works", and worship, as are proper to God only. Q. 12. What are the decrees of God? A. God's decrees are the wife, free, and holy acts of the counfel of his will', whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pafs in time, especially concerning angels and men. man, fave the fpirit of man which is in him? Even fo the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Heb 9. 14. How much more fhall not Chrift, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himfelf without spot to God, purge your confcience from dead works, to ferve the living God? r Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. John 1. 3. Gen. 1. 2. And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters: with Job 26. 13. and Pfal. 104. 30. f Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of t Eph. I. II. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpofe of hint who worketh all things, after the countel of his own will. Rom. 9. 14 and 15, 18. For he faith to Mofes, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaffion on whom I will have compaffion.-Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. And Rom. 11. 33. v Eph. I. 4, 11. According as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love. Rom. 9. 22, 23. What if God willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deftruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veffels of mercy, Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men? A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifefted in due time, hath elected some angels to glory"; and, in Chrift, hath chofen fome men to eternal life, and the means thereof; and alfo, according to his fovereign power, and the unfearchable counfel of his own will (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favour as he pleaseth) hath paffed by, and fore-ordained the reft to dishonour and wrath, to be for their fin inflicted to the praife of the glory of his justices. which he had afore prepared unto glory? Pfal. 33. 11. The counfel of the Lord ftandeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. w 1 Tim. 5. 21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect angels. x Eph. 1. 4, 5, 6. Accord ing as he hath chofen us in him, (viz. Chrift,) before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predeftinated us unto the adoption of children, by Jefus Chrift, unto himselfTo the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 2 Theff. 2. 13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, be loved of the Lord, because God hath, from the beginning, chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth. ver. 14. I Pet. 1. 2. y Rom. 9. 17, 18, 21, 28: For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, Even for this fame. purpose have I raised thee up, that I might fhew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lump, to make one veffel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence: according to his infallible fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will. Q. 15. What is the work of creation? A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make, of nothing, the world and all things therein for himself, within the space of fix days, and all very good*. 4 Q. 16. How did God create angels? A. God created all the angels", fpirits, im of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lafcivioufnefs, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift. Mat. 11. 25, 26. 2 Tim. 2. 20. z Eph. I. 11. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counfel of his own will. a Gen. I chap. Heb. 11. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, fo that things which are feen, were not made of things which do appear. Prov. 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rev. 4. 11. b Col. 1. 16. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, vifible and invifible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him, c Pfal. 104. 4. Who maketh his angels fpirits: his minifters a flaming fire, mortal, holy, excelling in knowledge, mighty in power; to execute his commandments, and to praise his name", yet fubject to change. Q. 17. How did God create man? A. After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and femalek; formed the body of the man of the duft of the ground', and the woman of the rib of the man"; endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal fouls"; made them after his own image, in know d Mat. 22. 30. For in the refurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. e Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of man fhall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then fhall he fit up on the throne of his glory. f 2 Sam. 14. 17. As an angel of God, fo is my lord the king, to difcern good and bad. Mat. 24. 36. g 2 Thef. 1. 7. And to you who are troubled, reft with us, when the Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. fpared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be refer ved unto judgment. k Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them, 1 Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the duft of the ground. m Gen. 2. 22. And the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. n Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust h Pfa. 103. 20, 21. Blefs the Lord, ye his angels, that of the ground, and breathed inexcel in ftrength, that do his to his noftrils the breath of commandments, hearkening life and man became a living unto the voice of his word. foul Compared with Job. 35 Blefs ye the Lord, all ye his II. and Eccl. 12. 7. and hofts, ye minifters of his that Mat. 10. 28. and with Luke. do his pleasure. i 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God 23. 43. o Gen 1, 27 So God created ledge", righteousness and holiness", having the law of God written in their hearts", and power to fulfil it', with dominion over the creatures'; yet fubject to fall. Q. 18. What are God's works of providence? A. God's works of providence are his moft holy", wise3, and powerful preserving, and governing all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to his own glory. Q. 19. What is God's providence towards the angels? man in his own image, in the r Rom, 2. 14, 15. For 7. 29. God hath v Gen. 3. 6. Eccles. 7. 29. w Pfalm 144. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. x Pfa. 104. 24. O Lord how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made |