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Starting Out with C++ From
Control Structures Through
Objects
Ninth Edition
Starting Out with C++ From
Control Structures Through
Objects
Ninth Edition

Tony Gaddis
Haywood Community College

330 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013


Senior Vice President Courseware Portfolio Management: Marcia J.
Horton

Director, Portfolio Management: Engineering, Computer Science &


Global Editions: Julian Partridge

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Cover Designer: Joyce Wells

Cover Photo: Samokhin/123RF

Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and


reproduced, with permission, appear on the Credits page in the
endmatter of this textbook.
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, 2009 Pearson Education, Inc.
Hoboken, NJ 07030. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United
States of America. This publication is protected by copyright and
permissions should be obtained from the publisher prior to any
prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or
transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise. For information regarding
permissions, request forms and the appropriate contacts within the
Pearson Education Global Rights & Permissions department, please
visit www.pearsoned.com/permissions/.

Many of the designations by manufacturers and seller to distinguish


their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations
appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of a trademark
claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps.

The author and publisher of this book have used their best efforts in
preparing this book. These efforts include the development,
research, and testing of theories and programs to determine their
effectiveness. The author and publisher make no warranty of any
kind, expressed or implied, with regard to these programs or the
documentation contained in this book. The author and publisher shall
not be liable in any event for incidental or consequential damages
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gaddis, Tony, author.

Title: Starting out with C++. From control structures through objects /
Tony Gaddis, Haywood Community College.

Other titles: From control structures through objects | Starting out


with C plus plus. From control structures through objects

Description: Ninth edition. | Boston : Pearson Education, Inc., [2017]


Identifiers: LCCN 2016056456 | ISBN 9780134498379 (alk. paper) |
ISBN 0134498372 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: C++ (Computer program language)

Classification: LCC QA76.73.C153 G334 2017 | DDC 005.13/3—


dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016056456

1 17

ISBN-13: 978-0-13-449837-9

ISBN-10: 0-13-449837-2
Contents at a Glance
Preface xvii

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers and Programming 1

Chapter 2 Introduction to C++ 27

Chapter 3 Expressions and Interactivity 85

Chapter 4 Making Decisions 151

Chapter 5 Loops and Files 231

Chapter 6 Functions 305

Chapter 7 Arrays and Vectors 381

Chapter 8 Searching and Sorting Arrays 463

Chapter 9 Pointers 503

Chapter 10 Characters, C-Strings, and More about the string


Class 557

Chapter 11 Structured Data 613

Chapter 12 Advanced File Operations 665

Chapter 13 Introduction to Classes 719

Chapter 14 More about Classes 817


Chapter 15 Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Virtual Functions
907

Chapter 16 Exceptions and Templates 989

Chapter 17 The Standard Template Library 1029

Chapter 18 Linked Lists 1123

Chapter 19 Stacks and Queues 1165

Chapter 20 Recursion 1223

Chapter 21 Binary Trees 1257


Appendix A: The ASCII Character Set 1287

Appendix B: Operator Precedence and Associativity 1289

Quick References 1291

Index 1293

Credit 1311

Online The following appendices are available at


www.pearsonhighered.com/gaddis.
Appendix C: Introduction to Flowcharting

Appendix D: Using UML in Class Design

Appendix E: Namespaces

Appendix F: Passing Command Line Arguments

Appendix G: Binary Numbers and Bitwise Operations


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Appendix H: STL Algorithms

Appendix I: Multi-Source File Programs

Appendix J: Stream Member Functions for Formatting

Appendix K: Unions

Appendix L: Answers to Checkpoints

Appendix M: Answers to Odd Numbered Review Questions

Case Study 1: String Manipulation

Case Study 2: High Adventure Travel Agency—Part 1

Case Study 3: Loan Amortization

Case Study 4: Creating a String Class

Case Study 5: High Adventure Travel Agency—Part 2

Case Study 6: High Adventure Travel Agency—Part 3

Case Study 7: Intersection of Sets

Case Study 8: Sales Commission


Contents
Preface xxiii

Chapter 1 Introduction to Computers and Programming 1


1.1 Why Program? 1

1.2 Computer Systems: Hardware and Software 2

1.3 Programs and Programming Languages 8

1.4 What Is a Program Made of? 14

1.5 Input, Processing, and Output 17

1.6 The Programming Process 18

1.7 Procedural and Object-Oriented Programming 22

Review Questions and Exercises 24

Chapter 2 Introduction to C++ 27


2.1 The Parts of a C++ Program 27

2.2 The cout Object 31

2.3 The #include Directive 36

2.4 Variables, Literals, and Assignment Statements 38

2.5 Identifiers 42
2.6 Integer Data Types 43

2.7 The char Data Type 49

2.8 The C++ string Class 53

2.9 Floating-Point Data Types 55

2.10 The bool Data Type 58

2.11 Determining the Size of a Data Type 59

2.12 More about Variable Assignments and Initialization 60

2.13 Scope 62

2.14 Arithmetic Operators 63

2.15 Comments 71

2.16 Named Constants 73

2.17 Programming Style 75


Review Questions and Exercises 77

Programming Challenges 81

Chapter 3 Expressions and Interactivity 85


3.1 The cin Object 85

3.2 Mathematical Expressions 91

3.3 When You Mix Apples and Oranges: Type Conversion 100

3.4 Overflow and Underflow 102

3.5 Type Casting 103


3.6 Multiple Assignment and Combined Assignment 106

3.7 Formatting Output 110

3.8 Working with Characters and string Objects 120

3.9 More Mathematical Library Functions 126

3.10 Focus on Debugging: Hand Tracing a Program 132

3.11 Focus on Problem Solving: A Case Study 134


Review Questions and Exercises 138

Programming Challenges 144

Chapter 4 Making Decisions 151


4.1 Relational Operators 151

4.2 The if Statement 156

4.3 Expanding the if Statement 164

4.4 The if/else Statement 168

4.5 Nested if Statements 171

4.6 The if/else if Statement 178

4.7 Flags 183

4.8 Logical Operators 184

4.9 Checking Numeric Ranges with Logical Operators 191

4.10 Menus 192

4.11 Focus on Software Engineering: Validating User Input 195


4.12 Comparing Characters and Strings 197

4.13 The Conditional Operator 201

4.14 The switch Statement 204

4.15 More about Blocks and Variable Scope 213


Review Questions and Exercises 216

Programming Challenges 222

Chapter 5 Loops and Files 231


5.1 The Increment and Decrement Operators 231

5.2 Introduction to Loops: The while Loop 236

5.3 Using the while Loop for Input Validation 243

5.4 Counters 245

5.5 The do-while Loop 246

5.6 The for Loop 251

5.7 Keeping a Running Total 261

5.8 Sentinels 264

5.9 Focus on Software Engineering: Deciding Which Loop to


Use 265

5.10 Nested Loops 266

5.11 Using Files for Data Storage 269

5.12 Optional Topics: Breaking and Continuing a Loop 288


Review Questions and Exercises 292

Programming Challenges 297

Chapter 6 Functions 305


6.1 Focus on Software Engineering: Modular Programming
305

6.2 Defining and Calling Functions 306

6.3 Function Prototypes 315

6.4 Sending Data into a Function 317

6.5 Passing Data by Value 322

6.6 Focus on Software Engineering: Using Functions in a


Menu-Driven Program 324

6.7 The return Statement 328

6.8 Returning a Value from a Function 330

6.9 Returning a Boolean Value 338

6.10 Local and Global Variables 340

6.11 Static Local Variables 348

6.12 Default Arguments 351

6.13 Using Reference Variables as Parameters 354

6.14 Overloading Functions 360

6.15 The exit() Function 364


6.16 Stubs and Drivers 367
Review Questions and Exercises 369

Programming Challenges 372

Chapter 7 Arrays and Vectors 381


7.1 Arrays Hold Multiple Values 381

7.2 Accessing Array Elements 383

7.3 No Bounds Checking in C++ 395

7.4 The Range-Based for Loop 398

7.5 Processing Array Contents 402

7.6 Focus on Software Engineering: Using Parallel Arrays 410

7.7 Arrays as Function Arguments 413

7.8 Two-Dimensional Arrays 424

7.9 Arrays with Three or More Dimensions 431

7.10 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: A Case


Study 433

7.11 Introduction to the STL vector 435

Review Questions and Exercises 449

Programming Challenges 454

Chapter 8 Searching and Sorting Arrays 463


8.1 Focus on Software Engineering: Introduction to Search
Algorithms 463

8.2 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: A Case


Study 469

8.3 Focus on Software Engineering: Introduction to Sorting


Algorithms 476

8.4 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: A Case


Study 486

8.5 Sorting and Searching vectors 495

Review Questions and Exercises 498

Programming Challenges 499

Chapter 9 Pointers 503


9.1 Getting the Address of a Variable 503

9.2 Pointer Variables 505

9.3 The Relationship between Arrays and Pointers 512

9.4 Pointer Arithmetic 516

9.5 Initializing Pointers 518

9.6 Comparing Pointers 519

9.7 Pointers as Function Parameters 521

9.8 Dynamic Memory Allocation 530

9.9 Returning Pointers from Functions 534


9.10 Using Smart Pointers to Avoid Memory Leaks 541

9.11 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: A Case


Study 544
Review Questions and Exercises 550

Programming Challenges 553

Chapter 10 Characters, C-Strings, and More about the string


Class 557
10.1 Character Testing 557

10.2 Character Case Conversion 561

10.3 C-Strings 564

10.4 Library Functions for Working with C-Strings 568

10.5 String/Numeric Conversion Functions 579

10.6 Focus on Software Engineering: Writing Your Own C-


String-Handling Functions 585

10.7 More about the C++ string Class 591

10.8 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: A Case


Study 603

Review Questions and Exercises 604

Programming Challenges 607

Chapter 11 Structured Data 613


11.1 Abstract Data Types 613
11.2 Structures 615

11.3 Accessing Structure Members 618

11.4 Initializing a Structure 622

11.5 Arrays of Structures 625

11.6 Focus on Software Engineering: Nested Structures 627

11.7 Structures as Function Arguments 631

11.8 Returning a Structure from a Function 634

11.9 Pointers to Structures 637

11.10 Focus on Software Engineering: When to Use., When to


Use −> , and When to Use * 640

11.11 Enumerated Data Types 642


Review Questions and Exercises 653

Programming Challenges 659

Chapter 12 Advanced File Operations 665


12.1 File Operations 665

12.2 File Output Formatting 671

12.3 Passing File Stream Objects to Functions 673

12.4 More Detailed Error Testing 675

12.5 Member Functions for Reading and Writing Files 678

12.6 Focus on Software Engineering: Working with Multiple


Files 686
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12.7 Binary Files 688

12.8 Creating Records with Structures 693

12.9 Random-Access Files 697

12.10 Opening a File for Both Input and Output 705


Review Questions and Exercises 710

Programming Challenges 713

Chapter 13 Introduction to Classes 719


13.1 Procedural and Object-Oriented Programming 719

13.2 Introduction to Classes 726

13.3 Defining an Instance of a Class 731

13.4 Why Have Private Members? 744

13.5 Focus on Software Engineering: Separating Class


Specification from Implementation 745

13.6 Inline Member Functions 751

13.7 Constructors 754

13.8 Passing Arguments to Constructors 759

13.9 Destructors 767

13.10 Overloading Constructors 771

13.11 Private Member Functions 775

13.12 Arrays of Objects 777


13.13 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: An
OOP Case Study 781

13.14 Focus on Object-Oriented Programming: Simulating


Dice with Objects 788

13.15 Focus on Object-Oriented Design: The Unified Modeling


Language (UML) 792

13.16 Focus on Object-Oriented Design: Finding the Classes


and Their Responsibilities 794
Review Questions and Exercises 803

Programming Challenges 808

Chapter 14 More about Classes 817


14.1 Instance and Static Members 817

14.2 Friends of Classes 825

14.3 Memberwise Assignment 830

14.4 Copy Constructors 831

14.5 Operator Overloading 837

14.6 Object Conversion 864

14.7 Aggregation 866

14.8 Focus on Object-Oriented Design: Class Collaborations


871

14.9 Focus on Object-Oriented Programming: Simulating the


Game of Cho-Han 876
14.10 Rvalue References and Move Semantics 886
Review Questions and Exercises 895

Programming Challenges 900

Chapter 15 Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Virtual Functions 907


15.1 What Is Inheritance? 907

15.2 Protected Members and Class Access 916

15.3 Constructors and Destructors in Base and Derived


Classes 922

15.4 Redefining Base Class Functions 936

15.5 Class Hierarchies 941

15.6 Polymorphism and Virtual Member Functions 947

15.7 Abstract Base Classes and Pure Virtual Functions 963

15.8 Multiple Inheritance 970

Review Questions and Exercises 977

Programming Challenges 981

Chapter 16 Exceptions and Templates 989


16.1 Exceptions 989

16.2 Function Templates 1008

16.3 Focus on Software Engineering: Where to Start When


Defining Templates 1014
16.4 Class Templates 1014
Review Questions and Exercises 1024

Programming Challenges 1026

Chapter 17 The Standard Template Library 1029


17.1 Introduction to the Standard Template Library 1029

17.2 STL Container and Iterator Fundamentals 1029

17.3 The vector Class 1040

17.4 The map, multimap , and unordered_map Classes 1054

17.5 The set, multiset , and unordered_set Classes 1079

17.6 Algorithms 1086

17.7 Introduction to Function Objects and Lambda


Expressions 1107

Review Questions and Exercises 1114

Programming Challenges 1118

Chapter 18 Linked Lists 1123


18.1 Introduction to the Linked List ADT 1123

18.2 Linked List Operations 1125

18.3 A Linked List Template 1141

18.4 Variations of the Linked List 1153

18.5 The STL list and forward_list Containers 1154


Review Questions and Exercises 1158

Programming Challenges 1161

Chapter 19 Stacks and Queues 1165


19.1 Introduction to the Stack ADT 1165

19.2 Dynamic Stacks 1182

19.3 The STL stack Container 1193

19.4 Introduction to the Queue ADT 1195

19.5 Dynamic Queues 1207

19.6 The STL deque and queue Containers 1214

Review Questions and Exercises 1217

Programming Challenges 1219

Chapter 20 Recursion 1223


20.1 Introduction to Recursion 1223

20.2 Solving Problems with Recursion 1227

20.3 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: The


Recursive gcd Function 1235

20.4 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design: Solving


Recursively Defined Problems 1236

20.5 Focus on Problem Solving and Program Design:


Recursive Linked List Operations 1237
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they, seeing them, may glorify God, the heavenly Father. Matt.
7:17,20; 12:35; 5:13–16.
For, as children who in their appearance and deportment show forth
their father’s form and qualities, are thereby judged and known to
be the children of such parent, even so the believers, having,
through the new birth, become partakers of the divine nature
(inasmuch as they pattern after God in virtues), are thereby judged
or known to be his children; and, in order that they might well
express this image, they are abundantly admonished by Christ and
his apostles in regard to it. So, for instance, with these words: “Be
ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.” “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation;” “And every man . . . purifieth himself, even
as he is pure.” “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is
merciful.” Forgive one another, as God hath forgiven you. 2 Pet. 1:4;
1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:6; 1 John 4:7; 5:1; James 1:18; John 1:13;
Rom. 8:16; Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet. 1:15; 1 John 3:3; Luke 6:36; Eph. 4:2;
Col. 3:13.
Again: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.” Matt. 5:9. The Lord says further: “Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
that ye (show that ye) are the children of your Father which is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Wherever, then,
such similarity with God appears, through the putting on of the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,
these show forth the image of Christ in their mortal flesh. Eph. 4:24;
Col. 3:10; Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 5:17. They are an epistle of Christ, in
which Christ can be seen, and read by all men; and they are justly
called Christians; and, consequently, are true children of God, and
members of Jesus Christ: therefore they must be recognized and
accepted by all those who truly fear God, as belonging to one body,
which is the church of the living God; and as having through this
fruitful faith, fellowship with God the righteous Judge, with Jesus the
mediator of the new covenant, with the church of the firstborn,
which are written in heaven, with an innumerable company of
angels, and with all the spirits of just men made perfect. 2 Cor. 3:2;
Acts 11:26; Rom. 12:5; Eph. 4:4,16; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 20:28;
1 Tim. 3:15. Of this church Christ is the foundation, Head, King,
Shepherd, Leader, Master and Lord. 1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 4:15; Jer.
33:15; Luke 1:33; John 10:11,14; 13:14. She alone is his body,
adorned bride, dove, flock, and people, spiritual flesh of his flesh,
and bone of his bones. Rom. 12:5; Rev. 21:2; Sol. Song 2:14; 4:1.
Now, although this fruitful faith is the only certain fundamental mark
by which the children of God and members of Jesus Christ shall be
known, and through which alone they are also, by grace, made
partakers of the (by us unmerited) benefits of Christ, God has
notwithstanding been pleased to set forth and confirm to believers,
by external, visible signs, the benefits and merits of his Son Jesus
Christ, which, as has been said, are received only by faith, and
retained by obedience, in order that the things signified (of the
promises of the grace of God), might shine forth the more clearly by
the external signs, partly to assure the consciences of the believers,
in the new covenant of the grace of God, and partly to bind the
members of Jesus Christ together in unity, as members belonging to
one body. For this purpose he has instituted in the church of the
New Testament especially two such ordinances or signs suited to the
things signified, in which all true believers find great benefit and
comfort. These are the Holy Baptism, and the Holy Supper. Eph.
2:7; John 1:16; Mark 16:16; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 11:24;
Jer. 31:31; 1 Pet. 3:21; 1 Cor. 12:13; 10:17; Rom. 6:5; Matt.
28:19,26.
OF HOLY BAPTISM.

