CHAPTER 3
Of God’s Eternal Decree.
I. God from all eternity did,
by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably
ordain whatsoever comes to pass:a
yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin,b
nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the
liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.c
a Eph.
1:11
; Rom.
11:33
;
Heb.
6:17
;
Rom.
9:15
,18.
b
Jam.
1:13,17;
1 John 1:5.
c Acts 2:23; Matt.
17:12; Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11; Prov. 16:33.
II. Although God knows
whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions;d
yet hath he not decreed any thing because he foresaw it as future,
or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.e
d Acts 15:18; 1 Sam.
23:11,12; Matt. 11:21,23.
e
Rom.
9:11,13,16,18.
III. By the decree of God, for
the manifestation of his glory, some men and angelsf are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others
foreordained to everlasting death.g
f 1 Tim. 5:21; Matt.
25:41.
g
Rom.
9:22,23;
Eph. 1:5,6; Prov. 16:4.
IV. These angels and men, thus
predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed;
and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either
increased or diminished.h
h 2 Tim. 2:19; John
13:18.
V. Those of mankind that are
predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid,
according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret
counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting
glory,i out of his
mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works,
or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as
conditions, or causes moving him thereunto;k and all to the praise of his glorious grace.l
i Eph. 1:4,9,11;
Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Thess. 5:9.
k
Rom.
9:11,13,16;
Eph. 1:4,9.
l Eph. 1:6,12.
VI. As God hath appointed the
elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his
will, foreordained all the means thereunto.m Wherefore they who are elected being fallen in Adam, are
redeemed by Christ;n
are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due
season; are justified, adopted, sanctified,o and kept by his power through faith unto salvation.p
Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called,
justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.q
m 1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1:4,5; Eph. 2:10; 2 Thess. 2:13.
n 1 Thess. 5:9,10;
Tit. 2:14.
o
Rom.
8:30;
Eph. 1:5; 2 Thess. 2:13.
p 1 Pet. 1:5.
q John 17:9; Rom.
8:28
to the end; John 6:64,65; John 10:26; John
8:47; 1 John 2:19.
VII. The rest of mankind, God
was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he
extendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory of his
sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain
them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious
justice.r
r Matt. 11:25,26;
Rom. 9:17,18,21,22; 2 Tim. 2:19,20; Jude ver. 4; 1 Pet. 2:8.
VIII. The doctrine of this high
mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care,s
that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and
yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their
effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election.t
So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of
God,u and of
humility, diligence, and abundant consolation, to all that sincerely obey the
Gospel.w
s Rom.
9:20
; Rom.
11:33
;
Deut. 29:29.
t 2 Pet. 1:10.
u Eph. 1:6; Rom.
11:33
.
w
Rom.
11:5,6,20;
2 Pet.
1:10
;
Rom.
8:33
;
Luke 10:20.
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Westminster
Confession of Faith (index)
