10. Eph. 1. 11. Heb. 6. 17. Rom. 9. 15 18. Decreed in himself from all Eternity by the most wise and holy Councel of his own will freely and unchangeably all things whatsoever comes to passe yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin b Jam. 1. 15 17. 1 Joh. 1. 5. nor hath fellowship with any therin nor is violence offered to the will of the Creature nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away but rather c Act 4. 27 28. Joh. 19. 11. established in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things and power and faithfulness d Numb 23. 19. Eph. 1. 3 4 5. in accomplishing his Decree 2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to passe upon all e Act. 15. 18. supposed conditions yet hath he not Decreed any thing f Rom. 9. 11. 13. 16. 18. 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 g 1 Tim. 5. 21. Mat. 25. 41. some men and Angels are predestinated or fore-ordained to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ to the h Eph. 1. 5 6. praise of his glorious grace others being left to act in their sin to their i Rom. 9. 22 23. Jud. 4. just condemnation to the praise of his glorious justice 4. These Angels and Men thus predestinated and fore-ordained are particularly and unchangeably designed and their k 2 Tim. 2. 19. Joh. 13. 18. number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished 5. Those of mankind l Eph. 1. 4. 9. 11. Rom. 8. 30. 2 Tim. 1. 9. 1 Thes 5. 9. that are predestinated to life God before the foundation of the world was laid according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret Councel and good pleasure of his will hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory out of his meer free grace and love m Rom. 9. 13. 16. Eph. 1. 6. 12. without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto 6. As God hath appointed the Elect unto glory so he hath by the eternal and most free purpose of his will fore-ordained o 1 Pet. 1. 2. 2 Thes 2. 13. all the means thereunto wherefore they who are elected being faln in Adam p 1 Thes 5. 9 10. are redeemed by Christ are effectually q Rom. 8. 30. 2 Thes 2. 13. called unto faith in Christ by his spirit working in due season are justifyed adopted sanctified and kept by his power through faith r 1 Pet. 1. 5. unto salvation neither are any other redeemed by Christ or effectually called justified adopted sanctified and saved but the Elect s Joh. 10. 26. Joh. 17. 9. Joh. 6. 64. only 7. The Doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care that men attending the will of God revealed in his word and yeilding obedience thereunto may from the certainty of their effectual vocation be assured of their t 1 Thes 1. 4 5. 2 Pet. 1. 10. eternal election so shall this doctrine afford matter u Eph. 1. 6. Rom. 11. 33. of praise reverence and admiration of God and x Rom. 11. 5 6. of humility diligence and abundant y Luk. 10. 20. consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel CHAP. IV. Of Creation 1. IN the beginning it pleased God the Father a John 1. 2 3. Heb. 1. 2. Job 26. 13 Son and Holy Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of b Rom. 1. 20. his eternal power wisdom and goodness to Create or make the world and all things therein c Col. 1. 16. Gen 2. 1 2. whether visible or invisible in the space of six days and all very good 2. After God had made all other Creatures he Created d Gen. 1. 27. man male and female with e Gen. 2. 7. reasonable and immortal souls rendring them sit unto that life to God for which they were Created being f Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 1. 26 made after the image of God in knowledge righteousness and true holyness having the Law of God g Rom. 2. 14 15. written in their hearts and power to fulfill it and yet under a possibility of transgressing being left to the liberty of their own will which was h Gen. 3. 6. subject to change 3. Besides the Law written in their hearts they received i Gen. 6. 17. ch 3. 8 9 10. a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil which whilst they kept they were happy in their Communion with God and had dominion k Gen. 1. 26 28. over the Creatures CHAP. V. Of Divine Providence 1. GOD the good Creator of all things in his infinite power and wisdom doth a Heb. 1. 3. Job 38. 11. Isa 46 10 11. Ps 135. 6. uphold direct dispose and govern all Creatures and things from the greatest even to the b Mat. 10. 29 30 31. least by his most wife and holy providence to the end for the which they were Created according unto his infallible foreknowledge and the free and immutable Councel of his c Eph. 1. 11. own will to the praise of the glory of his wisdom power justice infinite goodness and mercy 2. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and Decree of God the first cause all things come to pass d Act. 2. 23. immutably and infallibly so that there is not any thing befalls any e Pro. 16. 33. by chance or without his Providence yet by the same Providence he ordereth them to fall out according to the nature of second causes either f Gen. 8. 