Decreed vs. Prescribed?

In providing a Reformed Theology answer to a question on God's sovereignty, [@Sampson writes](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/4102/10672) : >Further, God's decree does not strive against man's will, in that man is forced into doing all that God decrees man will do, but instead man's will is determined by the decree. We willingly do that which God has decreed we will do (yet not necessarily that which God has prescribed). From a Reformed Theology point of view, what is the difference between "decreed" and "prescribed"? **Answer** I have extracted the following from Anne's answer - "Decreed" is God's unavoidable will. "Prescribed" is the rules God gives to men to follow. So, it goes like this - God gives mankind a rule to follow. God decrees that "John" will violate that rule. God arranges that John's free will cause him to violate the rule (sin). John's free will causes him to sin. God punishes John for this sin. God is not the author of sin.