before men saith he that they may see your good works 2. He induceth them so to do by shewing that albeit they be not justified by works yet spectators of their good works may be converted or edified and so glory may redound to God by their good works when the witnesses thereof shall glorifie your Father which is in Heaven 3. He gives them no other rule for their new obedience than the Moral Law set down and explicated by Moses and the Prophets Think not saith he that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets 4. He gives them to understand that the Doctrine of grace and freedom from the curse of the Law by faith in him is readily mistaken by mens corrupt judgment as if it did loose or slaken the obligation of believers to obey the commands and to be subject to the authority of the Law and that this error is indeed a destroying of the Law and of the Prophets which he will in no case ever endure in any of his Disciples it is so contrary to the end of his coming which is first to sanctifie and then to save believers Think not saith he that I am come to destroy the Law and the Prophets 5. He teacheth that the end of the Gospel and Covenant of Grace is to procure mens obedience unto the Moral Law I am come saith he to fulfil the Law and the Prophets 6. That the obligation of the Moral Law itâ— all points unto all holy duties is perpetual and shall stand to the worlds end that is till Heaven and Earth pass away 7. That as God hath a care of the Scriptures from the beginning so shall he have care of them still to the Worlds end that there shall not one jot or one title of the substance thereof be taken away so saith the Text v. 11. 8. That as the breaking of the Moral Law and defending the transgression thereof to be no sin doth exclude men both from Heaven and justly also from the fellowship of the true Kirk so the obedience of the Law and teaching others to do the same by example counsel and doctrine according to every mans calling proveth a man to be a true believer and in great estimation with God and worthy to be much esteemed of by the true Church v. 19. 9. That the righteousness of every true Christian must be more than the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees for the Scribes and Pharisees albeit they took great pains to discharge sundry duties of the Law yet they cutted short the exposition thereof that it might the less condemn the practice they studied the outward part of the duty but neglected the inward and spiritual part they discharged meaner duties carefully but neglected judgment mercy and the love of God In a word they went about to establish their own righteousness and rejected the Righteousness of God by faith in Jesus But a true Christian must have more than all this he must acknowledg the full extent of the spiritual meaning of the Law and have a respect to all the Commandments and labour to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and not lay weight upon what service he hath done or shall do but cloath himself with the imputed righteousness of Christ which only can hide his nakedness or else he cannot be saved So saith the Text Except your righteousness c. The second thing requisite to evidence true Faith is that the believer endeavour to put the rules of Godliness and Righteousness in practice and to grow in the daily exercise thereof holden forth 2 Pet. 1.5 ANd besides this giving all diligence add to your faith vertue and to vertue knowledge ver 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness ver 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity ver 8. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barreâ— nor unfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ. Wherein 1. The Apostle teacheth believers for evidencing of pious faith in themselves to endeavour to add to their faith seven other sister graces the first is Vertue or the active exercise and practice of all Moral duties that so faith may not be idle but put forth it self in work The second is Knowledge which serveth to furnish Faith with information of the truth to be believed and to furnish Vertue with direction what duties are to be done and how to go about them prudently The third is Temperance which serveth to moderate the use of all pleasant things that a man be not cloged therewith nor made unfit for any duty whereto he is called The fourth is Patience which serveth to moderate a mans affections when he meeteth wiâ—h any difficulty or unpleasant thing that he neither weary for pains required in well doing nor faint when the Lord chastiseth him nor murmur when he crosseth him The fifth is Godliness which may keep him up in all exercises of Religion inward and outward whereby he may be furnished from God for all other duties which he hath to do The sixth is Brotherly kindness which keepeth estimation of and affection to all the houshold of Faith and to the image of God in every one wheresoever it is seen The seventh is Love which keepeth the heart in readiness to do good to all men whosoever they be upon all occasions which God shall offer 2. Albeit it be true that there is much corruption and infirmity in the godly yet the Apostle will have men uprightly endeavouring and doing their best as they are able to joyn all these graces one to another and to grow in the measure of exercising of them giving all diligence saith he add to your saith c. 3. He assureth all professed believers that as they shall profit in the obedience of this direction so they shall Profitably prove the soundness of their own faith and if they want these graces that they shall be found blind deceivers of themselves ver 9. The third thing requisite to evidence true faith is that obedience to the Law run in the right channel that is through faith in Christ c. holden forth 1 Tim. 1.5 NOw the end of the Commandment is love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of saith unfaigned Wherein the Apostle teacheth these seven Doctrines 1. That the obedience of the Law must flow from love and love from a pure heart and a pure heart from a good Conscience and a good conscience from Faith unfaigned this he maketh the only right channel of good works the end of the Law is Love c. 2. That the end of the Law is not that men may be justified by their obedience of it as the Jewish Doctors did falsly teach for it is impossible that sinners can be justified by the Law who for every transgression are condemned by the Law for the end of the Law is
