“ A failure to make this distinction has been a fruitful source of division and distress of our holy cause, and a failure to so distinguish between God's permissive and overruling decree of sin and his causative decree of holiness will ever cause distress and confusion among our people. ”

“ God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever come to pass; [1] yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; [2] nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; [3] in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree. ”

“ Those of mankind that are predestined to life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen in Christ unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, [11] without any other thing in the creature as a condition or cause moving Him thereunto. ”