Of God's Decrees
the 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 write 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 contemplate the distinct benefits received from them all; Rev. 1:5. And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful 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.
Of God's Decrees Quest. 2. WHAT are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the council of his will, whereby for 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. 1:11.
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated 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. 1:11, 12. Who worketh 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?
A. 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 4:27, 28. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, 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.
5:21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things, &c. Rom. 8:33. 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 wisdom and counsel; Rom. 11:33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, 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. 9:18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Q. 7. What is the third property of God's decrees?
A. They are most firm and stable; 2 Tim. 2:19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure; having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his; Zech. 6:1.