The properties of God's decrees explained.
1. They are
eternal. God
makes no
decrees in
time, but
they were
all from
eternity. So
the decree
of election
is said to
have been '
before the
foundation
of the
world,' Eph. i. 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.' Yea,
whatever he
doth in
time, was
decreed by
him, seeing
it was known
to him
before time,
Acts xv. 18.
' Known unto
God are all
his works
from the
beginning.'
And this
foreknowledge
is founded
on the
decree. If
the divine
decrees were
not eternal,
God would
not be most
perfect and
un-changeable,
but, like
weak man,
should take
new
counsels,
and would be
unable to
tell every
thing that
were to come
to pass.
2. They are
most wise, '
according to
the counsel
of his
will.' God
cannot
properly
deliberate
or take
counsel, as
men do ; for
he sees all
things
together and
at once. And
thus his
decrees are
made with
perfect
judgment,
and laid in
the depth of
wisdom, Rom.
xi. 33. ' 0
the depth of
the riches
both of the
wisdom and
knowledge of
God! how
unsearchable
are his
judgments,
and his ways
past finding
out!' So
that nothing
is
determined
that could
have been
better
determined.
3. They are
most free,
according to
the counsel
of his own
will ;
depending on
no other,
but all
flowing from
the mere
pleasure of
his own
will, Rom.
xi. 34. '
For who hath
known the
mind of the
Lord, or who
hath been
his
counsellor?'
Whatsoever
he decreeth
to work
without
himself, is
from his
free choice.
So his
decrees are
all
absolute,
and there
are none of
them
conditional.
He has made
no decrees
suspended on
any
condition
without
himself.
Neither has
he decreed
any thing
because he
saw it would
come to
pass, or as
that which
would come
to pass on
such or such
conditions ;
for then
they should
be no more
according to
the counsel
of his will,
but the
creature's
will. For
God's
decrees
being
eternal,
cannot
depend upon
a condition
which is
temporal.
They are the
determinate
counsels of
God, but a
conditional
decree
determines
nothing.
Such
conditional
decrees are
inconsistent
with the
infinite
wisdom of
God, and are
in men only
the effects
of weakness
; and they
are
inconsistent
with the
independency
of God,
making them
depend on
the
creature.
4. They are
unchangeable.
They are the
unalterable
laws of
heaven.
God's
decrees are
constant ;
and he by no
means alters
his purpose,
as men do,
Psal.
xxxiii. 11.
' The
counsel of
the Lord
standeth for
ever, the
thoughts of
his heart to
all
generations.'
Hence they
are compared
to mountains
of brass,
Zech. vi. 1.
As nothing
can escape
his first
view, so
nothing can
be added to
his
knowledge.
Hence Balaam
said, ' 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
?' Numb.
xxiii. 19.
The decree
of election
is
irreversible
: ` The
foundation
of God,
(says the
apostle),
standeth
sure, having
this seal,
The Lord
knoweth them
that are
his,' 2 Tim.
ii. 19.
5. They are
most holy
and pure.
For as the
sun darts
its beams
upon a
dunghill,
and yet is
no way
defiled by
it; so God
decrees the
permission
of sin, yet
is not the
author of
sin : 1 John
i. 5. ' God
is light,
and in him
is no
darkness at
all,' Jam. i.
13. 17. '
God cannot
be tempted
with evil,
neither
tempteth he
any man.
With him is
no
variableness,
neither
shadow of
turning.'
6. They are
effectual :
that is,
whatsoever
God decrees,
comes to
pass
infallibly,
Isa. xlvi.
10. ' My
counsel
shall stand,
and I will
do all my
pleasure.'
He cannot
fall short
of what he
has
determined.
Yet the
liberty of
second
causes is
not hereby
taken away ;
for the
decree of
God offers
no violence
to the
creature's
will ; as
appears from
the free and
unforced
acting's of
Joseph's
brethren,
Pharaoh, the
Jews that
crucified
Christ, &c.
Nor does it
take away
the
contingency
of second
causes,
either in
themselves
or as to us,
as appears
by the lot
cast into
the lap.
Nay, they
are thereby
established,
because he
hath
efficaciously
foreordained
that such
effects
shall follow
on such
causes.
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