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1. God hath 1decreed in himself from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin, 2nor hath fellowship with any therein, nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away but rather 3established, in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power, and faithfulness 4in accomplishing his decree.
2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all 5supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything 6because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
3. By the decree of God for the manifestation of his glory 7some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained, to eternal life through Jesus Christ to the 8praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their 9just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
4. These angels and men thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their 10number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
5. Those of mankind 11that are predestinated to life, God before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory out of his mere free grace and love; 12without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath by the eternal and most free purpose of his will foreordained 13all the means thereunto, wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, 14are redeemed by Christ, are effectually 15called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith 16unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect 17only.
7. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care; that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their effectual vocation be assured of their 18eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter 19of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and 20of humility, diligence, and abundant 21consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
- Isaiah 46:10; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 6:17; Romans 9:15,18 ↩︎
- James 1:15,17; 1 John 1:5 ↩︎
- Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11 ↩︎
- Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 1:3,4,5 ↩︎
- Acts 15:18 ↩︎
- Romans 9:11,13,16,18 ↩︎
- 1 Timothy 5:21; Matthew 25:41 ↩︎
- Ephesians 1:5,6 ↩︎
- Romans 9:22,23; Judges 4 ↩︎
- 2 Timothy 2:19; John 13:18 ↩︎
- Ephesians 1:4,9,11; Romans 8:30; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9 ↩︎
- Romans 9:13,16; Ephesians 1:6,12 ↩︎
- 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ↩︎
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10 ↩︎
- Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ↩︎
- 1 Peter 1:5 ↩︎
- John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64 ↩︎
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4,5; 2 Peter 1:10 ↩︎
- Ephesians 1:6; Romans 11:33 ↩︎
- Romans 11:5,6 ↩︎
- Luke 10:20 ↩︎