Q. 3. What is the second property of God^s justice ? A. That he is universally righteous in all his administrations in the world; Psal. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Q. 4. What was the greatest demonstration of the justice of God, that ever was given to the world ?
A. The greatest evidence that ever was givenof the justice of God, Avas in his exacting full satisfaction for our sins of Christ; Rom. iii. 25, S6. Whom God hath set forth, to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness, that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus, Rom. viii. 3S. He spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all.
Q. 5. What is the second discovery of God's justice ? A. The second discovery of the justice of God, is in the eternal punishment of sin in hell upon all that do not repent, and come to Christ by faith, in this woi'ld ; Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself WTath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Q. 6. What is the third evidence of God's justice ? A. The third evidence of the justice of God, is in making good all the mercies he hath promised to believers, exactly to a tittle ; 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, 2 Tim. iv. 8. Hence- forth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me at that day. Q. 7. What is the first inference from God's justice ? A. That sinners have no cause to complain of God's judgments, though they be never so terrible or durable ; Rom. ii. 5. But after thy hardness, and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the rigliteous judgment of God.
Q. 8. What is the second inference from God's justice.^ A. That without doubt there is a judgment to come in the next life, otherwise God would not have the glory of his justice ; Eccl. iii. 16, 17. I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there ; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there ; I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous, and the wicked. Q. 9. What is the third inference from God's justice.? A. That penitent and believing sinners need not doubt of the forgiveness of their sins ; 1 John i. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Q. 10. What is the last inference from it ?
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 155
J. The last inference is, that meekness and patience under afflic- tions, is our unquestionable duty ; and murmuring against God, is a great sin and evil ; l.am. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a hving man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins ?
Quest. 1. fVlIAT is the goodness of God ?
A. It is an essential property of his nature, whereby he is abso^ lutely and perfectly good in himself, and the fountain of all com- municated goodness to the creature ; Psal. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and dost good, teach me thy statutes.
Q. 2. How doth the goodness of God differ from the mercy of Gpd ?
A. It differs in its objects ; for misery is the object of mercy ; but
goodness extends to the creatures that are happy, as well as miserable,
as the angels ; Psal. cxlv. 9- The Lord is good to all, and his tender
mercies are over all his works.
Q. 3. What is the first property of God's goodness ? A. That all his other attributes flow out of it as their fountain : the other acts of God are but the effluxes of his goodness ; Exod. xxxiii. 19. And he said I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and I willbe gracious to whom I Avillbe gracious, and will shew mercy unto whom I will shew mercy. Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gra- cious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
Q. 4. What is the secondary property of the divine goodness ? A. That it is supreme and perfect in itself, so as the goodness of no creature is, or can be; Luke xviii. 19. None is good save one, and that is God : And consequently above all additions from the creature ; Psal. xvi. 2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, My goodness extendeth not unto thee.
Q. 5. What is the third property of God's goodness .? A. That it is communicative with pleasure and delight to the crea- ture : no mother draws out her breast to an hungry child with more pleasure than God doth his goodness to the saints ; Psal. cxlv. 9. The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. Q. 6. In what acts hath God manifested his goodness ? A. He hath manifested it in the creation and government of the world ; Psal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all.
Q. 7. What was the principal work in which God hath manifested his goodness to men.
A. The principal manifestation of God's goodness was in the work of redemption by Christ ; Rom. v. 8. God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us» 1 John iv. 9. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, be-
156 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
cause that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Q. 8. But are not the judgments of God on the wicked, and his afflictions on the saints, impeachments of his goodness.
A. No ; it is the property of goodness to hate and punish evil in the impenitent ; Exod. xxxiv. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, for- giving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, &c. And the affliction of the saints flow from his goodness, and end in their true and eternal good ; Heb, xii. 6. For Avhom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, Psal. cxix. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflict- ed, that I might learn thy statutes.
Q. 9. What may we infer from the goodness of God ?
A. The first thing is, that sin hath made our natures base and dis- ingenuous, in that we take no notice of his goodness ; Isa. i. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib ; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider, and answer not the design of it ; Rom. ii. 4. Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.
Q. 10. What is the second inference from the goodness of God ?