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but alfo for all their other fins.

And this is the de

cree of reprobation which by no means makes God the author of fin, (the very thought of which is blafphemy) but declares him to be an awful, irreprehenfible, and righteous judge and avenger.

ART. XVI.

Thofe who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an affured confidence of foul, peace of confcience, an earnest endeavour after filial obedience, and glorying in God thro' Chrift efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless perfift in the ufe of the means which God hath appointed for working thefe graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to perfevere in the ufe of means, and with ardent defires devoutly and humbly to wait for a feafon of richer grace. Much lefs caufe have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, tho' they feriously defire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that meafure of holiness and faith, to which they afpire; fince a merciful God has promifed that he will not quench the fmoaking flax, nor break the bruifed reed. Bat this doctrine is justly terrible to thofe, who regardlefs of God, and of the Saviour Jefus Chrift, have wholly given themfelves up to the cares of the world,

and the pleasures of the flesh, fo long as they are not feriously converted to God.

ART. XVII.

Since we are to judge of the will of God, from his word, which teftifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature, but in virtue of the covenant of grace, in which they together with the parents are comprehended, godly parents have no reafon to doubt of the election, and falvation of their children whom it pleafeth God to call out of this life in their infancy.

ART. XVIII.

To those who murmur at the free grace of election, and juft severity of reprobation, we answer with the apoftle." Nay, but, O! man, who art thou that replieft against God?" Rom. ix. 20. and quote the language of our Saviour, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own," Matt. XX. 15. And therefore with holy adoration of these mys. teries, we exclaim in the words of the apostle. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judg ments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor or who hath first given to him, and it

fhall be recompenfed unto him again? For of him. and thro' him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."

SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE.

Of the Death of Chrift, and the redemption of Men thereby.

G

ARTICLE I.

OD is not only fupremely merciful, but also fupremely juft, And his juftice requires (as he hath revealed himself in his word) that our fins committed against his infinite majefty fhould be punished not only with temporal, but with eternal punishments, both in body and foul; which we cannot escape, unless fatisfaction be made to the juftice of God.

ART. II,

Since therefore we are unable to make that fatisfaction in our own perfons, or to deliver ourfelves from the wrath of God, he hath been pleased of his

infinite mercy to give his only begotten fon, for our furety, who was made fin, and became a curfe for us, and in our stead, that he might make fatisfaction to divine juftice on our behalf.

ART. LII.

The death of the fon of God is the only and moft perfect facrifice and fatisfaction for fin; is of infinite worth and value, abundantly fufficient to expiate the fins of the whole world..

ART. IV.

This death derives its infinite value and dignity from these confiderations; because the perfon who fubmitted to it was not only really man, and perfectly holy, but alfo the only begotten Son of God, of the fame eternal and infinite effence with the Father, and holy fpirit, which qualifications were neceffary to constitute him a Saviour for us: and because it was attended with a fenfe of the wrath and curfe of God due to us for fin,

ART. V.

Moreover the promife of the gofpel is, that whofoever believeth in Christ crucified, fhould not perich but have everlasting life. This promife toge

ther with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all perfons promifcuously and without distinction, to whom God out of his good pleafure fends the gofpel.

ART. VI,

And, whereas many who are called by the gofpel, do not repent, nor believe in Chrift, but perish in unbelief; this is not owing to any defect or infufficiency in the facrifice offered by Chrift upon the cross, but is wholly to be imputed to themselves..

ART. VII.

But as many as truly believe, and are delivered and faved from fin and destruction through the death of Christ, are indebted for this benefit folely to the grace of God given them in Chrift from everlafting, and not to any merit of their own..

ART. VIII.

For this was the fovereign counsel, and most gra. cious will and purpofe of God the Father, that the quickening and faving efficacy of the most precious death of his fon fhould extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to falvation:

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