Holy baptism is an external, visible ordinance, the rite of which


consists in this: that all those who hear believe, and receive gladly
with a penitent heart, the doctrine of the holy Gospel, are baptized,
for a holy purpose, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Ghost, according to the institution of Christ,
and the usage of his apostles. Acts 2:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 1:35–38;
10:48.
The benefit which the Lord God, on his part, declares through the
sign of baptism, is: The washing away of the sinful corruptions of
the soul, through the shedding of the blood of Christ; which signifies
the forgiveness of sins, obtained through this blood, to the
assurance of a good conscience with God, by which believers
comfort themselves with the promise of eternal salvation. Acts
22:16; Col. 1:14; 1 John 1:7; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 1:5.
The obligations which baptism lays upon those baptized, are: That
they, burying their sins thereby into the death of Christ, bind
themselves to the newness of the life of Jesus, in order to employ,
as members of the body of Christ (having put on Christ), each his
several gift, for the maintenance and improvement of this body in
spiritual and temporal things; and further, that they as the true
household of God, and citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, must
obey the civil laws of their King by observing all his commandments.
Rom. 6:3,4; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. 12:25; Eph. 2:19; Matt.
28:20.

OF THE HOLY SUPPER.

The holy Lord’s Supper is an ordinance instituted by Christ Jesus in


remembrance of himself, to be observed until his coming, by all who
are baptized on true faith in Christ to one body, in the church of the
New Testament. Matt. 26:26; 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24,26.
This rite consists in this, that a minister of the Gospel, according to
the institution of Christ, and the usage of his apostles, takes bread
and wine for a holy purpose, breaks the bread, and pours in the
wine, and, after preparation and giving of thanks, dispenses both to
the believing members. The broken bread is eaten, and the wine
drank; Christ’s passion or bitter suffering and death, and the
shedding of his precious blood; also the motives for this, together
with the benefits of his death, through which man receives the
remission of his sins, which is signified by this visible sign—all this is
proclaimed thereby, in order that the believing church may give
thanks to God for this benefit, and, as behooves members of one
body, live and walk together here, as one heart and soul, in peace
and love and unity. Luke 22:19,20; Acts 2:42; 20:11; 1 Cor.
10:16,17; 11:23–25; Acts 4:32.
The sum of all that has been said is; 1. that the Lord Christ is the
foundation and only meritorious cause of eternal salvation; 2. that
true faith in him is the means whereby we become children of God
and partakers of his merits; 3. that the children of God are to be
known outwardly by the confession and fruits of their faith; 4. that
God, through the external signs of Holy Baptism and the Supper,
sets before the eyes of his children his gracious benefits, and binds
them, as members of Jesus Christ, to one body, that is, to a church
of God and Christ, whereby they are also admonished to the
obedience they owe.
Here the answer to the first question might be concluded, but, since
the Lord God, for the welfare of his church, and the propagation of
the truth, as being promotive of the honor of his name and the
salvation of mankind, has instituted other ceremonies and laws,
besides certain offices, which, according to the circumstances of the
case, the true members of the church of God are bound to observe;
we shall, as briefly as is possible and proper, subjoin these to what
has preceded; and this the more, as our peace presentation to
people of the same faith points partly to them; that it may appear
the more clearly, whether they agree with us, and we with them, in
the order of the Christian household, to live according to it, through
Christian obedience, together in love, peace and unity, without
thinking for any reason, ever again to separate one from another.

OF THE OFFICE OF TEACHER AND DEACON IN THE CHURCH; ALSO HOW THE
ELECTION TO, AND THE CONFIRMATION IN, THESE OFFICES, MUST PROCEED,
ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE OF GOD.

As a body consists of different members, each of them having its


own and special function, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself, even so it is with the church of God; for although
each believer is a member of the body of Christ, yet not all are
therefore pastors, teachers, elders, or deacons, for these are those
who have been properly appointed to such offices. For this reason,
the administration of these offices, as: the public preaching of the
word of God, the administering of the holy ordinances of baptism
and supper, according to the institution of Christ, and the usage of
his apostles, appertains to persons thus ordained, and elected
thereto—the pastors and teachers; just as it is the province of the
deacons, to provide for the necessities of the poor. Rom. 12:4; 1 Cor.
12:12; Eph. 4:7; Acts 20:28; Tit. 1:1; Rom. 12:7; 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet.
5:2; Matt. 28; Mark 16; Acts 6; 1 Tim. 3:8; 5:9.
Concerning their calling and election to these offices, regard must be
paid to the conditions required in those persons who will worthily fill
said offices, according to the requirements of the apostle, 1 Tim. 3;
Tit. 1. In order to obtain these, the church must prepare herself by a
devout fear, by fasting and prayer, with constant invocation of the
name of God, that as the discerner of all hearts he will show through
the unanimous vote of the church, whom he counts worthy of such
office; trusting that the Lord, who hears the prayers of those who
are assembled in his name, and grants the petition of the godly, will,
by his Holy Spirit, manifest his co-operation, and bring forth those
whom he knows to be fit for this office; whereupon, after having
been examined, they are confirmed to this office, before the church,
by the teachers, with the laying on of the hands. Acts 1:24; 6; Luke
6:8; Matt. 8; 1 Tim. 3:10; 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6.

OF FEET-WASHING.

Feet-washing we confess to be an ordinance of Christ, which he


himself performed on his disciples, and, after his example,
commended to true believers, that they should imitate it, saying: “If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought
to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye
should do as I have done to you.” Again: “If ye know these things,
happy are ye if ye do them.” John 13:14,15,17.
The purpose for which the Lord has instituted this ordinance is
principally this: That we may remember in true humiliation, that by
grace, we are washed from sin through the blood of Christ, and that
he, our Lord and Master, by his lowly example, binds us to true
humility towards one another. John 13:8,10,14. The apostle classes
feet-washing among the good works. 1 Tim. 5:10.

OF MARRIAGE.

Marriage we hold to be an ordinance of God, which was first


instituted by God in paradise, and confirmed in our first parents,
Adam and Eve, who were created after the image of God, male and
female, while they both were yet in favor with God. Gen. 2:22; 1:27.
In accordance with this first institution, and agreeably to Christ’s
ordinance, Matt. 19:5, the marriage of children of God (who are not
too nearly related by consanguinity) must be entered into, after
prayer, and kept inviolable, so that each man shall have his own,
only wife, and each wife her own husband; and nothing shall
separate them, save adultery. Lev. 18; 20; 1 Cor. 5:1; Matt. 19; Rom.
7:2; 1 Cor. 7:2; Matt. 5:32; 1 Cor. 9:5.
Thus, it is lawful for a brother, to take a sister to wife; a sister, also,
may be married to whom she will, only in the Lord, that is, according
to the ordinance and pleasure of the Lord, as mentioned before. But
we do not find, that God has anywhere, through his word, ordained
or instituted, that a believing member of the church should enter
into matrimony with an unbelieving, worldly person; on the contrary,
we find, that God the Lord was very angry with those who did so,
and declared that they were flesh, who would not be led by his
Spirit; therefore, we reprove all those who follow herein the lust of
their flesh, in the same manner as we do other carnal sinners. 1 Cor.
7:39; Deut. 7:3; Neh. 10:30; 13:25–27; Gen. 6:6.

