alone the Elect of God Doth God justifie Paul onely Or doth Christ make intercession for Paul alone Since therefore out of these premises common to the whole Church of the Elect Saint Paul in that place inferres that confident conclusion Who shall separate us and I am perswaded c. certaine it is that other beleevers also who have interest to the same meanes of salvation may hence deduce and apply unto themselves this full perswasion of their salvation and perseverance The same conclusion every faithfull soule is able to make out of other ordinary premises 1 From the faithfulnesse of God 1 Cor. 10.13 God is faithfull who will not suffer c. 2 From experience of his former good will Phil. 1.6 Being confident of this very thing that hee which hath begun a good worke in you will also perfect it c. 3 From the practise of good workes performed in faith 2 Pet. 1.10 If yee doe these things ye shall never fall and what those things are t is evident out of the 5. and 6. verses 4 From the testimony of the conscience 1 Iohn 3.21 If our hearts condemne us not then have we confidence toward God 5 By the testimony of former led life 2 Tim. 4.7 I have fought a good fight hence forth is there a Crowne laid up for me 6 Lastly the testimony of the Spirit doth seale all these things to us Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it selfe beareth witnesse with our spirit c. These and other evidences of the like kind are obvious to every faithfull soule and therefore likewise the conclusion But if this certainty should issue only from an extraordinary revelation Saint Peter shold in vaine exhort all the faithfull thus 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure THE FIFT THat as often as any grievous carnall sinne is committed so often is the state of justification and adoption lost AGainst this opinion these arguments besides others are of force 1 Man cannot by any sinne make void any act of Gods But justification and adoption are Gods acts and those flowing from his owne good pleasure Ergo. When therefore it is questioned whether or no there may be an intercision of justifying grace caused by the sinnes of the flesh the question is not onely whether a man can lose any qualitie by sinne but we must fetch this question much further to wit whether mans sinne be of force to make void Gods acts or to alter that doome of God by which hee in himselfe hath already pronounced us just and adopted us into the right and title of Sonnes In vaine in this case some oppose against us the defect of the subject or failing on mans part Whereas God doth continually repaire the subject which of it selfe without doubt would faile by giving the faithfull perseverance that they may not faile For to the end that by faith he might keepe us he keepes also that very faith in us as elegantly that reverend late Bishop of Salisbury 2 So farre it is that every grievous sinne of the flesh should altogether devest a faithfull soule of the state of justification and adoption that on the contrary it is held especially by practicall Divines that God doth permit those sinnes very often in justified and adopted persons that both their justification and adoption might be afterward the more confirmed unto them according to that of the Prophet Psal. 119.71 It is good for me that thou hast humbled me that I might learne thy statutes This is evident in the falls not onely of David but also of Hezekias and Peter whereby occasionally the endevor of holinesse the acknowledgement of their owne infirmity and a more vehement suit unto God for the gift of perseverance were increased in them We conclude therefore that neither justification is broken off nor yet adoption lost by the falls of the Saints but that hence it comes to passe that rising againe they doe so much the more warily worke out their owne salvation with feare and trembling THE SIXT THat the doctrine of the certainty of perseverance and salvation is of its owne nature both hurtfull unto true piety and pernicious every way to Religion BOth Gods truth and mans experience easily wipe off this aspersion For this Christian perswasion of perseverance and salvation not onely in respect of its own nature But also according to the very event in the Church doth by Gods blessing produce a quite contrary effect 1 First in respect of the thing it selfe the certainty of the end doth not take away but establish the use of the meanes And the same holy men who upon sure grounds promise unto themselves both constancy in the way of this pilgrimage and fruition of God in their everlasting home know also that these are not obtained without performance of the duties of holinesse and the avoidance of contrary vices and therefore they turne not their backes from these meanes but industriously