2._____ Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon
all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw
it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
(
Acts
15:18; Romans
9:11, 13, 16, 18 )
3._____ By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some
men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through
Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to
act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious
justice.
(
1
Timothy 5:21; Matthew
25:34; Ephesians
1:5, 6; Romans
9:22, 23; Jude
4 )
4.______These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are
particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and
definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
(
2
Timothy 2:19; John
13:18 )
5._____ Those of mankind that 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,
without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving
him thereunto.
(
Ephesians
1:4, 9, 11; Romans
8:30; 2
Timothy 1:9; 1
Thessalonians 5:9; Romans
9:13, 16; Ephesians
2:5, 12 )
6._____ As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the
eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto;
wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ,
are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due
season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through
faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually
called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
(
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;John
17:9;John
6:64 )
7._____ The doctrine of the 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 eternal election;
so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration
of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that
sincerely obey the gospel.
(
1
Thessalonians 1:4, 5; 2
Peter 1:10; Ephesians
1:6; Romans
11:33; Romans
11:5, 6, 20; Luke
10:20 )