Confession of Faith Ratification Act 1690

Chap. iii. Of Gods Eternal Decree S

1

GOD from all eternity did by the most wise and holy councill of his own will freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away but rather established

2

ALTHOUGH God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions yet hath he not decreed any thing because 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 some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life and others foreordained to everlasting death

4

THOSE angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished

5

THOSE of mankind that are predestinated unto life God before the foundation of the world was laid according to his eternall and immutable purpose and the secret councill and good pleasure of his will hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory out of his meer free grace and love without any foresight of faith or good works or perseverance in either of them or any other thing in the creature as conditions or causes moving him thereunto and all to the praise of his glorious Grace

6

AS God hath appointed the elect unto glory so hath he by the eternall 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 effectually called justified adopted sanctified and saved but the elect only

7

THE rest of mankind God was pleased according to the unsearchable councill of his own good will whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth for the glory of his soveraign power over his creatures to pass by and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin to the praise of his glorious justice

8

THE doctrine of this high mystery of Predestination is to be handled with speciall prudence and care that men attending the will of God revealed in his word and yielding obedience thereunto may from the certainty of their effectuall vocation be assured of their eternall 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 Gospell