I. The first absolute decree of God
concerning the salvation of sinful man, is that by which he decreed to
appoint his Son,
Jesus Christ, for a Mediator, Redeemer, saviour, Priest and King,
who might destroy sin by his own death, might by his obedience
obtain the salvation which had been lost, and might communicate it
by his own virtue.
II. The second precise and absolute
decree of God, is that in which he decreed to receive into favour those
who repent and
believe, and, in Christ, for his sake and through Him, to effect
the salvation of such penitents and believers as persevered
to the end; but to leave in sin, and under wrath, all impenitent
persons and unbelievers, and to damn them as aliens from
Christ.
III. The third Divine decree is that
by which God decreed to administer in a sufficient and efficacious
manner the means which
were necessary for repentance and faith; and to have such
administration instituted (1.) according to the Divine Wisdom, by
which God knows what is proper and becoming both to his mercy and
his severity, and (2.) according to Divine Justice, by which
He is prepared to adopt whatever his wisdom may prescribe and put
it in execution.
IV. To these succeeds the fourth
decree, by which God decreed to save and damn certain particular
persons. This decree has
its foundation in the foreknowledge of God, by which he knew from
all eternity those individuals who would, through his preventing
grace, believe, and, through his subsequent grace would persevere,
according to the before described administration of those
means which are suitable and proper for conversion and faith; and,
by which foreknowledge, he
likewise knew those who would not believe and persevere
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