=22.= Evidence is abundant that Christ was chosen and ordained to be the Redeemer of the world, even from the beginning. We read of His foremost position amongst the sons of God in offering Himself as a sacrifice to carry into effect the will of the Father.[585] He it was, "Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world."[586] [585] See page 83. [586] I Peter i, 20. See "Jesus the Christ," ch. ii. =23.= Paul taught the doctrine of Divine selection and pre-appointment thus:--"For whom he did fore-know, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.... Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called."[587] And again:--"God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew."[588] [587] Rom. viii, 29-30. [588] Rom. xi, 2. =24.= Alma, the Nephite prophet, spoke of the priests who had been ordained after the order of the Son, and added:--"And this is the manner after which they were ordained: being called and prepared from the foundation of the world, according to the fore-knowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceeding great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such."[589] [589] Alma xiii, 3; also 10, 11. =25. Fore-ordination does not Imply Compulsion.=--The doctrine of absolute predestination, resulting in a nullification of man's free agency, has been advocated with various modifications by different sects. Nevertheless, such teachings are wholly unjustified by both the letter and the spirit of sacred writ. God's fore-knowledge concerning the natures and capacities of His children enables Him to see the end of their earthly career even from the first:--"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."[590] Many people have been led to regard this fore-knowledge of God as a sure predestination whereby souls are assigned to glory or condemnation, even before their birth in the flesh, and independently of any merits or demerits of their own. This heretical doctrine seeks to rob Deity of every trait of mercy, of justice, and of pure love; it makes the Father appear capricious and selfish, directing and creating all things for His own glory alone, caring not for the consequent suffering of the victims of His injustice. How dreadful, how inconsistent is such an idea of God! It leads to the absurd conclusion that the mere knowledge of coming events must act as a determining influence in bringing about those occurrences. God's knowledge of spiritual and of human nature enables Him to conclude with certainty as to the actions of any of His children under given conditions; yet such knowledge has surely no determining effect upon the creature.[591] [590] Acts xv, 18. [591] See "Jesus the Christ," pp. 18, 28.