not such as the Jewish Doctors taught but love out of a pure heart c. 3. That the true end of the Law preached unto the people is that they by the Law being made to see their deserved condemnation should flie to Christ unfaignedly to be justified by faith in him So saith the Text while it maketh love to flow through faith in Christ. 4. That no man can set himself in love to obey the Law except in as far as his conscience is quieted by faith or is seeking to be quieted in Christ for the end of the Law is love of a good conscience and faith unfaigned 5. That faigned faith goeth to Christ without reckoning with the Law and so wants an errand but unfaigned faith reckoneth with the Law and is forced to flie for refuge unto Christ as the end of the Law for righteousness so often as it finds it self guilty for breaking of the Law For the end of the Law is faith unfaigned 6. That the fruits of love may come forth in act particularly it is necessary that the heart be brought to the hatred of all sin and uncleanness and to a stedfast purpose to follow all holiness universal for the end of the Law is love out of a pure heart 7. That unfaigned fâ—ith is able to make the conscience good and the heart pure and the man lovingly obedient to the Law for when Christs blood is seen by faith to quiet justice then the conscience becometh quiet also and will not suffer the heart to entertain the love of sin but sets the man on work to fear God for his mercy and to obey all his commandments out of love to God for his free gift of justification by grace bestowed on him For this is the end of the Law indeed whereby it obtaineth of a man more obedience than any other way The fourth thing requisite to evidence true faith is the keeping of strait communion with Christ the fountain of all grace and of all good works holden forth Iohn 15.5 I Am the true vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing Wherein Christ in a similitude from a vine tree teacheth us 1. That by nature we are wild barren briers till we be changed by coming unto Christ and that Christ is that noble vine tree having all life and sap of grace in himself and able to change the nature of every one that cometh to him and to communicate spirit and life to as many as shall believe in him I am the vine saith he and ye are the branches 2 That Christ loveth to have believers so united unto him as that they be not separated at any time by unbelief and that there may be a mutual inhabitation of them in him by faith and love and of him in them by his Word and Spirit for he joyneth these together if ye abide in me and I in you as things inseparable 3. That except a man be ingrafted in Christ and united to him by faith he cannot do any the least good work of his own strength yea except in as far as a man doth draw spirit and life from Christ by faith the work which he doth is naughty and nul in the point of goodness in Gods estimation for without me saith he ye can do nothing 4. That this mutual inhabitation is the fountain and infallible cause of constant continuing and abounding in well-doing For he that abideth in me and I in him saith he the same beareth much fruit Now as our abiding in Christ presupposeth three things 1. That we have heard the joyful sound of the Gospel making offer of Christ to us who are lost sinners by the Law 2. That we have heartily embraced the gracious offer of Christ. 3. That by receiving of him we are become the sons of God Iob. 1.12 And are incorporated into his Mystical body that he may dwell in us as his temple and we dwel in him as in the residence of righteousness and life So our abiding in Christ importeth other three things 1. An imploying of Christ in all our addresses to God and in all our undertakings of whatsoever peece of service to him 2. A contentedness with his sufficiency without going out from him to seek righteousness or life or furniture in any case in our own or any of the creatures worthiness 3. A fixedness in our believing in him a fixedness in our imploying and making use of him and a fixedness in our contentment in him and adhering to him so that no allurement no tentation of Satan or the World no terror nor trouble may be able to drive our spirits from firm adherence unto him or from constant avowing of his truth and obeying his commands who hath loved us and given himself for us and in whom not only our life is laid up but also the fulness of the God-head dwelleth bodily by reason of the substantial and personal union of the Divine and Humane nature in him Hence let every watchful Believer for strengthning himself in faith and obedience reason after this manner WHosoever doth daily imploy Christ Iesus for cleansing his conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law and for making of him to give evidence of true faith in himself But I may every watchful believer say do daily imploy Jesus Christ for cleansing my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love Therefore I have the evidence of true faith in my self And hence also let the sleepy and sluggish believer reason for his own up-stirring thus Whatsoever is necessary for giving evidence of true faith I must study to do it except would deceive my self and perish But to imploy Christ Jesus daily for cleansing of my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the Law and for enabling of me to give obedience to the Law in love is necessary for evidencing of true faith in me Therefore this I must study to do except I would deceive my self and perish And lastly seeing Christ himself hath pointed this fourth as an undoubted evidence of a man elected of God unto life and given to Jesus Christ to be redeemed if he come unto him that is close Covenant and keep communion with him as he teacheth us Iohn 6.37 Saying All that the Father hath given me shall come to me and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out Let every person who doth not in earnest make use of Christ for remission of sin and amendment of life reason hence and from the whole premisses after this manner that his conscience may be wakned Whosoever is neither by the Law nor by the Gospel so convinced of sin righteousness and judgment as to make him come to Christ and imploy him daily for remission
