Lambeth Articles

The Lambeth Articles were a series of nine doctrinal statements drawn up by Archbishop of Canterbury John Whitgift in 1595 in order to define Calivinist doctrine with regard to predestination and justification. The Articles were designed to settle a controversy that had arisen at Cambridge University regarding whether God predestines men to eternal life and eternal damnation. To clarify the situation, Whitgift drew up a list to define clearly the doctrines of Calvinism, which blatantly adhered to a predestinarian view. The Lambeth Articles (also known as the Nine Articles) were drafted by Dr. Whitaker who, along with Dr. Tyndal - Dean of Ely - had been sent to Whitigift by the heads of Cambridge University to settle the controversy. Originally drafted by Whitaker and modified later by Bishops to make them more acceptable to anti-Calvinists, the Articles were signed by: Archbishop Whitgift, Dr. Richard Fletcher, Bishop of London, Dr. Richard Vaughan, Bishop elect of Bangor, and others.

The Articles

1. 1. Some are elected to eternal life whereas others are reprobated to death
2. 2. The cause resulting in predestination to eternal life is only the pleasure of God, not the foreknowledge of faith and good works.
3. 3. The number of elect (those predestined to eternal life) is unalterably fixed.
4. 4. Those not predestined to life shall be damned for their sins necessarily.
5. 5. The elect never fail finally in their true faith.
6. 6. A true believer - one that has justifying faith (for men are saved by faith alone, sola fide) - has full certainty and assurance of everlasting salvation in Christ.
7. 7. Saving grace is not communicated to all men.
8. 8. No one can come to the Father unless there are drawn there by Him, and not all men are drawn to Him.
9. 9. It is not in all men's power or will to be saved.*

[References to "men" above implies both men and women. The former phrase has been used to adhere closer to the actual wording of the Articles as they were written.]