Notes from Witsius’ Economy of the Covenants
I.VIII.X The fall was foreknown from eternity, as was evident from 1 Peter 1:19-20. Similarly Acts 2:23. He, as Lamb, was forknown before the foundation of the earth. Hence the fall was known.
I.VIII.XI Since he knew he also predetermined since one can’t separate God’s foreknowledge from his decree.
I.VIII.XII Since God has decreed it, the fall must happen inevitably. God cannot issue a decree that cannot stand.
I.VIII.XIII This also follows from the natures of Creator and Creature. Creatures depend on God. This includes natural actions and moral content of those actions. Therefore the action of the man in reasoning, willing and eating yet without moral goodness, is by God’s influence.
I.VIII.XIV The apparent harshness can be removed by following arguments.
I.VIII.XV First, there is only one first cause. See Acts 17:28.
I.VIII.XVI If this were not so, there would other first principles. If the human will were free, it be such a first principle.
I.VIII.XVII But the nature of a first principle is to be self-existent, which man is not. Therefore he cannot be a first cause.
I.VIII.XVIII God does not only concur but influences the causes when they act.
I.VIII.XIX A second cause cannot act unless first acted upon. God’s concurrence is not indifferent and so requiring co-operation to be effective. A staff does not shake its carrier.
I.VIII.XX Such dependency is not approptriate to God, “an infinite and most perfect cause”.
I.VIII.XXI Second causes would then become first causes.
I.VIII.XXII Creatures are determined to actions in which there is moral evil inherent.
I.VIII.XXIII ANd when God so determines, then they must act. If not, i.e. that the created will did not act according to God, then it would deny the efficacy of God’s acting. It would be independent.
I.VIII.XXIV Moral goodness is a superior entity to a physical entity (actions in their physical essence). But this too is dependent on the acting of God.
I.VIII.XXV Thus Adam could not but understand, will and eat. And since God did not give goodness to those actions, Adam could not do this in a right manner.
I.VIII.XXVI This does not imply he did not have the ability to obey. Man is gifted with sufficient powers to overcome temptation. Yet his actions are dependent on the Creator.
I.VIII.XXVII God guarantees the liberty of man’s will and judgement. It is founded upon his decree.
I.VIII.XXVIII God is not the author of sin. Man is given the power to avoid it. Yet he infallibly decrees the actions of sin without the moral goodness. This hard to reconcile and must wait for the world to come.
I.VIII.XXIX It is in the wisdom of God not only to do good, but to make the evil that men do answer a good end.
