The Decrees of God A Discourse (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Decrees of God: A Discourse
"Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." - 1 Peter, ch. iii, v.xv.
This passage of scripture has not been selected so much for the purpose of confining my remarks to the exact spirit of the passage, as for another purpose. Contrary to my custom, it will be used as a motto in discussing an important and greatly controverted subject, viz: "The Decrees of God."
This doctrine, as held by Presbyterians, has had, and still has, many bitter opponents, who, in the heat of debate, have accused us of heresy, and of "teaching the doctrines of devils." In opposition, however, to all railing and calumny, true Presbyterians are firm believers in the doctrine of divine decrees, and it is hoped that they will remain steadfast in the faith of their fathers, until the Lord changes the Bible. In giving reasons for our faith, instead of giving railing for railing - as might easily be done - instead of using personalities and abusive language, I design, God helping me, dispassionately to discuss the subject proposed, with the spirit of christian kindness and courtesy; in other words, "I will give an answer to every man that asketh a reason of the hope that is in me, with meekness and fear," i.e. with the fear of God, but not of man, before me.
I am now to vindicate the Decrees of God, and show that the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church on this subject, is consonant with reason and revelation. For the sake of order, I will speak, first, of God's General Decree; secondly, of the Decree of Election; thirdly, of the Decree of Reprobation; and, fourthly, will notice some of the objections commonly urged against this doctrine.
1. We are to consider, first, the General Decree of God. "What are the decrees of God?" This question, you will readily perceive, is the twelfth one of our Larger Catechism, and this is the answer: "God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men." Here it is necessary to remark that to decree, to purpose, to fore-ordain, to predestinate, are so nearly the same in meaning that they will be used as synonymous terms.
Now for the proof that "God has from eternity fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass."
First - It may be argued from the intelligence of God. No man can doubt that God is an intelligent being, for this attribute of his character is fully manifested in his word and works. Consider what this means. "An intelligent being is one who knows and judges, who purposes ends and devises means, who acts from design, conceives a plan, and then proceeds to execute it." Then, if God is an intelligent being and the creator of all things, as he is represented in his word to be, nothing ever came into existence without his knowledge and efficient or permissive purpose, or his direct or indirect agency. If God is an intelligent being, before he created the universe he must have formed some plan or purpose to create.
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