Note 6 — A Confession of Faith.

This doctrine is clearly revealed in the Scriptures, embraced by our Reformers, as set forth in the 17th Article of the Church of England, and in the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Seventeenth Article of the Church, thus expresseth this doctrine:—“Predestination to Life, is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel, secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ 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 be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God’s mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.”—This is the noble testimony of our Reformers, as agreed and subscribed to by every conscientious Churchman; to this agree, the Westminster Confession of Faith, as exprest in the 20th Article of the shorter Catechism. God having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a Covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. A vast many passages of scripture can easily be brought to prove this important Article; and, happy for those, who have got the sweet evidence of God’s Spirit, witnessing their adoption into his family. If this is Antinomianism, I am willing to bear the name, and enjoy the blessings of an everlasting Covenant of Election and Sovereign Grace.