
ac efficacia&127 verum e! o#eratione
"#iritus,129 ac verbo institutionis,
uod com#lectitur cum #r-ce#tum,
unde celebrandi "acramenti #otestas
fit, tum etiam #romissionem de
beneficiis digne #erci#ientibus
e!hibendis$122
&G There )e onl# two sacraments
ordained )# $hrist our *ord in thegospel, that is to sa#, =aptism and the
(upper of the *ord@ neither of which
ma# )e dispensed )# an# )ut )# a
minister of the +ord lawfull#
ordained121
&G "acramenta duo tantum sunt a
Christo Domino nostro in 'vangelioinstituta, Ea#tismus scilicet, et c8na
Domini& uorum neutrum de debet nisi
a ministro verbi legitime ordinato
dis#ensari$1211
G The sacraments of the >ld
Testament, in regard of the spiritual
things there)# signified and exhi)ited,
were, for su)stance, the same with
those of the ?ew
121:
G "acramenta 1eteris Testamenti
si res s#irituales #er ea significatas
e!hibitasue res#iciamus, uoad
substantiam eadem fuere cum his sub
2ovo$
121;
Ca!ter %%"III. Ca!. %%"III.
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 44/52
/f Ea#tism De Ea#tismo
& =aptism is a sacrament of the & Ea#tismus est sacramentum
66:
?ew Testament, ordained )# Aesus
$hrist,1214 not onl# for the solemnadmission of the part# )aptiBed into
the "isi)le $hurch,121 )ut also to )e
unto him a sign and seal of the
co"enant of grace1216, of his ingrafting
into $hrist,1217 of regeneration,1219 of
remission of sins,1212 and of his gi"ing
up unto od, through Aesus $hrist, to
walk in newness of life@12: which
sacrament is, )# $hrist's own
appointment, to )e continued in his
$hurch until the end of the world12:1
2ovi Testamenti, a .esu Christo
institutum ,12:: non solum #ro#ter solennem #erson- ba#ti5at- in
'cclesiam visibilem admissionem,12:;
verum etiam ut signum eidem sit, et
sigillum cum f8deris grati-,12:4 tum
su- in Christum insitionis,12:
regenerationis ,12:6 remissionis
#eccatorum,12:7 ac sui i#sius Deo #er
Christum dedicationis, ad
ambulandum in vit- novitate$12:9 uod
uidem "acramentum e Christi i#sius
mandato est in 'cclesia e*us ad finem
usue mundi retinendum$12:2
&& The outward element to )e used
in this sacrament is water, wherewith
the part# is to )e )aptiBed in the name
of the 5ather, and of the (on, and of
the Dol# host, )# a minister of the
gospel lawfull# called thereunto12;
&& 'lementum e!ternum in hoc
"acramento adhibendum est Aua&
ua ba#ti5ari debet admittendus, a
ministro 'vangelii legitime ad hoc
vocato, in nomine Patris et filii et
"#iritus "ancti$12;1
&&& -ipping of the person into the
water is not necessar#3 )ut )aptism isrightl# administered )# pouring or
sprinkling water upon the person12;:
&&& Ea#ti5andi in auam immersio
necessaria non est& verum ba#tismusrite administratur aua su#erfusa vel
etiam ins#ersa ba#ti5ando$12;;
&G ?ot onl# those that do actuall#
profess faith in and o)edience unto
$hrist,12;4 )ut also the infants
&G 2on illi solum ui fidem in
Christum eiue se obedientes fore actu
uidem #rofitentur,12; verum
66;
of one or )oth )elie"ing parents are to
)e )aptiBed12;6
etiam infantes ui a Parente vel altero
vel utroue fideli #rocreantur, sunt
ba#ti5andi$12;7
G !lthough it )e a great sin to
contemn or neglect this ordinance,12;9
#et grace and sal"ation are not so
insepara)l# annexed unto it, as that no
person can )e regenerated or sa"ed
without it,12;2 or that all that are
)aptiBed are undou)tedl#
regenerated124
G uamvis grave #eccatum sit
institutum hoc des#icatui habere vel
negligere&1241 non tamen ei salus et
gratia ita individue annectuntur, ut
absue illo nemo unuam regenerari
aut salvari #ossit,124: aut uasi
indubium omnino sit regenerari omnes
ui ba#ti5antur$124;
G& The efficac# of )aptism is not
tied to that moment of time wherein it
