Concerning the doing of God's will,
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
nefs; 1 Cor. xv. 50. Now this I ſay, brethren, that flesh and bloodcannot inferit the kingdom of God, &c.
Q.10. Why is the heavenly ſtatecalledthekingdom ofGod?
A. This is called the kingdom ofGod, becauſe inthat ftate God reigns over his people gloriouſly,there being no rebellion inthem in theleast degree; Luke xx. 36. Forthey are equal unto the angels, and are the children ofGod, being the childrenofthe refurrection. And they reign with Chrift ; