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The 1689 Confession · Chapter X

Of Effectual Calling

10.1

Those whom God has predestinated unto Life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of Sin, and Death, which they are by Nature, to Grace and Salvationa by Jesus Christ; enlightening their Minds, spiritually, and savingly, tob understand the things of God; taking away theirc Heart of Stone, and giving unto them an Heart of Flesh; renewing their Wills, and by his Almighty Power, determining themd to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they comee most freely, being made willing by his Grace.f

  1. a Romans 8:30; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
  2. b Ephesians 2:1-6
  3. c Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17-18
  4. d Ezekiel 36:26
  5. e Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19
  6. f Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4

Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, effectually to call by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of Sin, and Death, which they are by Nature, to Grace and Salvationa by Jesus Christ; enlightening their Minds, spiritually, and savingly, tob understand the things of God; taking away theirc Heart of Stone, and giving unto them an Heart of Flesh; renewing their Wills, and by his Almighty Power, determining themd to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they comee most freely, being made willing by his Grace.f

  1. a Romans 8:30; 11:7; Ephesians 1:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
  2. b Ephesians 2:1-6
  3. c Acts 26:18; Ephesians 1:17-18
  4. d Ezekiel 36:26
  5. e Deuteronomy 30:6; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:19
  6. f Psalm 110:3; Song of Solomon 1:4
10.2

This Effectual Call is of God’s free and special Grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in Man, nor from any Power, or agency in the Creature, co-working with his special Grace,a the Creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in Sins and Trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this Call, and to embrace the Grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no lessb Power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.c

  1. a 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8
  2. b 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25
  3. c Ephesians 1:19-20

This Effectual Call is of God’s free and special Grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in Man, nor from any Power, or agency in the Creature, co-working with his special Grace,a the Creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in Sins and Trespasses, until being quickned and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this Call, and to embrace the Grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no lessb Power than that which raised up Christ from the dead.c

  1. a 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 2:8
  2. b 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:5; John 5:25
  3. c Ephesians 1:19-20
10.3

Elect Infants dying in Infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who works when, and where, anda how he pleases: So also are all other Elect Persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word.b

  1. a John 3:3, 5-6
  2. b John 3:8

Elect Infants dying in Infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, anda how he pleaseth: So also are all other Elect Persons, who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word.b

  1. a John 3:3, 5-6
  2. b John 3:8
10.4

Others not elected, although they may be called by the Ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will, nor can trulya come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved; much less can Men that receive not the Christian Religionb be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their Lives according to the Light of Nature, and the Law of that Religion they do profess.c

  1. a Matthew 22:14; 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-5
  2. b John 6:44-45, 65; 1 John 2:24-25
  3. c Acts 4:12; John 4:22; 17:3

Others not elected, although they may be called by the Ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will, nor can trulya come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved; much less can Men that receive not the Christian Religionb be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their Lives according to the Light of Nature, and the Law of that Religion they do profess.c

  1. a Matthew 22:14; 13:20-21; Hebrews 6:4-5
  2. b John 6:44-45, 65; 1 John 2:24-25
  3. c Acts 4:12; John 4:22; 17:3