is administered31244 #et,notwithstanding, )# the right use of
G& Ea#tismi efficacia ei tem#oris
momento uo administratur non
adstringitur$1246 2ihilominus tamen,usu debito hu*us instituti non offertur
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 45/52
this ordinance the grace promised is
not onl# offered, )ut reall# exhi)ited
and conferred )# the Dol# host, to
such .whether of age or infants0 as that
grace )elongeth unto, according to the
counsel of od's own will, in hisappointed time124
solum #romissa gratia, verum etiam
omnibus .tam infantibus uam adultis0
ad uos gratia illa e consilio Divin-
voluntatis #ertinet, #er "#iritum
"anctum in tem#ore suo constituto
realiter confertur et e!hibetur$1247
G&& The sacrament of )aptism is )ut
once to )e administered to an#
person1249
G&& "acramentum Ea#tismi eidem
#erson- non est nisi semel
administrandum$1242
Ca!ter %%I%. Ca!. %%I%.
/f the %ord;s "u##er De C8na Domini
& >ur *ord Aesus, in the night
wherein he was )etra#ed, instituted
& Dominus noster .esus eadem ua
#rodebatur nocte instituit cor#oris
664
the sacrament of his )od# and )lood,
called the *ord's (upper, to )e
o)ser"ed in his $hurch, unto the end
of the world, for the perpetual
remem)rance of the sacrifice of
himself in his death, the sealing all
)enefits thereof unto true )elie"ers,
their spiritual nourishment and growth
in him, their further engagement in,
and to all duties which the# owe untohim3 and to )e a )ond and pledge of
their communion with him, and with
each other, as mem)ers of his m#stical
)od#12
et sanguinis sui sacramentum, $Knam
-omini uam dicimus, in 'cclesia sua
ad finem usue mundi celebrandum, in
#er#etuam memoriam sacrificii sui
i#sius in morte sua oblati, et ad
beneficia istius omnia vere fidelibus
obsignandum& in eorum item
alimentum ac incrementum in Christo
s#irituale& uoue ad officia cuncta
#r-standa, #rius uidem illi debita,arctiori adhuc nodo tenerentur& ut
vinculum deniue ac #ignus foret
communionis illius u- iis cum
Christo et secum i#sis mutuo, tanuam
cor#oris i#sius mystici membris,
intercedit $121
&& &n this sacrament $hrist is not
offered up to his 5ather, nor an# real
sacrifice made at all for remission of
sins of the uick or dead,12:
)ut onl# acommemoration of that one offering
up of himself, )# himself, upon the
cross, once for all, and a spiritual
o)lation of all possi)le praise unto
od for the same312; so that the /opish
sacrifice of the mass, as the# call it, is
most a)omina)l# inurious to $hrist's
one onl# sacrifice, the alone
propitiation for all the sins of the
elect124
&& 3n hoc "acramento non Patri suo
offertur Christus, sed neue inibi fit
reale aliuod sacrificium ad
#eccatorum remissionem vivis autmortuis #rocurandam&12 verum
unic- istius oblationis, ua Christus
semet i#sum i#se in cruce, et uidem
omnino semel obtulit, commemoratio
solum& una cum s#irituali #ro#terea
laudis omnimod- Deo reddit-
oblatione$126 0nde Pontificiorum istud
sacrificium )iss- .uti loui amant0
#lane detestandum sit o#ortet, ut#ote
ma!ime in*uriam uni illi unicoue
Christi sacrificio, uod uidem unicaest #ro #eccatis electorum universus
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 46/52
#ro#itiatio$127
66
&&& The *ord Aesus hath, in this
ordinance, appointed his ministers to
declare his word of institution to the people, to pra#, and )less the elements
of )read and wine, and there)# to set
them apart from a common to an hol#
use3 and to take and )reak the )read, to
take the cup, and .the# communicating
also themsel"es0 to gi"e )oth to the
communicants3129 )ut to none who are
not then present in the
congregation122
&&& 3n hoc suo instituto #r-ce#it
Dominus .esus )inistris suis, verbum
