ARTICLES AGREED ON IN THE NATIONALL SYNODE of the Reformed Churches of FRANCE Held at Charenton neere Paris in the Moneth of September 1623. Which the same ordaineth to be inuiolaby kept in all the CHVRCHES and VNIVERSITIES of that REALME AT OXFORD Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD and IAMES SHORT Printers to the famous VNIVERSITIE 1623. CHAP. I. Of Predestination Election and Reprobation The I. Article FOrasmuch as all men sinned in Adam and made themselues culpable of Malediction and euerlasting death God had done no wrong to any man though he should haue left all mankinde in Sinne and Malediction and condemned them for the said Sinne according to the wordes of the Apostle Rom. 3.19.22 The whole world is culpable before God All haue sinned and are wholly destitute of the glory of God And Rom. 6.23 The wages of Sinne is death II. But herein is the loue of God manifested that hee hath sent his onely Sonne into the world to the end that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life 1. Iohn 4.9 and Iohn 3.16 III. Now to bring men to Faith God graciously sendeth foorth messengers of these glad tidings to whom he will and when hee will by whose ministrie men are called to Repentance and Faith in Iesus Christ crucified For how shall they beleeue in him of whom they haue not heard and how shall they heare without a Preacher and how shall they Preach except they be sent Rom. 10 14.15 IIII. They which beleeue not this Gospel the wrath of God abides on them but they which receiue it and embrace the Sauiour Iesus with a true and liuely Faith are deliuered by him from the wrath of God and from perdition and are made partakers of life euerlasting V. The cause and blame of this incredulitie as likewise of all other sinnes is not any wise in God but in man but Faith in Iesus Christ and saluation thereby is the free gift of God as it is written Ephes 2.8 You are saued by Grace through Faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God Againe Phil. 1.29 It hath beene freely giuen vnto you to beleeue in Christ VI. And whereas God in his appointed time giues Faith to some and giues it not vnto others that proceedes from his eternall Decree For vnto God are his wayes knowen from euerlasting Acts 15.18 And hee doth all things according to the counsell of his owne will Ephes 1.11 According to which Decree he softeneth by Grace the hearts of the Elect how hard soeuer they be and bowes them to beleeue but in iust iudgement leaues them which are not Elected in their malice and hardnesse And herein especially is discouered the profound mercifull and alike iust distinction betwixt men that were equally lost or the Decree of Election and Reprobation reueiled in the word of God which as the peruerse impure and presumptuous wrest vnto their owne perdition so it yeeldeth vnspeakeable comfort to holy and religious soules VII Election is the vnchangeble purpose of God whereby according to the most free good pleasure of his will amongst all mankinde fallen by its owne fault from its first integritie into sinne and perdition hee hath of meere grace chosen in Christ Iesus to saluation before the beginning of the world a certaine number of men not better nor more worthy then others but such as together with them lay weltring in one and the selfe same miserie The which Iesus Christ God hath also from all eternitie made the Mediatour and head of all the Elect and the ground as it were and foundation of their saluation And accordingly hath decreed to giue them to Christ for to saue them and to call them and draw them effectually by his word and spirit to the communion of him or hath decreed to giue them true faith in him to iustifie to sanctifie and hauing mightily kept them in the communion of his Sonne finally to glorifie them for the demonstration of his mercy and for the praise of the riches of the glory of his grace as it is written Ephes 1.4.5 God hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world to the end we should be holy and vnblameable before him in loue hauing Predestinated vs for to adopt vs to himselfe by Iesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he hath made vs acceptable in his welbeloued And Rom. 8.29 Whom he hath Predestinated those he hath also called and whom he hath called those he hath also iustified and whom he hath iustified those he hath also glorified VIII This Election is not of diuers sorts but one onely and the fame of all that shall be saued in the old and new Testament forasmuch as the Scripture mentioneth but one good pleasure purpose and counsell of the will of God whereby hee hath Elected vs from all Eternitie as vnto Grace so vnto Glorie as to Saluation so to the way of Saluation which he hath prepared to the intent we should walke in it IX Neither was this Election made in respect of Faith foreseene or the obedience of Faith holinesse or any other good qualitie or disposition as a cause or condition required beforehand in the man that should bee Elected but rather it was to giue Faith and the obedience of Faith holinesse c. And therefore Election is the fountaine of all sauing good whence flow Faith holinesse and the rest of sauing graces in a word life euerlasting it selfe as the fruites and effects thereof according to the words of the Apostle Ephesians 1.4 He hath chosen vs not because we were â—ut to the end we should be holy and vnblameable before him in loue X. The cause of this free Election is onely the good pleasure of God which consisteth not in this that he hath chosen for the condition of saluation certaine qualities or actions of men among all those which are possible but in this that hee hath taken to himselfe for a peculiar heritage some certaine persons out of the common multitude of sinners as it is written Rom. 9.11.12.13 Before the children were yet borne and or ere they had done either good or euill c. it was said vnto her to weete Rebecca The elder shall serue the younger as it is written I haue loued Iacob and hated Esau And Actes 13.48 All they which were ordained to eternall life beleeued XI And as God himselfe is most wise vnchangeable knowing all things and almightie so the Election which hee hath once made cannot be either interrupted or changed or reuoked or annulled nor the Elect either reiected or their number diminished XII The Elect are in their due times ascertained of this their eternall and vnchangeable election to saluation albeit by degrees and in a different measure and that not by any curious sounding of the secrets and depths of God but by obseruing in themselues with a spirituall ioy and an holy kinde of gladnesse
