Reference: Predestination
Easton
This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Ac 4:28; Ro 8:29-30; 1Co 2:7; Eph 1:5,11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events.
This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guide, we must accept this doctrine with all its mysteriousness, and settle all our questionings in the humble, devout acknowledgment, "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."
For the teaching of Scripture on this subject let the following passages be examined in addition to those referred to above; Ge 21:12; Ex 9:16; 33:19; De 10:15; 32:8; Jos 11:20; 1Sa 12:22; 2Ch 6:6; Ps 33:12; 65:4; 78:68; 135:4; Isa 41:1-10; Jer 1:5; Mr 13:20; Lu 22:22; Joh 6:37; 15:16; 17:2,6,9; Ac 2:28; 3:18; 4:28; 13:48; 17:26; Ro 9:11,18,21; 11:5; Eph 3:11; 1Th 1:4; 2Th 2:13; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:2; 1Pe 1:2. (See Decrees of God; Election of Grace.)
Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (1) exalts the majesty and absolute sovereignty of God, while it illustrates the riches of his free grace and his just displeasure with sin. (2.) It enforces upon us the essential truth that salvation is entirely of grace. That no one can either complain if passed over, or boast himself if saved. (3.) It brings the inquirer to absolute self-despair and the cordial embrace of the free offer of Christ. (4.) In the case of the believer who has the witness in himself, this doctrine at once deepens his humility and elevates his confidence to the full assurance of hope" (Outlines).
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And God said unto Abraham Let it not be grievous in thine eyes concerning the boy and concerning thy bondwoman, In all that Sarah may say unto thee, hearken to her voice, - For in Isaac, shall there be called to thee - a seed.
but, in very deed for this purpose, have I let thee remain, for the purpose of showing thee my might, - and that my name may be celebrated in all the earth.
And he said, - I, will cause all my goodness to pass before thee. And will proclaim myself by the name Yahweh, before thee, And will show favour, unto whom I may show favour, And will have compassion on whom I may have compassion.
Only unto thy fathers, Yahweh became attached so as to love them, - therefore made he choice of their seed after them - of you - out of all the peoples, (as at this day).
When the Most High gave inheritances unto the nations, When he spread abroad the sons of Adam, He set the bounds of the peoples, According to the number of the sons of Israel.
For, from Yahweh, came it to pass, that their heart was emboldened to come out to war with Israel, that he might devote them to destruction, that they might find no favour, - but that he might destroy them, - as Yahweh commanded Moses.
How happy the nation whose God is, Yahweh, The people he hath chosen as his own inheritance!
How happy the man thou shalt choose and bring near! He shall bide in thy courts, - We shall be satisfied with, The blessing of thy house, The holiness of thy temple.
But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved;
For, Jacob, hath Yah chosen for himself, Israel, for his own treasure.
Be silent and hearken unto me, O ye Coastlands, lands, And let the Races of Men renew their strength, - Let them approach, then, let them speak, Together, for controversy, let us draw near: - Who roused up one from the East, In righteousness, called him to his feet, - Set before him nations And over kings, caused him to rule, His sword, made them like dust, His bow like driven chaff: read more. He pursued them passed along safely, - Upon the path of his own feet, entered he not? Who hath wrought and performed, Calling the generations, in advance? I, Yahweh, who am First, And with them who are last, I, am the Same! Coastlands have seen, so they fear, The ends of the earth, are in dread, - They have drawn near, and have come: Every man, to his neighbour, giveth help, - And to his brother, saith Take courage! So, the carver, hath encouraged, the goldsmith, he that maketh smooth with the hammer, him that smiteth the anvil, - Saying of the welding, It is, good, Then hath he fastened it with nails - it must not totter! But, thou, Israel, my Servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, - The seed of Abraham my loving one; Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, And from the extremities thereof, have called thee, - And said to thee, My Servant, thou! I have chosen thee and not cast thee off, Do not fear, for with thee, I am! Look not around, for, I, am thy God, - I have emboldened thee, Yea I have helped thee, Yea I have upheld thee with my righteous right-hand.
Before I formed thee at thy birth, I took knowledge of thee, And before thy nativity, I hallowed thee, - A prophet to the nations, I appointed thee.
And, save that the Lord hath shortened the days, no flesh should be saved; but, for the sake of the chosen of whom he hath made choice, he hath shortened the days.
Because, the Son of Man, indeed, according to what is marked out, goeth his way; nevertheless, alas! for that man through whom he is being delivered up.
All that which the Father is giving me, unto me, will have come, and, him that cometh unto me, in nowise will I cast out, -
Not, ye, chose, me, but, I, chose you, and placed you, that ye should go your way and bear, fruit, - and, your fruit, should abide: that, whatsoever ye should ask the Father in my name, he might give unto you.
Even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that, as touching whatsoever thou hast given him, he might give unto them, life age-abiding.
I manifested thy name, unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: Thine, they were, and, to me, thou gavest them, and, thy word, have they kept:
I, concerning them, make request: not, concerning the world, do I make request, but concerning them whom thou hast given me, because, thine, they are, -
Thou madest known unto me paths of life, thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
Howbeit, God - what things he had before declared, through the mouth of all the prophets, for his Christ to suffer, - did thus fulfill!
To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
And they of the nations, hearing this , began to rejoice, and to be glorifying God, and they believed - as many as had become disposed for life age-abiding.
he made also, of one, every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, - marking out fitting opportunities, and the bounds of their dwelling place,
For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren, - And, whom he fore-appointed, the same, he also called, and, whom he called, the same, he also declared righteous, and, whom he declared righteous, the same, he also made glorious: -
They, in fact, not being yet born, nor having practised anything good or bad, - in order that the purpose of God by way of election might stand, - not by works but by him that was calling,
Hence, then, - on whom he pleaseth, he hath mercy, and, whom he pleaseth, he doth harden.
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour?
Thus, then, in the present season also, a remnant, by way of an election of favour, hath come into being.
marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,
Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, - surpassing therein with thanksgiving.
In hope of life age-abiding; which God, who cannot lie, promised before age-during times,
Holding fast, in the matter of his teaching, the faithful word, that he may be able both to encourage with his healthful instruction, and, the gainsayers, to refute.
Fausets
(See ELECTION.) Ac 2:23; 4:28, "whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (proorisen). God has "predestinated" believers "unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace." "He hath chosen us in Christ" out of the rest of the world, "predestinated" us to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:4-5,11). "Predestination" refers to God's decree, embodied in God's "election" of us out of the mass; His grand end. in it being "the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph 1:6,12,14). It is by virtue of our union to Christ, "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1Pe 1:20), that we are "predestinated" (2Ti 1:9).
Believers are viewed by God before the world's foundation as "IN CHRIST" with whom the Father makes the covenant (Re 13:8; 17:8; Eph 3:11), "according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." In 2Th 2:13 the Greek for "chosen" (heilato) means rather "taken for Himself"; He adopted them in His eternal purpose; "in (Greek) sanctification of (i.e. by) the Spirit" (by consecration to perfect holiness in Christ once for all, next by imparting it to them ever more and more). There was no doubt or contingency with God from the first. All was foreordained. God's glory and the believer's salvation are secured unchangeably. All pride on man's part is excluded; all is of God's unmerited grace. Yet the will of man is, in the sense of preserving our reponsibility, free. God alone knows how the two harmonize, His predestination and our freedom; it is enough for us they are both distinctly revealed.
At the same time fatalism is excluded, for God who predestinated believers to salvation as the end predestinated them to be conformed to the image of His Son as the means. We must make as sure of the means as of the end. Not to have the Spirit of Christ is to be none of His. Yet God's predestination is not founded on the believer's character, but the believer's character results from God's predestination (2Th 2:13; Ro 8:9,28-30). God the Father gives us salvation by gratuitous election; the Son earns it by His blood-shedding; the Holy Spirit applies the Son's merits to the soul by the gospel word (Calvin): Ga 1:4,15; 1Pe 1:2; the element IN (Greek) which we are elected is "sanctification of (consecration once for all by) the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (the end aimed at by God as regards us).
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The same, by the marked out counsel and foreknowledge of God given up, through the hands of lawless men, suspending, ye slew,
To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass.
