X. Of Effectual Calling
1. Those whom God hath predestinated unto Life, he is pleased in his appointed, and accepted time, aeffectually 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 bby Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds, spiritually, and savingly to cunderstand the things of God; taking away their dheart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and by his Almighty power determin ing them eto that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come fmost freely, being made willing by his Grace.
aRom. 8:30; Rom. 11:7; Eph. 1:10–11; 2 Thess. 3:13–14 bEph. 2:1–6 cActs 26:18; Eph. 1:17–18 dEzek. 36:26 eDeut. 30:6; Ezek. 36:27; Eph. 1:19 fPs. 110:3; Song 1:4
2. This Effectual Call is of God’s free, and special grace alone, anot from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power, or agency in the Creature, coworking with his special Grace, bthe Creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until being quickened and renewed by the holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the Grace offered and conveyed in it; and that by no less cpower, then that which raised up Christ from the dead.
a2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8 b1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 2:5; John 5:25 cEph. 1:19–20
3. Elect Infants dying in infancy, are aregenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and bhow he pleaseth: so also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the Ministry of the Word.
aJohn 3:3, 5–6 bJohn 3:8
4. Others not elected, although they may be called by the Ministry of the word, aand may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will, nor can truly bcome to Christ; and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men that receive not the Christian Religion cbe saved; be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the Law of that Religion they do profess.
aMatt. 22:14; Matt. 13:20–21; Heb. 6:4–5 bJohn 6:44–45, 65; 1 John 2:24–25 cActs 4:12; John 4:22; John 17:3
Elders' Comments on Article 10: Of Effectual Calling
10.3 Elect Infants dying in infancy...
We would prefer this sentence to begin as follows: “Infants dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved…”. Though we do not find any direct, explicit statement in Scripture regarding the destination of those who die in infancy, the Bible does provide indications that they are not morally accountable, and that they come under the gracious care of God, who is by nature a Savior (e.g. Rom. 1:18-20; 2 Sam. 12:22-23; Deut. 1:39; Jonah 4:11; Matt. 19:14).