The Scottish Confession: 'What Works are Reputed Good before God'

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Posted at Reformed Standards:

First published in 1560

14. What Works are Reputed Good before God

We confess and acknowledge that God has given to man His holy law a in which not only are forbidden all such works as displease and offend His godly majesty, but also are commanded all such as please Him and as He has promised to reward. And these works be of two sorts. The one are done to the honor of God; the other to the profit of our neighbors; and both have the revealed will of God for their assurance. To have one God, to worship and honor Him, to call upon Him in all our troubles, reverence His holy name, to hear His Word, to believe the same, to communicate with His holy sacraments are the works of the first table. To honor father and mother b, princes, rulers and superior powers c, to love them, to support them, yes to obey their charges (not repugnant to the commandments of God), to save the lives of innocents d, to repress tyranny e, to defend the oppressed f, to keep our bodies clean and holy g, to live in sobriety and temperance h, to deal justly with all men both in word and deed, and finally to repress all appetite of our neighbor’s hurt, are the good works of the second table which are most pleasing and acceptable unto God as those works that are commanded by Himself. The contrary of which is sin most odious which always displeases Him and provokes Him to anger i. As not to call upon Him alone when we have need, not to hear His Word with reverence, to condemn and despise it, to have or to worship idols, to maintain and defend idolatry, lightly to esteem the revered name of God, to profane, abuse, or condemn the sacraments of Christ Jesus, to disobey or resist any that God has placed in authority (while they pass not over the bounds of their office) j, to murder, to consent thereto, to bear hatred or to suffer innocent blood to be shed, if we may withstand it k, and finally the transgression of any other commandment in the first or second table, we confess and affirm to be sin by which God’s hot displeasure is kindled against the proud and unthankful world.