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ble to him on their own account; but are fuch for the Sake of him in whom God is well pleased with us, even Chrift, by whom God has reconciled us to himself.

The Fourth Propofition is in effect the fame with the former Branch of the First.

The THIRTEENTH ARTICLE.

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Of Works before Juftification.

ORKS done before the grace of Christ, and the infpiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forafmuch as they Spring not of Faith in Jefu Chrift, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School-authors fay) deferve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are not done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of fin.

This Article contains Three Propofitions.

1. Works done before the Grace of Chrift, and the Infpiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forafmuch as they fpring not of Faith in Jefu Chrift.

2. Works done before the Grace of Christ, and the Inspiration of his Spirit, do not make Men meet to receive Grace, or (as the Scool-Authors fay) deferve Grace of Congruity.

3. Works done before the Grace of Chrift, and the Inspiration of his Spirit, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, have the Nature of Sin.

For

For the Words yea rather, the Latin Copy reads Immo; fo that the Word rather is not comparative, but the Church directly affirms, that fuch Works have the Nature of Sin, as the Latin neceffarily imports, and the following Expreffion, we doubt not, manifeftly implies. And indeed, yea, or but rather does both here, and in the Twenty fecond Article, mean the fame as yea, on the contrary. This is evident from the Context of both Places.

The First Propofition. Since Works done before the Grace of Chrift, and the Infpiration of his Spirit, are neither ftrictly nor imputatively good (the Meaning of which Expreffions I explained under the Tenth Article) they cannot be pleasant to God; forafmuch as they spring not of Faith in Jefu Chrift. For if they did fpring of Faith in Jefu Chrift, they would be done by his Grace, and through the Inspiration of his Spirit; and confequently they would be imputatively good, and for that Reason pleasant to God. See alfo Turretin's Fourth Question of his Locus Decimus feptimus.

The Second Propofition. That which is finful, needs Pardon, but can deferve Nothing. See alfo the Fifth Question of the fame Locus of Turretin.

The Third Propofition. Since Works done before the Grace of Chrift, and the Inspiration of his Spirit, are neither strictly nor imputatively good; they must needs be finful, or have the Nature of Sin. And that for this Reason, viz. Because they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done. For had they been done, as God hath willed and commanded, that is, according to the Gofpel Rule; they would have been imputatively good thro' Faith in Chrift, and confequently not

finful;

finful; fince tho' they are strictly finful in themfelves, yet their Imperfection is removed thro' Faith.

The FOURTEENTH ARTICLE.

Of Works of Supererogation.

VOLUNTARY works befides, over and above God's

commandments, which they call works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety. For by them men do declare, that they do not only render unto God as much as they are bound to do, but that they do more for his fake than of bounden duty is required: whereas Chrift faith plainly, when ye have done all that are commanded to you, fay, We are unprofitable Servants.

This Article, properly fpeaking, contains but One Propofition, the latter Part being only a Confirmation or Proof of what is afferted in the former. See Limborch's System, Book the Fifth, Chapter the Seventy seventh, Sect. 17, 18. and the Fourth Queftion of Turretin's Locus Undecimus.

CH

The FIFTEENTH ARTICLE.

Of Chrift alone without Sin.

HRIST in the truth of our nature was made like unto us in all things (fin only excepted) from which he was clearly void, both in his flesh and in his fpirit. He came

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to be a Lamb without spot, who by facrifice of himSelf once made, fhould take away the fins of the world, and fin (as St. John faith) was not in him. But all we the rest (altho' baptized and born again in Chrift) yet offend in many things; and if we fay we have no fin, we deceive our felves, and the truth is not in us.

This Article contains Four Propofitions.

1. Chrift in the Truth of our Nature was made like unto us in all things (Sin only excepted) from which he was clearly void, both in his Flesh and in his Spirit.

2. He came to be a Lamb without a Spot, who
by Sacrifice of himself once made, fhould take
away the Sins of the World.

3. Sin (as St. John faith) was not in Chrift.
4. All we the reft (altho' baptized and born
again in Chrift) yet offend in many things,
and if we fay we have no Sin, we deceive
our felves, and the Truth is not in us.

The First Propofition. See Bishop Pearfon on the . Third Article, from the Beginning down to Born of the Virgin Mary.

The Second Propofition. That Chrift was a Lamb without Spot, and confequently that he came to be fuch, St. Peter exprefly affures us, 1 Pet. 1. 19. That he came to be a Lamb without Spot, who fhould take away the fins of the world, is evident from 1 John 3. 5. where we are told, that Chrift was manifefted • to take away our fins. That he took away the Sins of the World by the Sacrifice of himself, is evident from the Author to the Hebrews, who faies, Chapter 13. V. 12. that our Savior fuffered without the Gate, that he might fanctify the people with his own bloud. And that Chrift's Sacrifice of himself was

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but once made, will appear in the Second and
Third Propofitions of the Thirty firft Article.
The Third Propofition. St. John faies, 1. Epift.
Chap. 3. Ver. 5. in him is no fin.

The Fourth Propofition. The former Branch of it is evident from the latter, which is the exprefs Affertion of St. John, 1 Epift. Chap. 1. Ver. 8,

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The SIXTEENTH ARTICLE.

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Of Sin after Baptifm.

OT every deadly fin willingly committed after Baptifm is fin against the Holy Ghost, and unpardonable. Wherefore the grant of repentance is not to be denied to fuch as fall into fin after Baptifm. After we have receiv'd the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into fin, and by the Grace of God, we may arise again, and amend our lives. And therefore they are to be condemned which fay, they can no more fin as long as they live here, or deny the place of forgiveness to fuch as truly repent.

This Article contains Four Propofitions.
1. Not every deadly Sin willingly committed
after Baptifm, is Sin against the Holy Ghoft,
and unpardonable.

2. The Grant of Repentance is not to be denied
to fuch as fall into Sin after Baptifm.

3. After we have receiv'd the Holy Ghoft, we. may depart from Grace given, and fall into Sin, and by the Grace of God we may arise again, and amend our Lives.

4. They are to be condemn'd which fay, they can no more fin as long as they live here, or

deny

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