institutionis #o#ulo declarare, orare,ac elementis #ani scilicet ac vino
benedicere, eaue hac ratione a
communi ad sacrum usum se#arare,
uinetiam #anem acci#ere et frangere&
#oculum item in manus acci#ere&
atue Jcommunicantibus una i#sis0
utrumue communicantibus
e!hibere,126 nemini autem a
congregatione tunc absenti$1261
&G /ri"ate masses, or recei"ing this
sacrament )# a priest, or an# other,
alone3126: as likewise the denial of the
cup to the people3126; worshiping the
elements, the lifting them up, or
carr#ing them a)out for adoration, and
the reser"ing them for an# pretended
religious use, are all contrar# to the
nature of this sacrament, and to the
institution of $hrist1264
&G )iss- #rivat-, sive #erce#tio
hu*usce "acramenti a solo vel
"acerdote vel alio uovis&126 #rout
etiam #oculi a #o#ulo detensio ,1266
elementorum adoratio, uoue
adorentur elevatio aut circumgestatio,
ut et #r-te!tu religiosi usus
cu*uscunue asservatio, sunt uidem
omnia tum hu*usce "acramenti natur-
tum Christi institutioni #lane
contraria$1267
G The outward elements in thissacrament, dul# set apart to the uses
ordained )# $hrist, ha"e such relation
to him crucified, as that trul#, #et
sacramentall# onl#, the# are
sometimes called )# the name of the
things the# represent, to wit, the )od#
and )lood of $hrist31269 al)eit, in
su)stance and nature, the# still
G 3n hoc "acramento e!ternaelementa ad usus a Christo institutos
rite se#arata, ita ad eum crucifi!um
referuntur ut rerum uas re#r-sentat
nominibus .cor#oris nem#e ac
sanguinis Christi0 vere uidem, at
"acramentaliter tantum, sint
nuncu#ata,1262 manent siuidem adhuc
uoad substantiam et naturam vere
solumue
666remain trul#, and onl#, )read and
wine, as the# were )efore127
#anis ac vinum nihilo minus uam
antea fuerant$1271
G& That doctrine which maintains a
change of the su)stance of )read and
wine, into the su)stance of $hrist's
)od# and )lood .commonl# called
transu)stantiation0 )# consecration of
a priest, or )# an# other wa#, is
repugnant, not to (cripture alone, )ut
e"en to commonIsense and reason3o"erthroweth the nature of the
G& Doctrina illa u- substanti-
#anis ac vini in substantiam cor#oris
et sanguinis Christi conversionem
.transubstantiatio vulgo dicitur 0 sive
illam #er "acerdotis consecrationem,
sive uomodocunue demum fieri
statuit, non scri#tur- solum, verum
etiam communi omnium sensui acrationi adversatur, sacramenti
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 47/52
sacrament3 and hath )een, and is the
cause of manifold superstitions, #ea, of
gross idolatries127:
naturam evertit, su#erstitionis
multifari- causa e!titit atue
etiamnum e!istit, imo vero et
crassissim- idololatri-$127;
G&& +orth# recei"ers, outwardl# partaking of the "isi)le elements in
this sacrament,1274 do then also
inwardl# )# faith, reall# and indeed,
#et not carnall# and corporall#, )ut
spirituall#, recei"e and feed upon
$hrist crucified, and all )enefits of his
death@ the )od# and )lood of $hrist
)eing then not corporall# or carnall#
in, with, or under the )read and wine3
#et as reall#, )ut spirituall#, present to
the faith of )elie"ers in that ordinance,as the elements themsel"es are, to their
outward senses127
G&& Digne communicantes, 'lementa in hoc "acramento visibilia
dum #artici#ant ,1276 una cum iis
interne Christum crucifi!um et
beneficia mortis e*us universa revera
et realiter .modo, non carnali uidem
aut cor#oreo, sed s#irituali0 #er fidem
reci#iunt eisue vescuntur$ Cor#us
siuidem et sanguis Christi non
cor#oreo aut carnali modo in, cum,
vel sub #ane ac vino& realiter tamen,
ac s#iritualiter credentium fidei in hocinstituto, non minus uam e!ternis
sensibus elementa i#sa, sunt
#r-sentia$1277