embrace and prosecute them 1 Iohn 3.3 Everie man that hath this hope in himselfe purifieth himselfe even as he is pure Esay 38.5 When Hezekiah had received that promise of God of an addition of fifteene yeares to his life he did not therefore neglect the use of medicines or meats but that this promised event might be brought into act he applied for the cure of his body the plaister which was prescribed unto him by the Prophet The Apostle doth altogether reject this consequence of carnall security imputed to this doctrine and that with a kinde of indignation Rom. 6.1 Shall we continue in sinne that grace may abound God forbid How shall we which are dead to sinne live any longer therein As if Saint Paul would intimate unto us not onely the incongruity but also impossibility of such a sequell 2 As touching the event true it is that any the most wholesome truth of God may bee perverted by the abuse of men But upon this doctrine wee cannot acknowledge that there groweth any such inconvenience no not de facto that is in the event it selfe Let us take a view of the Reformed Churches in which this confidence of perseverance and inviolable adoption is beleeved and maintained Doe we finde that thereupon the bridle is let loose unto riot That piety is trampled downe We give thankes unto God through our Lord Iesus Christ that among ours who enjoy this full perswasion of spirituall comfort and are confident that there is an inheritance which cannot bee lost laid up for them in heaven there is not found lesse care of godlinesse nor lesse endevor so far forth as mans infirmity will suffer to live an unblameable life than is to be found among any sort of those who pinne their perseverance on their owne free will and will not grant it to flow from any foregoing Election of GOD. THus have wee set downe our joynt Suffrage concerning these five controverted Articles which our judgement wee beleeve to be agreeato the word of God and sutable to
through him who is the Advocate of our peace our Lord and Savior IESVS CHRIST Amen Subscribed by George Carleton D. in Divinity Bishop of Landaff afterward Bishop of Chichester Iohn Davenant D. in Divinity now Bishop of Salisbury Samuel Ward the Lady Margarets professor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Camb. and Master of Sidney Colledge there Thomas Goad D. in Divinity Walter Balcanquall then Bachelour in Divinity since D. in Divinity now Deane of Rochester Ephes. 1.11 Aug. de praedest Sanct. c. 19. Idem de corrept grat c. 14 Idem de grat Christ. cap. 13. Prosp. de vocat lib. 1. cap. 9. Idem Devoâ—â—â— lib. 2. cap. 3. Aug. de praedest Sanct. cap. 15. Cap. 16. De bon persev cap. 7. Prosp. epist. ad Aug. 361. Aug. de praedest Sanct. c. 10. Cap. 16. Cap. 17. Prosp. ad Cap. Gall. Resp. 8. Aug. de persev cap. 14. Aug. de Pers. Sanct. c. 10. Prosp. ad excep Genuinâ— resp â— Aug. quesi disp de praed Act. 10. Prosp. ad Cap. Gall. resp 8. Aug cont Ep. Pelag. l. 4. c. 6. Lib. 2. cap. 6. Aug. de praedest Sanct. cap. 17. Clem. Alex. Stromat Tertull. advers Mar. lib. 5. Bern. Epist. 107 De Predest c. 17. Prosp. de arbitr ad Ruff. Prosp. Epistola ad Aug. Aug. de bono persever cap. 11. Aug de bano persever cap. 16. Aug. de praedest cap. 6. Idem de corr et grat 13. De bono persev cap. 14. Aug. de bon persev cap 7. Idem conâ—â— 1. Iulian. lib 5. c. 3. Prosp. de voc gent. lib. 1. c 17. Prosp de voc gent. lib. 1. c. 16. Prosp. ad cap. Gall. resp 2. Aug. de correp es gral cap. 13. Prosp. ad Cap. Gall. Sent. 14. Ibid. ad cap. Gall. resp 16. Prosp. de vocat Genâ— lib. 2. c. 33. Aug. Epist. 107. Ibid. Prosp. ad cap. Gali. resp ad ob 4. Epistola ad Russ. de vocat gent. lib. 2 cap 3. Lâ—chirid c. 30. Augu. Retract 1.5 Heb. 3.7 Aug. vel Prosp. ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. Prosp. de vocat lib. 2. cap. 2. Aug. de persev De lib arb Quaest disp de verit art 2. Epistola Synodica Episcopoâ—is African Bern de grat lib. ar Bern ibidem Aug. de cor gra cap. 14. Ad Simpli lib. 1. q. 2. De Sacram. fid pag. 242. In Epist. Synod African Aug de grat Christ. cap. 14. Aug de praedest Sanct. Aug. de persev lib. 2. cap. 2. Aug. de cor c. 14. Prosp. de vocat gent. l. 2. cap. 36. Robertus Sarisbur de veritate grat pag. 20. Enchir. cap. 32. De vocat lib. 1. cap. 6. Aug. de persev l. 1. cap. 7. Aug. de praedest cap. 9. Aug. de praedest Sanct. c. 8. Collat. Hag. Bert. part 2. pag. 10. Collat. ibidem pag. 150. Ibidem Pag. 19. See Calvin upon that place Tract 53. upon Saint Iohn Aug de correct grat cap 9. De Corr. et grat cap 9. De Civit. Dei Lib. 15. Contra Iulian. lib. 5. cap 3. De praedest Sanct. cap. 17. Cont. advers leg prophet lib. 2. cap. 11. Ephes. 1.5 Iohn 1 12 Gal. 3.27 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Iohn 3.9 Rom. 8.17 Gal. 4.7 De corr grat cap. 9. De Iacob cap. 6. C. 3. Distinct. 10. q. 1 art 1. Rom 8.1 2 Cor. 12.9 Apoc. 21.27 2 Tim. 4.8 Luke 13.3 1 Cor. 6 9. Acts 27.31 Malum oritur â—â— quovis defectu Bonum non nisi ex causis integriâ—â— Cyprian decaâ—â—â— Domini Rom. 8.17 Iohnâ— 35 Ambr de Iacob vit beat lib. 1. cap. 6. Moral lib. 2. cap. 42. Rom. â— 39 Rom. 16.20 Iohn 5.5 Aug. de bon persev cap. 6. Ibid. cap. 7. In respon ad Walach pag. 75. Phil. 1.19 De persev c. 10. Epist. Hilar. ad Aug. Iob 3.2 Psal. 31.22 Ionas 2.5 Rom. 7.24 Rom. 5. 2 Cor. 1.10 De veritate gratioe
alone that man should come unto him And this grace he placed in him in whom wee also have obtained this our lot who were predestinated according to his purpose THE THIRD POSITION FAith Perseverance and all gifts of grace leading home unto salvation are the fruits and effects of Election WE acknowledge in some men certaine gifts of grace which are to be reduced to the common supernaturall providence of God But those gifts which have an infallible connexion with glory and doe worke effectually for the obtaining thereof as justifying faith and persevering are the very effects of eternall election Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved Tit. 1.1 The faith of the Elect of God 1 Pet. 1.5 We are kept by the power of God by faith unto salvation By this predestination of the purpose of God they are faithfull who are fore-ordained unto eternall life The predestination of God is the preparation of grace and grace is the very effect of predestination When therefore God promised to Abraham that the Gentiles should beleeve in his seed he made not this promise with respect to the power of our will but out of his owne predetermination for hee promised that which hee himselfe would doe and not what men would doe Hath he not said Not of workes but of him that beleeveth Hee hath taken wholly even this from man that he might attribute the whole to God Let us understand the vocation by which they are made the Elect not as if they were chosen because they had beleeved but they are chosen that they may beleeve For if they were therefore chosen because they had beleeved they had chosen him first be beleeving in him that they might so come to be chosen These gifts of God are given to the Elect who are called according to the purpose of God of which kinde of fruits these are namely both to begin to beleeve and to persevere in faith to the end of this life THE FOVRTH POSITION THe decree of Election is definite not conditionall it is irrevocable and immutable so that the number of the Elect can neyther be increased nor yet diminished IN predestination the meanes to salvation are no lesse absolutely decreed than salvation it selfe For howsoever salvation in the execution thereof dependeth upon the conditionall use of the means yet the will of God electing unto salvation is not conditionall incomplete or mutable because hee hath absolutely purposed to give unto the Elect both power and will to performe those very conditions namely repentance faith obedience and perseverance For the Decree of God predestinating cannot bee conceived after this forme I will choose Peter to eternall life if it shall so happen that he doth beleeve and persevere But rather after this manner I doe choose Peter unto eternall life which that he may infallibly obtaine I will give unto him persevering faith 2 Tim. 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure God knowes who are his Rom. 9.11 That the purpose of God might remaine according to election Rom. 11.28 29. Beloved according to Election For Gods gifts and calling are without repentance This adoption of the sonnes of God this fulnesse of the Gentiles was foreknowne and preordained in Christ which from the beginning unto the end is built up with liuing and choice stones Of these stones not one is cast out not one lessened not one snatched away Erroneous Opinions or unsound Doctrines concerning Election which we reject THE FIRST THat the Decree by which God hath purposed in Christ and for Christ to save those which repent and beleeve unto the end is the whole and entire decree of predestination unto salvation TRue indeed this is Gods decree declaratorie of salvation to be proclaimed to all equally and without difference as also prescribing the manner by which the elect are to be brought to salvation But in this the whole fabricke of Gods praedestination set downe in the holy Scriptures is not explained For the decree of predestination doth inferre some certain particular persons to be predestinated those being knowne to God and severed from others by this very decree of Election Matt. 20.16 Many are called but few are chosen Rom. 11.5 A remnant according to Election 2 Tim. 2.19 The Lord knowes who are his But the