OF THE OFFICE OF THE MAGISTRACY.

The secular power or magistracy is ordained by God in all countries,


and bears the sword not in vain, for it is the minister of God, and a
revenger, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of the
good. Rom. 13:2,4; Sir. 17:18; 1 Pet. 2:14.
Every one is commanded to be subject unto the higher powers.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of
God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom. 13:1,2.
All true believers are therefore in duty bound by the word of God, to
fear the magistracy, to render honor and obedience to the same, in
all things not contrary to the commandments of the Lord, and to pay
tribute, custom, and taxes to them, without gainsaying or
murmuring, seeing that, according to the words of Peter, we must
submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, and
pray to Almighty God for them; also to give our greatest thanks to
the Lord for good and reasonable authorities. Rom. 13:7; Acts 4:19;
5:29; 1 Pet. 2:13; Jer. 29:7; Bar. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:2.
Yet, we do not find, that the Lord Jesus Christ has ordained this
office of secular authority in his spiritual kingdom—the Church of the
New Testament—or added it to the offices of his church; nor has he
given them laws adapted for such office and government; but he
said to his disciples: The kings and lords of the Gentiles, and they
that exercise authority among them, are called gracious lords. But it
shall not be so among you. Matt. 20:25,26; Luke 22:25,26. Here we
leave the matter, as we do not consider it necessary to enter into
farther details.

OF THE SWEARING OF OATHS.

For the confirmation of a cause which was just and true in itself, the
Old Testament fathers were permitted to swear by the name of God.
Deut. 6:13; Matt. 5:33.
But the Son of the living God, the King and Lawgiver of the New
Testament, whose command we are bound, through a voice from
God out of heaven, to obey, has forbidden Christians all swearing, as
does, likewise, the apostle James; therefore, the swearing of oaths is
forbidden to the believers of the New Testament. Matt. 3:17; 17:5;
5:34; James 5:12.

OF SEPARATION.

Separation, or the putting away from the church, is a decree or


sentence of the same, by virtue and authority of the word of God,
against a member, or members, of the church, who, through open
sins, a scandalous life, heresy, or stubbornness, have separated
themselves from God and the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and no
longer belong into Christ’s kingdom, or to his church; therefore, their
brotherhood, or sisterhood, is renounced, by virtue of the word of
God, in the name of the whole church. 1 Cor. 5:3; Matt. 18:18;
1 Cor. 5:1; Rom. 16:17; Tit. 3; Matt. 18:17; Is. 59; Tit. 1:16; 1 Cor.
6:9; Gal. 5:21; 1 Cor. 5:12; 2 Cor. 2:8.
The reasons for which this is done, and to which the church must
have respect in the separation, are principally these: 1. To show that
her doctrine does by no means permit such sins, but is wholly
opposed to them: that, by so doing, the doctrine may be preserved
pure, and the name of God glorified. 1 Tim. 1:20; Tit. 1:13; 2 Tim.
4:15,23; 2. Through separation to prove in fact that she is the
enemy of sin, and will in no wise tolerate it, in order that all causes
for reproach to the church may be averted. 1 Cor. 5:1,2; Tit. 2:8; 3.
That not, by constant intercourse and fellowship with the evil, the
good become leavened or corrupted. 1 Cor. 5:7; 2 Tim. 2:17; 4. That
the sinner, through excommunication and withdrawal may be
convicted in his conscience, and moved to shame and reformation,
that he may be saved. 2 Thess. 3; 1 Cor. 5:5, and 5. That others, by
hearing and seeing this, may be admonished, so that they will fear
to follow such evil.
But when the separated sinner shows genuine fruits of repentance,
we must at all times be ready to receive him again in peace to the
Christian communion of the church, if he earnestly requests it. 2 Cor.
2.

OF SHUNNING.

Since daily intercourse and mingling with ungodly apostates, in


common eating, drinking, buying, selling, and similar unnecessary
temporal or worldly transactions, is not only dangerous for the pious,
who, thereby, may become contaminated, or be counted as
companions of the apostate, but is also hurtful to the apostate
himself, since he, through such mingling, may probably harden in
sin, and esteem his offense of less consequence, therefore, we
understand from the word of God, that—in order to avoid, according
to the unction of the Spirit, the dangers of sin, and offenses, and to
bring the apostate sinner to shame and repentance—the true
members of Christ must withdraw from the daily intercourse and
communion with impenitent apostates; must shun them, and have
nothing to do with them; and this without respect to persons, as far
as they are not bound to the apostate by any command of God; for
as one may do anything in the matter of shunning, which is contrary
to love, benevolence, Christian propriety and justice, which supreme
virtues a Christian is in duty bound to show unto all men, even to his
enemies, for which purpose God has given all laws, which may, for
no reason, be diminished, much less, broken or transgressed. 1 Cor.
5:5; 2 Tim. 2:21; 2 Thess. 3; Tit. 3; 2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Pet. 1:6; Tit.
2:12; Rom. 13:8; Matt. 5:44; Rom. 13:9,10; 1 Tim. 1:5; Rev. 22:19;
Matt. 5:19; James 2:1.

OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST, THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, AND


THE LAST JUDGMENT.

Finally, we believe, that the Son of the living God, the Lord Jesus
Christ, our only Prophet, Priest and King, will visibly, as he ascended,
descend from heaven, in the clouds, and all the holy angels of God
with him, with power and great glory, with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God, which shall be heard
everywhere. Then all men who have lived upon earth, and have
died, good and evil, just and unjust, shall rise from the dead, in
incorruption, with their own body, in which they have lived; but
those who still live on that day, and have not tasted death, shall be
changed, in the twinkling of an eye, to incorruption, at the last
sound of the last trumpet. Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7; 2 Thess. 1:7;
1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:50; Zeph. 1:16; Matt. 25:7; 2 Cor. 5:10;
Rom. 14:11; Jer. 5:29; Acts 24:15; 1 Cor. 15:42; Jer. 26:19; 1 Cor.
15:38,52.
Thus, the whole human family shall be placed before the judgment
seat of Christ; that every one may receive in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. For the Lord Jesus
Christ shall then, as a shepherd, separate the sheep from the goats.
Those who have done good, he shall set on his right hand, but those
that have done evil, on the left; and he shall there pronounce the
eternal, irrevocable sentence. 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:32,33,46; Jude
14.
To the true believers, who, through faith, have done works of love
and mercy, he shall say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” These
shall be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord, who shall take
them away with him into life eternal, in the heavenly glory and
splendor, where they shall forever be with the Lord, in the
innumerable company of the holy angels, in the society of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and all the pious, with great, unspeakable joy and
gladness. 2 Pet. 1:5; Matt. 25:35; Luke 16:9; 2 Pet. 1:11; 1 Thess.
4:17,14; John 14:3; 17:24; Dan. 12:12; 1 Pet. 1:8,9.
But the unrighteous who have not known God, nor obeyed the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have done no works of love or
mercy, shall then be sentenced to everlasting fire, in these grievous
and intolerable words: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels;” “there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.” 1 Cor. 6:9; 2 Thess. 1:8; Rom. 2:9; Matt.
25:41; 22:13.
These shall go, where their worm dieth not, and their fire is not
quenched. There will come upon them tribulation and anguish,
displeasure, wrath, and everlasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Is. 66:24; Mark 9:46; Mal.
4:1; Rom. 2:9; 2 Thess. 1:9; 4 Esdr. 9:10; Luke 16:24.
May the God of grace and mercy preserve us, through Jesus Christ,
his dear and beloved Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit, from this
dreadful punishment of the ungodly, and grant us his grace, that we
may live holy here on earth, and die happy, to a glad resurrection
and joyful appearance in the presence of his glory, Amen.
Here follow two other questions and the answers to the same, which
we could adduce, but we deem it unnecessary, since the treatise
given embraces the substance or whole sum of the confession of
saving faith, if it is only well apprehended.
Added was also a letter, as a preparative for peace, and signed by
various persons (elders and teachers).
Given at Amsterdam, the 26th of September, 1627.