hand of God by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come the infinite distance that is between us God whom by them we can neither profit not satisfie for the debt of our former sins but when we have done all we can we have done but our duty and are unprofitable servants and because as they are good they proceed from his spirit and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness imperfection that they cannot endure the severity of Gods judgment VI. Yet notwithstanding the Persons of believers being accepted through Christ their good works also are accepted in him not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in Gods sight but that he looking upon them in his Son is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere though accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections VII Works done by unregenerate men although for the mater of them they may be things which God commands and of good use both to themselves and others yet because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith nor are done in a right manner according to the word nor to a right end the glory of God they are therefore sinful and cannot please God or make a man meet to receive grace from God And yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God CHAP. XVII Of Perseverance THey whom God hath accepted in his â—eloved effectually called aâ—d sanctified by hiâ— Spirit can neither toâ—ally nor finally fall away from the state of grace but shall certainly persevere â—herein to the end and be eternally saved II. This perseverance of the Saints depends not upon their own free will but upon the immutability of the decree of election flowing from the free unchâ—ngeable love of God the Father upon the eâ—ficacy of the merit and inâ—ercession of Jesus Chriâ—â— the abiding of the spirit of the seed of God within them and the nature of the Covenant of Grace from all which ariseth also the certainty infalliâ—ility thereof III. Nevertheless they may through the temptations of â—atan of the world the prevalency of corruption remaining in them and the neglect of the means of their preservation fall into grievous sins and for a time continue therein whereby they incur Gods displeasure and grieve his holy spirit come to be dâ—prived of some measure of their graces and comforts have their hearts hardened and their consciences wounded hurt and scandalize others and bring temporal judgments upon themselves CHAP. XVIII Of the assurance of Grace and Salvation ALthough hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate of Salvation which hope of theirs shall perish yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus and love him in sincerity endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him may in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace and may rejoyce in the hope of the glory of god which hope shall never make them ashamed II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable perswasion grounded upon a fallible hope but an infallible assurance of faith founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made the testimony of the spirit oâ— adoption witnessing with ouâ— spirits that we are the children of God which spirit is the earnest of inheritance whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it yea being enabled by the spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God he may without extraordinary revelation in the right use of ordinary means attain thereunto And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace joy in the holy Ghost in love thankfulness to God in strength and chearfulness in the duties of obedience the proper fruits of this assurance so far is it from inclining men to looseness IV. True believers may have the assurance of their Salvation divers ways shaken diminished and intermitted as by negligence in preserving of it by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience grieveth the spirit by some sudden or vehement temptation by Gods withdrawing the light of his countenance suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light yet are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God life of faith that love of Christ and the brethren that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which by the operation of the spiriâ— this assurance may in due time be revived and by the which in the mean time their supported from utter despair CHAP. XIX Of the Law of God GOD gave to Adam a Law as a Covenant of Works by which he bound him all his posterity to personal entire exact and perpetual obedience promised life upon the fulfilling and threatned death upon the breach of it and indued him with power and ability to keep it II. This Law after his fall continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness as such was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in ten Commandments and written in two Tables the four first Commandments containing our duty towards God and the other six our duty to man III. Beside this Law commonly called Moral God was pleased to give to the people of Isâ—ael as a Church under age Ceremonial Laws containing several typical Ordiâ—ances partly of worship prefiguring Christ his graces actions sufferingâ— and benefits and partly holdâ—ng forth divers instructions of Moral duties All which Ceremonial Laws are now abrogated under the new Testament IV. To them also as a body Politic he gave sundry Judicial Laws which expired together with the state of that people not obligeing any other now further than the general equity thereof may require V. The Moral Law doth for ever bind all as well justified persons as others to the obedience thereof and that not only in regard of the â—atter contained in it but also in respect of the Authority of God the Creator who gave it Neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve but much strengthen this obligation VI. Although true believer be not under the Law as a Covenant of works to be thereby justified or condemned yet it is of great use