G&&& !lthough ignorant and wicked
men recei"e the outward elements in
this sacrament, #et
G&&& Homines im#robi et ignari
e!terna licet in hoc sacramento
#erci#ere #ossint elementa, rem tamen
667
the# recei"e not the thing signified
there)#3 )ut )# their unworth# coming
thereunto are guilt# of the )od# and )lood of the *ord, to their own
damnation +herefore all ignorant and
ungodl# persons, as the# are unfit to
eno# communion with him, so are
the# unworth# of the *ord's ta)le, and
can not, without great sin against
$hrist, while the# remain such, partake
of these hol# m#steries,1279 or )e
admitted thereunto1272
#er ea significatam non reci#iunt&
verum indigne illuc accedendo, rei
fiunt cor#oris ac sanguinis Dominiciad sui i#sorum condemnationem$
ua#ro#ter homines im#ii et ignari
#rout communioni cum Deo #otiund-
nullatenus sunt idonei, ita #rorsus
indigni sunt ui accedant ad mensam
Domini& neue sine gravi in Christum
#eccato, #ossunt .uamdiu tales esse
non destiterint "acra h-c mysteria
#artici#are&129 vel ad ea
#artici#andum admitti$1291
Ca!ter %%%. Ca!. %%%.
/f Church Censures De Censuris 'cclesiasticis
& The *ord Aesus, as king and head
of his $hurch, hath therein appointed a
go"ernment in the hand of $hurch
officers, distinct from the ci"il
magistrate129:
& Dominus .esus uatenus 6e! et
ca#ut 'cclesi- su- constituit in ea
regimen, uod in officiariorum
'cclesiasticorum manu foret,
distinctum a civili )agistratu$129;
&& To these officers the ke#s of the
kingdom of hea"en are committed, )#"irtue whereof the# ha"e power
&& /fficiariis hisce claves regni
c8lorum sunt commiss-, uarumvirtute obtinent #otestatem #eccata vel
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 48/52
respecti"el# to retain and remit sins, to
shut that kingdom against the
impenitent, )oth )# the +ord and
censures3 and to open it unto penitent
sinners, )# the ministr# of the gospel,
and )# a)solution from censures, asoccasion shall reuire1294
retinendi vel remittendi #ro varia
#eccantium conditione&
im#8nitentibus uidem regnum illud
tam #er verbum uam #er censuras
occludendi, #eccatoribus vero
#8nitentibus tam evangelii ministeriouam absolutione a censuris idem
a#eriendi, #rout occasio
#ostulaverit$129
669
&&& $hurch censures are necessar#
for the reclaiming and gaining of
offending )rethren3 for deterring of
others from the1296 like offenses3 for
purging out of that lea"en which might
infect the whole lump3 for "indicatingthe honor of $hrist, and the hol#
profession of the gospel3 and for
pre"enting the wrath of od, which
might ustl# fall upon the $hurch, if
the# should suffer his co"enant, and
the seals thereof, to )e profaned )#
notorious and o)stinate offenders1297
&&& /mnino necessari- sunt
censur- 'cclesiastic-, lucrandis
fratribus delinuentibus eisue in
viam reducendis, reliuis autem a
similibus delictis deterrendis, fermento
illi malo, ne totam massam inficiat,e!#urgando& ad honorem Christi et
"anctam 'vangelii #rofessionem
vindicandum, ut #r-vertatur deniue
ira Dei, u- merito in 'cclesiam
accendi #osset, si i#sius f8dus,
hu*usue sigilla ab insigniter ac
#ertinaciter delinuentibus im#une
#rofanari #ateretur$1299
&G 5or the )etter attaining of these
ends, the officers of the $hurch are to proceed )# admonition, suspension
from the (acrament of the *ord's
(upper for a season, and )#
excommunication from the $hurch,
according to the nature of the crime
and demerit of the person1292
&G uo melius autem hosce fines
conseuantur, #rocedere debent 'cclesi- officiarii, admonendo, a
"acramento c8n- Dominic- ad
tem#us aliuod sus#endendo,
e!communicando deniue ab 'cclesia,
#ro ratione criminis, atue #erson-
delinuentis merito$122
Ca!ter %%%I. Ca!. %%%I.