Second Confession,
Also drawn up at Amsterdam, on the 7th of October, 1630, called:
Confession of Faith, and the principal articles of the Christian
doctrine.
[Not divided into separate articles, except the articles of belief in
God, and the manner of life in the church.]
We believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is
one only, eternal, incomprehensible, spiritual Being, which, in
Scripture, is called God; to whom alone is ascribed omnipotence,
mercy, righteousness, perfection, wisdom, all goodness, and
omniscience, and who is called a fountain of life, and the source of
all good, the Creator of all things, and the Preserver of the same;
who in the Old Testament bears various appellations—the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God Schadai, the God Jehovah, the
God of Israel, I am that I am, the Alpha and Omega, etc.; but who
in the New Testament is called by three distinct names—God the
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, whom we confess to differ thus far,
namely: that the Father, as far as he is Father, is an other than the
Son; and the Son, as far as he is Son, is an other than the Father,
and the Holy Ghost, as far as he is a true Holy Ghost, is an other
than the Father and the Son, and that they, although differing in
name, are nevertheless in their divine nature and attributes, one
only, undivided God, according to the testimony of the Apostle: “For
there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word,
and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Rom. 10:9; Deut. 6:4;
Is. 45:5,21; Rom. 3:30; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; Gen. 21:33; Ps. 90:2;
Is. 49:28; Ps. 145:3; 4 Esdr. 8:21; Gen. 17:1; 2 Cor. 6:18; Ex.
34:6,7; Luke 6:36; Ps. 11:7; Col. 3; Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48; 1 Tim.
1:2; Ps. 103:8; Matt. 19:17; Ps. 139; James 1:17; Gen. 1:1; Job 38
and 39; Ex. 3:6; 6:6; 5:1; Rev. 1:8; 22:13; Matt. 28:19; John 14:16;
1 John 5:7.
That this Holy God, by his great power and incomprehensible
wisdom, created, in six days, out of nothing, heaven and earth,
together with all things visible and invisible; and on the sixth day
prepared man a body of the dust of the earth, breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, and thus made him a living soul, or man;
that he exalted this man above all creatures, endowed him with
wisdom, understanding and reason, and made him Lord over all
creatures; nay, above all this, created him in his divine image, in
holiness and righteousness, for immortality, and placed him in the
garden of Eden, where he might have been happy forever, yet
requiring of him true obedience, saying: “Of every tree of the garden
thou mayst freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die.” From this we see the free will of man. Gen.
1:6,9,14,24; Jer. 32:17; Acts 17:24; Gen. 1:26,28; 2:7; Sir. 17:5;
Wis. 2:23; Gen. 2:8,9.
That man, through the subtlety of the serpent and the envy of the
devil, was brought to disobey his Creator; whereby he, with all his
posterity, fell into death and condemnation, and thus, from the most
glorious, became the most miserable creature. Gen. 3:1; Wis. 2:24;
4 Esdr. 7:48; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21.
That the Lord God, seeing the fall of his most glorious creature, and
that he could neither through himself nor through any other creature
be redeemed therefrom, showed that he was a gracious and merciful
God, yea, the supreme or only goodness, in that he sought to
reconcile unto himself, out of pure grace and without any merit, man
and all who had fallen in him. Ps. 49:8; Rev. 5:3; Ps. 33:5; Matt.
19:17; Rom. 5:12; 3:24; 2 Cor. 5:19.
But, as the justice of God required, that the sin committed should
not go unpunished, and as no creature could satisfy the former, he
not only frequently promised man to send his only beloved Son as a
Savior, but prefigured it by various types. Gen. 3:15; 12:3,7; 16:18;
24:19; 7:14; 9:6; 11:10; 53; Jer. 23:5,6; 33:15; Dan. 7:13; 9:24;
Micah 5:2; Hagg. 2:23; Matt. 3:1; Ex. 12:3; 25:17; Num. 21:9; Deut.
30:15; Sir. 15:14.
That the Lord, after as well as before the fall, left man his free will to
accept, through faith in the promised Savior, the proffered grace of
God, or to reject it, is evident not only from the sending out of his
prophets, apostles, and disciples, but also from the kind invitation of
his beloved Son; and this justly, in order that he, as a righteous
judge, might have just cause, on the last day, to punish the
despisers with the pains of hell, and reward the obedient lambs with
the joys of heaven. Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 17:31; Matt.
11:28; 22:9; 1 Tim. 1:15; Tit. 2:11; 2 Thess. 1:8; Acts 3:46; Rom.
2:5; Bar. 3:29; John 3:16,36; 1 Thess. 1:6; Heb. 6:10.
That the Lord, being a true God, who does not repent of that which
he has promised, when the time which he, in the secret counsels of
his divine will, had determined was fulfilled, sent his only, own and
true Son as a redeemer unto the world. 1 John 5:20; Deut. 7:8; Gal.
4:4.
And since there has been for many years, and still is daily, much
disputation, concerning this birth of our Savior, according to the
flesh; therefore, we believe and confess, that it is a supernatural
birth, which cannot be fathomed by human reason. Yet, we believe
and confess, by virtue of the Scriptures, that the eternal, not
spoken, but itself speaking, real Word, which was before the
foundation of the world in great glory with the Father, was before
Abraham, was in the beginning with God, and was itself God; whose
goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, and through
which all things are created and have their being; that this same,
real Word, in the fullness of the time, came forth from the Father,
and descended from heaven into the lowest parts of the earth, and,
according to the prophecy (Is. 7), was (at Nazareth, that he might
be called a Nazarene) conceived in the virgin body of Mary (who,
although betrothed to Joseph of the house of David, yet was not
known of him) by the power of the most high God, and the
overshadowing of the Holy Ghost, and became flesh, remaining what
he had been namely, God and the Son of God, and becoming what
he had not been, namely, man and the son of man; in this manner,
that we confess that the child which Mary bore, and which was born
at Bethlehem, grew up, and suffered on the cross, was outwardly
and inwardly, visibly and invisibly, as he sojourned here, the only,
own, and true Son of God, and the Redeemer of us all. John 1:1;
17:5; 8:58; Micah 5:1; John 1:3; 16:28; Eph. 4:9; Matt. 1:20; Luke
1:31; Matt. 2:23; John 1:14; Rom. 9:5; Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; Luke
2:6,40; Matt. 27; 17:5.
We believe and confess also, that he came to redeem us from the
curse, and, therefore, became obedient unto the law, was
circumcised on the eighth day, and named after the name
announced by the angel before he was born, namely, Jesus, that he
might make his holy name to agree with his holy work, namely, to
save his people from their sins. Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Gen. 17:12; Gal. 4:4;
Luke 2:21; Matt. 1:21; 18:11; Luke 19:10.
We also confess that he is our only true high Prophet, High Priest,
and spiritual King, who, in his office as a prophet has proclaimed
unto us God’s great, secret counsel of the eternal peace with God,
through the holy Gospel, and, moreover, all that is necessary for us
to the new life. Deut. 18:15; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 3:1; Jer. 33:15; Matt.
21:5; 13:35; Luke 10:5; John 3:3; Matt. 18:9.
Who, in his office as priest, has not only offered up on the cross a
sacrifice for his believing lambs that will avail forever; but, after his
glorious resurrection, has entered into the holy of holies, yea, the
most holy, namely heaven, not by the blood of goats and calves, but
by his own blood; by which he has obtained eternal redemption for
all those who believe in him, yea, sitteth on the right hand of God
his heavenly Father, where, as a high priest, he pours out his holy
prayers for the ignorance of his people, and obtains forgiveness for
them. Eph. 5:2; Heb. 10:12; 9:12; Col. 3:1; Heb. 5:2,5.
Who, in his office as king, as a victorious prince has vanquished
death, the devil, hell, and all our enemies, and has prepared a place
for the members of his kingdom; ruling with the scepter of his word,
and protecting those who put their trust in him, helping them to
triumph till they receive the everlasting kingdom at his hand. 2 Tim.
1:10; Heb. 2:14,15; John 14:2; Ps. 45:6; Eccl. 29:25; 2 Cor. 2:14.
But since his kingdom was not of this world, he did not take
possession of it by carnal weapons of iron or steel, but through
suffering and fighting in the flesh; to which end he prepared himself
for temptation, tribulation and suffering, and took upon him the
cursed death of the cross, under Pontius Pilate; we confess,
moreover, that this same Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified at
Jerusalem, and tasted death on mount Calvary, with exclamation of
his groaning Spirit, and amidst the convulsions of heaven and earth,
was the only and own Son of God, and that we are reconciled unto
God by the blood and death of his Son, who by himself purged our
sins. John 18:36; Matt. 4:1; Luke 4:1; Matt. 16:21; Gal. 3:13; Deut.
21:23; 1 Tim. 6:13; Matt. 27; Luke 23; 1 John 3:16; Rom. 8:22;
5:10; Heb. 1:3.
Who, also, as a sign that he was really dead, was taken down from
the cross by Joseph of Arimathea; who wrapped him in a clean white
cloth, and laid him in a new hewn tomb, before which a great stone
was rolled, and a guard placed. Matt. 27:57.
But, since it was impossible that he should be held by the hands of
death, or that the Holy One should see corruption, therefore we
believe and confess also, that by the glory of the Father, according to
the predictions of the prophets, he was raised from the dead on the
third day, amidst the convulsions of heaven and earth, and arose
bodily; and that he certainly also confirmed his resurrection for forty
days by words, signs, and miracles, that he taught, comforted, and
admonished his disciples, and finally, on Mount Olivet, was received
by a cloud, and in their sight ascended visibly unto heaven, and
entered into the holy of holies, seating himself, as a true high priest,
mediator, and advocate between God and man, on the right hand of
the Majesty on high, where he appears continually before his
Father’s face to make intercession for his believers. Acts 2:24; Ps.
16:10; Rom. 6:4; Acts 13:34; Matt. 28:2; John 20:4; Luke 24:36;
Acts 1:12; Heb. 9:12; 1 John 2:1; 1 Tim. 2:5; Rom. 8:34.
And since before his precious suffering he taught and comforted
them, not to let their hearts be afraid; that when he should have
ascended to heaven, he would send them another comforter, the
Holy Ghost; therefore, we believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, blessed forever, was, as true God, also found true in this
particular, and did send, ten days after his ascension, the Holy Ghost
in visible form to, or upon, his apostles in Jerusalem; which Holy
Ghost is a wisdom, strength, and power of God, that proceeds from
the Father through the Son, and, no less than the Father and the
Son, is with them an eternal, undivided God; also a teacher, leader
and guide to all godfearing and consolation-seeking souls, showing
them the way to and into the spiritual Canaan. John 14:1; 15:26;
16:7; Matt. 21:3; Rom. 9:5; John 5:20; Acts 2:2; Luke 1:35; Acts
5:3; John 14:26.
We believe, also, that the Lord God chose, first, the holy angels in
heaven, then, two sanctified persons in paradise, and finally, of all
the various nations of the earth, a penitent and believing people for
his people; which is not only called a general Christian church or
congregation of godfearing men; but which the Lord Christ has
purchased with his precious blood, and washed and cleansed with
the waters of the Holy Ghost, that he might present to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. And
since the same is so dear to him, he would, for the prosperity and
growth of his kingdom, not leave this holy church unprovided for;
but provided her, not only before, but also after his ascension, with
faith, love, hope, and other ordinances, and also with two special
ministries, namely, the ministry of the holy Word, and the care for
the poor, or the office of deacon; and appointed in it, some
prophets, pastors, teachers, helpers and rulers, to provide by
common counsel wisely for the church of God; and sent them out.
Gen. 2:22; 4 Esdr. 5:27; Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor. 6:20; Luke
10:1; Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28; Mark 16:15.
In like manner, the apostles also commanded their followers, to
choose such men with fasting and prayer. First, they shall be
examined, then let them minister; and the believers shall honor, love
and obey these men. Acts 6:3; 16:2; 1 Tim. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:13;
Heb. 13:17; 1 Tim. 5:17,18.
And, inasmuch as this church bears the figure of the true church in
heaven, they practice here on earth, externally in the preaching of
the Word, of baptism, the supper, and other Christian ordinances,
and internally in the spirit, a true communion, here and also in
heaven with God and all the sanctified of the Lord, after which, in
the last day, the true reality will follow. Acts 4:32; Heb. 12:22.
Matters, whereby those who unite in this church, submit willingly
and obediently to the customs, laws and ordinances, which the Lord
Christ, as the chief Head of his church, Eph. 5:23, and only Lawgiver
of the New Testament, Matt. 28:20, has ordained in his church, and
which are also taught and, in our weakness, practiced by us, viz,:
1. The Baptism of penitent and believing adults, which is an external
evangelical act, in which the man who truly repents of his sins, who
clothes his heart with faith in Christ, and thereby mortifies and
buries his earthly members, and arises to a new, penitent life, is
baptized by an unblamable minister ordained thereto, with common
water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, for the remission of all his sins; and such a man, once
baptized upon true repentance and scriptural faith, we do not
baptize again. Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:14,34,36,37; 10:43;
1 Cor. 3:5; Rom. 6:4; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:5;
Heb. 6:2.
2. The holy Supper of the Lord, also called the Christian communion,
which is to be held among believers only, not with consecrated, but
with common bread and wine; not only in remembrance of the
precious, holy, and bitter suffering and death, and the glorious
resurrection of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, but also of the
consolatory fruits thereby prepared for all believers; that they, by
virtue of this, may not only be moved to sincerely deplore the bitter
suffering and death of Jesus Christ, which he endured for the
remission of their sins; but also to praise and bless the Lord, with an
internal, spiritual thanksgiving, for the benefits which have sprung
therefrom; and, also, to confirm their Christian, brotherly, and
spiritual communion by a holy and godly life, to the praise of the
Lord. Matt. 26:26; Luke 22:19; Acts 2:46; 20:7; Mark 14:22,23; John
6:51; 1 Cor. 10:16,17; 1 Cor. 11:23,24.
3. Then follows the Washing of the saints’ feet; that is, when our
fellow-believers from distant places come to visit us, we wash their
feet, according as opportunity offers, after the custom of the Old
Testament, and the example of Christ; thereby declaring our humility
toward God and our neighbor, with an humble prayer, that the Lord
would strengthen us more and more in humility, and that, like as we
have washed one another’s feet, he would be pleased to wash and
cleanse our souls with his blood and the waters of the Holy Ghost,
from every stain and impurity of sin, that we may appear pure and
blameless before his Father. Gen. 18:4; John 13:5; 1 Tim. 5:10; Luke
22:26; Phil. 2:3.
4. Likewise, The Works of love, which we divide into three parts: 1.
That a believer is bound to bring his alms, according as the Lord has
blessed him, to the deacons, that they may have wherewith to
properly support the poor believers. 2. To visit, comfort, attend, and
nurse, according to the nature of the case, the sick, imprisoned and
sorrowing hearts. 3. When we see our fellow-believers in oppressive
household cares, bad circumstances, or with an insufficient income,
to assist them with advice and in deed, and by giving them our
custom in preference to a stranger. Matt. 6:1; Luke 12:33; 16:9; Acts
6:13; Matt. 25:35; Heb. 13:1–3.
5. As Marriage which was good and rightly instituted in paradise,
was afterwards abused through lust by the children of the first world
and also through hardness of heart by the Jews, the great Lawgiver
of the New Testament restored it according to its original ordinance,
Matt. 19:4; and the Apostle says, 1 Cor. 7:39: “The wife is bound by
the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead,
she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” By
this we understand that a believer is not at liberty to unite in
marriage with an unbeliever; but only with one, who, with him, of
one heavenly Father, of incorruptible seed, and thus of a spiritual
generation, is born anew, heavenly and spiritual; for since they in
baptism have offered up their members unto God, and have given
them to the obedience of their Head, Christ, they cannot take away
these, their members from Christ, their Head, and be yoked together
with one who is unregenerated. Gen. 2:24; 6:1,2; Deut. 24:1; Matt.
19:8; 1 Pet. 1:23; John 3:15; Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 1:22; Eph. 5:23.
6. The Office of the secular Authority we recognize as an ordinance
of God, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the
wicked; we also recognize that we owe unto it honor, obedience,
custom, taxes, and tribute, and that we should also pray for it; but
we do not find that Paul mentions it among the offices of the church,
nor that Christ taught his disciples such a thing, or called them to it;
but, on the contrary, that he enjoined them to follow him in his
defenseless life and cross-bearing footsteps, prohibiting all revenge,
not only that with arms, but also to return railing for railing; and, on
the contrary, commanding to pray for one’s enemies, to do good
unto them who do us evil; and much of a similar nature which is
connected with the office of the magistracy; hence we are afraid to
fill such offices in our Christian calling. Rom. 13:2,3; 1 Pet. 2:13;
Acts 4:19; Matt. 22:17; Rom. 13:7; Tit. 3:1; Jer. 29:7; 1 Cor. 12:28;
Matt. 20:25; Luke 22:25; John 8:12; 10:27; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pet. 2:21;
Rom. 12:19; Matt. 5:44.
7. The Swearing of oaths permitted in the Old Testament, and in
which many abuses have crept, is prohibited by Christ and James,
without any distinction; therefore it is not lawful for a Christian to
swear the oath of blasphemy. Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Matt. 5:37; James
5:12.
8. But as in a good government ordinances without penalties lose
their force the Lord also has not failed to place penalties to his
ordinances; for Paul says: “Them that sin, rebuke before all, that
others also may fear.” 1 Tim. 5:20. Christ also, in Matt. 18, has
taught us to rebuke sinners. Paul teaches to purge out the old
leaven, and to put away from among us those that are wicked; by
which we understand the Christian Ban which is instituted for the
shaming and conversion of the sinner, and for the purpose of
keeping the church pure, lest a little leaven leaven the whole lump
(1 Cor. 5:6,13; Deut. 13:5; 2 Thess. 3:14; Gal. 5:9), according to
Matt. 16:19: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven,” and Matt. 18:18: “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven. This discipline is used against those who have
