But it may be objected that we ought not to hold modern Calvinists responsible for all the doctrines of Calvin; that they "no further indorse them than as they are incorporated into their acknowledged creeds." To this we cordially assent. By this rule we will abide. What, then, is the language of the _Westminster Confession of Faith_, the established standard of orthodoxy in the American Presbyterian Churches? The third chapter commends thus: "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass" (p. 15); and, at the commencement of the fifth chapter, we read: "God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence." Observe, he, according to this statement, not only _upholds_ and _governs_ all creatures, but _directs_ and _disposes_ all _actions_ and things, from the _greatest_ even to the _least_. The _Larger Catechism_ says, in answer to the question, "What are the decrees of God?" "God's 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 foreordained _whatsoever comes to pass in time_, especially concerning angels and men." The _Shorter Catechism_ answers the same question by these words: "The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained _whatsoever comes to pass_." The next question in this Catechism is: "How doth God execute his decrees?--_Ans_. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence." In a work, entitled _An Exposition of the Confession of Faith of the Westminster Assembly of Divines_, by the Rev. Robert Shaw, published by the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and revised by the Committee of Publication, we find the following passages: "That God _must have decreed all future things_ is a conclusion which flows necessarily from his foreknowledge, independence, and immutability." (p. 58.) Again: "The decrees of God relate to all future things without exception; _whatever is done in time was foreordained before the beginning of time_." (p. 59.) Again: "If from all eternity he knew all things that come to pass, then from eternity he _must_ have _ordained_ them" (p. 60). Again: "The foreknowledge of God will necessarily infer a decree; for God could not foreknow that things would be, unless he had decreed they should be." (p. 59.) In another publication of this Board, entitled _Fisher's Catechism_, we find the following questions and answers:-- "_Q_. What are the decrees of God?--_Ans_. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath _foreordained whatsoever comes to pass_." (p. 51.)