by Cod. 2. Because the power which one creature hath of producing another, is from God. 3. Because in all productions God doth concur as the first caufe and most principal agent. And lastly, because the prefervation of things by God in their being, is, as it were, a continued

creation.

Q. 3 Whereby did God create all things at firft?

A. God created all things by the word of his power. It was the infinite power of God which did put forth itself in creating the glorious frame of the heavens and the earth, and that by a word speaking. Gen. i. 3, 6. God faid, let there be light, and there was light; let there be a firmament, and the firmament was made,' &c. Pfal. xxxiii. 6, 9. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hoft of them by the breath of his mouth he fpake and it was done; he commanded, and it ftood faft.'

Q. 4. In what time did God create all things?

A. God created all things in the space of fix days. He could have created all things together in a moment, but he took fix days time to work in, and refted on the seventh day, that we might the better apprehend the order of the creation, and that we might imitate him in working but fix days of the week, and in refting on the seventh.

Q. 5. What was God's work on the first day?

A. On the first day, 1. God created heaven, that is, the highest heaven, called the third heaven, which is removed above all vifible heavens, where the throne of God is, and the feat of the blessed; in which the angels were created, who are called the hosts of heaven, and the fons of God, who rejoiced in the view of the other works. Job. xxxviii. 7. 2. God created the earth and the water mingled together, without fuch diftin&t beautiful forms, either of themselves, or of the creatures, which afterwards were produced out of them. 3. God created light, which was afterwards placed in the fun and moon, and other ftars, when they were made.

Q. 6. What was God's work on the fecond day?

A. On the fecond day, 1. God created the firmament which feemeth to include both the heaven, in which afterwards the fun, moon, and ftars, were placed, and like wife

the air (called often heaven in feripture) where after the birds did fly. 2. God divided the waters, which were above part of the firmament of air: from the waters beneath the firmament of air; that is, he placed dif tinct the waters which were above the clouds, from the waters which were mingled with the earth.

Q. 7. What was God's work on the third day?

A. On the third day, 1. God gathered the waters which were mingled with the earth into one place, and called them feas, and the dry land which then appeared, he called earth. 2. He caufed the earth to bring forth all kind of trees, plants and herbs, before there was any fun or rain upon the ground.

Q. 8. What was God's work on the fourth day?

A. On the fourth day, r. God made the great lights the fun and moon; and the leffer lights, namely, the Hars and placed them in the heavens. 2. He appointed these lights their motions, office, and ufe, to compafs the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to be for figns and for feafons, and for days and for years.

Q9. What was God's work on the fifth day?

A. On the fifth day, 1. God made of the waters, whales and all kind of great and fmall fifhes, with every living creature which moveth in the fea. 2. God made of the waters, all kind of winged fowl, which fly in the open heaven.

Q10. What was God's work on the fixth day?

A. On the fixth day, r. God made of the earth, all beafts, and cattle, and creeping things. 2. God made the first man, his body of the duft of the ground, and imme diately created his foul in him, breathing in him the breath of life; and the woman he made of a rib taken out of his fide.

Q. 11. Wherefore did God create all things?

A. God created all things for his own glory, that he might make manifeft. 1. The glory of his power in effecting fo great a work, making every thing of nothing by a word. Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and power; for thou haft created all things. 2. The glory of his wifdom in the order and variety of his creatures. Pfal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom halt thou mad

them all.' 3. The glory of his goodness, efpecially to wards man, for whom he provided firft an habitation, and every useful creature, before he gave him his being.

Q. 12. In what condition did God create all things at firft? A. God made all things at firft very good. Gen. i. 31. And God faw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.' All the evil which fince hath come into the world, is either fin itself which is the work of the devil and man, or the fruit and confequence of fin. God made man good and happy; man made himself sinful and miferable.

X. Queft. How did God create man?

Anfw. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteoufnefs, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Q. 1. Why did God create man male and female?

A. God created man male and female for their mutual help, and for the propagation of mankind. Gen. ii. 18. And God faid, it is not good that the man fhould be alone; I will make an help meet for him. Gen. i. 27, 28. God created man; male and female:- and God bleffed them, and faid unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and fubdue it,' &c.

Q. 2. What is meant by the image of God, after which man was at first created?

A. By the image of God, we are to understand the fimilitude or likenefs of God. Gen. i. 26. And God faid, let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' Q. 3. Wherein dath confift the image of God, which was put upon man in his firft creation?

A. 1. Negatively, the image of God doth not consist in any outward vifible refemblance of his body to God, as if God had any bodily fhape. 2. Pofitively, the image of God doth confift in the inward refemblance of his foul to God in knowledge,, righteoufnefs, and holinefs. Col. ii. 10. Renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.' Eph. iv. 24. Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holinefs.'

Q4. What is included in this image of God, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, as man had it at first ?

A. The image of God in man at the firft, doth include the univerfal and perfect rectitude of the whole foul; knowledge in his understanding, righteousness in his will, holinefs in his affections.

Q. 5. What knowledge had man, when he was created in his understanding?

A. Man had, in his firft creation, the knowledge of God, and his law, and his creatures, and all things which were neceffary to make him happy.

Q. 6. What righteoufnefs had man at first in his will ?

A. Man had at firft in his will, a difpofition, accompa nied with an executive power, to every thing which was right, and to give that which was both due to God, and alfo to man, had there been any man befides himself.

Q7. What holiness had man at first in his affections ?

A. Man's affections at firft were holy and pure, free from all fin and defilement, free from all diforder and distemper; they were placed upon the most holy, high, and noble objects: man at first had true and chief love to God, his defires were chiefly after him, and his delight was chiefly in him, and no creature in the world had too great a fhare. As for grief and fhame, and the like affections, though they were in man radically, yet they were not in man actively, fo as to put forth any acts, until he had committed the firft fin; then he began to mourn and be ashamed.

Q. 8. What dominion had man at his first creation?

A. Man had dominion, not only over himself and his own affections; but he had alfo dominion over the inferior creatures, the fifh and the fowls, and the beafts; many of which, fince man's difobedience to the command of God, are become difobedient to the command of men. Gen. i. 28. God faid unto them, have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every creature that moveth upon the earth.'

XI. Queft. What are God's works of Providence ?

Anfw. God's works of providence are his moft holy, wife, and powerful preferving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.> ༈ “』༔

Q. 1. What are the parts of God's providence?

A. The parts of God's providence are. i. His prefer

vation of things. Pfal. xxxvi. 6. O Lord, thou prefervcft man and beaft.' 2. His government of things. Pfal. Thou shalt govern the nations upon the earth.' Q. 2. What is it for God to preferve things?

Ixvii. 4.

A. God preferveth things. 1. When he continueth and upholdeth them in their beings Pfal. cxix. 89, 90, 91. O Lord, thy word is fettled in heaven: thou haft eftablifhed the earth, and it abideth: they continue this day according to thine ordinances.' 2. When he maketh pro. vifion of things needful for their prefervation. Pfal. cxlv. 15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due feafon. Thou openeft thine hand and fatisfieft the defire of every living thing.'

3. What is it for God to govern things?

A. God governeth things when he ruleth over them, difpofeth and directeth them to his and their end. Pfal. lxvi. 7. He ruleth by his power forever, his

eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Prov. xvi. 9. A man's heart devifeth his way; but the Lord directeth his fteps.'

Q. 4. What is the fubject of God's providence?

A. The fubject of God's providence is. 1. All his crea tures, especially his children. Heb. i. 3. Upholding all things by the word of his power.' Pfal. ciii. 19. His kingdom ruleth over all' Matth. x. 29. 31. • One spar row falleth not to the ground without your Father: ye are of more value than many fparrows.' Matth. vi. 26. 28. 30. Behold the fowls of the air, for they fow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly father feedeth them: Are ye not much better than they? Confider the lillies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they fpin: And if God clothe the grafs of the field, fhall he not much more clothe you? 2. All the actions of his creatures. 1. All naturai actions. Acts xvii. 28. In him we live and move.' 2. All morally good actions. John xv. 5. Without me ye can do nothing, that is, nothing that is good. 3. All cafual actions. 'Exod. xxi. 12, 13.

He that fmiteth a

man that he die, and lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand, I will appoint thee a place whither he (hall Bee.'. 4. All morally evil actions or fins.