Articles agreed upon by the arch-bishops and bishops of both provinces, and the whole clergie in the convocation holden at London, in the yeer 1562. For the avoiding of diversities of opinions, and for the stablishing of consent touching true religion. Re-printed by his Majesties commandment: with his royall declaration prefixed thereunto.

17. Of Predestination and Election.

PRedestination to life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsell, secret to us, to deliver from curse and dam∣nation, those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankinde, and to bring them by Christ to everlast∣ing salvation, as vessels made to honour. Where∣fore they which be indued with so excellent a bene∣fit of God, be called according to Gods purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sonnes of God by adoption: they be made like the Image of his onely begotten Sonne Iesus Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length by Gods mercy they attain to everlasting felicitie.

As the godly consideration of Predestination and our Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in themselves the working of the Spi∣rit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their minde to high and heavenly things, as wel because it doeth greatly establish and confirme their faith of eternall salvation, to be enjoyed through Christ, as because it doeth fervently kindle their love to∣wards God: So, for curious and carnall persons, lacking the Spirit of Christ, to have continually be∣fore their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination, is a most dangerous downfall, whereby the devill

doeth thrust them either into desperation, or into wretchlesnesse of most unclean living, no lesse pe∣rilous then desperation.

Furthermore, we must receive Gods promises, in such wise as they be generally set forth to us in holy Scripture: and in our doings, that will of God is to be followed, which we have expresly declared unto us in the Word of God.