proportion of time be set apart for the Worship of God so in his word by a positive moral and perpetual Commandment binding all men in all Ages he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath to be kept holy unto him which from the beginning of the World to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the Week which in Scripture is called the Lords Day and is to be continued to the end of the World as the Christian Sabbath VIII This Sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord when men after a due preparing of their hearts and ordering of their common affairs beforehand do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works words thoughts about their worldly imployments and recreations but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and private exercises of his Worship and in the duties of necessity and mercy CHAP. XXII Of Lawful Oaths and Vows A Lawful Oath is a part of religious Worship wherein upon just occasion the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth and to judge him according to the truth or falshood of what he sweareth II. The Name of God only is that by which men ought to swear therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence Therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful Name or to swear at all by any other thing is sinful and to be abhorred Yet as in matters of weight and moment an Oath is warranted by the word of God under the New Testament as well as under the Old so a lawful Oath being imposed by lawful Authority in such matters ought to be taken III. Whosoever taketh an Oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully perswaded is the Truth Neither may any man bind himself by Oath to any thing but what is good and just and what he believeth so to be and what he is able and resolved to perform Yet it is a sin to refuse an Oath touching any thing that is good and just being imposed by lawful Authority IV. An Oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words without equivocation or mental reservation It cannot oblige to sin but in any thing not sinful being taken it binds to performance although to a mans own hart Nor is it to be vioâ—ated although made to Hereticks oâ— Infidels V. A Vow is of the like nature with a Promissary Oâ—th and ought to be made with the like Religious care and to be performed with the like faithfulness VI. It is not to be made to any Creature but to God aâ—one and that it may be accepted it is to be made voluntarily out of Faith and conscience of Duty in way of thankfulness for mercy received or of the obtaining of what we want whereby we more strictly bind our selves to necessary duties or to other things so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto VII No man may Vow to do any thing forbidden in the word of God or what would hinder any duty therein commanded or which is not in his own power and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God In which respect Popish Monastical Vows of perpetual single life professed Poverty and Regular Obedience are so far from being degrees of higher Perfection that they are superstitious and sinful snares in which no Christian may intangle himself CHAP. XXIII Of the Civil Magistrate GOD the Supream Lord and King of all the world hath ordained Civil Magistrates to be under him over the people for his own Glory and the publick good and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword for the defence and encouragement of them that are good and for the punishment of evil doers II. It is Lawful for Christians to accept and execute the Office of a Magistrate when called thereunto in the managing whereof as they ought especially to maintain Piety Justice and Peace according to the wholsome Laws of each Common-wealth so for that end they may lawfully now under the New Testament wage War upon just and necessary occasion III. The Civil Magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word Sacraments or the power of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven yet he hath Authority and it is his duty to take order that Unity and peace be preserved in the Church that the truth of God be kept pure and entire that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed all corruptions and abuses in worship discipline prevented or reformed and all the Ordinances of God duly settled administred and observed For the better effecting whereof he hath power to call Synods to be present at them and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God IV. It is the duty of people to pray for Magistrates to honour their persons to pay them tribute other dues to obey their lawful Commands and to be subject to their Authority for conscience sake Infidelity or indifference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrates just and legal Authority nor free the people from their due obedience to him From which Ecclesiastical persons are not exempted much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their Dominions or over any of their people and least of all to deprive them of their Dominions or lives if he shall judge them to be Hereticks or upon any other pretence whatsoever CHAP. XXIV Of Marriage and Divorce MArriage is to be between one Man and one Woman neither is it lawful for any Man to have more than one Wife nor for any Woman to have more than one Husband at the same time II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of Husband and Wife for the increase of Mankind with a legitimate issue and of the Church with an holy seed and for preventing of uncleanness III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent Yet is it the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord And therefore such as profess the true reformed Religion should not marry with Infidels Papists or other Idolaters Neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life or maintain damnable heresies IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of Consanguinity or Affinity forbidden in the Word Nâ—r can such incestâ—oâ—s Marriages ever be made lawful by any Law of man or consent of Parties so as those Perâ—ons
