A. The beauty of holiness, which is the image of God, and the ex- cellency of man ; Psalm xvi. 3. But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
Q. 7. What is the third instruction from hence .''
A. We have infinite cause to bless God for Christ, who repairs this lost image in his people ; Eph. iv. 23. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Q. 8. What is the fourth instruction from hence ?
A. That the despisers of holiness are the despisers of God ; for holiness is God's imao^e.
Q. 9. What is the fifth instruction from hence ?
A. The excellency of sanctification, which defaces the image of Satan, and draws the image of God upon the soul of man.
Of Divine Providence.
Quest. 11. V V HAT are God's works of providence ?
A. God's icorks of providence are his most holy^ wise, and power^ ful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions ^
Q. 1. How doth it appear that there is a Divine Providence ?
A. It appears by plain scripture testimonies. Heb. i. 3. Upholding all things by the word of his power. Col. i. 17. By him all things consist, Luke. xii. 6, 7. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God ; but even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Q. 2. How else is providence evinced ?
A. By scripture emblems; as Jacob's ladder, Gen. xxviii. 12, 13. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven ; behold the angels of God ascended and descended on it : And Ezekiefs wheels, Ezek. i. 20. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go, and the wheels were lifted up over against them, for the spirit of the living- creature was in the wheels.
Q. 3. What farther scripture evidence is there ?
A. The sure accomplishment of scripture predictions; as Israel's captivity, and deliverance from Egypt and Babylon; Christ's incarna- tion ; the rise and ruin of the four monarchies ; Dan. ii. 31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image, whose brightness was ex- cellent, stood before the€, and the form thereof was terrible. Daiw
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM, 165
Vii. 3. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from the other.
Q. 4. What is its first act about the creatures ?
J. It sustains, preserves, provides for them ; Psalm cxlv, 15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season ; thou openest thine hand, and satisfied the desire of every living thing, and defendest them from danger. Psalm xxxvi. 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, thy judgments are a great deep ; O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
Q. 5. What is the second act of providence about the creatures?
A. It rules and governs the creatures and their actions; Psalm Ixvi, 7. He ruleth by his power for ever, his eyes behold the nations ; let not the rebellious exalt themselves.
Q. 6. How manifold is Divine Providence ?
A. It is common and general over all, or special and peculiar to some men ; 1 Tim. iv. 10. Who is the Saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.
Q. 7. How is providence exercised about sinful actions ?
A. In permitting them ; Acts iv. 16. In restraining them; Psalm Ixxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the re- mainder of wrath shall thou restrain. And over-ruling them to good ; Gen. L 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Q. 8. What are the properties of providence ?
A. It is (1.) Holy ; Psalm cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (2.) Wise ; Psal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are all thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them all. (3.) Powerful .? Dan. iv. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doth according to his will^ in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him. What dost thou ?
Q. 9. What is the first instruction from it ?
A. That God's people are safe amidst all their enemies and dan- gers; 2 Chron. xvi. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect toward him.
Q. 10. What is the second instruction from it.
A. That prayer is the best expedient to prosperity and success of our lawful affairs ; Psalm cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Q. 11. What is the third instruction from \i?
A. That God's people should rest quietly in the care of his provi- dence for them in all their straits ; JVIatth. vi. 26. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns ; yet our heavenly Father feedeth them: are not ye much better than^ thev ?
166 AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISIif.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction from it?
A. That it is no small privilege to be adopted children of GoJ^ and the members of Christ ; for all is ordered for their eternal good ; Eph. i. 22, 23. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Of the Covenant of Worhs.
Quest. 12. T T HAT special act of providence did God exercise towards man, inthe estate wherein he was created ?
A. When God created man, he entei-ed into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forhidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.
Q. 1. What was God's covenant with Adam before the fall.?
A. It was to give life and happiness upon condition of perfect personal obedience; Gal. iii. 12. The law is not of faith; but the man that doth them shall live in them.
Q. 2. Was this covenant made only with Adam, or with him and his posterity ?
A. It was made with him, and all his natural posterity, descending in the ordinary way of generation from him ; Rom. v. 12. Where- fore 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. Ver. 14, and 18. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgres- sion, who is the figure of him that was to come : Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation ; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Q. 3. Was Adam able to perform the obedience required of him in this covenant ?
A. Yes ; for he was made upright ; Eccl. vii. 29. God made man upright ; but they have sought out many inventions.
Q. 4. Had this covenant any Mediator ?
A. No ; he neither had, nor needed any Mediator for satisfac- tion, because no sin was in him ; nor intercession, for he wanted nothing.