Chapter 3
Of God’s Decree
1. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken way, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.
(Isa. 46:10Isa. 46:10
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
WP-Bible plugin; Eph. 1:11Eph. 1:11
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11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
WP-Bible plugin; Heb. 6:17Heb. 6:17
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17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: confirmed...: Gr. interposed himself by
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 9:15, 18Rom. 9:15, 18
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15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
WP-Bible plugin; James 1:13James 1:13
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13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: evil: or, evils
WP-Bible plugin; 1 John 1:51 John 1:5
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5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
WP-Bible plugin; Acts 4:27, 28Acts 4:27, 28
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27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
WP-Bible plugin; John 19:11John 19:11
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11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
WP-Bible plugin; Num. 23:19Num. 23:19
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19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
WP-Bible plugin; Eph. 1:3-5Eph. 1:3-5
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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: places: or, things
4 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
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2. Although God knoweth whatsoever may or can come to pass, upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything, because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
(Acts 15:18Acts 15:18
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18Rom. 9:11, 13, 16, 18
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13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
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3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated, or foreordained to eternal life through Jesus Christ, to the praise of his glorious grace; others being left to act in their sin to their just condemnation, to the praise of his glorious justice.
(I Tim. 5:21; Matt. 25:34Matt. 25:34
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
WP-Bible plugin; Eph. 1:5, 6Eph. 1:5, 6
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5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 9:22, 23Rom. 9:22, 23
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22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: fitted: or, made up
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
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4. These angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
(2 Tim. 2:192 Tim. 2:19
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. sure: or, steady
WP-Bible plugin; John 13:18John 13:18
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18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
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5. Those of mankind that are predestinated to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving him thereunto.
(Eph. 1:4, 9, 11Eph. 1:4, 9, 11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 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:
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 8:30Rom. 8:30
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30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
WP-Bible plugin; 2 Tim. 1:92 Tim. 1:9
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9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
WP-Bible plugin; I Thess. 5:9ss. 5:9
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9 What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 9:13, 16Rom. 9:13, 16
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13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
WP-Bible plugin; Eph. 2:5, 12Eph. 2:5, 12
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5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by...: or, by whose grace
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
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6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so he hath, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto; wherefore they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ, by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified, and kept by his power through faith unto salvation; neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.
(1 Pet. 1:21 Pet. 1:2
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2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
WP-Bible plugin; 2 Thess. 2:132 Thess. 2:13
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13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
WP-Bible plugin; 1 Thess. 5:9, 101 Thess. 5:9, 10
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9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 8:30Rom. 8:30
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30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
WP-Bible plugin; 2 Thess. 2:132 Thess. 2:13
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13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
WP-Bible plugin; 1 Pet. 1:51 Pet. 1:5
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5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
WP-Bible plugin; John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64John 10:26, 17:9, 6:64
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26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
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7. The doctrine of the high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election; so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel.
(1 Thess. 1:4, 5; 21 Thess. 1:4, 5; 2
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. beloved...: or, beloved of God, your election
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
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1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. been...: or, used authority
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: persecuted us: or, chased us out
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? rejoicing: or, glorying
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
WP-Bible plugin Pet. 1:10; Eph. 1:6Eph. 1:6
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6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 11:33Rom. 11:33
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33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
WP-Bible plugin; Rom. 11:5, 6, 20Rom. 11:5, 6, 20
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5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
WP-Bible plugin; Luke 10:20Luke 10:20
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20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
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