But, ye, have not your being in flesh, but in spirit, - if at least, God's Spirit, dwelleth in you; and, if anyone hath not Christ's Spirit, the same, is not his; -
We know, further, that, unto them who love God, God causeth all things to work together for good, - unto them who, according to purpose, are such as he hath called; For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren, - read more. And, whom he fore-appointed, the same, he also called, and, whom he called, the same, he also declared righteous, and, whom he declared righteous, the same, he also made glorious: -
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -
But, when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me through his favour, was well-pleased
According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love, marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, read more. Unto the praise of the glory of his favour wherewith he favoured us in the Beloved One, -
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will, That we should be for the praise of his glory - we who had hoped beforehand in the Christ, -
Which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of the acquisition; - unto his glorious praise.
But, we, are bound to give thanks unto God continually concerning you, brethren beloved by the Lord, for that God chose you, from the beginning, unto salvation, in sanctification of spirit and belief of truth, -
But, we, are bound to give thanks unto God continually concerning you, brethren beloved by the Lord, for that God chose you, from the beginning, unto salvation, in sanctification of spirit and belief of truth, -
Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to the peculiar purpose and favour - which was given to us in Christ Jesus before age-during times,
Foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, but made manifest at a last stage of the times, for the sake of you
And all they who are dwelling upon the earth will do homage unto him, - every one whose name is not written in the scroll of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The wild-beast which thou sawest, was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss, and into, destruction, goeth away. And they who are dwelling upon the earth whose name is not written upon the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be astonished, when they see the wild-beast, because it was, and is not, and shall be present.
Hastings
The English word 'predestinate' in the AV is, in the few cases in which it occurs (Ro 8:29,36; Eph 1:5,11), exchanged in the RV for 'foreordain,' a return to the usage of the older Versions. The Gr. word (proorizo) conveys the simple idea of defining or determining beforehand (thus, in addition to above, in Ac 4:29; 1Co 2:7). The change in rendering brings the word into closer relation with a number of others expressing the same, or related, meanings, as 'foreknow' (in pregnant sense, Ac 2:23; Ro 8:29; 11:2; 1Pe 1:2,20), 'determine' (Ac 17:26), 'appoint' (1Pe 2:8), 'purpose' (Eph 1:9), in the case of believers, 'choose' or 'elect' (Eph 1:4 etc.). In the OT the idea is expressed by the various words denoting to purpose, determine, choose (e.g. Isa 14:24-27; 46:10-11), with the ahundance of phrases extolling the sovereignty and immutability of God's counsel in all the spheres of His operation (see below; so in NT). The best clue to the Scripture conception will he found in tracing it as it appears in these different spheres of the Divine action.
1. In its most general aspect, foreordination is coextensive with the sphere of God's universal providence, is, in fact, but another name for the eternal plan, design, purpose, counsel of God, which executes itself in providence. The election of believers, to which 'predestination' is sometimes narrowed, is hut a specific case of the 'purpose' of Him 'who worketh all things after the counsel of his will' (Eph 1:11). It is in this wider regard, accordingly, that foreordination must be studied first. It cannot be reasonably doubted that all Scripture
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when, Abraham, shall surely become, a great and mighty nation, - and all the nations of the earth, shall be blessed in him? For I have become his intimate friend, To the end that he may command his sons and his house after him, so shall they keep the way of Yahweh, by doing righteousness and justice. To the end that Yahweh may bring in for Abraham, what he hath spoken concerning him.
Now, therefore it was not ye, who sent me hither, but, God, himself, - who also appointed me to be a father to Pharaoh, and a lord to all his house, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Ye, indeed, planned against me, evil, - God, planned it, for good, for the sake of doing, as at this day, to save alive much people.
And said unto you - Ye, shall possess their soil, Yea, I myself, will give it you to possess it, A land flowing with milk and honey, - I - Yahweh, am your God, who have distinguished you from the peoples;
Therefore shall ye be unto me, holy persons, for, holy, am, I - Yahweh, - Therefore have I distinguished you from the peoples, that ye may be mine.
Therefore I counsel - that there be a general gathering together unto thee of all Israel, from Dan even unto Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude, - and that, thine own presence, be going on in their midst. So shall we come upon him in some place where he hath been found, yea, we, shall be upon him, as when the dew falleth upon the ground, - and there shall not be left of him, or of the men that are with him, so much as one.
and said - Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked must I return thither, Yahweh, gave, and, Yahweh, hath taken away, - The name of Yahweh be blessed!
Let be! and know that, I, am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
When, our God, is in the heavens, Whatsoever he pleased, hath he done.