above-named decree doth predestinate no mā de facto or by certaine event it severeth none frō the rest it writeth no name in the booke of life Though such a decree bee established yet might all men notwithstanding bee reprobates God might neither have now nor haue had nor have hereafter any Church upon earth Which absurditie being granted not only that promissory decree might faile Matt 28.30 I am with you alwaies unto the end of the world but even the whol Scriptures might be annihilated which doth necessarily suppose a church in being to which and for which the Scripture was indited Lastly if there were no other decree of predestination then this Christ himselfe should not be appointed by any fore-going decree of God to be for certaine the head of the Church because to him there should be no members infallibly assigned neither could Christ be said infallibly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have the preheminence as a King except there were given unto him by the positive decree of God some who were to be certainly his subiects When yet the Scripture doth no lesse intimate unto us the certaine and irrespective decree of God in making Christ our head King then it doth concerning his taking our flesh and suffering for us The Apostle Eph. 1. hauing set downe the mystery of our Redemption by Christs Passion Resurrection Ascension presently adds vers 22. as flowing from the same decree and gaue him to bee the head ouer all things to the Church which is his body Lu. 1.33 Of his kingdome there shall be no end Act. 2.30 God hath made him Lord. This predestination of the Saints is nothing else then Gods foreknowledge and preparation of those benefits by which they are most certainly freed whosoever are freed THE SECOND ERRORNEOVS OPINION THat the peremptory Election of particular persons is made upon the fore sight and consideration of their faith in Christ and of their perseverance in the same faith as upon a Condition fore-required in electing FAith foreseene and perseverance in faith doe follow the decree of vocation according to Gods good purpose But such vocation doth depend upon the foregoing decree of predestination Rom. 8.30 Those whom hee predestinated those he hath called Act. 13.48 As many as were ordained to eternall life beleeved 1. God foresees no man as persevering in faith and holinesse unto the last gasp but him whom he decreed by his foregoing will so to keepe but him whom he really guideth and directeth through his whole course of life and preserveth in the way of salvation by an operation and speciall protection flowing from Gods foresaid will Iohn 10.28 29. My sheepe shall
the Confessions of so many reformed Churches From which that this one of the Low-Countries should be separated it neither will seeme safe nor pious unto those who have any graine of wisedome or sparke of true piety And this our most Gracious and Mightie King of Great Britaine Defendor of the Christian Faith and the most earnest maintainer of it out of his hearty wishes that in these flourishing Provinces the faith might remaine sincere and the peace of the Church and Common-Weale be entirely preserved hath especially aymed at when he gave in charge to us appointed to bee sent hither that wee should as much as in us lyeth by our moderate advises set forward the publike peace of your Church and that we should exhort our Reverend Brethren assembled in this celebrious Synode that they should not determine any thing in their Synodicall Suffrages which might thwart the received Doctrine which hath beene established in so many publike Confessions of the Churches This received doctrine hath not long since seemed distastfull to the palate of some ill-affected to Innovation which doctrine though they have by all meanes and helps indeavoured to disgrace and suppresse yet neverthelesse like a kinde of heavenly fire it hath sent forth the clearer rayes by the very motion and agitation We truely with from our hearts unto our brethren called Remonstrants that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened and that their minds may not be estranged from the study of peace as also unto the rest of our reverend brethren such charitable affection toward them that they may not cease to wish well unto the persons of those men whose errors they oppugne And here wee crave leave a little to turne our speech to the most illustrious and mighty States and to their most judicious Delegates and finally to all the rest that sit at the sterne of the Common-weale in this Countrey It is your parts most noble Lords no lesse to take care lest the Orthodox Religion then the Common-weale committed to your trust should receive any damage For Magistrates serve God in this when for his service they doe those