Chapter III - Of God's Decree
I. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass;(Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15,18) yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein;(James 1:13; 1 John 1:5) nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established;(Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11) in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree.(Num. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5)
II. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions,(Acts 15:18) yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.(Rom. 9:11,13,16,18)
III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ,(I Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34) to the praise of His glorious grace;(Eph. 1:5,6) others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice.(Rom. 9:22,23; Jude 4)
IV. These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.(2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18)
V. Those of mankind that are predestinated to 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,(Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; I Thess. 5:9) without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto.(Rom. 9:13,16; Eph. 2:5,12)
VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so He hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto;(1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thess. 2:13) wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ(1 Thess. 5:9, 10) are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified,(Rom. 8:30; 2 Thess. 2:13) and kept by His power through faith unto salvation;1 Pet. 1:5) neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.(John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64)
VII. The doctrine of the 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;(1 Thess. 1:4,5; 2 Pet. 1:10) so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,(Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:33) reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,(Rom. 11:5,6,20) diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.(Luke 10:20)
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: Of the Holy Scriptures
- Chapter 2: Of God and the Holy Trinity
- Chapter 3: Of God’s Decree
- Chapter 4: Of Creation
- Chapter 5: Of Divine Providence
- Chapter 6: Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment Thereof
- Chapter 7: Of God’s Covenant
- Chapter 8: Of Christ the Mediator
- Chapter 9: Of Free Will
- Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling
- Chapter 11: Of Justification
- Chapter 12: Of Adoption
- Chapter 13: Of Sanctification
- Chapter 14: Of Saving Faith
- Chapter 15: Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
- Chapter 16: Of Good Works
- Chapter 17: Of the Perseverance of the Saints
- Chapter 18: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
- Chapter 19: Of the Law of God
- Chapter 20: Of the Gospel and the Extent of Grace Thereof
- Chapter 21: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
- Chapter 22: Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day
- Chapter 23: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
- Chapter 24: Of the Civil Magistrate
- Chapter 25: Of Marriage
- Chapter 26: Of the Church
- Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints
- Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
- Chapter 29: Of Baptism
- Chapter 30: Of the Lord’s Supper
- Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
- Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment