Dr. Fisk is charged with garbling the _Confession of
Faith_ for sinister purposes (p. 111); and with "scandalous
imputations" against Calvinism. (p. 150.)

It is not impossible that our Calvinistic brethren should be
misrepresented. Nor is it impossible that they should misrepresent
both themselves and others. I do not admit that they are thus
misrepresented by their Methodist opponents, but it is not my
intention to refute these charges at this time. I refer to them
now to justify the special caution which I shall observe in
presenting their tenets. They make it necessary for us to prove
beyond the possibility of doubt that they hold the doctrines
which we impute to them. I shall give their views in their own
words.

Calvin says, in his _Institutes_: "Whoever, then, desires to
avoid this infidelity, let him constantly remember that, in the
creatures, there is no erratic power, or action, or motion, but
that they are _so governed _by the secret counsel of God, that
_nothing can happen_ but what is subject to his knowledge, and
DECREED _by his will_." (Vol. i. p. 186.)

Again: "All future things being uncertain to us, we hold them in
suspense, as though they might happen either one way or another.
Yet, this remains a _fixed principle_ in our hearts, that _there
will be_ NO _event which God has not_ ORDAINED." (_Ib_. p. 193.)

Again: "They consider it absurd that a man should be blinded by
the will and command of God, and afterwards be punished for his
blindness. They, therefore, evade this difficulty, by alleging
that it happens only by the permission of God, and not by the
will of God; but God himself, by the most unequivocal declarations,
rejects this subterfuge. That men, however, _can effect_ NOTHING
but by the secret _will_ of _God_, and can _deliberate_ upon
nothing but what he has _previously decreed_, and DETERMINES by
his _secret direction_, is proved by express and innumerable
testimonies." (_Ib_. p. 211.)

Again: "If God simply foresaw the fates of men, and did not also
_dispose_ and _fix_ them by his _determination_, there would be
room to agitate the question, whether his providence or foresight
rendered them at all necessary. But, since he foresees future
events only in consequence of _his decree that they shall
happen_, it is useless to contend about foreknowledge, while it
is evident that ALL _things come to pass rather_ by ORDINATION
and DECREE." (Vol ii. p. 169.)

Again: "I shall not hesitate,