once been enlightened, and have received for truth the sound
doctrine of Christ, but who afterwards fall into false doctrine and
heresy. These, after they have been admonished once or twice, but
still persist in their evil principles, shall, by Christian Separation, be
avoided and shunned, Tit. 3:10. Further, it is also used against
persons who are going astray in the gross works of the flesh, upon
sufficient confession of such persons themselves, or upon the
testimony of other commendable witnesses; for such the church
must have, before she may proceed with the separation. Gal. 5:21;
Eph. 5:5; 1 Cor. 5:3; 6:9.
9. We understand, that Marrying out of the Church is sinful, since it
is contrary to the command of the Lord, and has at various times
been reproved by the Lord and his prophets, through deeds as well
as through words; and since it is a sin, arising either from a carnal,
sensual life, or from a want of confidence in God, as though he
would not provide him with a virtuous spouse; and is, moreover,
committed with premeditation, for which reason it cannot be
included in Gal. 6:1: “If a man be overtaken in a fault, . . . restore
such a one in the spirit of meekness,” but much rather in Num.
15:30: “The soul that doeth aught presumptuously, . . . shall be cut
off from among his people,” therefore many godfearing men, who
were assembled at different times, have understood, as also we
understand, that marriage out of the church, with impenitents and
unbelievers, is also to be punished with separation from the church,
that they may the more earnestly seek repentance.
But as all sins are not equally great, and do not actually deserve
separation without previous admonition, there is observed in the
reproving of sin between brother and brother the rule in Matt.
18:15–18. And if any man is overtaken in a fault, then the rule Gal.
6:1 is followed.
Now, since we also understand that there can be no separation
where no withdrawing is found, we confess also that we are in duty
bound to admonish (1 Thess. 3:15) the one separated, to reconcile
himself to the church by true repentance; and if there is in him a
willingness to reconcile himself, to make haste with the anointing or
reinstating, and not to wait with those who have married out of the
church, until he or she bring with him, or her, the spouse married
out of the church. 2 Cor. 2:8. But if the good admonition should be
heedlessly rejected, since the daily intercourse of the ungodly
apostates is unedifying, polluting, offensive, and frequently hardens
the sinner in his wicked life; we confess that the person separated,
or punished with the ban, is to be avoided and shunned, even
without the aforesaid admonition, immediately after the separation,
in common, free, worldly transactions, as: In eating and drinking,
buying and selling, and such like unnecessary matters; yet with this
distinction, that it be done with such moderation and discretion that
the word of God may everywhere retain its place, and the higher
laws and commandments of the Lord, by which the believer is bound
to the separated one, be not broken, but that everywhere necessity,
word, promise, love, benevolence, mercy, justice, and Christian
discretion be observed. 1 Cor. 5:5; 2 Tim. 2:16–18; 2 Thess. 3:14;
Tit. 3:10; Luke 6:36; 2 Pet. 1:6.
Likewise, if one man understand the passage respecting shunning, in
1 Cor. 5, in a higher, and another man, in a lower sense, both men
being godfearing in their life, they should, until further
enlightenment, be borne with in love, without contention or
disputing.
Whosoever seeks, in human weakness, to live according to these,
the chief, as well as to other commandments, doctrines, and
ordinances of the Lord (more explicitly defined in his holy Word),
and thus to accomplish his pilgrimage on this earth, of him we
believe that he will not only feel at his departure from earth a sure
witness of his conscience, and have a glad hope; but at the
resurrection of the dead will indeed find it to be so, that all his sins
will be forgiven him through the holy merits and comforting
intercession of Christ. Luke 24:47; Col. 1:14; Acts 13:38; 1 Tim. 2:5;
1 John 2:1; Rom. 8:34.
Finally, we believe also, that our Savior Jesus Christ, forever blessed,
shall visibly come again in the clouds, like as he ascended before;
not so humble, lowly, and serving, as he appeared to the world in his
holy incarnation; but glorious and magnificent, with the power and
glory of all his angels; not to call the sinner to repentance, but to
hold the last judgment; to which end he will not only sit upon the
throne of his glory, but, as the natural sun in Spring-time draws forth
from the earth, not only flowers, herbs and good fruits, but also
nettles, thistles, and thorns, so also, the true Sun of righteousness,
Jesus Christ, blessed forever, will then, with the sound of the
trumpet call forth and cause to arise from the earth, all the great
number of the dead who from the beginning of the world up to the
present day have lived, died, and sown their bodies in the earth to
corruption, and as the womb her fruit so shall the sea, hell, and
death give up their dead; then shall the dead be covered with their
own skin, and with their own eyes behold God, yea, be clothed with
their own bodies, in or with which they have here served or despised
the Lord. And after those who then will be still living, will have been
changed to immortality in the twinkling of an eye, the general
multitude of all mankind will be placed before the holy throne of
God, where the books of conscience shall be opened, and also
another book, which is the book of life; and the dead shall be judged
according to that which is written in these books, that every one
may receive in his own body, either good or evil, according to what
they have done, or how they have lived here. Then will the Lord, as
a righteous Judge, separate the believers from the ungodly, as a
shepherd divideth the sheep from the goats; and will set the
believers, as obedient lambs, on his right hand; but the unbelievers,
as wicked, rebellious, stinking goats, on his left hand. He will look
upon the lambs with his loving eyes, and say to them in a voice
sweet as the honey comb: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” But
upon the goats his angry face shall be like the lightning, and his
voice sound like the thunder, and he shall say to them: “Depart from
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels. Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 1:15; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7;
Matt. 24:30; 2 Thess. 1:7; Matt. 25:31; 16:27; Acts 17:31; Jude 14;
Dan. 7:9,13; Mal. 4:2; 1 Thess. 4:16; Matt. 24:31; John 5:29; Dan.
12:2; 1 Cor. 15:42; 4 Esdr. 7:32; Rev. 20:13; Job 19:26; Rev. 1:7;
2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 1 Cor. 15:51; Matt. 25:32; Ezek.
34:17; Matt. 25:33,34,41; 4 Esdr. 16:10; 2 Thess. 1:8; Luke 17:24.
And we also further confess that then the heavens shall pass away
with a great noise, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be
changed into blood, the stars shall fall from heaven, and the earth
and all that is therein shall be burned with fire; and then shall the
irrevocable sentence of the Greatest King be executed. 2 Pet. 3:10;
Rev. 6:12,13.
Then shall the ungodly, like sheep for the slaughter, be driven to
hell, and be cast into the great bottomless pit, where there will be
no lack of fuel. There they shall not be laid on beds of down, but on
biting moths, and be covered with gnawing worms, and tormented
with flaming fire, so that their worm shall not die, neither shall their
fire be quenched, but the torment of their pain shall ascend as the
smoke of a fiery furnace, and it shall last forever and ever. But on
the contrary, we confess, that the blessed of God shall be caught up
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and shall then be led by
the Lord Christ, their spiritual bridegroom, into heaven, before the
throne of God, where he shall deliver up again to the Father the
kingdom and all power, that God may be all in all. Ps. 49:14; Is.
30:33; 14:11; 2 Thess. 1:9; Mark 9:48; Is. 66:24; Rev. 9:2; 14:11;
1 Thess. 4:17; Matt. 25:6; 1 Cor. 15:28.
Then shall the blessed of God be changed through the glory of God
from glory to glory, their tears shall be wiped away; the crown of
life, of glory, and of gladness, shall be placed on their heads; palms
of victory shall be put in their hands, and they shall be adorned with
the white robe of the righteousness of the saints. Thus shall they be
joined to all the saints of God, and be led to the fountain of living
waters, there to be refreshed for everlasting consolation; they shall
be fed on the spiritual mount Zion, yea, shall follow the sweet lamb
Jesus Christ, who has bought them with his blood and death, in the
heavenly pleasure grounds, through contemplation of the holy God
in his inestimable throne, the heavens in their beauty, and the
angels in their joy. 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 3:21; Is. 25:8; Rev. 7:17; James
1:12; 2 Tim. 4:8; 4 Esdr. 2:43,46; Rev. 7:9; 19:8; Matt. 8:11; Rev.
7:17; 14:1,4; 4 Esdr. 8:21; Bar. 3:24.
Then shall the blessed of God abound in heavenly joy, so that with
angelic tongues and heavenly voices they will begin to sing with all
the saints of God the new song, giving unto him who sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb, praise, honor, glory, and blessing, for
ever and ever. Amen. Rev. 14:3; 7:10,12.
Thus done by us, the undersigned ministers, teachers,
and elders of the United Friesic and High German
Churches, for ourselves, as well as in the name of our
fellow-brethren and ministers, and strangers assembled at
these proceedings with us, here at Amsterdam. October
the 7th, 1730, new style, and was subscribed to by
fourteen persons, heads of the Churches, for themselves
as well as in the name of the churches by whom they
were sent.

