That God, by an absolute decree, hath elected to salvation a very small number of men, without any regard to their faith or obedience whatsoever; and secluded from saving grace all the rest of mankind, and appointed them by the same decree to eternal damnation, without any regard to their infidelity or impenitency.
ART. 2. OF THE MERIT AND EFFECT OF CHRIST’S DEATH.
That Jesus Christ hath not suffered death for any other, but for those elect only; having neither had any intent nor commandment of his Father to make satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.
ART. 3. OF MAN’S WILL IN THE STATE OF NATURE.
That by Adam’s fall, his posterity lost their free-will, being put to an unavoidable necessity to do or not to do, whatsoever they do or do not, whether it be good or evil, being thereunto predestinated by the eternal and effectual secret decree of God.
ART. 4. OF THE MANNER OF CONVERSION.
That God, to save his elect from the corrupt mass, doth beget faith in them, by a power equal to that whereby He created the world and raised up the dead; insomuch, that such unto whom He gives that grace, cannot reject it, and the rest, being reprobate, cannot accept it.
ART. 5. OF THE CERTAINTY OF PERSEVERANCE.
That such as have once received that grace by faith, can never fall from it finally or totally, notwithstanding the most enormous sins they can commit.