22. necessarily freely or contingently 3. God in his ordinary Providence g Act. 27. 31. 44. Isa 55. 10 11. maketh use of means yet is free h Hos 1. 7 to work without i Rom. 4. 19 20 21. above and k Dan. 3. 27. against them at his pleasure 4. The Almighty power unsearchable wisdom and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his Providence that his determinate Councel l Rom. 11 32 33. 34. 2 Sam. 24 1. 1 Chro. 21. 1. extendeth it self even to the first fall and all other sinful actions both of Angels and Men and that not by a bare permission which also he most wisely and powerfully m 2 Kings 19. 28. Ps 76. 10. boundeth and otherwise ordereth and governeth in a manifold dispensation to his most holy n Gen. 50 20. Isa 10 6 7. 12. ends yet so as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the Creatures and not from God who being most holy and righteous neither is nor can be the author or o Ps 50. 21 1 Joh. 2. 16. approver of sin 5. The most wise righteous and gracious God
John 2. 2. 20. 27. full perswasion and assurance of the infallible truth and divine authority thereof is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our Hearts 6. The whole Councel of God concerning all things i 2 Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Gal. 1. 8 9. necessary for his own Glory Mans Salvation Faith and Life is either expressely set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added whether by new Revelation of the Spirit or traditions of men Nevertheless we acknowledge the k John 6. 45. 1 Cor. 2. 9 10 11 12. inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God and government of the Church common to humane actions and societies which are to be l 1 Cor. 11 13 14. ch 14. 26. 40. ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence according to the general rules of the Word which are always to be observed 7. All things in Scripture are not alike m 2 Pet. 3. 16. plain in themselves nor alike clear unto all yet those things which are necessary to be known believed and observed for Salvation are so n Ps 19. 7. and 119. 130. clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other that not only the learned but the unlearned in a due use of ordinary means may attain to a sufficient understanding of them 8. The Old Testament in o Rom. 3. 2. Hebrew which was the Native language of the people of God of old and the New Testament in Greek which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the Nations being immediately inspired by God and by his singular care and Providence kept pure in all Ages are therefore p Isa 8. 20 authentical so as in all controversies of Religion the Church is finally to appeal unto them q Act. 15. 15. But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God who have a right unto and interest in the Scriptures and are commanded in the fear of God to read r John 5. 39. and search them therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every Nation unto which they s 1 Cor. 14 6 9. 11 12. 24 28. come that the Word of God dwelling t Col. 3. 16 plentifully in all they may worship him in an acceptable manner and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope 9. The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the u 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. Act. 15. 15 16. Scripture it self And therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture which is not manifold but one it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly 10. The supream judge by which all controversies of Religion are to be determined and all Decrees of Councels opinions of antient Writers Doctrines of men and private Spirits are to be examined and in whose sentence we are to rest can be no other but the Holy Scripture delivered by the Spirit into which x Mat. 22. 29. 31. Eph. 2. 20 Acts 28. 23. Scripture so delivered our faith is finally resolved CHAP. II. Of God and of the Holy Trinity 1. THE Lord our God is but a 1 Cor. 8. 4 6. Deut. 6. 4. one only living and true God whose b Jer 10. 10. Isaiah 48. 12. subsistence is in and of himself c Exod 3. 14. infinite in being and perfection whose Essence cannot be comprehended by any but himself d Joh. 4. 24. a most pure spirit e 1 Tim. 1. 17. Deut. 4. 15 16. invisible without body parts or passions who only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto who is f Mal. 3. 6. immutable g 1 King 8. 27. Jer. 23. 23. immense h Ps 90. 2. eternal incomprehensible i Gen. 17. Almighty every way infinit k Isa 6. 3. most holy most wise most free most absolute l Ps 115. 3. Isa 45. 10. working all things according to the councel of his own immutable and most righteous will m Pro. 16. 4. Rom. 11 36. for his own glory most loving gracious merciful long suffering abundant in goodness and truth forgiving iniquity transgression and sin n Exod. 34. 6 7. Hebr. 11. 6. the rewarder of them that diligently seek him and withall most just o Neh. 9. 32 33. and terrible in his judgements p Ps 5. 