Page:The constitution of the Reformed Dutch church of North America.. (IA constitutionofre00unse 0).pdf/114

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CANONS.

labour and trouble, which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed, and tormented them in this world; and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honour; and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels; all tears shall be wiped from their eyes; and their cause, which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God. And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire, to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Rev. xxii. 20.




CANONS,

RATIFIED IN THE NATIONAL SYNOD OF THE

REFORMED CHURCH,

Held at Dordrecht, in the years 1618 and 1619.


FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE.


Of Divine Predestination.

Article I. As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are obnoxious to eternal death, God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish, and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin, according to the words of the apostle. Rom. iii. 19, “that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” And Rom. vi. 23, “for the wages of sin is death.”

Art. II. But in this the love of God was manifested, that he sent his only begotten Son into the world, that whosoever