in our power to make satisfaction of our selues nor to deliuer our selues from the wrath of God God through his vnmeasurable mercy gaue vs his only Sonne for a pledge who was made Sinne and a Curse vpon the Crosse for vs or in our steede that so he might satisfie for vs. III. This death of the Sonne of God is the only and most perfect sacrifice and satisfaction for sinnes of an infinite price value which aboundantly sufficeth to expiate the sinnes of the whole world IV. And this death is therefore of so great worth and value both because the person that suffered it is not onely true man and perfectly holy but also the only Sonne of God of the same eternall and infinite essence with the Father and the Holy Ghost such as our Saviour ought to be And secondly because his death was ioyned with the sense and feeling of the wrath and curse of God which we by our sinnes had deserved V. Furthermore the promise of the Gospell is that whosoever belieueth in Iesus Christ crucified should not perish but haue everlasting life which promise ought to be propounded and declared indifferently to all Nations and persons vnto whom God according to his good pleasure sends the Gospell and that with commandement of Repentance and Faith VI. And whereas many that are called by the Gospell repent not neither beleeue in Iesus Christ but perish in Infidelitie This comes not to passe through any defect or insufficiencie of the sacrifice of Iesus Christ offered vpon the Crosse but through their owne fault VII But for as much as some there are who truely beleeue and are delivered and saved from sinne and perdition by the death of Iesus Christ this benefit proceedes from the meere Grace of God which he oweth not to any and which was given them from all eternitie in Iesus Christ VIII For such was the most free counsell and most favourable will and Intention of God the Father that the wholesome quickning efficacie of the most precious death of his Sonne should be extended to all the Elect for to giue them alone Iustifying faith and thereby to bring them infallibly to Salvation That is it was Gods will that Iesus Christ by the bloud of the Crosse whereby he confirmed the new Covenant should redeeme effectually all those and no other from among every people nation and language who from all eternitie were elected to Salvation and were given vnto him of his Father that he should giue them Faith which as all other gifts also of the Holy Ghost he purchased for them by his death that hee should purge them by his blond from all sinnes Originall and Actuall committed either before or after Faith receiued that hee should keepe them faithfully to the ende and finally that he should make them appeare before him glorious without spot or blemish IX This counsell proceeding from the eternall loue of God towards the Elect hath mightily beene accomplished ever since the beginning of the world to this present time the gates of Hell having opposed it all in vaine and shall be accomplished also in the times to come yea in such sort as the Elect in their due time shal be gathered into one and there shall bee still a Church of beleevers founded on the bloud of Iesus Christ the which shal constantly loue this her Saviour who as a Bridegroome for his Spouse laid downe his life on the Crosse for her the which also shall persevere in serving him and shall celebrate and magnifie him both here and euer hereafter A Reiection of Errours The true doctrine being Expounded the Synod rejecteth the errours of those I. VVHo teach that God the Father destined his Sonne to the death of the Crosse without any certaine and definite purpose to saue any one by name so as the necessity profite and dignitie or worth of the Impetration made by the death of Iesus Christ might bee safe and perfit in all parts compleat ful and entire albeit the redemption thereby obtained had never been actually applyed to any one particular For this doctrine is iniurious to the wisdome of God the Father and to the merite of Iesus Christ and contrary to the Scripture For see what our Sauiour saith Ioh. 10.15.27 I lay downe my life for my sheepe and I know them And the Prophet Esay saith of the Saviour Esay 53.10 After that he shall haue laid downe his life for an oblation for sinne he shall see those of his posteritie he shall prolong his daies and the good pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand Brieflie it cleane overthrowes also that Article of our Creede whereby we beleeue the Church II. Who teach that the scope or end of Iesus Christ his death was not effectuallie to ratifie the new covenant of grace by his bloud but onely to purchase to his father a naked right whereby he might againe cōtract with men some covenant whatsoever it should be whether of grace or of workes Which is repugnant to the Scripture which teacheth Heb. 7.22 That Iesus Christ was made the pledge mediatour of a more excellent to wit the new Testament Againe Heb. 9.15.17 A testament is then only of force when the parties are dead III. Who teach that Iesus Christ by his satisfaction hath not assuredly merited for any one Saluation it selfe and faith wherby that satisfaction of Iesus Christ might be applyed effectually to saluation but that he hath only purchased to the Father a power or plenary will to treate anew with men and to prescribe them new conditions such as he would the fulfilling whereof was to depend on mans free-will and therefore that it might haue come to passe that either all men or none at all should fulfill them For these thinke too basely of the death of Iesus Christ not at all acknowledging the principall fruit or benefite purchased thereby and setch from hell againe the errour of Pelagius IIII. Who teach that this new covenant of Grace which God the Father hath cōtracted with men by the interventiō of the death of Iesus Christ consisteth not in this that we are iustified before God and saved by faith in as much as it apprehendeth the merite of Iesus Christ but in this that the exaction of the perfect obedience of the Law being abolished God accounteth faith it selfe and the imperfect obedience of faith for a perfect obedience of the law and of meere grace esteemeth it worthy to be rewarded with eternal life For these contradict the Scripture Rom. 3.23.24 Being iustified freely by his grace by the redemption which is in Iesus Christ whom from all eternity God ordained for a propitiation by faith in his bloud And with prophane Socinus they bring in a new and strange iustification of man before God contrary to the common consent and iudgment of the whole Church V. Who teach that all men are admitted into the state of reconciliation to the grace of the couenant so as not any one is
the infallible fruits of Election pointed out in the word of God Such as are a true Faith in Iesus Christ a filiall feare of God sorrow according to God hunger and thirste after righteousnesse c. XIII From the assurance and inward apprehension of this Election the children of God take occasion daily more and more to humble themselues before God to adore the bottomlesse depth of his mercies to purifie themselues and also most ardently to loue him on their parts who so exceedingly first loued them So far are they from waxing more idle or carnally negligent and catelesse of keeping Gods Commandements through this doctrine of Election and the meditation thereof which indeed by the iust iudgement of God commeth vsually to passe in those who either rashly presuming on or idly and wantonly prating of the Grace of Election will not walke in the wayes of the Elect. XIIII Now as this doctrine of Diuine Election according to the most wise counsell of God hath beene preached by the Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe and the Apostles aswell vnder the old as vnder the new Testament and afterwards recorded in the holy Scriptures So ought it also euen at this day be proposed in the Church of God whereunto it was specially appointed with the spirit of discretion religiously and holily in time and place omitting all curious search of the wayes of the Lord All onely to the glory of Gods holy Name and the liuely consolation of his people XV. Moreouer the holy Scripture doth further set foorth and recommend this eternall and free grace of our Election when besides it witnesseth how that all men are not chosen but that there are some Non-Elect or such as in the eternall Election of God were passed ouer and left out to weete they whom God according to his most free most iust vnblameable and vnchangeable good pleasure decreed to leaue in the common misery whereinto through their owne fault they had plunged themselues and not to giue them sauing grace nor the grace of Conuersion but hauing abandoned them in their owne wayes and through iust iudgement finally to condemne and punish them eternally not onely because of their infidelitie but also for all their other sinnes to the manifestation of his owne iustice And this loe is the Decree of Reprobation which makes not in any wise God the authour of Sinne the bare thought whereof were blasphemie but shewes him to be a dreadfull vnblameable and rust Iudge and auenger of sinne XVI Those which as yet feele not in themselues effectually a liuely Faith in Iesus Christ or an assured confidence of heart peace of conscience an earnest care of filiall obedience and a glorying in God through Iesus Christ and yet notwithstanding vse the meanes whereby God hath promised to effect these things in vs They I say ought not to be dishartened when they heare of Reprobation nor to range themselues among the Reprobate but rather they ought to goe forward carefully in the vse of these meanes and feruently desire and long after the houre of more abundant grace and expect it with all reuerence and humilitie Muchlesse ought such be terrified with the doctrine of Reprobation who though they desire to turne seriously to God and to please him onely and to be deliuered from this body of death yet for all that cannot as yet make such progresse in the way of godlinesse and faith as they faine would Seeing God who is mercifull hath promised that he will not quench the smoaking flaxe nor bruise the broken reed But worthily and of good reason may this doctrine be terrible to those who casting God and the Sauiour Iesus Christ behind their backes haue wholy enthralled themselues to the cares of this world and the lusts of the flesh as long as they so continue and turne not vnto God XVII In regarde wee are to iudge of Gods will by his word which testifieth that the children of the faithfull are holy not verily by nature but by the benefit of the couenant of grace wherein they are comprised with their father and mother Those Parents which feare God ought not to doubt of the Election and saluation of their children whom God calles out of this life in their infancie XVIII If any one murmure against this Grace of free Election and against the seueritie of iust Reprobation we oppose him with the words of the Apostle Rom. 9.20 O man who art thou that contestest with God and with those of our Sauiour Matth. 