Of God's Eternal Decrees
I. God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy
counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass:a
yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,b nor is violence offered
to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken
away, but rather established.c
a. Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:33; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15, 18.
b. James 1:13, 17; I John 1:5.
c. Acts 2:23; Matt. 17:12; Acts 4:27-28; John 19:11; Prov. 16:33.
II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to
pass upon all supposed conditions,a yet has He not decreed any thing because He
foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.b
a. Acts 15:18; I Sam. 23:11-12; Matt 11:21, 23.b. Rom.
9:11, 13, 16, 18.
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His
glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life;a and others
foreordained to everlasting death.b
a. I Tim. 5:21; Rom. 9:23; Eph. 1:5-6
b. Rom. 9:22; Prov. 16:4; Matt. 25:41.
IV. 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.a
a. II Tim. 2:19; John 13:18.
V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto 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, has chosen, in Christ, unto
everlasting glory,a out of His mere 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:b and all to the praise
of His glorious grace.c
a. Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom 8:30; II Tim. 1:9; I Thess. 5:9.
b. Rom. 9:11, 13, 16; Eph. 1:4,9
c. Eph. 1:6, 12.
VI. As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has
He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means
thereunto.a Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed
by Christ,b are effectually called unto faith in Christ by His Spirit working
in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,c and kept by His power,
through faith, unto salvation.d Neither are any other redeemed by Christ,
effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.e
a. I Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4-5; 2:10; II Thess. 2:13
b. I Thess. 5:9-10; Tit. 2:14
c. Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; II Thess. 2:13.
d. I Pet. 1:5.
e. John 17:9; Rom. 8:28-39; John 6:64-65; 10:26; 8:47; I John 2:19.
VII. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to
the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extends or withholds mercy, as He
pleases, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to
ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.a
a. Matt. 11:25-26; Rom. 9:17-18, 21-22; II Tim. 2:19-20; Jude 4; I Pet.
2:8.
VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of
predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care,a 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.b
So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God;c and
of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.d
a. Rom. 9:20; 11:33; Deut. 29:29. b. II Pet. 1:10.
c. Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:32. d. Rom. 11:5-6, 20; II Pet. 1:10; Rom. 8:33;
Luke 10:20.
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