Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling

ALL those whom God has predestinated to life, and those only, 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 in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ, inlightning their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving to them an heart of flesh, renewing their wills, and by his Almighty power determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.

This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, 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.

Elect infants dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, who works when, and where, and how he pleases: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.

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 do nor can come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved. Much less can men not professing the Christian Religion be saved in any other way whatever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the law of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.