20.15 Is it not lawfull for mee to dee what I will with mine owne goods But for our selues who religiously adore these mysteries we cry out with the Apostle Rom. 11.33.34.35.36 O the depth of the riches and of the wisedome and of the knowledge of God! how his iudgements are incomprehensible and his wayes impossible to be found For who is he that hath knowne the thought of the Lord or who hath beene his counseller or who hath first giuen vnto him and it shall be repayed him againe For of him and by him and for him are all things To him be glorie for euermore Amen A reiection of Errours The true doctrine of Election and Reprobation being expounded the Synode reiecteth the errours of those I. WHo teach that the will of God to saue those that will beleeue and perseuere in Faith and in the obedience of Faith is the whole and entire Decree of Election to Saluation and that there is nothing else reuealed in the word of God touching this Decree For these men deceiue the simple and manifestly contradict the holy Scripture which testifie not onely that God will saue those which will beleeue but also that from all Eternitie hee hath chosen certaine persons to giue to them in his appointed time rather then to others Faith in Iesus Christ and perseuerance as it is written Iohn 17.6 I haue manifested thy Name to the men which thou hast giuen me Againe Actes 13.48 All they that were ordained to life Euerlasting beleeued And Ephesians 1.4 Hee hath chosen vs before the foundation of the world to th' end we should be holy II. Who teach that the Election of God to Eternall life is of diuers sorts the one generall and indefinite the other particular and definite And this latter againe either Incomplete Revocable not Peremptorie but conditionall or compleate irrevocable Peremptorie and absolute Also that Election to faith is one and Election to Saluation another so as there may be an Election to iustifying Faith without a peremptorie Election to Saluation For this is nothing else but an inuention of mans braine forg'd without the Scriptures which corrupts the doctrine of Election and breakes asunder the golden chaine of our Saluation Ro. 8.29 Whō God hath predestinated those he hath also called and whom he hath called those he hath also iustified whom he hath iustified those he hath also glorified III. Who teach that the good pleasure and purpose of God whereof the Scriptures make mention in
subiect to condemnation or shall bee condemned for originall sinne but that all are generally exempted from the guilt of the said sin For this opinion is repugnant to the Scripture which affirmeth Ephes 2.3 that we are by nature children of wrath VI. Who vse the distinction of Impetration Application therby to instill into the simple and ignorant this opinion that God for his part would equally bestow vpon all men the benefits purchased by the death of Iesus Christ And whereas some rather then others are made partakers of remission of sinnes and life everlasting that this difference dependeth on their owne freewill applying it selfe to that grace which is offered indifferently but that it dependeth not vpon any singular gift of mercy that works effectually in them rather then in others for to apply themselues therevnto For seeming to propose this Distinction in a good sense they go about to drench the people with the pernicious poyson of Pelagianisme VII Who teach that Iesus Christ neither could neither ought neither did die for them whom God loued before most tenderly and had elected to eternall life in as much as such had no need of the death of Iesus Christ For they contradict the Apostle who saith Gal. 2.20 Christ loued mee and gaue himselfe for mee Rom. 8.33 Who shall bring in any accusation against the elect of God It is God which iustifieth Who shall condemne It is Christ which is dead to weet for them also they contradict our Saviour who saith Ioh. 10.15 I lay downe my life for my sheepe Againe Ioh. 15.12.13 This is my commandement that yee loue one another as I haue loued you None hath greater loue then this to weet when one layeth down his life for his friends CHAP. III. Of the Corruption of man his Conversion to God and the manner thereof The first Article MAn in the beginning was created after the image of God and adorned in his vnderstanding with the true and saving knowledge of his creatour of spirituall things with righteousnesse in his heart and will with puritie in all his affections yea hee was perfectly and entirely holy but turning himselfe from God through the instigation of the Divell and by his owne free will he deprived himselfe of these excellent gifts and contrarywise insteede thereof drew on himselfe blindnesse horrible darknesse vanity and perversitie of iudgement in his vnderstanding malice rebellion hardnesse in his heart and will and therewithall impuritie in all his affections II. Now such as man was after the fall such children begate he to wit himselfe corrupted children corrupted corruption by the iust iudgement of God being derived from Adam vnto all his posterity excepting Iesus Christ alone and that not by imitation as heretofore the Pelagians would haue it but by propagation of a corrupted nature III. Whence it commeth to passe that all men are conceived in Sinne and borne children of wrath vnprofitable to all saving good enclined to evill dead in sinne and servants of sin And without the Grace of the regenerating spirit they neither will nor can returne to God nor correct their depraved nature nor dispose themselues towards the amendment of it IIII. True it is that after the fall there remained in man some light of nature by meane whereof hee still retaineth some knowledge of God and of naturall things hee discerneth betwixt honestie and dishonestie and seemeth