5 6. hating all sin and who will by no means clear the q Exod. 34. 7. Nahum 1 2 3. guilty 2. God having all r Joh. 5. 26. life Å¿ Ps 148. 13. glory t Ps 119. 68. goodness blessedness in and of himself is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient not u Job 22. 2 3. standing in need of any Creature which he hath made nor deriving any glory from them but onely manifesting his own glory in by unto and upon them he is the alone fountain of all Being x Rom. 11. 34. 35 36. of whom through whom and to whom are all things and he hath most soveraign y Dan. 4. 25. and v. 34 35. dominion over all creatures to do by them for them or upon them whatsoever himself pleaseth in his sight z Heb. 4. 13. all things are open and manifest his knowledge is a Ezek. 11. 5 Act. 15. 18. infinite infallible and independant upon the Creature so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain he is most holy in all his Councels in b Ps 145. 17. all his Works and in all his Commands to him is due c Rev. 5. 12 13 14. from Angels and men whatsoever worship service or obedience as Creatures they owe unto the Creator and whatever he is further pleased to require of them 3. In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences d 1 Joh. 5 7. Mat. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 14 the Father the Word or Son and Holy Spirit of one substance power and Eternity each having the whole Divine Essence e Exod. 3. 14. Joh. 14. 11. 1 Cor. 8. 6 yet the Essence undivided the Father is of none neither begotten nor proceeding the Son is f Joh. 1. 14. 18. Eternally begotten of the Father the holy Spirit g Joh. 15. 26. Gal. 4. 6. proceeding from the Father and the Son all infinite without beginning therefore but one God who is not to be divided in nature and Being but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our Communion with God and comfortable dependance on him CHAP. III. Of Gods Decree 1. GOD hath a Is 46.
the substance of it was revealed and therein Effectual for the Conversion and Salvation of Sinners 2. This Promise of Christ and Salvation by him is revealed only by c Rom. 1. 17. the Word of God neither do the Works of Creation or Providence with the light of Nature d Ro. 10. 14 15 17. make discovery of Christ or of Grace by him so much as in a general or obscure way much less that men destitute of the Revelation of him by the Promise or Gospel e Pro. 29. 18. Isa 25. 7. with ch 60. 2 3. should be enabled thereby to attain saving Faith or Repentance 3. The Revelation of the Gospel unto Sinners made in divers times and by sundry parts with the addition of Promises and Precepts for the Obedience required therein as to the Nations and Persons to whom it is granted is meerly of the f Ps 147 20. Act. 16. 7. Soveraign Will and good Pleasure of God not being annexed by vertue of any Promise to the due improvement of mens natural abilities by vertue of Common light received without it which none ever did g Rom. 1. 18 c. make or can so do And therefore in all Ages the preaching of the Gospel hath been granted unto persons and Nations as to the extent or streightning of it in great variety according to the Councell of the Will of God 4. Although the Gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving Grace and is as such abundantly sufficient thereunto yet that men who are dead in Trespasses may be born again Quickned or Regenerated there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable h Ps 110. 3. 1 Cor. 2. 14. Eph. 1. 19 20. work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole Soul for the producing in them a new spiritual Life without which no other means will effect i Joh. 6. 44. 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. their Conversion unto God CHAP. XXI Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience 1. THE Liberty which Christ hath purchased for Believers under the Gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of Sin the condemning wrath of God the Rigour and a Gal. 3. 13. Curse of the Law and in their being delivered from this present evil b Gal. 1. 4. World Bondage to c Act. 26. 18. Satan and Dominion d Rom. 8. 3. of Sin from the e Rom. 8. 28. Evil of Afflictions the Fear and Sting f 1 Cor. 15. 54 55 56 57. of Death the Victory of the Grave and g 2 Thes 1. 10. Everlasting Damnation as also in their h Rom. 8. 15. free access to God and their yielding Obedience unto him not out of a slavish fear i Luk. â— 74 but a Child-like love and willing mind All which were common also to Believers under the Law k Gal. 3 9 14. for the substance of them but under the new Testament the Liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the Ceremonial Law to which the Jewish Church was subjected and in greater boldness of access to the Throne of Grace and in fuller Communications of the l Joh. 7. 38 39. Heb. 10 19 20 21. Free Spirit of God then Believers under the Law did ordinarily partake of 2. God alone is m Jam. 4. 12 Rom. 14. 