Question 7

What is it for God to decree?

For God to decree is eternally to purpose and fore-ordain, to appoint and determine what things shall be

How did God decree things that come to pass?

God decreed all things according to the counsel of his will; according to his will, and therefore most freely; according to the counsel of his will, and therefore most wisely, Being predestinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will.^a

Wherefore did God decree all things that come to pass?

God decreed all things for his own glory.

What sorts are there of Gods decrees?

There are Gods general decrees, and Gods especial decrees.

What are Gods general decrees?

Gods general decrees are his eternal purpose, whereby he hath fore-ordained whatever comes to pass, not only the being of all Creatures which he doth make, but also all their motions & actions; not only good actions which he doth effect, but also the permission of all evil actions, Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.^b Against thy holy Child Jesus Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and People of Israel were gathered together, for to do whatever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.^c

What are Gods especial decrees?

Gods especial decrees, are his decrees of Predestination of Angels and Men, especially his decrees of election and reprobation of men.

What is Gods decree of election of men?

Gods decree of election of men, is his eternal and unchangeable purpose, whereby out of his meer good pleasure he hath in Christ chosen some men unto everlasting life & happiness, as the end; & unto faith and holiness, as the necessary means in order hereunto, for the praise of his most rich and free grace According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; being predestinated according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace.^d God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the spirit, and belief of the truth.^e

What is Gods decree of reprobation of men?

Gods decree of reprobation is his eternal purpose (according to his Soveraignity, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will) of passing by all the rest of the children of men which are not elected, and leaving them to perish in their sins, unto the praise of the power of his wrath and infinite justice in their everlasting punishment, Hath not the Potter power over the Cley, of the same lump, to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor? What if God willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction^f

Whence is it that God doth decree the election of some, and the reprobation of others, of the children of men?

It was neither the good works foreseen in the one, which moved him to chuse them, nor the evil works foreseen in the other, which moved him to pass them by; but only because he would, he chose some, and because he would not, he did not chuse the rest, but decreed to withold that grace which he was no ways bound to give unto them, and to punish them justly for their sins, as he might have punished all if he had so pleased, The children being not yet born, neither having done good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. It was said, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated: for he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardneth.^g

May any know whether they are elected or reprobated in this life?

1. Those which are elected, may know their election by their effectual calling, Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.^h 2. But secondly, none can know certainly in this life (except such as have sinned against the Holy Ghost) that they are reprobated, because the greatest sinners (except such as have committed that sin) may be called, Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God; and such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God.ⁱ And we read of some called at the eleventh hour,^j