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FIRST
HEAD OF DOCTRINE
DIVINE ELECTION AND REPROBATION |
ARTICLE
1 |
ALL
MANKIND CONDEMNABLE BEFORE GOD |
| Rom 5:12
Rom 3:19,23
Rom 6:23
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Since all
men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and deserve eternal
death, God would have done no one an injustice if it had been His
will to leave the whole human race in sin and under the curse, and
to condemn it on account of its sin, according to these words of
the apostle: that . . . the whole world may be held accountable
to God. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
and, the wages of sin is death. |
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ARTICLE
2 |
THE
SENDING OF THE SON OF GOD |
| 1 Jn 4:9
Jn 3:16
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But in this
the love of God was made manifest, that He sent His only-begotten
Son into the world, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life. |
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ARTICLE
3 |
THE
PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL |
| Is 52:7
1 Cor 1:23,24
Rom 10:14,15
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So that
men may be brought to faith, God mercifully sends heralds of this
most joyful message to whom He will and when He wills. By their
ministry men are called to repentance and to faith in Christ crucified.
For how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach
unless they are sent? |
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ARTICLE
4 |
A TWOFOLD
OUTCOME |
| Jn 3:36
Mk 16:16
Rom 10:9
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The wrath
of God remains upon those who do not believe this gospel. But those
who receive it and embrace Jesus the Saviour with a true and living
faith are delivered by Him from the wrath of God and from destruction,
and are given eternal life. |
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ARTICLE
5 |
THE
CAUSE OF UNBELIEF, THE SOURCE OF FAITH |
| Heb 4:6
Eph 2:8
Phil 1:29
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The cause
or guilt for this unbelief, as well as for all other sins, is by
no means in God, but rather in man. Faith in Jesus Christ and salvation
through Him, however, is the free gift of God, as it is written:
By grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your
own doing, it is the gift of God. Similarly, It has been
granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should . . . believe
in Him. |
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ARTICLE
6 |
GOD'S
ETERNAL DECREE |
| Acts 13:48
1 Pet 2:8
Eph 1:11
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That God
in time confers the gift of faith on some, and not on others, proceeds
from His eternal decree. For He knows all His works from eternity,
and He accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His
will. According to this decree He graciously softens the hearts
of the elect, no matter how hard they may be, and inclines them
to believe; those not elected, however, He leaves in their own wickedness
and hardness by a just judgment. And here especially is disclosed
to us the profound, merciful, and at the same time just distinction
between men equally worthy of condemnation, or that decree of election
and reprobation which has been revealed in God's Word. Although
perverse, impure, and unstable men twist this decree to their own
destruction, it provides unspeakable comfort for holy and God-fearing
souls. |
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ARTICLE
7 |
ELECTION
DEFINED |
| Eph 1:4,11
Jn 17:2,12,24
Jn 6:37,44
1 Cor 1:9
Eph 1:4 to 6
Rom 8:30
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Election
is the unchangeable purpose of God whereby, before the foundation
of the world, out of the whole human race, which had fallen by its
own fault out of its original integrity into sin and perdition,
He has, according to the sovereign good pleasure of His will, out
of mere grace, chosen in Christ to salvation a definite number of
specific persons, neither better nor more worthy than others, but
involved together with them in a common misery. He has also from
eternity appointed Christ to be the Mediator and Head of all the
elect and the foundation of salvation and thus He decreed to give
to Christ those who were to be saved, and effectually to call and
draw them into His communion through His Word and Spirit. He decreed
to give them true faith in Him, to justify them, to sanctify them,
and, after having powerfully kept them in the fellowship of His
Son, finally to glorify them, for the demonstration of His mercy
and the praise of the riches of His glorious grace. As it is written:
God chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and blameless before Him. He destined us in love
to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of
His will, to the praise of His glorious grace which He freely bestowed
on us in the Beloved. And elsewhere, Those whom He predestined
He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and
those whom He justified He also glorified. |
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ARTICLE
8 |
ONE
DECREE OF ELECTION |
| Deut 7:7
Deut 9:6
Eph 1:4,5
Eph 2:10
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There are
not various decrees of this election, but there is one and the same
decree concerning all those that are to be saved under both the
Old and the New Testament. For Scripture declares that the good
pleasure, purpose, and counsel of the will of God is one. According
