3. Of God’s Decree

2 LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION 1689 37 Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit51,27 of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided52:28 the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father53; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son54; all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him. 3. Of God’s Decree 1. 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 pass55; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein56; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established57; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree58 . 2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions59, yet hath He not decreed anything, because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions60.6 3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ61, to the praise of His glorious grace62; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of His glorious justice63 . 4. 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 diminished64 . 5. Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable

51 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14 52 Exod. 3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6 53 John 1:14,18 54 John 15:26; Gal. 4:6 55 Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17; Rom. 9:15,18 56 James 1:13; 1 John 1:5 57 Acts 4:27,28; John 19:11 58 Num. 23:19; Eph. 1:3-5 59 Acts 15:18 60 Rom. 9:11,13,16,18 61 I Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34 62 Eph. 1:5,6 63 Rom. 9:22,23; Jude 4 64 2 Tim. 2:19; John 13:18