Whatsoever Yahweh hath pleased, he hath done, - in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas, and all resounding deeps:
A man's heart, deviseth his way, but, Yahweh, directeth his steps.
Into the lap, is cast the lot, but, from Yahweh, is its every decision.
Like channels of water, is the heart of a king, in the hand of Yahweh, - whithersoever he will, he turneth it.
Yahweh of hosts, hath sworn, saying, - Surely as I intended, so, hath it come to pass, And as I purposed, the same, shall stand: -
Yahweh of hosts, hath sworn, saying, - Surely as I intended, so, hath it come to pass, And as I purposed, the same, shall stand: - That I will break in pieces the Assyrian in my land, Yea upon my mountains, will I tread him underfoot, - So shall be removed from off them his yoke, And his burden, from off their shoulder shall be removed. read more. This, is the purpose that is purposed upon all the earth, - And, this, the hand outstretched over all the nations; For, Yahweh of hosts, hath purposed, - And who shall frustrate? And, his, is the hand outstretched, And who shall turn it back?
For, Yahweh of hosts, hath purposed, - And who shall frustrate? And, his, is the hand outstretched, And who shall turn it back?
Hast thou not heard - That, long ago, that, is what I appointed, And from days of old, devised? Now, have I brought it to pass, That thou mightest Serve to lay waste, in desolate ruins, fortified cities;
Now, therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh - Creating thee, O Jacob, and Fashioning thee O Israel, - Do not fear, For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name. Mine, thou art!
Every one who is called by my Name, Whom for mine own glory, I have created - formed - yea, made!
Forming light and creating darkness, Making prosperity, and creating misfortune, - I - Yahweh, who doeth all these.
Declaring from the beginning, the latter end, And from olden time, that which had never been done, - Saying My purpose shall stand, and All my pleasure, will I perform; Calling, From the East, a Bird of Prey, From a far country, the Man I intended, - Yea I have spoken I will also bring it to pass, I have planned, I will also do it.
And, all the inhabitants of the earth, as nothing, are accounted, and, according to his own pleasure, dealeth he - with the army of the heavens, and the inhabitants of the earth, - and none there is who can smite upon his hand, or say to him, What hast thou done?
Or a horn be blown in a city, and, a people, not tremble? Or calamity happen in a city, and, Yahweh, not have wrought with effect?
Come may thy kingdom, - Accomplished be thy will, as in heaven, also on earth:
Are not, two sparrows, for a farthing, sold? And, one from among them, shall not fall upon the ground, without your Father; But, even the hairs of, your, head, have all been numbered.
The same, by the marked out counsel and foreknowledge of God given up, through the hands of lawless men, suspending, ye slew,
Thou madest known unto me paths of life, thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
To do whatsoever, thy hand and thy counsel, marked out beforehand to come to pass. As to the present things, then, O Lord, - look upon their threats, and grant unto thy servants, with all freedom of utterance, to be speaking thy word,
For it hath seemed good unto the Holy Spirit and unto us, no greater burden, to be laying upon you, than these necessary things: -
he made also, of one, every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, - marking out fitting opportunities, and the bounds of their dwelling place,
For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren, -
For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren, -
For, whom he fore-approved, he also fore-appointed to be conformed unto the image of his Son, that he might be firstborn among many brethren, -
According as it is written - For thy sake, are we being put to death all the day long, we have been reckoned as sheep for slaughter. -
What, then, shall we say? Is there injustice with God? Far be it! For, unto Moses, he saith - I will have mercy upon whomsoever I can have mercy, and I will have compassion upon whomsoever I can have compassion. read more. Hence, then, it is nor of him that wisheth nor of him that runneth, but of the mercy-shewing God. For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh - Unto this end, have I raised thee up, that I may thus shew in thee my power, and that I may declare my name in all the earth.
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh - Unto this end, have I raised thee up, that I may thus shew in thee my power, and that I may declare my name in all the earth. Hence, then, - on whom he pleaseth, he hath mercy, and, whom he pleaseth, he doth harden. read more. Thou wilt say to me, then - Why longer findeth he fault? For, his purpose, who hath withstood? O man! Who, nevertheless, art, thou, that art answering again unto God? Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it - Why didst thou make me thus?
O man! Who, nevertheless, art, thou, that art answering again unto God? Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it - Why didst thou make me thus? Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour?
Or hath not the potter a right over the clay - out of the same lump, to make some, indeed, into a vessel for honour, and some for dishonour? And, if God - wishing to shew his anger and to make known his power - bare, in much patience, with vessels of anger already fitted for destruction,
And, if God - wishing to shew his anger and to make known his power - bare, in much patience, with vessels of anger already fitted for destruction,
And, if God - wishing to shew his anger and to make known his power - bare, in much patience, with vessels of anger already fitted for destruction, In order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy which he prepared beforehand for glory, -
God hath not cast off his people, whom he fore approved. Or know ye not, in the account of Elijah what the scripture saith, when he intercedeth with God against Israel?
Oh! the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments! and untraceable his ways! For who hath come to know the mind of the Lord? Or who hath become his counselor?
According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love,
According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love,
According as he made choice of us, in him, before the founding of a world, that we might be holy and blameless in his presence; in love, marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
marking us out beforehand unto sonship, through Jesus Christ, for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
making known to us the sacred secret of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him, -
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,
In whom also we were taken as an inheritance, according to the purpose of him who energiseth all things according to the counsel of his will,
Unto you also - being dead by your offences and sins, In which at one time ye walked, according to the age of the world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, of the spirit that now energiseth in the sons of disobedience, read more. Among whom also, we all, had our behaviour, at one time, in the covetings of our flesh, doing the things desired by the flesh and the mind, and were children, by nature, of anger - even as the rest, - But, God, being rich in mercy, by reason of the great love wherewith he loved us, Although we were dead by our offences, gave us life together with the Christ, - by favour, ye have been saved, - And raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenlies, in Christ: That he might point out, in the oncoming ages, the surpassing riches of his favour in graciousness upon us, in Christ Jesus; For, by his favour, have ye been saved, through means of faith, and this hath come to pass - not from you, of God, the free-gift!
Ye husbands, be loving your wives, even as, the Christ also, loved the assembly, and delivered, himself, up in her behalf, That, her, he might sanctify, having purified her with the bath of water, in declaration, read more. That, he, might present, unto himself, the assembly, all glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any of such things, but that she should be holy and blameless;
Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, - surpassing therein with thanksgiving.
But, we, are bound to give thanks unto God continually concerning you, brethren beloved by the Lord, for that God chose you, from the beginning, unto salvation, in sanctification of spirit and belief of truth, -
Hence, then, brethren, stand firm, and hold fast the instructions which ye were taught - whether through discourse, or through our letter.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, unto the chosen pilgrims of the dispersion, throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, -
And a stone to strike against, and a rock to stumble over: Who stumble because, unto the word, they do not yield, - unto which also they have been appointed;
and from - Jesus Christ, - The Faithful Witness, The Firstborn of the Dead, and The Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us out of our sins with his blood, - and he hath made us to be a kingdom - priests unto his God and Father, Unto him, be the glory, and the dominion, unto the ages. Amen.
Worthy, art thou, O Lord, and our God, to receive the glory, and the honour, and the power: because thou didst create all things, and, by reason of thy will, they were, and were created.
and they cry out with a loud voice, saying - Salvation unto our God who sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb!
And I saw, and lo! the Lamb, standing upon the mount Zion, - and, with him, a hundred and forty-four thousand, having his name and his Father's name written upon their foreheads. And I heard a sound out of heaven, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of, loud thunders; and, the sound which I heard, was as of harp-singers harping with their harps, read more. And they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. And, no one, was able to learn the song, save the hundred and forty-four thousand, who had been redeemed from the earth. These, are they, who with women, were not defiled, for they are, virgin. These, are they who follow the Lamb whithersoever he is going. These, were redeemed from mankind, as a firstfruit unto God and the Lamb; and, in their mouth, was found no falsehood, - faultless, they are. And I saw another messenger, flying in mid-heaven, having an age-abiding glad-message to announce unto them who are dwelling upon the earth, even unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people,
Watsons
PREDESTINATION, according to some, is a judgment, or decree of God, by which he has resolved, from all eternity, to save a certain number of persons, hence named elect. Others define it, a decree to give faith in Jesus Christ to a certain number of men, and to leave the rest to their own malice and hardness of heart. A third, more Scripturally, God's eternal purpose to save all that "truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel,"