to this purpose He has chosen us from eternity both to grace and
to glory, both to salvation and to the way of salvation, which He
prepared for us that we should walk in it. |
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ARTICLE
9 |
ELECTION
NOT BASED ON FORESEEN FAITH |
| Rom 8:30
Eph 1:4
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This election
is not based on foreseen faith, the obedience of faith, holiness,
or any other good quality of disposition, as a cause or condition
in man required for being chosen, but men are chosen to faith, the
obedience of faith, holiness, and so on. Election, therefore, is
the fountain of every saving good, from which flow faith, holiness,
and other saving gifts, and finally eternal life itself, as its
fruits and effects. This the apostle teaches when he says, He
chose us (not because we were, but) that we should be holy
and blameless before Him. |
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ARTICLE
10 |
ELECTION
BASED ON GOD'S GOOD PLEASURE |
| Rom 9:11 to 13
Gen 25:23
Mal 1:2,3
Acts 13:48
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The cause
of this gracious election is solely the good pleasure of God. This
good pleasure does not consist in this, that out of all possible
conditions God chose certain qualities or actions of men as a condition
for salvation, but in this, that out of the common mass of sinners
He adopted certain persons to be His own possession. For it is written,
Though they (the children) were not yet born and had done
nothing either good or bad, and so on, she (namely, Rebecca),
was told, "The elder will serve the younger." As it
is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." And,
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. |
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ARTICLE
11 |
ELECTION
UNCHANGEABLE |
| Jn 6:37
Jn 10:28
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As God Himself
is most wise, unchangeable, allknowing and almighty, so His election
can neither be undone and redone, nor changed, revoked, or annulled;
neither can the elect be cast away, nor their number be diminished. |
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ARTICLE
12 |
THE
ASSURANCE OF ELECTION |
| Deut 29:29
1 Cor 2:10,11
2 Cor 13:5
2 Cor 7:10
Mt 5:6
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The elect
in due time, though in various stages and in different measure,
are made certain of this their eternal and unchangeable election
to salvation. They attain this assurance, however, not by inquisitively
prying into the hidden and deep things of God, but by observing
in themselves, with spiritual joy and holy delight, the unfailing
fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God - such as a true
faith in Christ, a childlike fear of God, a godly sorrow for their
sins, and a hunger and thirst for righteousness. |
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ARTICLE
13 |
THE
VALUE OF THIS ASSURANCE |
| 1 Jn 3:3
1 Jn 4:19
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The awareness
and assurance of this election provide the children of God with
greater reason for daily humbling themselves before God, for adoring
the depth of His mercies, for cleansing themselves, and for fervently
loving Him in turn who first so greatly loved them. It is therefore
not at all true that this doctrine of election and the reflection
on it makes them lax in observing the commands of God or falsely
secure. In the just judgment of God, this usually happens to those
who rashly presume to have the grace of election, or idly and boldly
chatter about it, but refuse to walk in the ways of the elect. |
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ARTICLE
14 |
HOW
ELECTION IS TO BE TAUGHT |
| Acts 20:27
Job 36:23 to 26
Rom 11:33
Rom 12:3
1 Cor 4:6
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This doctrine
of divine election, according to the most wise counsel of God, was
preached by the prophets, by Christ Himself, and by the apostles,
under the Old as well as the New Testament, and was then committed
to writing in the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, also today this doctrine
should be taught in the church of God, for which it was particularly
intended, in its proper time and place, provided it be done with
a spirit of discretion, in a reverent and holy manner, without inquisitively
prying into the ways of the most High, to the glory of God's most
holy Name, and for the living comfort of His people. |
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ARTICLE
15 |
REPROBATION
DESCRIBED |
| Rom 9:22
1 Pet 2:8
Acts 14:16
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Holy Scripture
illustrates and recommends to us this eternal and undeserved grace
of our election, especially when it further declares that not all
men are elect but that some have not been elected, or have been
passed by in the eternal election of God. Out of His most free,
most just, blameless, and unchangeable good pleasure, God has decreed
to leave them in the common misery into which they have by their
own fault plunged themselves, and not to give them saving faith
and the grace of conversion. These, having been left in their own
ways and under His just judgment, God has decreed finally to condemn
and punish eternally, not only on account of their unbelief but
also on account of all their other sins, in order to display His
justice. This is the decree of reprobation, which by no means makes
God the author of sin (the very thought is blasphemous!), but rather
