Of God's Wisdom
A. There is a twofold change; one active, made by God, that we allow:
He made a change upon our nature by uniting it to Christ; but a passive change made upon God, we deny. The nature of man was made more excellent, but the divine nature was still the same.
Q. 6. What is the first instruction from God's immutability?
A. That those that are most unchangeable in holiness, are most like God: Let him that is holy be holy still.
Q. 7. What is the second instruction hence?
A. That the happiness of God's people is firm and sure, being still upon the word of an unchangeable God; Mal. 3:6. For I am the Lord;
I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed, Heb.
6:18.
Q. 8. What is the third instruction from this attribute?
A. That the hopes of all wicked men are vain, being built upon a presumption, that God will not deal with them as he hath threatened he will do.
Q. 9. What is the last instruction from God's immutability?
A. That Christians may take as much encouragement now from the nature, word, and providence of God, as the saints in any former generation did, or might do; for he is the same now he was then.
Of God's Wisdom Quest. 1. HOW manifold is the wisdom of God?
A. There is a personal and essential wisdom of God; the personal wisdom is the Son of God; 1 Cor. 1:24. Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God; Col. 2:3. In whom are hid all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge. The essential wisdom of God is, the essence of God; of which this question speaks.
Q. 2. What is the essential wisdom of God.
A. The essential wisdom of God is his most exact and perfect knowledge of himself and all his creatures, and his ordering and disposing them in the most convenient manner, to the glory of his own name; Eph. 1:11. According to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.
Q. 3. What is the first property of God's wisdom?
A. The first property is, he is only wise; Rom. 16:27. To God, only wise, be glory: And whatsoever wisdom is in angels, or men, is all derived and borrowed from God, but his from none; Isa. 40:14. With whom took he counsel? and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
Q. 4. What is the second property of God's wisdom?
A. The second property is, that he is incomprehensible in his wisdom; Rom. 11:33, 34. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, &c.
Q. 5. What is the third property of the wisdom of God?
A. The third property is, that God is perfectly wise, which no creatures, no, not the very angels in heaven are: Job 4:18. And his angels he chargeth with folly.
Q. 6. What is the most glorious and eminent discovery of the wisdom of God?
A. The most glorious display of the wisdom of God, was in the work of our redemption by Jesus Christ; Col. 2:3. In whom are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge; 1 Cor. 1:24. Christ the wisdom of God.
Q. 7. What is the first instruction from God's wisdom?
A. The first instruction is, that God is a fit object of our trust, dependence and resignation; Isa. 30:18. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him.
Q. 8. What is the second instruction from hence?
A. The second instruction is, that it is a dangerous arrogancy in the creature, either to prescribe unto God, and direct his Maker; Job
21:22. Shall any teach God knowledge, seeing he judgeth those that are high? Or to quarrel with his providences, as not so fit and convenient as they should be; Job 40:2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.
Q. 9. What is the third instruction from it?
A. That the people of God have much reason to quiet and encourage themselves, when crafty and subtle enemies surround them; for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, 1 Cor. 1:25.
Q. 10. What is the fourth instruction from God's wisdom?
A. The fourth instruction is, that the true way to wisdom is to be sensible of our own folly; 1 Cor. 3:18. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
And to apply ourselves by prayer to God the foundation of it, Jam.
1:5. If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God.
Q. 11. What is the last instruction from God's wisdom?