to haue a little regard and care of vertue and outward discipline But so farre is it that by this light of nature he can come to the saving knowledge of God and convert himselfe to Him that even in things naturall and civill he vseth it not aright but rather as little as it is abuseth and defileth it diverse waies withholds it in vnrighteousnesse and so becommeth inexcusable before God V. Looke how it is with the light of Nature just so it fareth with the Decalogue which God gaue particularly to the Iewes For it discovereth indeede the grievousnesse of sinne and more and more convinceth man but forasmuch as it affordeth no remedie nor giveth any ability to get out of that miserie so being weak through the flesh leaveth the transgressour in the Curse it is impossible that by it man shoulde obtaine saving grace VI. Wherfore what neither the Light of Nature nor the Law could doe that God effecteth by the power of the Holy Spirit by meanes of the Word or the ministerie of Reconciliation that is by the Gospell of the Messias whereby it pleased God to saue beleevers aswell vnder the Old as the New Testament VII God manifested this secret of his Will to fewer persons vnder the Old Testament but since vnder the New Testament the difference of Nations is taken away he now manifesteth it vnto more The reason of which dispensation wee ought not to attribute to the dignity or worth of one Nation aboue another or because it maketh better vse of the Light of Nature but to the good pleasure of God which is most free to his vndeserved loue And therefore they on whom so great Grace hath beene shewed aboue and contrarie to all desert ought to recognize it in humility of heart with thanksgiving And the rest vnto whom this Grace hath not yet been shewed they ought to adore with the Apostle the severity iustice of Gods iudgments but not curiously to sound them VIII Furthermore as many as are called by the Gospell are called in good earnest For God shewes in good earnest and most truely and sincerely by his word what is pleasing vnto him namely that they which are called should come vnto him also he promiseth in good earnest to all that come and belieue in him rest vnto their soules and life everlasting IX And whereas many that are called by the ministrie of the Gospel come not nor are converted the fault is not in the Gospell nor in Iesus Christ offered by the Gospell nor in God who by the Gospell calleth them and withall bestowes many gifts vpon them but in those themselues which are called whereof some through their owne carelesnesse receiue not the word of life others receiue it indeede but not within their hearts and therefore after some light ioy of a temporall faith they fall backe againe others through the thornes of cares through the pleasures of this world choake the seede of the word and bring forth no fruit according as our Saviour teacheth in the parable of the seede Mat. 13. X. But whereas others being called by the ministerie of the Gospell doe come and are converted that is not to be attributed vnto the man as if hee by his owne free will made himselfe differ from others which are also furnished with like or at least with sufficient grace to belieue and bee converted as the prowde heresie of Pelagius mainetaineth But vnto God who as he hath elected his from all eternity in Christ so hee cals them effectually in their due times giues them faith and repentaunce
and having delivered them from the power of darknesse transports them into the kingdome of his Sonne to the end that they should declare the vertues of him who hath called them from darknesse to his marveilous light and that they should glory not in themselues but in the Lord as the Apostolique writings witnesse in divers sundrie places XI Moreover when God executeth this his good pleasure in the Elect or when he converts them he doth not onely procure that the Gospell be outwardly preached neither only mightily enlightens their vnderstandings by the Holy Spirit to make them vnderstande and discerne aright the things of the spirit of God but by the efficacy of the same spirit of regeneratiō he pierceth into the inmost parts of man he opens the hart that was shut he softens the heart that was hard he circumciseth the foreskinne of the heart sheds new qualities in the will and causeth it of dead to become living of evill good of not-willing willing of stubborne obedient hee workes in it and strengthens it to the end that as a good tree it may bring forth good fruit XII This lo is that Regeneration so much spoken of in Scripture that Renovation that new Creation that raising from the dead Vivification which God worketh in vs without * Without any cooperation of ours vs. And it is not effected by the doctrine alone beating on the care nor by morall perswasion induced by perswasiue reasons nor by any such kinde of operation whereby after God hath done his part it still remaines in the power of man to be regenerated or not to be to be or not to be converted No it is an operation wholy supernaturall most effectuall and withal most sweet admirable secret and ineffable which according to the Scripture that was inspired by the Author of this operation in respect of efficacie is nothing inferiour to creation or the resurrection from the dead so as all they in whose hearts God worketh after this admirable fashiō are certainely infallibly and effectually regenerated doe actually belieue And then indeede the will being now renewed is not only impelled and moved of God but being moved of God it worketh also it selfe and therefore one may wel say that Man himselfe believeth and repenteth by meanes of the Grace which he hath received XIII The faithfull during this life cannot fully comprehend the maner of this operation and yet in the meane time rest well contented inasmuch as they know feele that by this Grace of God they do from their