Chapter XVII: Of the Perseverance of the Saints. De perseverantia Sanctorum.

Of the Perseverance of the Saints. De perseverantia Sanctorum.
I. 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. [1522] I. Quotquot Deus in dilecto suo acceptavit, vocavit efficaciter ac per Spiritum suum sanctificavit, non possunt illi statu gratiæ aut finaliter excidere aut totaliter; verum in eo ad finem usque certo perseverabunt, ac salutem æternam consequentur. [1523] II. This perseverance of the saints depends, not upon their own freewill, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; [1524] upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; [1525] the abiding II. hæc autem sanctorum perseverantia, non pendet a libero ipsorum arbitrio, verum a decreti electionis immutabilitate (quod ex amore Dei Patris fluxit, gratuito illo ac immutabili), [1526] a meriti Jesu Christi ac intercessionis efficacia, [1527] a Spiritus et seminis Dei in iis permansione; [1528]

of the Spirit and of the seed of God within them; [1529] and the nature of the covenant of grace: [1530] from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. [1531] a natura denique foederis gratiæ; [1532] e quibus omnibus etiam emergit certitudo ejusdem et infallibilitas. [1533] III. 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; [1534] and for a time continue therein: [1535] whereby they incur God's displeasure, [1536] and grieve his Holy Spirit; [1537] come to be deprived of some measure of their graces and comforts; [1538] have their hearts hardened, [1539] and their consciences wounded; [1540] hurt and scandalize others, [1541] and bring temporal judgments upon themselves. [1542] III. Nihilo tamen minus fieri potest ut iidem illi, qua Satanæ mundique tentatione, qua manentis adhuc in iis corruptionis prævalentia, et neglectu mediorum conservationis suæ, in peccata gravia incidant, [1543] in eisque ad tempus commorentur; [1544] unde iram Dei sibi ipsis contrahunt, [1545] ; ejusque Spiritum Sanctum contristant,
[1546] gratias suas et consolationes quadantenus et quoad gradus nonnullos amittunt, [1547] corda sibi habent indurata, [1548] et vulneratas conscientias; [1549] aliis nocumento sunt et offendiculo,
[1550] sibimet ipsis denique accersunt judicia Dei temporalia. [1551]