The decree of the fall is the decree that man shall sin: lint Calvinists generally regard this as a permissive decree, and all understand that man sins in perfect freedom, and that sin is his own act, and not that of God. All the decrees equally preserve the freedom of man. This theological proposition is explained by various theories of the will and of the psychology of moral action. None of these can be regarded as essential to the system, which is independent of its psychological explanation. The first sin, the sin of Adam. did not affect •him alone. but involved the race in sin and guilt. Every member of the race is so connected with its first member (whether by divine constitution, by a realistic identity, or by federal representation) that all sin in and with him and are justly condemned for that sin. Thus Adam's sin is said to he 'imputed' to his descendants. Imputation is either 'mediate,' that is because of original depravity, or 'imme diate,' by which original depravity is the penal result of original guilt directly imputed. Origi nal sin, which is prenatal forfeiture of the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit, with consequent de fect and disorder of soul, and inclination to evil, results in actual and individual sin. The con sequence of all this ism total inability to be good and the absolute necessity of regenerating grace before any soul can repent and receive the di vine forgiveness. Hence the electing grace of God cannot be conditioned upon the foreseen faith of the elect. because, apart from God's ac tivity, and thus apart from His purpose to act in their behalf, or apart from election, they have no faith and can have none.
Grace is the favor of God shown to the unde serving. It is the execution of the decrees of God. God, in forming the decree of election, is sovereign: that is, the motive which leads Iiim to set apart a certain and fixed number of souls unto eternal salvation resides in Himself alone, and not in them. Grace is of three kinds: •Comimin' grace is bestowed upon all men, tends to good, and results in the va dons natural virtues, such as kindliness, honesty. 'Prevenient,' effeetual,' or 'irresisti ble' grace is that by which the soul is regenerated. It is sometimes said to he an ac tivity beneath or effected creative ly, in the very nature of the soul. By it the will is moved to holy action, and repentance and faith are produced. •Ceilierative' grace works with the will thus turned to God. is the case of what degree of actual holiness the Chris tian attains. 1;race also includes the 'gift of
perseverance,' which secures the perseverance and final salvation of the soul.
The Calvinistic doctrine of the Atonement de pends upon the positions already rehearsed. It is an act of the infinite love of God finding a way whereby both His attributes of justice and mercy may be completely and consistently ex ercised in the salvation of men. It provides a substitute for the sinner who, because of his humanity. can represent man. and because of His divinity. can offer a sufficient sacrifice for men's sins. The God-man bears the penalty of the sins of men as a true penal substitute, thus satisfying justice, and works out a perfect right eousness for weak and imperfect men; and thus He provides for both the forgiveness and the justification of the believer.
The adherents of Calvinism claim for it a great and decisive influence for good upon the history of the world. As the religion of the French Huguenots, of the founders of the Dutch Republic, of Scotch Covenanters, and of English Puritans, it has its heroic period to point to, and its roll of martyrs second to none. Ban croft, the historian of the Vnited States, him self not a Calvinist. refers modern republican liberty to the influence of the little Re public of Geneva. and to Calvinism. Its influence in promoting the independence of the United States was indisputably great. It has proved one of the chief forces in promoting the education of the common people, and in fostering higher education in the modern world. And its efforts in the department of for eign missions during the last century led and surpassed those of other schools of thought.
For the essential sources in the study of Cal vinism, consult: Bright, Sacct Anti-Pelagian Treatises of Saint Augustine (London. BSA for the Latin text, or ‘Vartield's "Augustine's Anti-Pelagian Treatises," in Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers, Yol. V. (New York. ISS6-SS) Institutio Christiana. Religionis, edited by Tholu•k (Berlin. 1S4(i) ; English translation, The institutes of the Christian Religion (Phila delphia). Best modern presentations: Charles Hodge; Systematic Theology (3 vols.. New York, ig72) T. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology (3 vols.. New York, I SS,S). Exposit ions. A. A.
Midge, A Commentary on the Westminster Con fession of Faith (Philadelphia, I Sli9) ; A. Kny per, "Calvinism." The Stone Lectures (New York, IS118). See ARMINIANISM.