The Predestination (Calvinism) reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Predestination (Calvinism)

A succinct statement of the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, in Calvin's own words, is:

Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which He hath determined in Himself what He would have to become of every individual of mankind. For they are not all created with a similar destiny; but eternal life is foreordained for some, and eternal damnation for others.

— John Calvin Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Westminster Confession of Faith expresses it in this form:

3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.

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