A. That our supreme love is due to God only, and it is very sinful to place it in any other ; Deut. vi. 4, 5. Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord ; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Q. 9. What is the fourth inference from God's unity ?
A. That God only must have the reliance and dependence of our souls; Jer. xvii. 5, 7. Thus saith the Lord, cursed be the man that trusteth in man, that maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart depart^ eth from the Lord. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
Q. 10. What is the last inference from it?
A. That we have great cause to be thankful for the gospel, which discovers the only true God to us ; and that we are not as the hea- thens, worshipping many and false gods ; 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6. For though there be that are called gods, wdiether in heaven or in earth, ss there be gods many, and lords many ; but to us there is but one God^ the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him,
Oftliree Persons in the Godhead.
Quest. 6. JtlOW many persons are there in the godhead ?
A, There are three persons in the godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in sub-- stance, equal in power and glory.
Q. What mean you by the word, godhead ?
A. It is the nature, essence, or being of God, as the apostle speaks, Acts xvii. 29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art, and man's device.
Q. 2. W^hat is a person in the godhead ?
A. It is the godhead distinguished by personal properties ; each person having his distinct personal properties ; Heb. i. 3. Who be- ing the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power.
Q. 3. How doth it appear there are three persons, and no more ?
-4. Fir^^, From Christ's baptism; Mat.iii. 16, 17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God de- scending, like a dove, and lighting upon him ; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,
Q. 4. How else in the second place, doth it appear ?
A. From the institution of our baptism ; Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Q. 5. What is the third proof from scripture ?
A. From the apostolical benediction ; 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace ©f our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of
100 'aV. exposition? of the assembly's CATECHISSf. '
the holy Ghost, be with you all, Amen : Where the three distinct bless- ings are wished from the three divine persons in the godhead, grace from Christ, love from the Father, and communion with the Spirit.
Q. 6. What farther evidence is there of it in scripture?
A. From plain positive assertions of the scripture, asserting, First, A trinity of persons. Secondly^ A unity of essence ? 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.
Q. 8. AVhat is the first instruction from the trinity ?
A. That the doctrine of the gospel concerning Christ, is fully con- firmed and ratified by three witnesses from heaven, who are above all exceptions ; 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,
Q. 8. What is the second instruction from the trinity ?
A. Hence we learn the true order and manner of worshipping God, in the Son ; John xvi. 23. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he shall give it you. And by the Spirit ; Eph. vi. 18. Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction from the trinity ?
A. That the covenant of grace conveys a rich portion to behevers in making over all three persons to them; Jer. xxxi. 33. But this shall be tlie covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my law into their inward parts, and ^vrite it in their hearts ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction from the trinity ?
A. That as it is the duty of all the saints to give distinct glory to the three persons in the Godhead ; so it will be a special part of their blessedness in heaven, to conteaiiplate the distinct benefits received from them all ; Rev. i. 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faith- ful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth ; unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Quest. % fT HAT are the decrees of God ?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to tht council of his loiU, icherehyfor his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Q. 1. What things are decreed of God .?
A. All things whatsoever come to pass, even the smallest ; Eph. i, 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predesti- nated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Q. 2. What is the end of God's decrees ?
A. The glory of his own name ; Eph. i, 11, \% Who worketh
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECIIlSxM. IGl
all things according to the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Q. 8. But there are some evil things done in the world ; Do they fall under God's decree ?
J. Though God doth neither approve them, nor necessitate men to commit them, yet he doth permit and suffer them to be done, and will turn them to his own glory ; Acts iv. 27, 28. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Ilerod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel are gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Q. 4. Who are the objects of God^s special decrees.^
A. Angels and men are the objects of God's special decrees ; 1 Tim. V. 21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things, &c. Rom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect ?
Q. 5. What is the first property of God's decrees ?
A. That they are most wise acts of God, laid in the depth of wis- dom and counsel ; Rom. xi. 83. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! How unsearchable are his judg- ments, and his ways are past finding out !
Q. 6*. What is the second property of God's decrees ?
A. The decrees of God are most free, all flowing from the mere pleasure of his will; Rom. ix. 18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.