declares Him to be its awesome, blameless, and just judge and avenger. |
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ARTICLE
16 |
RESPONSES
TO THE DOCTRINE OF REPROBATION |
| James 2:26
2 Cor 1:12
Rom 5:11
Phil 3:3
Rom 7:24
Is 42:3
Mt 12:20
Mt 13:22
Heb 12:29
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Some do
not yet clearly discern in themselves a living faith in Christ,
an assured confidence of heart, peace of conscience, a zeal for
childlike obedience, and a glorying in God through Christ; nevertheless,
they use the means through which God has promised to work these
things in us. They ought not to be alarmed when reprobation is mentioned,
nor to count themselves among the reprobate. Rather, they must diligently
continue in the use of these means, fervently desire a time of more
abundant grace, and expect it with reverence and humility. Others
seriously desire to be converted to God, to please Him only, and
to be delivered from the body of death. Yet they cannot reach that
point on the way of godliness and faith which they would like. They
should be even less terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, since
a merciful God has promised not to quench the smoking flax nor to
break the bruised reed. Still others disregard God and the Saviour
Jesus Christ and have completely given themselves over to the cares
of the world and the lusts of the flesh. For them this doctrine
of reprobation is rightly fearsome as long as they do not seriously
turn to God. |
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ARTICLE
17 |
CHILDREN
OF BELIEVERS WHO DIE IN INFANCY |
| Gen 17:7
Is 59:21
Acts 2:39
1 Cor 7:14
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We must
judge concerning the will of God from His Word, which declares that
the children of believers are holy, not by nature but in virtue
of the covenant of grace, in which they are included with their
parents. Therefore, God-fearing parents ought not to doubt the election
and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life
in their infancy. |
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ARTICLE
18 |
NOT
PROTEST BUT ADORATION |
| Job 34:34 to 37
Rom 9:20
Mt 20:15
Rom 11:33 to 36
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To those
who complain about this grace of undeserved election and the severity
of righteous reprobation, we reply with this word of the apostle:
But who are you, a man, to answer back to God? And with this
word of our Saviour, Am I not allowed to do what I choose with
what belongs to Me?
We, however, with reverent adoration of these mysteries, exclaim
with the apostle: O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge
of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His
ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His
counsel? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be
glory for ever. Amen. |
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REJECTION
OF ERRORS
Having explained the true doctrine
of election and reprobation, Synod rejects the following errors:
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1. Error:
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The will
of God to save those who would believe and persevere in faith and
obedience is the whole and entire decree of election to salvation.
Nothing else concerning this decree has been revealed in God's Word.
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Refutation:
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This error
is deceptive and clearly contradicts Scripture, which declares not
only that God will save those who believe but also that He has chosen
specific persons from eternity. Within time He grants to these elect,
above others, both faith in Christ and perseverance. I have manifested
Thy Name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world, Jn
17:6. And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed,
Acts 13:48. Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him,
Eph 1:4. |
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2. Error:
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There are
various kinds of divine election to eternal life. One is general
and indefinite, another is particular and definite. The latter in
turn is either incomplete, revocable, non-decisive, and conditional,
or it is complete, irrevocable, decisive, and absolute. In the same
fashion there is an election to faith and another to salvation.
Therefore election can be to justifying faith, without being decisive
to salvation.
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Refutation:
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All this
is an invention of the human mind without any basis in the Scriptures.
The doctrine of election is thus corrupted and the golden chain
of our salvation broken: And those whom He predestined He also
called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom
He justified He also glorified, Rom 8:30. |
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3. Error:
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The good
pleasure and purpose of God of which Scripture speaks in the doctrine
of election is not that He chose certain specific persons and not
others, but that out of all possible conditions (such as the works
of the law) He chose or selected the act of faith, which in itself
is without merit, as well as the imperfect obedience of faith, to
be a condition of salvation. In His grace He wished to count such
faith as complete obedience and worthy of the reward of eternal
life.