/f "ynods and Councils De "ynodis et Conciliis
& 5or the )etter go"ernment and
further edification of the $hurch, thereought to )e such assem)lies as are
commonl# called s#nods or
councils1221
& uo melius gubernari, ac ulterius
-dificari #ossit 'cclesia, conventuse*usmodi fieri debent, uales vulgo
"ynodi et Concilia nuncu#antur $122:
662
The !merican edition here adds the following@
[ And it belongeth to the overseers and other rulers of the #articular churches, by virtue
of their office, and the #ower which Christ hath given them for edification, and not for
destruction, to a##oint such assemblies .!cts x"0& and to convene together in them, as
often as they shall *udge it e!#edient for the good of the Church .!cts x" ::, :;, :08
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 49/52
&& !s magistrates ma# lawfull# call
a s#nod of ministers and other fit
persons to consult and ad"ise with
a)out matters of religion3122; so, if
magistrates )e open enemies to the
$hurch, the ministers of $hrist, ofthemsel"es, )# "irtue of their office, or
the#, with other fit persons, upon
delegation from their churches, ma#
meet together in such
assem)lies1224M122
&& uemadmodum licitum est
)agistratibus "ynodum )inistrorum
aliorumue ui sunt idonei convocare,
uibuscum de religionis rebus
deliberent ac consultent:1226 3ta si
)agistratus fuerint 'cclesi- hostesa#erti, licebit Christi ministris a
sei#sis virtute officii, eisve cum aliis
idoneis, acce#ta #rius ab 'cclesiis
suis delegatione, in istiusmodi
conventibus congregari$1227
&&& [&&8 &t )elongeth to s#nods and
councils, ministeriall#, to determine
contro"ersies of faith, and cases of
conscience3 to set down rules and
directions for the )etter ordering of the pu)lic worship of od, and
go"ernment of his $hurch3 to recei"e
complaints in cases of
maladministration, and authoritati"el#
to determine the same@ which decrees
and determinations, if consonant to the
+ord of od, are to )e recei"ed with
re"erence and su)mission, not onl# for
their agreement with the +ord, )ut
also for
&&& "ynodorum et Conciliorum est
controversias fidei et conscienti-
casus, ministerialiter uidem,
determinare& regulas ac #r-scri#ta
uo melius #ublicus Dei cultuse*usue 'cclesi- regimen ordinentur
constituere& uerelas de mala
administratione delatas admittere,
deue iis authoritative decernere$
u- uidem decreta et decisiones,
modo verbo Dei consenserint, cum
reverentia sunt ac summissione
e!ci#ienda& 2on uidem solum uod
verbo Dei sint consentanea, verum
etiam gratia #otestatis ea
constituentis, ut u-
67
the power where)# the# are made, as
)eing an ordinance of od, appointed
thereunto in his +ord1229
sit ordinatio Dei id ad in verbo suo
designata$1222
&G [&&&8 !ll s#nods or councils
since the apostles' times, whether
general or particular, ma# err, and
man# ha"e erred3 therefore the# are
not to )e made the rule of faith or
practice, )ut to )e used as a help in
)oth:
&G "ynodi omnes sive concilia #ost
A#ostolorum tem#ora, seu generales
sive #articulares, errori sunt obno!i-,
uin neue #auc- erraverunt$
Proindeue fidei aut #ra!eos norma
constituend- non sunt, verum in
