The 1900 Primitive Baptist Confession of Faith

• Preface
• General Address
• Chapter I - Of the Holy Scriptures
• Chapter II - Of God and of the Holy Trinity
• Chapter III - Of God's Decree
• Chapter IV - Of Creation
• Chapter V - Of Divine Providence
• Chapter VI - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
• Chapter VII - Of God's Covenant
• Chapter VIII - Of Christ the Mediator
• Chapter IX - Of Free Will
• Chapter X - Of Effectual Calling
• Chapter XI - Of Justification
• Chapter XII - Of Adoption
• Chapter XIII - Of Sanctification
• Chapter XIV - Of Saving Faith
• Chapter XV - Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation
• Chapter XVI - Of Good Works
• Chapter XVII - Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
• Chapter XVIII - Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
• Chapter XIX - Of the Law of God
• Chapter XX - Of the Gospel, and of the Extent of the Grace Thereof
• Chapter XXI - Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
• Chapter XXII - Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
• Chapter XXIII - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
• Chapter XXIV - Of the Civil Magistrate
• Chapter XXV - Of Marriage
• Chapter XXVI - Of the Church
• Chapter XXVII - Of the Communion of Saints
• Chapter XXVIII - Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
• Chapter XXIX - Of Baptism
• Chapter XXX - Of the Lord's Supper
• Chapter XXXI - Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
• Chapter XXXII - Of the Last Judgment
• Appendix

Chapter XVIII - Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation

1. Although temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation, which hope of theirs shall perish;1 yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,2 which hope shall never make them ashamed.3

1. Job 8:13-14; Mt 7:22-23.
2. 1Jn 2:3; 3:14,18-19,21,24; 5:13.
3. Ro 5:2,5.


2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith4 founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel;5 and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made,6 and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God;7 and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy.8

4. Heb 6:11,19.
5. Heb 6:17-18.
6. 2Pe 1:4-5,10-11.
7. Ro 8:15-16.
8. 1Jn 3:1-3.


3. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be a partaker of it;9 yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto:10 and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance;11- so far is it from inclining men to looseness.12

9. Isa 50:10; Ps 88:1-18; Ps 77:1-12.
10. 1Jn 4:13; Heb 6:11-12.
11. Ro 5:1-2,5; 14:17; Ps 119:32.
12. Ro 6:1-2; Tit 2:11-12,14.


4. True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it,13 by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit;14 by some sudden or vehement temptation,15 by God's withdrawing the light of His countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light,16 yet are they never destitute of the seed of God17 and life of faith,18 that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived,19 and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.20

13. SS 5:2-3,6.
14. Ps 51:8,12,14.
15. Ps 116:11; 77:7-8; 31:22.
16. Ps 30:7.
17. 1Jn 3:9.
18. Lk 22:32.
19. Ps 42:5,11.
20. La 3:26-31.

Fulton Footnote: These chapters do clearly set forth that the happiness, assurance, and comforts in this life in some measure, and even in a large measure, are contingent (Confession, Chapter III., Section 1) or made to depend upon the obedience of the children of God and their faithfulness to him. Also that a neglect of duty will bring to the disobedient distress and great grief.