things which none can doe but Magistrates In this case therefore there needs not onely your pietie and good example but also your power and commands Let your power restraine that which here goeth by the name of libertie of prophecying Vpon presumption whereof some are wont first lightly to nibble at then openly to impugne and at last to cry downe the most established grounds of our faith If it shall bee lawfull for every one to impeach the Orthodox doctrine approved by the common consent of all the reformed Churches it is to be feared that they who through the connivence of the Magistrate have begun to innovate in the Church will afterward against his prohibition as occasion may serve attempt the like in the Commom-wealth But they little need our exhortation who to their great paines and cost have already taken the best course that could be wished for the renovation and consummation of peace and truth in these Churches Therefore we thinke it unlawfull to doubt of their constancy of whose singular prudence piety and care we have had experience And will pray unto God that those things which have proceeded from them with a pious intention may be finished with happy successe And now beloved brethren and fellow Ministers wee will also in a few words addresse our selves to you from whose wisedomes it cannot bee hid that among these principall Controversies so much discussed there bee sometime sleight questions intermingled which neither have the same certaintie of beliefe nor are of any great moment to true piety But as for those which are of that nature that unlesse they be maintained the free grace of God in the provision for mans salvation is infirmed and the free will of man set up in Gods Throne for those you ought constantly to stand as for the free-hold of Religion neither by any meanes ought you to endure that the certainty of our salvation should bee revoked from the stability of Gods purpose to the inconstancy of mans freewill But if among these any questions come in which being not yet determined by the Reformed Churches are probably disputed by godly and learned men either way without any damage to the rule of faith it becomes not grave and moderate Divines to thrust upon other mens consciences as determinations of Faith their owne private opinions herein In such Tenets there is no danger so long as you take heed that diversity of opinion doe not either among the Ministers dissolve the bond of peace or among the people sow the seeds of faction Moreover that wee may give no further caution among those things which are certaine and soundly grounded upon the word of God some there be which are not to bee inculcated to every auditory without difference but onely to be touched warilie in due time and place Among these is that high mystery of Predestination a most sweet doctrine and full of comfort but to those onely who are rooted in faith and exercised in pietie to which kinde of men in great conflict of conscience it may bee instead of a strong tower of defence But when they who have not yet well learned the first foundations of Religion and whose mindes are wholly caried away by their carnall affections are by the indiscretion of some Preachers called on to dive into this depth this commeth of it that while they brabble about the secret decree of Predestination they neglect the saving knowledge of the Gospell and while they dreame of nothing else but Predestination unto life they never care to set foot in that way in which they must walke who are Predestinated unto life And concerning the mystery of Reprobation greater care is to be had that it be not only handled sparingly and prudently but also in the explication thereof those fearefull opinions and such as have no ground in the Scriptures bee carefully avoyded which tend rather unto desperation then edification and doe bring upon some of the Reformed Churches a grievous scandall Lastly wee are so to determine of the precious merit of Christs death that we neither sleight the judgement of the Primitive Church nor yet the Confessions of the Reformed Churches nor which is the most principall point of all the rest weaken the promises of the Gospel which are to be propounded universally in the Church These briefe admonitions are here given by us rather that wee might testifie our love toward our Venerable brethren then that we thought they needed this our advise There remaines nothing now but that wee humbly beseech Almighty God that the counsailes of the States the endeavors of the Ministers the assistance of foraine Divines and the endeavors of all may ayme at this and obtaine this end that the Church of the Low Countries all errors being rooted out and dissensions composed may enjoy the Orthodox Faith and a setled peace for ever