hearts belieue and loue their Saviour XIIII So then Faith is the gift of God not because it is offered by God to mans free will but because it is in deede and in effect conferred inspired and infused into man Againe not because God giveth only a power to belieue and then afterward expects that mans Will consent therevnto or belieue indeede but because he which worketh both to will and to doe yea which worketh all in all effecteth in man both a will to belieue and beliefe it selfe XV. God oweth not this Grace to any For what may He owe to him that can giue nothing first that it might be repaide him againe yea what can He owe to him that hath nothing of his owne but sinne and leasing Wherefore he that receiveth this Grace ought yea and doth also yeeld eternal thanks to God for it he that receiveth it not either he hath no regard of these spirituall things and pleaseth himselfe in that which is his owne or retchlesse as he is boasteth in vaine of having that which hee hath not Now concerning those which outwardly make profession of the faith and amende their liues we must both iudge and speake the best according to the example of the Apostle for what is in their hearts is to vs vnknowne And for others vvhich are not yet called vve are to pray vnto God vvho calleth things that are not as if they vvere but in no hand may vve svvel vvith pride against them as if vve our selues had made our selues to differ XVI Now as by the fal man ceased not to be man endued with will and vnderstanding and sinne that overspread all mankinde abolished not the nature of mankinde but depraved it only and killed it spiritually So this divine Grace of Regeneration worketh not in men as in logs or stockes of trees neither doth it take away the will and its properties nor force or constraine it against its owne liking but spiritually enliueneth healeth correcteth and boweth it no lesse sweetly then mightily to the end that where formerly the rebellion resistance of the flesh did wholy domineere now the prompt and sincere obedience of the spirit may begin there to raigne in which very point the true and spiritual reestablishment freedome of our will consisteth And were it not that this admirable Worker of all good did ply vs in maner aforesaid there were no hope left vnto man that he should raise himselfe out of the fall by free will by which when he stood vpright he threw himselfe headlong into perdition XVII Also as the almighty operation of God whereby he produceth and sustaineth this our naturall life excludeth not but rather requireth the vse of the meanes by which God according to his infinite wisdome and goodnesse is pleased to display this his power even so the foresaid supernaturall operation of God by which he regenerateth vs excludeth not nor any way overthroweth the vse of the Gospell which the all wise God hath ordained to be the seed of Regeneration and the food of the soule Wherefore as the Apostles and Doctours which followed them did piously instruct the people concerning this Grace of God to his glory and to the abasing of all humane pride and yet in the meane while neglected not to hold them stil by their holy admonitions of the Gospell to the exercise of the word Sacraments and discipline So God forefend that they which teach and learne in the Church should presume to tempt God by separating those things which He according to his good pleasure would haue most straightly ioyned togither For Grace is conferred by admonitions and the more readily we doe our duety the more evident is the benefit of God working in vs and then doth his businesse proceede most happyly To which God all the glory both of the meanes and of their fruit and saving efficacie is due for ever and ever Amen A Reiection of Errours The true doctrine being expounded the Synode rejecteth the Errours of those I. VVHo teach that it cannot be said properly that originall Sinne is of it selfe sufficient to condemne all mankinde or to merit both temporall and eternall punishment For they contradict the Apostle who saith Rom. 5.12 By one man alone sinne entred into the world and by sinne death and so death came vpon all men inasmuch as all haue sinned And verse 16. The guilt is of one offence alone to condemnation Againe Rom.
6.23 The wages of sinne is death II. Who teach that spirituall gifts or good habitudes and vertues such as are goodnesse holynesse righteousnesse could haue no place in mans will when he was first created by consequent that they could not be lost in the fall For this directly thwarteth the description of the image of God which the Apostle maketh Ephes 4.24 Where he describes it by righteousnesse and holynesse which vertues certainely haue their seats in the will III. VVho teach that spirituall gifts were not separated from the will of man in the spirituall death since that in it selfe was never corrupted but hindered only by darknes of the vnaerstanding and vnrulinesse of the affections which hinderances being removed the will is able to make vse of its libertie which to it is naturall that is it is of it selfe able either to will and choose or not to will and choose any good proposed vnto it This is new and erroneous tending to nothing but to exalt the power of free will contrary to the saying of the Prophet Ieremy 17.9 The heart is wily and desperately evill aboue all things And that of the Apostle Ephes 2.3 Among whom children of * In the French it is by mistake of the Printer children of Religion Rebellion we all conversed once in the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of our thoughts IIII. VVho teach that a man not regenerate is not totally properly in Sin or destitute of all power concerning spirituall good but that he can hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and life and can offer vnto God the sacrifice of a contrite and broken spirit such as may be acceptable