finful; fince tho' they are strictly finful in themfelves, yet their Imperfection is removed thro' Faith.

The FOURTEENTH ARTICLE.

Of Works of Supererogation.

OLUNTARY works befides, over and above God's commandments, which they call works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his fake than of bounden duty is required: whereas Chrift faith plainly, when ye have done all that are commanded to you, fay, We are unprofitable fervants.

This Article, properly speaking, contains but One Propofition, the latter Part being only a Confirmation or Proof of what is afferted in the former. See Limborch's Syftem, Book the Fifth, Chapter the Seventy feventh, Sect. 17, 18. and the Fourth Queftion of Turretin's Locus Undecimus.

C

Of Chrift alone without Sin.

1HRIST in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things (fin only excepted) from which be was clearly void, both in his flesh and in bis fpirit. He

came

came to be a Lamb without fpot, who by facrifice of bimfelf once made, fhould take away the fins of the world, and fin (as St. John faith) was not in him. But all we the reft (altho' baptized and born again in Chrift) yet offend in many things, and if we fay we have no fin, we deceive our felves, and the truth is not in us.

This Article contains Four Propofitions.

1. Chrift in the Truth of our Nature was made like unto us in all things (Sin only excepted) from which he was clearly void, both in his Flesh and in his Spirit.

2. He came to be a Lamb without Spot, who
by Sacrifice of himself once made, should take
away the Sins of the World.

3. Sin (as St. John faith) was not in Christ.
4. All we the reft (altho' baptized and born
again in Chrift) yet offend in many things,
and if we fay we have no Sin, we deceive
our felves, and the Truth is not in us.

The First Propofition. See Bishop Pearson on the Third Article, from the Beginning down to Born of the Virgin Mary.

The Second Propofition. That Chrift was a Lamb without Spot, and confequently that he came to be fuch, St. Peter exprefly affures us, 1 Pet. 1. 19. That he came to be a Lamb without Spot, who should take away the fins of the world, is evident from 1 John 3. 5. where we are told, that Chrift was manifested to take away our fins. That he took away the Sins of the Word by the Sacrifice of himself, is evident from the Author to the Hebrews, who faies, Chapter 13. v. 12. that our Saviour fuffered without the Gate, that he might fanctify the people with his own bloud. And that Chrift's Sacrifice of himself was

but

but once made, will appear in the Second and Third Propofitions of the Thirty first Article.

The Third Propofition. St. John faies, 1 Epift. Chap. 3. v. 5. in him is no fin.

The Fourth Propofition. The former Branch of it is evident from the latter, which is the exprefs Affertion of St. John, 1 Epift. Chap. 1. v. 8.

The SIXTEENTH ARTICLE.

N

Of Sin after Baptifm.

OT every deadly fin willingly committed after Baptifm is fin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to fuch as fall into fin after Baptifm. After we have receiv'd the Holy Ghoft, we may depart from grace given, and fall into fin, and by the grace of God we may arife again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned which fay, they can no more fin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgivenejs to fuch as truly repent.

This Article contains Four Propofitions.

1. Not every deadly Sin willingly committed after Baptifm, is Sin against the Holy Ghoft, and unpardonable.

2. The Grant of Repentance is not to be denied to fuch as fall into fin after Baptifm.

3. After we have receiv'd the Holy Ghoft, we may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin, and by the Grace of God we may arife again, and amend our Lives.

4. They are to be condemn'd which fay, they can no more fin as long as they live here, or

deny

deny the place of Forgiveness to fuch as truly repent.

Concerning this Article in general, See Mr. Plaifere's Appello Evangelium, Part 3. Chap. 16. p. 291, &c.

The First Propofition. Touching the diftinction of mortal and venial Sin, fee Limborch's Syftem, Book the Fourth, the Fourth Chapter, Sect. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. That every deadly Sin willingly committed after Baptism is not unpardonable, fee the Fifth Book of Limborch's Syftem, Chapter the Eighty fifth. And confequently every fuch deadly Sin can't be the Sin against the Holy Ghoft; because the Sin against the Holy Ghoft is unpardonable, Matth. 12. 31, 32. Tho' by the way, it must be observed, that our Church does not determin, what the Sin against the Holy Ghoft is, nor need any Perfon be able to determin it in order to his Satisfaction touching this Propofition; fince the Argument already offer'd plainly proves, that every deadly Sin willingly committed after Baptifm is not the Sin against the Holy Ghost.

The Second Propofition is the neceffary Confequence of the First. For who fhall dare to deny Repentance, that is, to deny the Poffibility of Repentance, in thofe Cafes, wherein God, who alone has Power fo to do, has not made it impoffible?

The Third Propofition. That we may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin, after we have received the Holy Ghost, see the Fifth Book of Limborch's Syftem, from the Eightieth Chapter to the Eighty fourth inclufively: and that by the Grace of God we may arife again, and amend our Lives, appears from the First Propofition.

The

The Fourth Propofition neceffarily follows from

the Third,

The SEVENTEENTH ARTICLE. Of Predeftination and Election.

REDESTINATION to life, is the everlast-"

Ping purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations

of the world were laid) be bath conftantly decreed by his counfel, fecret to us, to deliver from curfe and damnation those whom he bath chofen in Chrift out of mankind, and to bring them by Chrift to everlasting falvation, as veffels made to honor. Wherefore they which be endued with fo excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his spirit working in due feafon: they thro' grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made fons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only begotten fon Jefus Chrift: they walk religiously in good works, and at length by God's mercy they attain to everlasting felicity.

As the godly confideration of Predeftination and our Election in Chrift, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly perfons, and fuch as feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Chrift, 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 Jalvation, to be enjoyed through Chrift, as because it doth fervently kindle their love towards God: fo for curious and carnal perfons, lacking the Spirit of Chrift, to have continually before their eyes the fentence of God's Predeftination, is a most dangerous downfal, whereby the devil doth thrust them either into defperation, or into wretchlefnejs of most unclean living, no lefs perilous than desperation.

Furthermore,