John Calvin, God’s Eternal Predestination and Secret Providence:
If we were to speak as the Stoics, we should say, according to the noted sentiment of Seneca, “God is a necessity in himself.” We, however, with greater reverence and sobriety, say, “God always wills the same thing, and this is the very praise of his immutability.” Whatever he decrees, therefore, he effects; and this is in divine consistency with his omnipotence. The will of God, being thus inseparably united with his power, constitutes an exalted harmony of his attributes worthy of the divine providence by which all things in heaven and earth are governed.
