ing understanding of such things revelantur, agnoscimus esse necesas are revealed in the Word; and sariam: quin etiam nonnullas esse that there are some circumstances circumstantias cultum Dei specconcerning the worship of God, tantes et Ecclesiæ regimen, iis cum and government of the Church, humanis actionibus et societatibus common to human actions and so- communes, quæ naturali lumine ac cieties, which are to be ordered by prudentia Christiana secundum the light of nature and Christian generales verbi regulas (perpetuo prudence, according to the general quidem illas observandas) sunt rerules of the Word, which are al- gulandæ.2 ways to be observed.2 VII. All things in Scripture are VII. Quæ in Scriptura continennot alike plain in themselves, nor tur non sunt omnia æque aut in alike clear unto all;3 yet those se perspicua, aut omnibus hominithings which are necessary to be bus evidentia :3 ea tamen omnia known, believed, and observed, for quæ ad salutem necessaria sunt salvation, are so clearly propound- cognitu, creditu, observatu, adeo ed and opened in some place of perspicue, alicubi saltem in ScripScripture or other, that not only tura, proponuntur et explicantur, the learned, but the unlearned, in ut eorum non docti solum, verum a due use of the ordinary means, indocti etiam ordinariorum debito may attain unto a sufficient under- usu mediorum, sufficientem assequi standing of them.* possint intelligentiam.* VIII. The Old Testament in VIII. Instrumentum Vetus HeHebrew (which was the native lan- bræa lingua (antiqua Dei populo guage of the people of God of nempe vernacula) Novum autem old), and the New Testament in Græca (ut quæ apud Gentes maGreek (which at the time of the xime omnium tunc temporis, quum writing of it was most generally scriberetur illud, obtinuerat), imknown to the nations), being immediate a Deo inspirata, ejusque mediately inspired by God, and by cura et Providentia singulari per his singular care and providence omnia huc usque secula pura et kept pure in all ages, are therefore intaminata custodita, ea propter authentical; so as in all controver- sunt authentica. Adeo sane ut ad 5 Matt. v. 18. some men and angels' are pre-ac Angelorum' decreto suo ad æterdestinated unto everlasting life, nam vitam prædestinavit, alios and others foreordained to ever- autem ad mortem æternam prælasting death." ordinavit." IV. These angels and men, thus IV. Prædestinati illi et præorpredestinated and foreordained, dinati homines Angelique, particuare particularly and unchangeably lariter sunt ac immutabiliter dedesigned; and their number is so signati, certusque illorum est ac certain and definite that it can not definitus numerus, adeo ut nec aube either increased or diminished.' geri possit nec imminui.' V. Those of mankind that are V. Qui ex humano genere sunt predestinated unto life, God, be- ad vitam prædestinati, illos Deus fore the foundation of the world ante jacta mundi fundamenta, sewas laid, according to his eternal cundum æternum suum ac immuand immutable purpose, and the tabile propositum, secretumque vosecret counsel and good pleasure luntatis suæ consilium et beneplaof his will, hath chosen in Christ, citum, elegit in Christo ad æternam unto everlasting glory,' out of his gloriam, idque ex amore suo et mere free grace and love, without gratia mere gratuita; nec fide, nec any foresight of faith or good bonis operibus, nec in his illave works, or perseverance in either perseverantia, sed neque ulla alia of them, or any other thing in the re in creatura, prævisis, ipsum creature, as conditions, or causes tanquam causis aut conditionibus moving him thereunto; and all ad id moventibus; quo totum to the praise of his glorious nempe in laudem cederet gloriosa grace. suæ gratia. 6 VI. As God hath appointed the VI. Quemadmodum autem Deus elect unto glory, so hath he, by electos ad gloriam destinavit, sic the eternal and most free purpose omnia etiam quibus illam conseof his will, foreordained all the quantur media præordinavit, volunmeans thereunto.' Wherefore they tatis suæ proposito æterno simul et who are elected, being fallen in liberrimo. Quapropter electi, post Adam, are redeemed by Christ,' quam lapsi essent in Adamo, a Chriare effectually called unto faith in sto sunt redempti;' per Spiritum Christ by his Spirit working in ejus opportuno tempore operantem, due season; are justified, adopted, ad fidem in Christum vocantur efficasanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation." Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. citer; justificantur, sanctificantur, et potentia ipsius per fidem custodiuntur ad salutem. Nec alii quivis a Christo redimuntur, vocantur efficaciter, justificantur, adoptantur, sanctificantur et salvantur, præter electos solos." VII. The rest of mankind God VII. Reliquos humani generis Deo was pleased, according to the un- placuit secundum consilium voluntasearchable counsel of his own will, tis suæ inscrutabile (quo misericorwhereby he extendeth or withhold-diam pro libitu exhibet abstinetve) in eth mercy as he pleaseth, for the gloriam supremæ suæ in creaturas 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.