The Book of Confessions - The Presbyterian Leader

proceed not from a heart purified by faith; (355) nor are done in a right manner, according to
the Word; (356) nor to a right end, the glory of God; (357) they are therefore sinful, and
cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God. (358) And yet their neglect
of them is more sinful, and displeasing unto God. (359)
7. (360) Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be
things which God commands, and in themselves praiseworthy and useful, and although the neglect
of such things is sinful and displeasing unto God; yet, because they proceed not from a heart
purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to his Word; nor to a right end, the
glory of God; they come short of what God requires, and do not make any man meet to receive
the grace of God.
CHAPTER XIX/CHAPTER XVII - Of The Perseverance of the Saints
1. They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his
Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere
therein to the end, and be eternally saved. (361)
2. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own free-will, but upon the
immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the
Father; (362) upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; (363) the abiding of
the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; (364) and the nature of the covenant of
grace; (365) from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. (366)
3. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of Satan and of the world, the
prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, fall
into grievous sins; and for a time continue therein: (367) whereby they incur God's
displeasure, (368) and grieve his Holy Spirit; (369) come to be deprived of some measure of
their graces and comforts; (370) have their hearts hardened, (371) and their consciences
wounded; (372) hurt and scandalize others, (373) and bring temporal judgments upon
themselves. (374)
CHAPTER XX/CHAPTER XVIII - Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation
1. Although hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, may vainly deceive themselves with
false hopes and carnal presumptions: of being in the favor of God and estate of salvation; (375)
which hope of theirs shall perish: (376) yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him
in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly
assured that they are in a state of grace, (377) and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God:
which hope shall never make them ashamed. (378)
2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a
fallible hope; but an infallible assurance of faith, (379) founded upon the divine truth of the
promises of salvation, (380) the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are
Copyright © 1996 by the Office of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA)