are, his eternal purpose according to the
counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath
foreordained _whatsoever comes to pass_."

The next question in this Catechism is: "How doth God execute his
decrees?--_Ans_. God executeth his decrees in the works of
creation and providence."

In a work, entitled _An Exposition of the Confession of Faith of
the Westminster Assembly of Divines_, by the Rev. Robert Shaw,
published by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and revised
by the Committee of Publication, we find the following passages:
"That God _must have decreed all future things_ is a conclusion
which flows necessarily from his foreknowledge, independence, and
immutability." (p. 58.)

Again: "The decrees of God relate to all future things without
exception; _whatever is done in time was foreordained before the
beginning of time_." (p. 59.)

Again: "If from all eternity he knew all things that come to
pass, then from eternity he _must_ have _ordained_ them" (p. 60).
Again: "The foreknowledge of God will necessarily infer a decree;
for God could not foreknow that things would be, unless he had
decreed they should be." (p. 59.)

In another publication of this Board, entitled _Fisher's
Catechism_, we find the following questions and answers:--

"_Q_. What are the decrees of God?--_Ans_. The decrees of God are
his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby,
for his own glory, he hath _foreordained whatsoever comes to
pass_." (p. 51.)

"_Q_. Are all the decrees of God then unchangeable?--_Ans_. Yes:
from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably
foreordained whatsoever comes to pass." (p. 53.)

"_Q_. Does anything come to pass in time but what was decreed
from eternity?--_Ans_. No: for the _very reason why anything_
comes to pass in time, is _because God decreed_ it." (p. 54.)

"_Q_. Are things that are casual or accidental positively
decreed?--_Ans_. Yes." (_Ib_.)

"_Q_. What has the decree of God fixed with respect to man's
continuance in this world?--_Ans_. It has _immovably fixed_ the
precise moment of _every_ one's _life_ and _death_, with _every
particular circumstance thereof_." (_Ib_.)

"_Q_. How does God execute his decrees?--_Ans_. God executes his
decrees in the works of creation and providence." (p. 57.)

"_Q_. What is it for God to execute his decrees?--_Ans_. It is to
bring them to pass; or give _an actual being in time_, to what he
_purposed from e