Third Confession.
Drawn up at Dort, at a certain peace convention on the 21st of April,
1632, being a statement of the chief articles of our general Christian
faith, as the same are taught and practiced throughout in our
church.

I. OF GOD AND THE CREATION OF ALL THINGS.

Since we find it testified that without faith it is impossible to please


God, and that he that would come to God must believe that there is
a God, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him: therefore,
we confess with the mouth, and believe with the heart, with all the
pious, according to the holy Scriptures, in one eternal, almighty, and
incomprehensible God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, and in none
more, nor in any other; before whom no God was made or existed,
nor shall there be any after him: for of him, and through him, and in
him, are all things; to him be praise and honor forever and ever,
Amen. Heb. 11:6; Deut. 6:4; Gen. 17:1; Is. 46:8; 1 John 5:7; Rom.
11:36.
Of this same one God, who worketh all in all, we believe and confess
that he is the Creator of all things visible and invisible; that he, in six
days, created, made, and prepared, heaven and earth, and the sea,
and all that in them is; and that he still governs and upholds the
same and all his works through his wisdom, might, and the word of
his power. 1 Cor. 12:6; Gen. 1; Acts 14:15.
And when he had finished his works, and had ordained and prepared
them, each in its nature and properties, good and upright, according
to his pleasure, he created the first man, the father of us all, Adam;
whom he formed of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living soul, created by
God in his own image and likeness, in righteousness and holiness,
unto eternal life. He regarded him above all other creatures,
endowed him with many high and glorious gifts, placed him in the
pleasure garden or paradise, and gave him a command and
prohibition; afterwards he took a rib from Adam, made a woman
therefrom, and brought her to him, joining and giving her to him for
a helpmate, companion and wife; and in consequence of this he also
caused, that from this first 45 man Adam, all men that dwell upon the
whole earth have descended. Gen. 1:27; 2:7,17,18,22.

II. OF THE FALL OF MAN.

We believe and confess, according to the holy Scriptures, that these


our first parents, Adam and Eve, did not continue long in this
glorious state in which they were created, but that they, seduced by
the subtlety and deceit of the serpent, and the envy of the devil,
transgressed the high commandment of God and became
disobedient to their Creator; through which disobedience sin has
come into the world, and death by sin, which has thus passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned, and, hence, brought upon
themselves the wrath of God, and condemnation; for which reason
they were of God driven out of paradise, or the pleasure garden, to
till the earth, in sorrow to eat of it, and to eat their bread in the
sweat of their face, till they should return to the earth, from which
they were taken; and that they, therefore, through this one sin,
became so ruined, separated, and estranged from God, that they,
neither through themselves, nor through any of their descendants,
nor through angels, nor men, nor any other creature in heaven or on
earth, could be raised up, redeemed, or reconciled to God, but
would have had to be eternally lost, had not God, in compassion for
his creatures, made provision for it, and interposed with his love and
mercy. Gen. 3:6; 4 Esdr. 3:7; Rom. 5:12,18; Gen. 3:23; Ps. 49:8;
Rev. 5:9; John 3:16.

III. OF THE RESTORATION OF MAN THROUGH THE PROMISE OF THE COMING


CHRIST.

Concerning the restoration of the first man and his posterity we


confess and believe, that God, notwithstanding their fall,
transgression, and sin, and their utter inability, was nevertheless not
willing to cast them off entirely, or to let them be forever lost; but
that he called them again to him, comforted them, and showed
them that with him there was yet a means for their reconciliation,
namely, the immaculate Lamb, the Son of God, who had been
foreordained thereto before the foundation of the world, and was
promised them while they were yet in paradise, for consolation,
redemption and salvation, for themselves as well as for their
posterity; yea, who through faith, had, from that time on, been
given them as their own; for whom all the pious patriarchs, unto
whom this promise was frequently renewed, longed and inquired,
and to whom, through faith, they looked forward from afar, waiting
for the fulfillment, that he by his coming, would redeem, liberate,
and raise the fallen race of man from their sin, guilt and
unrighteousness. John 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:19; Gen. 3:15; 1 John 3:8;
2:1; Heb. 11:13,39; Gal. 4:4.

IV. OF THE COMING OF CHRIST INTO THIS WORLD, AND THE PURPOSE FOR
WHICH HE CAME.

We believe and confess further, that when the time of the promise,
for which all the pious forefathers had so much longed and waited,
had come and was fulfilled, this previously promised Messiah,
Redeemer, and Savior, proceeded from God, was sent, and,
according to the prediction of the prophets, and the testimony of the
evangelists, came into the world, yea into the flesh, was made
manifest, and the Word himself became flesh and man; that he was
conceived in the virgin Mary, who was espoused to a man named
Joseph, of the house of David; and that she brought him forth as her
firstborn son, at Bethlehem, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and
laid him in a manger. John 4:25; 16:28; 1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:14;
Matt. 1:23; Luke 2:7.
We confess and believe also, that this is the same whose goings
forth have been from of old, from everlasting, without beginning of
days, or end of life; of whom it is testified that he himself is the
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the
last; that he is the same, and no other, who was foreordained,
promised, sent, and came into the world; who is God’s only, first and
own Son; who was before John the Baptist, before Abraham, before
the world; yea, who was David’s Lord, and the God of the whole
world, the firstborn of every creature; who was brought into the
world, and to whom a body was prepared, which he yielded up as a
sacrifice and offering, for a sweet savor unto God, yea, for the
consolation, redemption, and salvation of all mankind. John 3:16;
Heb. 1:6; Rom. 8:32; John 1:30; Matt. 22:43; Col. 1:15; Heb. 10:5.
But as to how and in what manner this precious body was prepared,
and how the Word became flesh, and he himself man, in regard to
this we content ourselves with the statement pertaining to this
matter which the worthy evangelists have left us in their accounts,
according to which we confess with all the saints, that he is the Son
of the living God, in whom alone consist all our hope, consolation,
redemption, and salvation, which we neither may nor must seek in
any other. Luke 1:31,32; John 20:31; Matt. 16:16.
We furthermore believe and confess with the Scriptures, that, when
he had finished his course, and accomplished the work for which he
was sent and came into the world, he was, according to the

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