4. Lord of the Conscience and hath left it free from the Doctrines and Commandments of men n Act. 4. 19 5. 29. 1 Cor. 7. 23. Mat. 15. 9 which are in any thing contrary to his Word or not contained in it So that to Believe such Doctrines or obey such Commands out of Conscience o Col 2. 20 22 23 is to betray true liberty of Conscience and the requiring of an p 1 Cor. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 1. 24. implicit Faith and absolute and blind Obedience is to destroy Liberty of Conscience and Reason also 3. They who upon pretence of Christian Liberty do practice any sin or cherish any sinfull lust as they do thereby pervert the main design of the Grace of the Gospel q Rom. 6. 1 2. to their own Destruction so they wholy destroy r Gal. 5. 13. 2 Pet. 2. 18 -21 the end of Christian Liberty which is that being delivered out of the hands of all our Enemies we might serve the Lord without fear in Holiness and Righteousness before him all the days of our Life CHAP. XXII Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day 1. THE light of Nature shews that there is a God who hath Lordship and Soveraigntye over all is just good and doth good unto all and is therefore to be feared loved praised called upon trusted in and served with all the Heart and all the Soul a Jer. 10. 7. Mar. 12. 33. and with all the Might But the acceptable way of Worshipping the true God is b Deut. 12 32. instituted by himself and so limited by his own revealed will that he may not be Worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of Men or the suggestions of Satan under any visible representations or c Exo 20. 4 5 6. any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures 2. Religious Worship is to be given to God the Father Son and Holy Spirit and to him d Mat. 4. 9 10. Joh 6. 23. Mat. 28. 19. alone not to Angels Saints or any other e Rom. 1. 25. Col. 2. 18. Revel 19. 10. Creatures and since the fall not wihtout a f Joh. 14. 6. Mediator nor in the Mediation of any other but g 1 Tim. 2. 5. Christ alone 3. Prayer with thanksgiving being one special par of natural worship is by God required of h Psal 95. 1-7 Psal 65. 2. all men But that it may be accepted it is to be made in the i Joh. 14. 13 14. Name of the Son by the help k Rom. 8. 26. of the Spirit according to l 1 Joh. 5. 14. his Will with understanding reverence humility fervency faith love and perseverance and when with others in a m 1 Cor. 14. 16 17. known tongue 4. Prayer is to be made for things lawful and for all sorts of men living n 1 Tim. 2. 1 2. 2 Sam. 7. 29. or that shall live hereafter but not o 2 Sam. 12. 21 22. 23. for the dead nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned p 1 Joh. 5. 16. the sin unto death 5. The q 1 Tim. 4. 13. reading of the Scriptures Preaching and r 2 Tim. 4. 2. Luk. 8. 18. hearing the word of God teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms Hymns and Spiritual songs singing with grace in our Hearts to s Col. 3. 16. Eph. 5. 19 the Lord as also the Administration t Mat. 28 19 20. of Baptism and u 1 Cor. 11 26. the Lords Supper are all parts of Religious worship of God to be performed in
and callings in the Exercise of their Gifts and Graces so the Churches when planted by the providence of God so as they may injoy opportunity and advantage for it ought to hold e Rom. 16. 1 2. 3 Joh. 8 9 10. communion amongst themselves for their peace increase of love and mutual edification 15. In cases of difficulties or differences either in point of Doctrine or Administration wherein either the Churches in general are concerned or any one Church in their peace union and edification or any member or members of any Church are injured in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order it is according to the mind of Christ that many Churches holding communion together do by their messengers meet to consider f Act. 15. 2 4 6. 22 23. 25. and give their advice in or about that matter in difference to be reported to all the Churches concerned howbeit these messengers assembled are not entrusted with any Church-power properly so called or with any jurisdiction over the Churches themselves to exercise any censures either over any Churches or Persons or g 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Joh. 4. 1 to impose their determination on the Churches or Officers CHAP. XXVII Of the Communion of Saints 1. ALL Saints that are united to Jesus Christ their Head by his Spirit and Faith although they are not made thereby one person with him have a 1 Joh. 1. 3. Joh. 1. 16. Phil. 3 10 Kom 6. 5 6. fellowship in his Graces sufferings death resurrection and glory and being united to one another in love they b Eph. 4. 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 7. 1 Cor. 3 21 22 23. have communion in each others gifts and graces and are obliged to the performance of such duties publick and private in an orderly way c 1 Thes 5. 11. 14. Rom. 1. 12. 1 Joh. 3. 17. 18. Gal 6. 10. as do conduce to their mutual good both in the inward and outward man 2. Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God and in performing such other spiritual services d Heb. 10 24 25. with ch 3. 12 13. as tend to their mutual edification as also in relieving each other in e Act. 12. 29. 30. outward things according to their several abilities and necessities which communion according to the rule of the Gospel though especially to be exercised by them in the relations wherein they stand whether in f Eph. 6. 4. families or g 1 Cor. 12. 14. -27. Churches yet as God offereth opportunity is to be extended to all the houshold of faith even all those who in every place call upon the names of the Lord Jesus nevertheless their communion one with another as Saints doth not take away or h Act. 5. 4 Eph. 4. 28 infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions CHAP. XXVIII Of Baptism and the Lords Supper 1. BAptism and the Lords Supper are ordinances of positive and soveraign institution appointed by the Lord Jesus the only Law-giver to be continued in his Church a Mat. 28 19 20. 1 Cor. 11. 26. to the end of the world 2 These holy appointments are to be administed by those only who are qualified and thereunto called according b Mat. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 4. 1. to the commission of Christ CHAP. XXIX Of Baptism 1. BAptism is an Ordinance of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party Baptized a sign of his fellowship with him in his death c Rom. 6. 3. 4 5. Col. 2. 12. Gal. 3. 27. and resurrection of his being engrafted into him of d Mar. 1. 4. Act. 26. 16. remission of sins and of his e Rom 6. 2 4. giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of Life 2. Those who do actually professe f Mar. 16. 16. Act. 8. 36 37 repentance towards God faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus are the only proper subjects of this ordinance 3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance g Mat 28. 19 20. with Act. 8. 38. is water wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit 4. Immersion or dipping of the person h Mat. 3. 16. Joh. 3 23. in water is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance CHAP. XXX Of the Lords Supper 1. THE Supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed to be observed in his Churches unto the end of the world for the perpetual remembrance and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death a 1 Cor. 11. 23 24. 25 26. confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof their spiritual nourishment and growth in him their further ingagement in and to all duties which they owe unto him b 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. 21. and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him and with each other 2. In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead but only a memorial of that c Heb. 9. 25 26. 28. one offering up of himself by himself upon the crosse once for all and a spiritual oblation of all d 1 Cor. 11. 24. Mat. 26. 26 27. possible praise unto God for the same so that the Popish sacrifice of the Mass as they call it is most abominable injurious to Christs own only sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the Elect. 3. The Lord Jesus hath in this Ordinance appointed his Ministers to Pray and bless the Elements of Bread and Wine and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use and to take and break the Bread to take the Cup e 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25 26 c and they communicating also themselves to give both to the Communicants 4. The denyal of the Cup to the people worshiping the Elements the lifting them up or carrying them about for adoration and reserving them for any pretended religious use f Mat 26. 26 27 28. Mat. 15. 9. Exod. 20. 4 5. are all contrary to the nature of this Ordinance and to the institution of Christ 5. The outward Elements in this Ordinance duely set apart to the uses ordained by Christ have such relation to him crucified as that truely although in terms used figuratively they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent to wit the g 1 Cor. 11. 27. body and Blood of Christ albeit in substance and nature they still remain truly and only h 1 Cor. 11. 26. v. 28. Bread and Wine as they were before 6. That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of Bread and Wine into the substance of Christs
