His will was the source of all things, of all deeds, of all standards of right and wrong and of all happiness.

The sole purpose of the universe, and the sole intent of its Creator, was the glorification of the Deity.

Man's chief end was "to glorify God and enjoy him forever." God accomplished this self-exaltation in all things, but chiefly through men, his noblest work, and he did it in various ways, by the salvation of some and the damnation of others.

And his act was purely arbitrary; he foreknew and predestined the fate of every man from the beginning; he damned and saved irrespective of foreseen merit.

"God's eternal decree" Calvin himself called "frightful." [1] The outward sign of election to grace he thought was moral behavior, and in this respect he demanded the uttermost from himself and from his followers.
The elect, he thought, were certain of salvation.