Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/166

 128 Readings i?i European History the fruits of their own iniquity, yet they have the seeds thereof inclosed within them ; yea, their whole nature is a certain seed of sin, therefore it cannot but be hateful and abominable to God. . . . This perversity never ceaseth in us but continually bringeth forth new fruits, even the same works of the flesh, like as a burning furnace bloweth out flame and sparkles. [By this original corruption man is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil. He is no longer free even to will to do good works unless he be helped by God's grace, given only to the elect whom God, for the manifestation of his glory, has elected and chosen unto everlasting life.] 1 Predesti- Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, whereby nation. foe has determined with himself what he wills to become of every man. For all are not created to like estate ; but to some eternal life and to some eternal damnation is fore- ordained. Therefore as every man is created to the one or the other end, so we say that he is predestinate either to life or to death. 2 . . . Foolish men do divers ways quarrel with God, as though they had him subject to their accusa- tions. First, therefore, they ask by what right is the Lord angry with his creatures by whom he hath not first been provoked by any offense ; for to condemn to destruction 1 Cf. Westminster Confession, Chapter VI, p. 4. 2 The English Presbyterian divines at Westminster thus state the doctrine of predestination : " By the decree of God, for the manifesta- tion of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting death. These angels and men, thus predestined and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ and unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature as conditions or causes moving him thereunto, and all to the praise of his glorious grace " {Confession of Faith, Chapter III, 3-5).