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count perhaps for Calvin's making use of such it liberal language, very much unbecoming so great a man, and hurtful even to the very best cause.

Calvin's own opinions, in the year 1535, might upon reflection have taught him more moderation towards those who differed from his later system.

PRÆFATIO JOANNIS CALVINI ÎN EDITIONEM GALLICAM Novi TESTAMENTI. NEOCOMI.

Anno MDXXXV. “ Tandem igitur ubi adfuit plenum illud tem

pus ac dies a Domino præordinata, adstitit “ coràm Messias ille tot retrò sæculis exoptatis“ simus: atque idem illa omnia cumulate præp “ stitit quæ erant ad OMNIUM redemptionem “ necessária. Neque verò intra unum Israëlem “ tantum illud beneficium stetit, cùm potius " ad UNIVERSUM HUMANUẢI GENUS usque porri

gendum esset: Quia per unum Christum 'UNI,

VERSUM HUMANUM GENUS reconciliandum erat “ Deo, uti his Novi Fæderis tabulis continetur et “ amplissimè demonstratur."-Calv. Ep.col.543.

Again, in the same." Ad istam Hære

. “ ditatem (Regni Paterni scilicet) vocamur (

ACCEPTATIONE, " Masculi, Fæminæ, Summi, Infimi, Heri,

OMNES SINE PERSONARUM

* Servi,

«Servi, Magistri, Discipuli, Doctores, Idiotæ, "Judæi, Græci, Galli, Romani. NEMO HINC "EXCLUDITUR, qui modó Christum, qualis of"fertur a Patre in salutem omnium, admittat, "et admissum complectatur."-Ib. Col. 545.

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Calvin's doctrine of Predestination appears, from the foregoing quotations, to be resolved into the sole will of God, both as to the elect and the reprobate. As to the first, he asserts the decrees of God to be absolute,-without any respect to faith in Christ, or a good life. As to the reprobate, they, by the same absolute and irrespective decree of God, are predestinated and determined* to sin, and so to damnation. How he keeps clear of making God the author of sin, it behoves his followers to explain.

II.

WE SHALL NEXT PROCEED TO OUR ARTICLE, AND SHEW THAT IT GIVES NO COUNTENANCE TO SUCH DOCTRINES; WHICH WE SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO EVINCE FROM THE DESIGN AND HISTORY OF THE ARTICLE, AND THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PRINCIPAL COMPILER OF IT.

* See Page 7.

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It may be proper to produce this article, as

. compiled in Edward VI. time, giving in the margin the alterations made in it by our Reformers under Queen Elizabeth in the year 1562, and dividing it into paragraphs as the matter of it requires.

XVII Article.

“ Predestination unto life, is the everlasting

purpose of God, whereby (before the founda« tions of the world were laid) he hath con“ stantly decreed by his counsel, secret unto

us, to deliver from curse and damnation those " whom he hath chosen* out of mankind, “ and to bring them by Christ to everlasting “ salvation, as vessels made to honour.' Wherefore they which be endued with so excellent “ a benefit of God, be called according to God's

purpose, by his spirit working in due season, they through grace obey the calling, they be justified freely, they are made sons oft adoption, they are made like the image of I THE only begotten § Jesus Christ; they walk re

ligiously in good works, and at length, by “ God's mercy, they attain to everlasting feli

city.

+ God by

I His.

* Added in 1362: In Christ. Son.

As

“ As the godly consideration of predestina, “ tion and election in Christ, is full of sweet,

pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the

working of the spirit of Christ, mortifying " the works of the flesh, and their earthly

members, and drawing up their mind to high " and heavenly things, as well because it doth

greatly establish and confirm their faith of “ eternal salvation, to be enjoyed through

Christ, as because it doth fervently kindle " their love towards God.

“ So for curious and carnal persons, lacking " the spirit of Christ, to have continually before “ their eyes the sentence of God's predestina“ tion, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby “ the devil doth thrust them either into despe

ration, or into wretchlessness of most unclean living (impurissimæ vitæ securitatem) no less perilous than desperation. “ Furthermore, * THOUGH THE DECREES OF PREDESTINATION BE UNKNOWN TO US, YET we must receive God's promises in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy

scripture; and in our doings, that will of God “ is to be followed, which we have expressly s declared unto us in the word of God."

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These words left out in 1562.

3

1

2

4

The following comparison of the several parts of the definition of predestination or election in the article, with the corresponding texts of scripture, will shew how nearly the compilers expressed themselves in scripture words.

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"Predestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (3.) (BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD WERE LAID) " he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver from (1.) CURSE and "damnation those whom he hath (2.) CHOSEN* (IN CHRIST) Out of mankind, and to (4.) "bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation “ (as vessels made to honour.")-Rom. ix. 21, 23.

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Added in 1562. Though our Reformers in Edward's time meant the same, as appears by the words BY CHRIST, in the next member of the sentence; yet those in Elizabeth's thought proper to keep close to the text in the Ephesians (ch. 1.) though they repeat the name of CHRIST again.

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