Articles whereupon it was agreed by the archbishoppes and bishoppes of both prouinces and the whole cleargie, in the conuocation holden at London in the yere of our Lorde God. 1562. according to the computation of the Churche of Englande for the auoiding of the diuersities of opinions, and for the stablishyng of consent touching true religion. Put foorth by the Queenes aucthoritie.

17 Of predestination and election.

PRedestination to lyfe, is the euerlastyng pur∣pose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the worlde were layde) he hath constantly decreed by his counsell secrete to vs, to deliuer from curse and damnation, those whom he hath chosen in Christe out of mankynde, and do bring them by Christe to euerlastyng saluation, as ves∣sels made to honour. Wherefore they which be in∣dued with so excellent a benefite of God, be called accordyng to Gods purpose by his spirite wor∣kyng in due season: they through grace obey the callyng: they be iustified freelye: they be made sonnes of GOD by adoption: they be made lyke

the image of his onlye begotten sonne Iesus Christ: they walke religiously in good workes, and at length by Gods mercie, they attayne to euerla∣styng felicitie.

As the godly consyderation of predestination, and our election in Christe, is full of sweete, plea∣saunt, and vnspeakeable comfort to godlye per∣sons, and such as feele in them selues the working of the spirite of Christe, mortifiyng the workes of the fleshe, & their earthly members, and drawyng vp their mynde to hygh and heauenly thinges, as∣well because it doth greatly establishe and con∣firme their fayth of eternall saluation to be en∣ioyed through Christ, as because it doth feruently kyndle their loue towardes God: So, for curious and carnall persons, lacking the spirite of Christe, to haue continually before their eyes the sentence of Gods predestination, is a moste daungerous downefall, whereby the deuyll doth thrust them eyther into desperation, or into rechlesnesse of most vncleane lyuyng, no lesse perilous then des∣peration.

Furthermore, we must receaue Gods promises in such wyse, as they be generally set foorth to vs in holy scripture: and in our doynges, that wyll of God is to be folowed, whiche we haue expresly de∣clared vnto vs in the worde of God.