Calvin says, in his _Institutes_: "Whoever, then, desires to avoid this infidelity, let him constantly remember that, in the creatures, there is no erratic power, or action, or motion, but that they are _so governed _by the secret counsel of God, that _nothing can happen_ but what is subject to his knowledge, and DECREED _by his will_." (Vol. i. p. 186.) Again: "All future things being uncertain to us, we hold them in suspense, as though they might happen either one way or another. Yet, this remains a _fixed principle_ in our hearts, that _there will be_ NO _event which God has not_ ORDAINED." (_Ib_. p. 193.) Again: "They consider it absurd that a man should be blinded by the will and command of God, and afterwards be punished for his blindness. They, therefore, evade this difficulty, by alleging that it happens only by the permission of God, and not by the will of God; but God himself, by the most unequivocal declarations, rejects this subterfuge. That men, however, _can effect_ NOTHING but by the secret _will_ of _God_, and can _deliberate_ upon nothing but what he has _previously decreed_, and DETERMINES by his _secret direction_, is proved by express and innumerable testimonies." (_Ib_. p. 211.) Again: "If God simply foresaw the fates of men, and did not also _dispose_ and _fix_ them by his _determination_, there would be room to agitate the question, whether his providence or foresight rendered them at all necessary. But, since he foresees future events only in consequence of _his decree that they shall happen_, it is useless to contend about foreknowledge, while it is evident that ALL _things come to pass rather_ by ORDINATION and DECREE." (Vol ii. p. 169.) Again: "I shall not hesitate, therefore, to confess plainly, with Augustine, 'that the _will_ of God is the _necessity of things_, and that _what_ he has _willed_ will _necessarily come to pass_.' " (_Ib_. p. 171.) Again: "With respect to his secret influences, the declaration of Solomon concerning the heart of a king, that it is inclined hither or thither according to the Divine will, certainly extends to the whole human race, and is as much as though he had said, that WHATEVER CONCEPTIONS we form in our minds, they we _directed_ by the _secret_ INSPIRATION of GOD." (_Ib_. p. 213.) Finally, for the present: "_What God decrees_," says this celebrated writer, "must NECESSARILY _come to pass_." (_Ib_. p. 194.) I think it will not be said, by any one who has heard me attentively, that I either misrepresent, or misunderstand, Calvin, when I impute to him the doctrine that God has purposed, decreed, determined, foreordained, predestinated whatsoever comes to pass, and that he in some way or other brings to pass whatever occurs.