Wesley Corpus

Likewise in “The Confession of Faith” set forth by the Assembly of English and Scotch Divines, in the year 1646, are these words:-- “God from all eternity did unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death. “These angels and men thus predestinated and fore ordained are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number 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, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, without any foresight of faith or good works. “The rest of mankind God was pleased, for the glory of his sovereign, power over his creatures, to pass by, and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath.” (Chapter 3.) No less express are Mr. Calvin’s words, in his “Christian Institutions:”-- “All men are not created for the same end; but some are fore-ordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation. So according as every man was created for the one end or the other, we say, he was elected, that is, predestinated to life, or reprobated, that is, predestinated to damnation.” (Cap. 21, sec. 1.) 8. Indeed there are some who assert the decree of election, and not the decree of reprobation. They assert that God hath, by a positive, unconditional decree, chosen some to life and salvation; but not that he hath by any such decree devoted the rest of mankind to destruction. These are they to whom I would address myself first. And let me beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to lift up your hearts to him, and to beg of him to free you from all prepossession, from the prejudices even of your tender years, and from whatsoever might hinder the light of God from shining in upon your souls. Let us calmly and fairly weigh these things in the balance of the sanctuary. And let all be done in love and meekness of wisdom, as becomes those who are fighting under one Captain, and who humbly hope they are joint heirs through him of the glory which shall be revealed.