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The grant of repentance, &c.] See Gal.vi. 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.-See also Ignatius. Epist. ad "The Lord pardons all such as repent, if they repent with Philadelph. "due regard to the unity of God, and to their communion "with the bishop."—And Clement of Alexandria. "The Quis dives "doors are open to every one who, in truth, and with his salv. c. 37. "whole heart, returns to God; and the Father most wil"lingly receives a son who truly repents." And Irenæus. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding; Adv. Hær. "but to understand transgression produces repentance; "and to such as repent God bestoweth mercy."

1. 3. c. 39.

After we have received the Holy Ghost, &c.] This is manifest from the examples of David, Peter, &c. Since then God is ready to pardon repenting sinners, the church should be so too. See Luke xxii, 32. I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. See also St. Cyprian. "We had Epist. 3. "long since, my dearest Brother, ordained, after having "had due consultation together, that they who, when they were infested by persecution, had been foiled by the enemy, and had lapsed, and had defiled themselves "with unlawful sacrifices, should undergo a full and long penance; and that in case of any dangerous sickness they should receive absolution a little before their "death."

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See also the Homily of Repentance, Part I. Kettlewell's Measures of Obedience, B. V. Ch. 1. Goodman's Penitent pardoned, B. III. Ch. 1. Pearson on the Creed, Art. X. p. 368.

They are to be condemned which say, &c.] See 1 John i. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Or deny the place of forgiveness, &c.] See 2 Cor. ii. 6, 7,8. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him. See also St. Cyprian. "It did not seem to Ibid. "be right or agreeable to fatherly love, or divine clemency, "that the church should be shut against such as knock for "admission: that the comfort of the hope of salvation "should be denied to those who grieve, and sue for par

"don: and that so they should leave this world, and go to "God, without communion and peace with the church; "since our great Lawgiver, as he hath assured us that "what is bound on earth, shall be bound in heaven, hath "likewise promised, that what is first loosed in the church "here, shall also be loosed in heaven."

ARTICLE XVII.

Of Predestination and Election.

PREDESTINATION to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he 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 honour. Wherefore, 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; they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and, at length, by God's they attain to everlasting felicity.

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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 downfal, whereby the Devil doth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlessness 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 everlasting purpose, &c.] The truth of this whole Article will sufficiently appear from the texts of Scripture, which I shall here subjoin. But I would desire the reader to observe, that only the grace of Election is asserted in it, and that the severity of Reprobation is left wholly untouched upon. And here I would advise him to stop, and to restrain his curiosity. For the doctrine of predestination is a profound abyss; in sounding of which it is but to little purpose for young men to busy themselves. Much less does it become preachers to trouble their auditors about these deep mysteries: they should rather set forth God's promises in general terms, as they are proposed in the Holy Scriptures, and as it is our duty to embrace them.

Before the foundation, &c.] See Eph. i. 4, 5. 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. And Matt. xxv. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right-hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for

Epist. ad Ephes.

Epist. ad
Trall.

Epist. ad
Cor.

you from the foundation of the world. And 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

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See also Ignatius. "Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church of Ephesus in Asia, which is blessed in "the greatness and fulness of God the Father, and predes"tinated before the world began unto eternal glory."And again, "Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the "Church among the Trallians in Asia, beloved of God, "the Father of Jesus Christ, holy elect."-And Clement of Rome. "The Church of God which is at Rome, to the "Church of God which is at Corinth, called and sanctified "by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Deliver from curse, &c.] See Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.

Whom he hath chosen, &c.] See 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Vessels made to honour.] See Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Justified freely] See Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

Made sons of God] See Gal. iv. 4, 5. When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Made like the image, &c.] See Rom. viii. 29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Walk religiously, &c.] See Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

By God's mercy obtained, &c.] See Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will. And 1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 5.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Generally set forth] See John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. And in 1 Tim. ii. 4. 6. Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Expressly declared] See Luke x. 25, 26, 27, 28. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

ARTICLE XVIII.

Of obtaining eternal Salvation only by the Name of Christ.

THEY also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and the Light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.

Are to be had accursed, &c.] They certainly, if any, deserve to be anathematized or accursed, who look upon the Gospel as entirely useless. For in vain did Christ

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