utrisue au!ilii loco adhibend-$:1
G [&G8 (#nods and councils are to
handle or conclude nothing )ut that
which is ecclesiastical@ and are not to
intermeddle with ci"il affairs which
concern the commonwealth, unless )#
wa# of hum)le petition in cases
extraordinar#3 or )# wa# of ad"ice for
satisfaction of conscience, if the# )e
thereunto reuired )# the ci"ilmagistrate::
G "ynodi et Concilia id solum uod
'cclesiam s#ectat tractare debent et
concludere& neue civilibus negotiis,
u- rem #ublicam s#ectant ingerere
se debent, nisi humiliter su##licando
in casibus, si ui acciderint,
e!traordinariis& aut consulendo,
uoties id ab eis #ostulat )agistratus
civilis, nem#e uo conscienti- illius satisfiat $:;
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 50/52
Ca!ter %%%II. Ca!. %%%II.
/f the "tate of )en:4 after Death, and of the
6esurrection of the Dead De statu hominum #ost mortem, deue
resurrectione mortuorum
& The )odies of men, after death,
return to dust, and see corruption3:
)ut their souls .which neither die nor
sleep0, ha"ing an immortal
su)sistence, immediatel# return to od
who ga"e them:6 The souls of the
righteous, )eing then made perfect in
holiness, are recei"ed into the highest
hea"ens, where the# )ehold
& Hominum cor#ora #ost mortem
ad #ulverem rediguntur, etcorru#tionem vident::7 At anim-
illorum .u- uidem nec morientur
nec obdormiunt 0 ut u- subsistentiam
habent immortalem, ad Deum
continuo earum datorem
revertuntur$:9 Anim- uidem
.ustorum iam tum #erfecte
sanctificat-, c8lis su#remis
acci#iuntur,
671
the face of od in light and glor#,
waiting for the full redemption of their
)odies@:2 and the souls of the wicked
are cast into hell, where the# remain in
torments and utter darkness, reser"ed
to the udgment of the great da#:1
=esides these two places for souls
separated from their )odies, the
(cripture acknowledgeth none
ubi Dei faciem in lumine ac gloria
intuentur, cor#orum suorum #lenum
redemtionem e!#ectantes::11 Anim-
vero im#roborum con*iciuntur in
4ehennam, ubi inter diros cruciatus in
tenebris e!terioribus conclus-
manent, ad *udicium magni illius diei
asservat-$:1: %ocum autem animabus
a cor#ore solutis e!tra hosce duos
"cri#tura "acra non agnoscit ullum$
&& !t the last da#, such as are found
ali"e shall not die, )ut )e changed3:1;
and all the dead shall )e raised up with
the selfIsame )odies, and none other,
although with different ualities,
which shall )e united again to their
souls fore"er:14
&& 2ovissimo illo die, ui
com#erientur in vivis non morientur
uidem sed mutabuntur&:1 ui mortui
fuerint resuscitabuntur omnes,
i#sissimis iis cor#oribus uibus
viventes aliuando fungebantur, ac
non aliis, utut ualitate differentibus&
u- denuo animabus u-ue suis
-terno con*ugio unientur $:16
&&& The )odies of the unust shall,
)# the power of $hrist, )e raised todishonor3 the )odies of the ust, )# his
(pirit, unto honor, and )e made
conforma)le to his own glorious
)od#:17
&&& 3n*ustorum cor#ora ad dedecus
#er #otentiam Christi suscitabuntur& *ustorum autem cor#ora #er s#iritum
e*us ad honorem, fientue h-c
conformia cor#ori i#sius glorioso$:19
Ca!ter %%%III. Ca!. %%%III.
/f the %ast .udgment De ultimo *udicio
& od hath appointed a da# wherein
he will udge the world in
righteousness )# Aesus $hrist,
:12
to
& Diem Deus designavit uo
mundum in *ustitia *udicabit #er
.esum Christum&
::
cui a Patre dataest
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 51/52
67:
whom all power and udgment is gi"en
of the 5ather::1 &n which da#, not
onl# the apostate angels shall )e
udged,::: )ut likewise all persons,
that ha"e li"ed upon earth, shall appear )efore the tri)unal of $hrist, to gi"e an
account of their thoughts, words, and
deeds3 and to recei"e according to
what the# ha"e done in the )od#,
whether good or e"il::;
omnis #otestas et *udicium$::4 uo
uidem die non solum *udicabuntur
Angeli a#ostatici,:: verum etiam
omnes homines, uotuot us#iam in
orbe terrarum aliuando vi!erint,coram Christi tribunali com#arebunt,
ut cogitationum, dictorum,
factorumue suorum rationem
reddant, reci#iantue simul *u!ta id
uod in cor#ore uisue fecerit, seu
bonum fuerit sive malum$::6
&& The end of od's appointing this
da#, is for the manifestation of the
glor# of his merc# in the eternal
sal"ation of the elect3::7
and of his ustice in the damnation of the
repro)ate, who are wicked and
diso)edient::9 5or then shall the
righteous go into e"erlasting life, and
recei"e that fullness of o# and
refreshing which shall come from the
presence of the *ord@::2 )ut the
wicked, who know not od, and o)e#
not the gospel of Aesus $hrist, shall )e
cast into eternal torments, and )e
punished with e"erlasting destructionfrom the presence of the *ord, and
from the glor# of his power:;
&& 'o autem consilio Diem hum
#r-stituit Deus, uo nem#e
misericordi- su- constaret gloria e!
-terna salute electorum, *ustiti-autem e damnatione re#roborum, ui
im#robi sunt et contumaces$ Tunc
enim *usti introibunt in vitam
-ternam, reci#ientue #lenitudinem
illam gaudii ac refrigerii, u- a
#r-sentia Domini ventura sunt: 3m#ii
autem, ui Deum ignorant, uiue
'vangelio .esu Christi non morem
gerunt, in -ternos cruciatus
detrudentur, -ternaue #erditione
#unientur a #r-sentia Domini et a #otenti- i#sius gloria #rofligati$:;1
&&& !s $hrist would ha"e us to )e
certainl# persuaded that there shall )e
a da# of udgment, )oth to deter all
men from sin, and for the
&&& uemadmodum Christus nobis,
futurum esse aliuando diem *udicii,
esse velit #ersuasissimum& tum uo
omnes a #eccato absterreantur,
67;
greater consolation of the godl# in
their ad"ersit#@:;: so will he ha"e that
da# unknown to men, that the# ma#
shake off all carnal securit#, and )e
alwa#s watchful, )ecause the# know
not at what hour the *ord will come3
and ma# )e e"er prepared to sa#,
$ome, *ord Aesus, come uickl#:;;
!men
tum ob ma*us #iorum solatium in
rebus adversis::;4 ita sane diem i#sum
vult ab hominibus ignorari, uo
securitatem omnem carnalem
e!cutiant, et nunuam non sint
vigilantes .uum ua hora venturus sit
Dominus ignorant 0 utue sem#er sint
#arati ad dicendum 1eni Domine .esu,
etiam cito veni$:; !men
$harles Derle, Prolocutor
$ornelius =urges,
8/12/2019 The Westminster Confession of Faith -- Latin
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-westminster-confession-of-faith-latin 52/52
Assessor
Der)ert /almer, Assessor$
Denr# Co)roughe, "criba
!doniram =#field, "criba