The Canons of Dort (First Head: Election)
Synod of Dort · 1619
The Synod's definition of divine election — grace grounded in God's sovereign good pleasure rather than in foreseen faith.
As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are deserving of eternal death, God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish, and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin. But in this the love of God was manifested, that he sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.#
Article 7: Election#
Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of salvation.#
This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality or disposition in man, as the prerequisite, cause, or condition on which it depended; but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith. Therefore election is the fountain of every saving good.#