vnto him For these things contrary the plaine testimonies of Scripture Ephe. 2.1.5 Ye were dead in your trespasses and sinnes And Gen. 6.4 8.21 Every imagination of the thoughts of the heart of men is nothing else but evill at all times Adde hereto that to hunger and thirst after life and to be delivered from misery to offer vnto God the sacrifice of a broken spirit is proper to the regenerate Psal 51.19 And of those that are called happy Mat. 5.6 V. VVho teach that a corrupt and naturall man may so well vse common Grace whereby they vnderstand the light of Nature or the gifts which remaine in him after the fall that by the good vsage thereof he may by degrees and little by little obtaine greater grace to wit Evangelicall and saving grace yea salvation it selfe And that by this meanes God for his part sheweth himselfe ready to reveale Iesus Christ to all forasmuch as he affordeth vnto all sufficiently and efficaciously the meanes necessary to the Revelation of Iesus Christ and to faith and repentance For that this is false besides the experience of al times the Scripture witnesseth Psal 147.19.20 He declareth his words to Iacob and his statutes ordinances to Israell he hath not done so to all nations and therefore they know not his ordinances Act. 14.16 In times past God suffered all nations to walke in their owne waies Act. 16.6.7 It was forbidden them to wit Paul and his companions by the holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia comming therefore to Mysia they assayed to goe into Bithynia but the spirit of Iesus permitted them not VI. VVho teach that in the true conversion of a man it cannot be that God should poure into his will new qualities habits or gifts Therefore the faith by which we are first converted and from which we are named faithfull is not a qualitie or gift infused by God but only a bare action of man And that it cannot otherwise be called a gift then in regard alone of the power which a man hath to attaine therevnto For these things contradict the holy Scriptures which testifie That God sheddes in our hearts new qualities of faith obedience and the feeling of his loue Ier. 34.33 I will put my law within them and will write it in their heart Es 44.3 I will poure forth waters vpon him that is a thirst and rivers vpon the dry ground I will poure forth my spirit vpon thy posterity Rom. 5.5 The loue of God is shedd in our hearts by the holy spirit which is giuen vnto vs. They are also repugnant to the perpetuall practise of the Church that prayes on this manner Ierem. 31.18 Convert me O Lord and I shall be converted VII VVho teach that the Grace whereby we are converted vnto God is nothing else but a sweete perswasiō or as others expound it that the most noble maner of working in the conversion of a man and the most agreeable to the nature of man is that which is effected by perswasions And that nothing hinders but that the Grace which they tearme Moral that is to say which is wrought by perswasiue reasons may make a carnall man spiritual yea that God makes the will to consent no otherwise saue only by this kind of perswasion and that herein consisteth the whole efficacie of the divine operation whereby he su mounteth the operation of Satan inasmuch as God promiseth eternall good Satan onely temporall For this is pure Pelagianisme and contrary to all Scripture the which beside this kinde of operation in the conversion of a man acknowledgeth another over aboue to wit that of the Holy Spirit much more effectuall and divine as in the 36. chap. of Ezechiel ver 26. I wil giue you a new heart and will giue a new spirit in the midst of you and vvill take away the heart of stone and will giue an heart of flesh c. VIII Who teach that in the regeneration of a man God imployeth not his almighty power in such sort as that he mightily and infallibly benas the will to belieue and to bee converted but that notwithstanding all the operations of Grace which God vseth to the conversion of man man may resist God and the holy Spirit even then when God purposeth and would regenerate him that oftentimes man resisteth in deed effect so as he vtterly hindereth his owne regeneration yea that it resteth in his power to be or not to be regenerated For this is nothing else but to take away from God the efficacie of his Grace in our Conversion and to subiect the action of God almighty to the wil of man and that contrarie to the Apostles who teach Ephes 1.19 That wee belieue according to the efficacie of the power of his might And 2. Thess 1.11 That God fulfilleth in vs al the good pleasure of his goodnes and the worke of faith Mightily Againe 2. Pet. 1.3 That his Divine power hath given vs all whatsoever appertaineth to life and godlinesse IX Who teach that Grace and Freewill are causes that worke each their severall part and both concurre togither in the first point of conversion that Grace as a cause hath no precedence in order before the efficiencie or motion of the wil id est that
God doth not effectually aide mans wil to be converted before the wil of man mooue and determinate it selfe For the Ancient Church condemned this doctrine in the Pelagians long agoe by the Apostle Rom. 9.16 It is neither of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God who sheweth mercy and 1. Cor. 4.7 Who puts a difference betwixt thee and another and what hast thou that thou hast not received Againe Phil. 2.13 It is God which produceth in vs with efficacie both to wil to performe according to his good pleasure CHAP. IIII. Of the perseverance of the Saints The first Article THose whome God according to his purpose and decree calls to the communion of his Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ and regenerates by his holy Spirit he delivers from the dominion and thraldome of Sinne but not altogether from the flesh and body of Sinne during this life II. Whence it is that we see dayly so many sins of Infirmity and that the best workes of the Saints haue their blemishes Which continually furnishes them with matter of humbling themselues before God of having recourse to Iesus Christ crucified of mortifying the flesh more and more by the Spirit of prayer and by holy exercises of piety of sighing after and vehemently desiring full perfection vntill being disimpestred of this body of sinne they reigne in heaven with the Lambe of God III. By reason of these reliques of sin dwelling in vs and the temptation of Satan and the world those which are converted could not persist in this grace if they were left to their owne strength But God is faithfull who mercifully confirmes them in the grace which he hath once given them and mightily conserues them to the end IIII. Now albeit this power of God fortifying and conserving the truely faithfull in his Grace be too great to be overcome of the flesh yet they that are cōverted are not alway so conducted and mooved by God but that they may by their own fault turne aside in some particular actions from the conduct of Grace be seduced by the lusts of the flesh to obey them VVherefore it behoveth they watch alwaies and pray that they be not ledd into temptation which if they do not they not only may be carryed away of the flesh the world and of Sathan into sinnes yea grievous and feareful finnes but some times they are so carried away by the iust permission of God As the dolefull fals of David Peter and other holy persons mentioned in the Scripture doe sufficiently prooue V. Meane-while by such sinnes they grievously offend God make themselues guilty of death grieue the holy spirit interrupt the course of the exercise of faith most fearefully wound their consciences loose for a while the sense of Grace vntill Gods fatherly visage shine vpon them a new when by earnest repentance they returne againe into the right way VI. For God who is rich in mercy according to the vnchāgeable purpose of Election withdrawes not vtterly the Holie Spirit from those that are his no not in their grievous fals nor suffers them to fall so farre as to loose the grace of adoption and the state of justification or to commit the sin vnto death or that against the Holy Ghost and so being vtterly forsaken of him to cast themselues headlong into everlasting perdition VII For in these fals God first conserues in them this his immortal seed whereby they are regenerated that it be not lost or wholy reiected Then he renewes them truely and effectually by his VVord and Spirit to the end that they repent and be grieved at heart and according to God for their sins that with a contrite and broken heart they desire and obtaine remission in the bloud of the Mediatour by saith that they feele againe the grace of God reconcil'd vnto them that they adore his mercies and faithfulnes that for the future they more carefully worke out their salvation with feare and trembling VIII So then it is not by their merits nor strength but by the free mercy of God that they doe not wholy loose faith and grace nor continue and perish finally in their fals which not only might easily come to passe but would also doubtlesse in respect of themselues but in respect of God it cannot possibly be forasmuch as his counsaile cannot change nor his promise faile nor the calling according to purpose be revoked nor the merit intercession and preservation of Iesus Christ be annulled nor the seale of the holy spirit be made vaine or abolished IX Touching this preservation of the Elect vnto salvation the perseverance of the truely faithfull in faith the faithfull themselues may be and are assured according to the measure of faith whereby they belieue for most certaine that they are and ever shall continue true liuely members of the church and that they haue the remission of all their sins and life everlasting X. And therefore this certainety growes not from any particular revelation over and aboue beside the word but proceeds from faith in Gods promises which hee hath most abundantly revealed in his word for our consolation from the testimonie of the holy spirit who beares witnes with our spirit that we are the children of God heires Rom. 8.16.17 Finally from an earnest and holy study of a good conscience and of good workes And if the elect of God were destitute in the present world of this solid consolation that they shall obtaine the victorie and of this infallible earnest of eternall glory they were then of all men most miserable XI Meane while the scripture testifieth that the faithfull during this life are to fight against divers doubts of the flesh and that then when they are afflicted with grievous temptations they doe not alway feele in themselues this ful consolation of faith and this certainety of perseverance but God the father of all consolation suffers thē not to be tempted beyond their strength but with the temptation giveth such an issue that they are able to abide it 1. Cor. 10.13 And by the holy spirit doth againe awaken in them the certainety of perseverance XII Now so farre is it that this certainety of perseverance should make the truely faithfull prowd and plunge them into carnall securitie that rather it is the true roote of humilitie of filiall reverence of true piety of patience in all conflicts combats of ardent praiers of constancie vnder the crosse and in the confession of the truth and lastly of solid ioy in God so that the consideration of this benefit is to them a spurre to incite them vnto a serious and continual exercise of thankfulnesse and good works as appeareth by the testimonies of the Scripture and by the examples of the Saints XIII Also when the assurance of perseverance begins to reviue in them that are raised from some fall it begets not in them a carelesnesse or neglect of piety but rather a farre greater care heedfully to obserue