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which the true and fpiritual restoration and freedomof our will confist. Wherefore unless the admirable author of every good work, wrought in us, man could have no hope of recovering from his fall by his own free will, by the abuse of which in a state of innocence he plunged himself into ruin.

ART. XVII.

As the almighty operation of God, whereby he prolongs and fupports this our natural life, does not exclude, but requires the ufe of means, by whick God of his infinite mercy and goodness hath chofen to exert his influence: fo alfo the beforementioned fupernatural operation of God, by which we are regenerated, in no wife excludes, or fubverts, the use of the gospel, which the most wife God has ordained to be the feed of regeneration, and food of the foul. Wherefore as the apoftles and teachers who fucceeded them piously inftructed the people concerning this grace of God, to his glory, and the abafement of all pride, and in the mean time however neglected not to keep them by the facred precepts of the gofpel in the exercise of the word, facraments and discipline: fo even to this day, be it far front either inftructors or instructed to prefume to tempt God in the Chuteh, by feparating what he of his good pleasure hath most intimately joined together. For grace is conferred by means of admonitions,

and the more readily we perform our duty, the more eminent ufually is this blessing of God work. ing in us, and the more directly is his work advanced, to whom alone all the glory both of means, and their faving fruit and efficacy is for ever due. Amen.

THE FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE.

Of the Perfeverance of the Saints.

W

ARTICLE 1.

HOM God calls, according to his purpose, to the communion of his Son our Lord Jefus Chrift, and regenerates by the holy spirit, he delivers alfo from the dominion and flavery of fin in this life, thouhg not altogether from the body of fin,, and from the infirmities of the flesh, fo long as they continue in this world,

ART. II.

Hence fpring daily fins of infirmity, and hence. Pots adhere to the best works of the faints; which

furnish them with conftant matter for humiliation before God, and flying for refuge to Chrift crucified, for mortifying the flesh more and more by the fpirit of prayer, and by holy exercifes of piety, and for preffing forward to the goal of perfe on, till being at length delivered from this body of death, they are brought to reign with the Lamb of God in Heaven.

ART. III.

By reason of these remains of indwelling fin, and the temptations of fin and of the world, thofe who are converted could not perfevere in a state of grace, if left to their own ftrength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms them, and powerfully preferves them therein, even to the end.

ART. IV,

Although the weakness of the flesh cannot prevail against the power of God, who confirms and preferves true believers in a state of grace, yet converts are not always fo influenced and actuated by the fpirit of God, as not in fome particular inftances, finfully to deviate from the guidance of divine grace, fo as to be feduced by and comply with the lufts of the flesh; they must therefore be conftant in watching and prayer, that they be not led into tem praticE.

When these are neglected, they are not only liable to be drawn into great and heinous fins, by Satan, the world and the flesh, but fometimes by the righteous permiffion of God actually fall into thefe evils. This, the lamentable fall of David, Peter, and other faints, defcribed in holy fcripture, demonstrates.

ART. V.

By fuch enormous fins, however, they very highly offend God, incur a deadly guilt, grieve the holyfpirit, interrupt the exercife of faith, very grieviously wound their confcience, and fometimes lofe the fenfe of God's favour, for a time, until on their returning into the right way by ferious repentance, the fight of God's fatherly countenance again shines upon them.

ART, VI.

But God who is rich in mercy, according to his unchangeable purpose of election, does not wholly withdraw the holy fpirit from his own people, even in their melancholy falls, nor fuffers them to proceed fo far as to lofe, the grace of adoption, and forfeit the state of juftification, or to commit the fin unto death ; nor does he permit them to be totally deferted, and to plunge themselves into everlasting destruction,

ART. VII.

For in the first place, in these falls he preferves in them the incorruptible feed of regeneration from perifhing, or being totally loft; and again, by his word and spirit, certainly and effectually renews them to repentance, to a fincere and godly forrow for their fins, that they may feek and obtain remif fin in the blood of the Mediator, may again experience the favour of a reconeiled God, through faith adore his mercies, and henceforward more diligently work out their own falvation with fear and trembling.

ART. VIII,

Thus it is not in confequence of their own merits, or ftrength, but of God's free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their blackflidings; which, with refpect to themselves is not only poffible, but would undoubtedly happen; but with refpect to God, it is utterly impoffible, fince his counfel cannot be chang ed, nor his promife fail, neither can the call according to his purpole be revoked, nor the merit, interceffion and prefervation of Chrift be rendered inef fectual, nor the fealing of the holy Spirit be fruf trated or obliterated.

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