12 13. thankfullness strengthen their e 1 Joh. 2 3. 5. 2 Pet. 1. 5-11 assurance edifie their f Mat. 5. 16. brethren adorn the profession of the Gospel stop the mouths of the adversaries and glorifie g 1 Tim. 6. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 15. Phil. 1. 11 God whose workmanship they are created in Christ Jesus h Eph. 2. 10. thereunto that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end i Rom. 6. 22. eternal life 3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves but wholly from the Spirit k Joh. 15. 4. 6. of Christ and that they may be enabled thereunto besides the graces they have already received there is necessary an l 2 Cor. 3. 5. Phil. 2. 13. actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit but they ought to be diligent in m Phil. 2. 12. Heb. 6. 11 12. Isa 64. 7. stirring up the Grace of God that is in them 4. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life are so far from being able to superrogate and to do more then God requires as that n Job 9. 2 3. Gal. 5. 17. Luk. 17. 10. they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do 5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of Sin or Eternal Life at the hand of God by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come and the infinite distance that is between us and God whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfie for the debt of our o Rom. 3. 20. Eph. 2. 8 9. Rom. 4. 6. former sins but when we have done all we can we have done but our duty and are unprofitable servants and because as they are good they proceed from his p Gal. 5. 22 23. Spirit and as they are wrought by us they are defiled q Isa 64. 6. Ps 143 2. and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgement 6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of Believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in r Eph. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 2. 5. him not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in Gods sight but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is s Mat. 25. 21. 23. Heb. 6. 10 sincere although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections 7. Works done by unregenerate men although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands and of good use both to themselves and t 2 King 10. 30. 1 King 21. 27 29 others yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by u Gen. 4. 5. Heb. 11 4. 6. faith nor are done in a right manner according to the w 1 Cor. 13. 1. word nor to a right end the x Mat. 6. 2. 5. glory of God they are therefore sinful and cannot please God nor make a man meet to receive grace from y Amos 5 21 22. Rom. 9. 16 Tit. 3. 5. God and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and z Job 21. 14 15. Mat. 25. 41 42 43 displeasing to God CHAP. XVII Of Perseverance of the Saints 1. THose whom God hath accepted in the beloved effectually called and Sanctified by his Spirit and given the precious faith of his Elect unto can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace a Joh. 10. 28. 29. Phi. 1. 6. 2 Tim. 2. 19. 1 Joh. 2. 19. but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved seeing the gifts and callings of God are without Repentance whence he still begets and nourisheth in them Faith Repentance Love Joy Hope and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastned upon notwithstanding through unbelief and the temptations of Satan the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from b Psal 89. 31 32. 1 Cor. 11. 32. them yet he is still the same c Mal. 3. 6 and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto Salvation where they shall enjoy their purchased possession they being engraven upon the palm of his hands and their names having been written in the book of life from all Eternity 2. This perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own free will but upon the immutability of the decree of d Rom. 8. 30. ch 9. 11. 16. Election flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ e Rom. 5. 9 10. John 14. 19. and Union with him the f Heb. 6. 17 18. oath of God the abiding of his Spirit the g 1 Joh. 3. 9. seed of God within them and the nature of the h Jer. 32. 40. Covenant of Grace from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof 3. And though they may through the temptation of Satan and of the world the prevalency of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of means of their preservation fall into grievous i Mat. 26. 70 72. 74. sins and for a time continue therein whereby they incur k Is 64. 5. 9. Eph. 4. 30 Gods displeasure and grieve his holy Spirit come to have their graces and l Psal 51. 10. 12. comforts impaired have their hearts hardened and their Consciences wounded m Psa 32. 3 4. hurt and scandalize others and bring temporal judgements n 2 Sam. 12 14. upon themselves yet they shall renew their o Luk. 22. 32. v. 61 62. repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end CHAP. XVIII Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation 1. ALthough temporary Believers and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and state of salvation a Job 8. 13. 14. Mat. 7. 22 23. which hope of theirs shall perish yet such as truely believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity endeavouring to walk in all good Conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured b 1 Joh. 2. 3. ch 3. 14 18 19. 21. 24. ch 5. 13. that they are in the state of Grace and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God which hope shall never make them c Rom. 5. 2. 5. ashamed 2. This certainty is not abare conjectural and