Q. 7. What is the third property of God's decrees ?
A, They are most firm and stable ; 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure ; having this seal, The Lord knovveth them that are his; Zech. vi. 1.
Q. 8. What is the fourth property of God's decrees ?
A. They are eternal, and before all time ; Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world.
Q. 9. What is the fifth property of God's decrees ?
A. They are most pure, and altogether unspotted of sin ; 1 John i. 5. This is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you. That God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Q. 10. What is the first instruction from God's decrees ?
A. That we ought to ascribe nothing to chance, but to the appoint- ment or providence of God ; Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is cast into the lap ; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Q. 11. What is the second instruction from God's decrees ?
A. That God's hand is to be acknowledged in the greatest afflic- tions that befal us ; 2 Sam. xvi. 11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, behold my son, which came forth of my bow- els, seeketh my life ; how much more now may this Benjaniite do it ^ Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.
16£ i\N EXPOSITIOX OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHlSIt^.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction from God's decrees?
J. That we ought to be thankful to God for all the good, and patient under all the evils that befal us ; Job ii. 10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ?
Quest. 8. XXOW doth God execute his decrees ?
A. God executeth his deci^ees in the woi'hs of creation and jprovi" dence.
Quest. 9. TT HAT are the works of creation ?
A. The zivrJc of creation is, God''s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
Q. 1 . What is it to create ?
A. To create, is to give a being to that which had no being ; or to bring something out of nothing ; Heb. xi. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God ; so that things which are seen were not made of things that do appear.
Q. 2. How did God create the world ?
A. By his infinite power, executed in his word of command ; PsaL xxxiii. 6, 9. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth ; for he spake, and it was done ; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Q. 3. What attributes of God shme forth in the creation ?
A. The wisdom of God shines forth gloriously, not only in their formation, but dependence one upon another; Psal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works ! In wisdom hast thou made them all. The earth is full of thy riches.
Q. 4. What may we learn from the creation ?
A. That God perfectly knows all that is in the creature, be it ne- ver so secret ; Psal. xciv. 8, 9. Understand, O ye brutish among the people ; and ye fools, when will ye be wise ? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear : He that formed the eye, shall he not see ?
Q. 5. AVhat is the second instruction from the creation ?
A. That God is the rightful owner of us all, and may do what he will with us ? Rom. ix. 20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that re- pliest against God ! shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus ? Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honour, and another to dishonour ?
Q. 6. What is the third instruction from the creation ?
A. That God only is the proper object of worship; Jer. x. 11» Thus shall he say unto them. The gods that have not made the hea- vens, and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Q. 7. What is the fourth instruction from hence ?
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 163
J. That Christians should not fear the power of creatures, Since they derive their being and power from God ; Isa. Uv. 16, 17. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, that bringeth forth an instrument for his work ; and I have created the waster to destroy ; no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
Q. 8. What is the fifth instruction from hence ?
A, That Atheism is a sin against natural light and reason ; Rom, i. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead ; so that they are without excuse.
Q. 9- AVhat is the sixth instruction from hence ?
A. That God's glory is the end of all being ; Col. i. 16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or princi- palities, or powers : all things were created by him and for him.
Q. 10. What is the seventh instruction from hence ?
A. That there is an unnatural rebellion in sin, smiting at him that made and preserves our being ; Isa. i. 6. I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Q. 11. What is the eighth instruction from hence .'^
A. That God can in a moment revive and save the church when at the lowest ebb ; Isa. Ixv. 18. Behold, I create Jerusalem a res- joicing, and her people a joy.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction from hence?
A. That it is easy with God to revive a dejected soul ; Isa. Ivii. 19- I create the fruit of the lips : Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord ; and I will heal him.
Quest. lO.lrloW did God create man.?
A. God created man male and female^ after Ms own image, in know- ledge, righteousness, and holiness, with doninion over the creatures,
Q. 1. How did God create man ?
A. God created man in his own image; Gen. i. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.
Q. 2. What is meant by the image of God ?
A. Not a resemblance of God in any bodily shape or figure, but in holiness ; Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Q. 3. In what graces did man resemble God ?
A. In such a knowledge of God himself, and the creatures, which made him happy ; Col. iii. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.
164 AN EXPOSITION OF THl
Q. 4. In what other graces did this image consist ?
A. In righteousness as well as holiness ; Eph. iv 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Q. 5. ^Vhat is the first inference from hence ?
A. The deplorable misery of the fall ; Rom. v. 12. Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned*
Q. 6. What is the second instruction from hence ?