nite, infallible, and independent upon the creature; so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain. He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his works, and in all his commands.m To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures, they owe unto the Creator, and whatever he is further pleased to require of them. "

d1 Tim.

a John 5: 26. b Acts, 7: 2. c Psal. 119; 68. 6:15; Rom. 9: 5. e Acts, 17: 24, 25. f Job, 22: 2, 3. g Rom. 11:36. h Rev. 4 11; 1 Tim. 6: 15; Dan. 4; 25 31, 34, 35. i Heb. 4: 13. k Rom. 11 33, 34; Psal. 147 5. 1 Acts, 15: 18; Ezek. 11: 5. m Psal. 145: 17; Rom. 7; 12. n Rev. 5 12, 13, 14.

III.

In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the son is eternally begotten of the Father; P the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. Which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence upon him.

• 1 John, 5:7; Matt. 3: 16, 17; chap. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13: 14. PJohn, 1: 14, 18. 4 John, 15: 26; Gal. 4:6; 2 Cor. 13: 14.

CHAP. III.

OF GOD'S ETERNAL DECREES.

I.

GOD from all Eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; a yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin, 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

b

a Eph. 1: 11; Rom. 11: 33; Heb. 6: 17; Rom. 9 15, 18. b James, 1 : 13, 14; John, 1 5. c Acts, 2: 23; chap. 4; 27, 28; Matt. 17: 12; John, 10: 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 that which would come to pass upon such conditions.e

d Acts, 15: 18, 15, and 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 angels are predestined unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death.

f1 Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25: 41; Eph. 1:5, 6 ; Prov. 16:4. g Rom. 9: 22, 23.

IV.

These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore-ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished. h

h2 Tim. 2: 19; John, 13: 18.

མ.

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, 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, and all to the praise of his glorious grace.1

i Eph. 14, 9, 11; Rom. 8: 30; 2 Tim. 1: 9; 1 Thes. 5: 9. k Rom. 9: 11, 33, 16; Eph. 1: 4, 9.1 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 fore-ordained all the means thereunto, m Wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, " are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified,

adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power, through faith unto salvation. Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.

m1 Pet. 1:2; Eph. 1: 4, 5, and chap. 2: 10; 2 Thes. 2:13. n1 Thes. 5 9, 10; Tit. 2: 14. • Rom. 8:30; Eph. 1:5; 2 Thes. 2:13. p1 Pet. 1:5. q John 7:9 6:64, 65; 8:47, and 10: 26; Rom. 8: 28, to the end: 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 dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice."

r Matt. 11: 25, 26; Rom. 9: 17, 18, 21, 22; 2 Tim. 2: 19, 20; Jude, 4: 1 Pet. 2: 8.

VIII.

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 yielding obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence and admiration of God," and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the Gospel."

t

Rom. 9: 20, 11, 33; Deut. 29: 29. u Eph. 1: 6; Rom. 11: 33. w Rom. 11: 2 Pet. 1: 10; Rom. 8: 33: Luke 10: 20.

t 2 Pet. 1: 10. 5, and 6: 20;

CHAP. IV.

OF CREATION.

I.

b

Ir pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, a for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, in the beginning to create and make of nothing the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days and all very good.c

a Heb. 1:2; John 1: 2, 3; Gen. 1:2; Job, 26: 13, and 33: 4. b Rom, 1:20; Jer. 10: 12; Psal. 104: 24, and 33: 5, 6. c Gen. 1 chap.; Heb. 11:3; Col. 1:16;

Acts, 17: 24.

II.

After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, d with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness and true holiness, after his own image, having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject to change. Besides this law written in

i