* potestatis, præterire; eosque ordinare ad ignominiam et iram pro peccatis suis, ad laudem justitiæ suæ gloriosa. VIII. The doctrine of this high VIII. Doctrina de sublimi hoc præmystery of predestination is to be destinationis mysterio non sine sumhandled with special prudence and ma cura et prudentia tractari debet,* care, that men attending the will quo nimirum homines, dum voluntati of God revealed in his Word, and Dei in verbo ejus revelatæ advertant yielding obedience thereunto, may, animos, eique debitam exhibeant obefrom the certainty of their effectual dientiam, de efficaci sua vocatione cervocation, be assured of their eternal tiores facti, ad æternæ suæ electionis election.' So shall this doctrine af-assurgere possint certitudinem.' Ita ford matter of praise, reverence, and demum suppeditabit hæc doctrina admiration of God;" and of humil- laudandi, reverendi, admirandique ity, diligence, and abundant conso- | Deum argumentum,* quin etiam hu lation to all that sincerely obey the militatis, diligentiæ et consolationis gospel.' copiosa omnibus sincere obedientibus evangelio.' CHAPTER IV. CAP. IV. De Creatione. I. It pleased God the Father, Son, I. Deo, Patri, Filio et Spiritui and Holy Ghost,' for the manifes- sancto, complacitum est,' quo æternæ tation of the glory of his eternal suæ cum potentiæ tum sapientiæ power, wisdom, and goodness,' in bonitatisque gloriam manifestaret, the beginning, to create or make mundum hunc, et quæ in eo contiof nothing the world, and all things nentur universa tam visibilia quam therein, whether visible or invisi-invisibilia, in principio intra sex dieble, in the space of six days, and all rum spatium creare, seu ex nihilo convery good.' dere, atque omnia quidem bona valde.* II. Postquam omnes alias creaturas condidisset Deus, creavit hominem marem et fæminam, animabus inditis rationalibus ac immortalibus,' imbutos cognitione, justitia, veraque sanctitate, ad suam ipsius imaginem,' habentes in cordibus suis inscriptam Divinam legem, simul et eandem implendi vires;' non tamen sine quadam violandi possibilitate; II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, 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 fulfill it;' and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject libertati siquidem permissi erant unto change." Beside this law voluntatis suæ haud immutabilis.10 written in their hearts, they re- Præter autem hanc in cordibus eoceived a command not to eat of rum inscriptam legem de non comethe tree of the knowledge of good dendo ex arbore scientiæ boni malique 1 4 1 Rom. xi. 5, 6, 20; 2 Pet. i. 10; Rom. viii. 33; Luke x. 20. Heb. i. 2; John i. 2, 3; Gen. i. 2; Job xxvi. 13: xxxiii. 4. Rom. i. 20; Jer. x. 12; Psa. civ. 24; xxxiii. 5, 6. Gen. ch. i.; Heb. xi. 3; Col. i. 16; Acts xvii. 24. " Gen. i. 27. Gen. ii. 7; Eccles. xii. 7; Luke xxiii. 43; Gen. i. 26; Col. iii. 10; Eph. iv. 24. Eccles. vii. 29. 10 Gen. iii. 6; Eccles. vii. 29. head there be three persons, of tres sunt unius ejusdemque essentiæ, one substance, power, and eter- potentiæ ac æternitatis; Deus Panity: God the Father, God the ter, Deus Filius, ac Deus Spiritus Son, and God the Holy Ghost.' The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son. CHAPTER III. Of God's Eternal Decree.* Sanctus.' Pater quidem a nullo est, nec genitus nempe nec procedens: Filius autem a Patre est aeterne genitus: Spiritus autem Sanctus æterne procedens a Patre Filioque.' CAP. III. De æterno Dei Decreto. I. Deus, e sapientissimo sanctissimoque consilio voluntatis suæ, li I. God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchange- bere ac immutabiliter, quicquid ably ordain whatsoever comes to unquam evenit, ab omni æterno pass;' yet so as thereby neither is ordinavit; ita tamen, ut inde nec God the author of sin," nor is vio-author peccati evadat Deus, nec lence offered to the will of the voluntati creaturarum sit vis ilcreatures, nor is the liberty or con- lata, neque libertas aut contingentingency of second causes taken tia causarum secundarum ablata away, but rather established." sit, verum potius stabilita." 8 II. Although God knows what- II. Quamvis omnia cognoscat soever may or can come to pass Deus, quæ suppositis quibusvis upon all supposed conditions, yet conditionibus sunt eventu possibihath he not decreed any thing be- lia; non tamen ideo quicquam decause he foresaw it as future, or crevit quoniam illud præviderat aut as that which would come to pass futurum, aut positis talibus condiupon such conditions." tionibus eventurum." III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, 6 III. Deus, quo gloriam suam manifestaret, nonnullos hominum 1 1 John v. 7; Matt. iii. 16, 17; xxviii. 19; James i. 13, 17; 1 John i. 5; [Am. ed. Eccl. |