intermeddle with Civil affairs which concern the Common wealth unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary or by way of advice for satisfaction of conscience if they be thereunto required by the Civil Magistrate CHAP. XXXII· Of the state of men after death and of the Resurrection of the dead THe bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption but their Souls which neither die nor sleep having an immortal subsistence immediately return to God who gave them the souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness are received into the highest Heavens where they behold the face of God in light and glory waiting for the full Redemption of their Bodies And the souls of the wicked are cast into Hell where they remain in torments and utter darkness reserved to the Judgment of the great day Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies the Scripture acknowledgeth none II. At the last day such as are found alive shall not die but be changed and all the dead shall be raised up with the self same bodies and none other although with different qualities which shall be united again to their souls for ever III. The Bodies of the unjust shall by the power of Christ be raised to dishonour the Bodies of the just by the Spirit unto honour and be made conformable to his own glorious Body CHAP. XXXIII Of the last judgment GOD hath appointed a Day wherein he will judge the World in righteousness by Jesus Christ to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father in which day not only the Apostate Angels shall be judged but likewise all persons that have lived upon earth shall appear before the Tribunal of Christ to give an accompt of their thoughts words and deeds and to receive accordingly to what they have done in the body whether good or evil II. The end of Gods appointing this day is for the manifestation of the glâ—ry of his mercy in the eternal salvation of the elect and of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate who are wicked and disobedient For then shall the Righteous go into everlasting Life and receive that fulness of joy and refreshing which shall come from the Presence of the Lord but the wicked who know not God and obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ shall be cast into eternal Torments and be pâ—nished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of hâ—s power III. As Christ would have us to be certainly perswaded that thâ—râ— shall be a Day of Judgment both to deter all men from sin and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity so will he have that day unknown to Men that they may shake off all carnal security and be alwaies watchful because they know not at what hour the Lord will come and may be ever prepared to say Come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen FINIS THE LARGER CATECHISM First agreed upon By the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES at Westminster And now approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland To be a part of Uniformity in Religion between the Kirks of Christ in the three Kingdoms EDINBOURG Printed by George Swintoun and Thomas Brown and are to be sold by Iames Glen and David Trench Anno Dom. 1671. The LARGER CATECHISM First agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster And now appointed by the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland to be a part of Uniformiâ—y in Religion between the Kirks of Christ in the three Kingdomes Question 1. WHat is the chief and highest end of man A. Mans chief and highest end is to glorifie God and fully to enjoy him for ever Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God A. The very light of nature in man and the works of God declare plainly that there is a God but his Word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their Salvation Q. 3. What is the word of God A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God the only Rule of Faith and obedience Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God by their Majesty and purity by the consent of all the parts the scope of the whole which is to give al glory tâ— God by their light and power to convince and convert sinners to comfort and build up believers unto salvation But the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man is alone able fully to perswade it that they are the very word of God Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man Q. 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God A. The Scriptures make known what God is the persons in the Godhead his decrees and the execution of his decrees Q. 7. What is God A. God is a Spirit in and of himself infinite in being glory blessedness and perfection all sufficient eternal unchangeable incomprehensible every where present almighty knowing all things most wise most holy most just most merciful and gracious long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one A. There is but one only the living and true God Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead A. There be three persons in the Godhead the Father the Son and the holy Ghost and these three are one true eternal God the same in substance equal in power and glory although distinguished by their Personal properties Q 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead q A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son and to the Son to bebegotten of the Father and to the holy Ghost to proceed from thâ— Father and Son from all eternity Q 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father A. The Sâ—riptures manifest that the Son the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father â—scribing unto them such names attributes works and worship as are proper to â—od only Q 1â— What are the decreeâ— of God A. Gods decrees are the wise free and holy acts of the counsel of his will whereby from all eternity he hath for his own glory unchangeably fore-â—rdained whatsoever comes to pass in time especially concerning Angels and Men. Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning Angels and Men A. God by an eternal and immutable decree â—ut of his meer love for the praise