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Refutation:
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This offensive
error deprives God's good pleasure and Christ's merits of all efficacy,
and draws people away from the truth of gracious justification and
from the simplicity of Scripture. It contradicts the word of the
apostle, Who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
in virtue of our works but in virtue of His own purpose and the
grace which He granted us in Christ Jesus ages ago, 2 Tim 1:9. |
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4. Error:
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Election
to faith depends on the condition that man should use the light
of nature properly, and that he be pious, humble, meek, and fit
for eternal life.
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Refutation:
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If this
were true, election would depend on man. This smacks of the teaching
of Pelagius and is in open conflict with the teaching of the apostle
in Ephesians 2:3-9, Among these we all once lived in the passions
of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we
were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But
God, who is rich in mercy, out of His great love with which He loved
us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive
together with Christ (by faith you have been saved), and raised
us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places
in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable
riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by
grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own
doing, it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man
should boast. |
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5. Error:
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Incomplete
and non-decisive election of specific persons to salvation took
place on the ground of foreseen faith, conversion, holiness, and
godliness, which either began or continued for some time. Complete
and decisive election, however, occurred because of foreseen perseverance
in faith, conversion, holiness, and godliness till the end. This
is the gracious and evangelical worthiness because of which the
person who is chosen is more worthy than the one who is not chosen.
Therefore faith, obedience of faith, holiness, godliness, and perseverance
are not fruits of unchangeable election to glory. Instead, they
are necessary conditions and causes required and foreseen as accomplished
in those who are to be fully elected.
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Refutation:
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This error
militates against all of Scripture, which constantly impresses the
following upon us: Election is not because of works but because
of His call, Rom 9:11; and as many as were ordained to eternal
life believed, Acts 13:48; He chose us in Him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before
Him, Eph 1:4; you did not choose Me, but I chose you,
Jn 15:16; but if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis
of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace, Rom 11:6;
in this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and
sent His Son, 1 Jn 4:10. |
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6. Error:
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Not every
election to salvation is unchangeable. Some of the elect can and
do indeed perish everlastingly, notwithstanding any decree of God.
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Refutation:
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This gross
error makes God changeable, destroys the comfort which the believers
obtain from the firmness of their election, and contradicts Holy
Scripture: The elect can not be led astray, Mt 24:24; this is
the will of Him who sent Me, that I should lose nothing of all that
He has given Me, Jn 6:39; those whom He predestined He also
called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom
He justified He also glorified, Rom 8:30. |
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7. Error:
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In this
life there is no fruit, consciousness, or certainty of the unchangeable
election to glory, except such as is based upon a changeable and
uncertain condition.
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Refutation:
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To speak
about an uncertain certainty is not only absurd but also contrary
to the experience of the believers. As a result of the awareness
of their election, they glory with the apostle in this favour of
God, Eph 1. With the disciples of Christ they rejoice that their
names are written in heaven, Lk 10:20. They put the consciousness
of their election over against the flaming darts of the devil, when
they exclaim: Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?
Rom 8:33. |
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8. Error:
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Scripture,
however, states, He has mercy upon whomever He wills, and He
hardens the heart of whomever He wills, Rom 9:18. It also declares,
To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven,
but to them it has not been given, Mt 13:11. Likewise, I
thank Thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden
these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them
to babes; yea, Father, for such was Thy gracious will, Mt 11:25,
26.
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Refutation:
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God did
not simply by an act of His righteous will decide to leave any person
in the common state of sin and condemnation since his fall in Adam,
nor did He decide to pass by any one in granting such grace as is
necessary for faith and conversion. |
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9. Error:
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God sends
the gospel to one people rather than to another not merely and solely
because of the good pleasure of His will, but because one people
is better and worthier than another to which the gospel is not preached.
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Refutation:
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Moses denies
this when he addresses the people of Israel as follows, Behold,
to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the
earth with all that is in it; yet the Lord set His heart in love
upon your fathers and chose their descendants after them, you above
all peoples, as at this day, Deut 10:14, 15. And Christ says,
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty
works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes, Mt 11:21. |
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