Of the Creation
Q. 8. What is the fourth property of God's decrees?
A. They are eternal, and before all time; Acts 15:18. 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 1:5.
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 appointment or providence of God; Prov. 16:33. 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 afflictions that befal us; 2 Sam. 16:11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, behold my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life; how much more now may this Benjamite do it? Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.
Q. 12. What is the last instruction from God's decrees?
A. That we ought to be thankful to God for all the good, and patient under all the evils that befal us; Job 2:10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
Quest. 8. HOW doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Of the Creation
Quest. 9. WHAT are the works of creation?
A. The work 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. 11:3. 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.
33:6, 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 shine forth in the creation?
A. The wisdom of God shines forth gloriously, not only in their formation, but dependence one upon another; Psal. 104:24. 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 never so secret; Psal. 94:8, 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. What 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. 9:20. Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest
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. 10:11. Thus shall he say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens, and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
Q. 7. What is the fourth instruction from hence?
A. That Christians should not fear the power of creatures, since they derive their being and power from God; Isa. 54:16, 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. 1:20.
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. What is the sixth instruction from hence?
A. That God's glory is the end of all being; Col. 1:16. 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 principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him.
Q. 10. What is the seventh instruction from hence?