tionis et electionis nostræ in CHRISTO pia consideratio,dulcis, suavis, et ineffabilis consolationis plena est, vere piis, et his qui sentiunt in se vim Spiritus CHRISTI, facta carnis, et membra, quæ adhuc sunt super terram, mortificantem, animumque ad cœlestia et superna rapientem, tum quia fidem nostram de æterna salute consequenda per CHRISTUM plurimum stabilit atque confirmat, tum quia amorem nostrum in DEUM vehementer accendit: ita hominibus curiosis, carnalibus, et Spiritu CHRISTI destitutis, ob oculos perpetuo versari prædestinationis DEI sententiam, perniciosissimum est præcipitium, unde illos diabolus protrudit, vel in desperationem, vel in æque perniciosam impurissimæ vitæ securitatem, Deinde promissiones Divinas sic amplecti oportet, ut nobis in Sacris Literis generaliter propositæ sunt, et DEI voluntas in nostris actionibus ea sequenda est, quam in verbo DEI habemus diserte revelatam. they attain to everlasting felicity. As the godly consideration of Predestination, and our Election in CHRIST, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of CHRIST, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through CHRIST, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards GoD: so, for curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of CHRIST, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of God's predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into retchlessness of most unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. Furthermore, we must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: and in our doings, that will of GOD is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of GOD. The Phraseology of this Article. 1. When compared with Article XVII. of those of 1552. image of GOD's only-be- image of His only-begotten gotten Son the devil may thrust them furthermore, although the decrees of predestination are unknown unto us, yet we must receive God's promises SON. the devil.doth thrust them. furthermore, we must receive God's promises. 2. When the Latin and English are compared together. ante jacta mundi fundamenta before the foundations of the earth were laid. suo consilio, nobis quidem oc- by His counsel secret to us. I. Predestination to life is the eternal purpose of GOD.' II. By predestination to life before the foundations of the world were laid, He (GOD) hath constantly decreed by His counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He hath chosen in CHRIST out of mankind, and to bring them by CHRIST to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honor. III. They which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season. IV. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season,) through grace obey the calling. V. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season, and through grace obey the calling,) be justified freely. VI. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season, and through grace obey the calling, and be justified freely,) be made the sons of GOD by adoption. VII. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season, and through grace obey the calling, and be justified freely, and be made the sons of GOD by adoption,) be made like the image of His only-begotten SON JESUS CHRIST. 1 Council of Trent, Sess. vI., settled the Roman Catholic doctrine concerning predestination. VIII. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season, and through grace obey the calling, and be justified freely, and be made the sons of GOD by adoption, and be made like the image of His only-begotten SON JESUS CHRIST,) walk religiously in good works. IX. They (which be endued with so excellent a benefit of GOD, and be called according to God's purpose by His Spirit working in due season, and through grace obey the calling, and be justified freely, and be made the sons of GOD by adoption, and be made like the image of His only-begotten SON JESUS CHRIST, and walk religiously in good works,) at length by GOD's mercy attain to everlasting felicity. X. The godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in CHRIST, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of CHRIST, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their mind to high and heavenly things, as well because it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through CHRIST, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards GOD. XI. For curious and carnal persons, lacking the Spirit of CHRIST, to have continually before their eyes the sentence of GOD'S predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into retchlessness of unclean living, no less perilous than desperation. XII. We must receive God's promises in such wise, as they be generally set forth to us in Holy Scripture. XIII. In our doings, that will of GOD is to be followed, which we have expressly declared unto us in the Word of GOD. PROP. I. Predestination to life is the eternal purpose of GOD. 1. Divine Testimony. A. Old Testament. Mal. i. 2, 3, "I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”—See also Gen. xxv. 23; xxvii. 29. Exod. xxxiii. 19. B. New Testament. Ephes. i. 4, 6, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by JESUS CHRIST to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved."-See also Matt. xxii. 14; xxiv. 2, 24, 31; xxv. 34. Mark xiii. 20, 27. Luke xii. 32; xviii. 7. John xv. 16; xvii. 9, 11. Acts xiii. 48; xv. 18. Rom. viii. 29; ix. 11, 15, 16, 21–23; xi. 5-7. Ephes. i. 10-12. Col. iii. 12. 1 Thess. i. 4. 2 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Tim. i. 9; ii. 10. Tit. i. 1, 2; iii. 5. 2 John 13. Rev. xiii. 18; xvii. 8. 2. Human Testimony. A. Fathers. Ignat. Epist. ad Ephes., "Ignatius, who is also PROP. II. By predestination to life before the foundations of the world were laid, He (GOD) hath constantly decreed by His counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom He hath chosen in CHRIST out of mankind, and to bring them by CHRIST to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honor. 1. Divine Testimony. New Testament. Rom. ix. 22, 23, "What if GOD, willing to shew His wrath, and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath |