Difficulties Associated With Articles Of Religion Among Particular Baptists

38 2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 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 love65, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto66.

6. 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 thereunto67; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ68, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by His Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified69, and kept by His power through faith unto salvation70; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only71.

7. 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 election72; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise73, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility74, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel75.

4. Of Creation 1. In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit76,1 for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power77, wisdom, and goodness, to create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good78.

2. After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female79, with reasonable and immortal souls80, rendering them fit unto that life to God for which they were created; being made after the image of God, 65 Eph. 1:4, 9, 11; Rom. 8:30; 2 Tim. 1:9; I Thess. 5:9 66 Rom. 9:13,16; Eph. 2:5,12 67 1 Pet. 1:2; 2; Thess. 2:13 68 1 Thess. 5:9, 10 69 Rom. 8:30; 2 Thess. 2:13 70 1 Pet. 1:5 71 John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64 72 1 Thess. 1:4,5; 2 Pet. 1:10 73 Eph. 1:6; Rom. 11:33 74 Rom. 11:5,6,20 75 Luke 10:20 76 John 1:2,3; Heb. 1:2; Job 26:13 77 Rom. 1:20 78 Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:31 79 Gen. 1:27 80 Gen. 2:7