Mission Statement - EBC Constitution - 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith - Officers |
| 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith - Chapter 5 |
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1. God the good Creator of all things, in
his infinite power and wisdom doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all
creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise
and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according
unto his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his
own will; to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite
goodness, and mercy. Hebrews 1:3; Job 38:11; Isaiah 46:10, 11; Psalms 135:6; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11 2. Although in relation to
the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to
pass immutably and infallibly; so that there is not anything befalls any by
chance, or without his providence; yet by the same providence he ordereth
them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, either
necessarily, freely, or contingently. 3. God, in his ordinary providence
maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them at
his pleasure. 4. The almighty power, unsearchable
wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his
providence, that his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first
fall, and all other sinful actions both of angels and men; and that not by a
bare permission, which also he most wisely and powerfully boundeth, and
otherwise ordereth and governeth, in a manifold dispensation to his most
holy ends; yet so, as the sinfulness of their acts proceedeth only from the
creatures, and not from God, who, being most holy and righteous, neither is
nor can be the author or approver of sin. 5. The most wise, righteous, and
gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold
temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts, to chastise them for
their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of
corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; and
to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon
himself; and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin,
and for other just and holy ends. So that whatsoever befalls any of his
elect is by his appointment, for his glory, and their good. 6. As for those wicked and ungodly men
whom God, as the righteous judge, for former sin doth blind and harden; from
them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been
enlightened in their understanding, and wrought upon their hearts; but
sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had, and exposeth them to
such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; and withal, gives
them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of
Satan, whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those
means which God useth for the softening of others. 7. As the providence of God doth in
general reach to all creatures, so after a more special manner it taketh
care of his church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.
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