We
believe that the same God, after he had created all things, did
not forsake them or give them up to fortune or chance, but that
he rules and governs them according to his holy will, so that
_nothing happens in this world without his appointment_." Again:
"This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are
taught thereby, that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the
direction of our most gracious and Heavenly Father." Mark,
according to this, NOTHING _happens_ but with the APPOINTMENT and
by the DIRECTION of our Heavenly Father.

My hearers will, by this time, be fully convinced that I have not
misstated the Calvinistic doctrine of Divine predestination.

The application of this doctrine to the final destinies of men
and angels constitutes the Calvinistic doctrine of election and
reprobation. Upon this point, Calvin says:--

"Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which _he
has determined in himself what he would have become of every
individual of mankind_. For they are _not all created with a
similar destiny_, but _eternal life is foreordained for some_,
and _eternal damnation for others_. Every man _therefore being
created for one or the other of these ends_, we say he is
predestinated either to eternal life or death." (Vol. ii. p. 145.)

Again: "Observe; all things being at God's disposal, and the
decision of salvation or death belonging to him, he orders all
things by his counsel and decree in such a manner, that _some men
are born devoted from the womb to certain death_, that his name
may be glorified in their destruction." (_Ib_. 169.)

Again: "I inquire, again, how it came to pass that the fall of
Adam, _independent of any remedy_, should involve so many nations
with their _infant children_ in eternal death, but because such
was _the will of God_. Their tongues, so loquacious on every
other point, must here be struck dumb. It is an awful decree, I
confess but no one can deny that God foreknew the future final
fate of man before he created him, and that he did foreknow it
_because it was appointed by his own decree_." (_Ib_. 170.)

Upon this point, the _Presbyterian Confession of Faith_, the
_Saybrook Platform_, and the _Baptist Confession of Faith_, hold
the following language:--

"By the decree of God for the manifestation of his glory, some
men and angels are predestinated to everlasting life, and others
foreordained to everlasting death.

"Those angels and men, thus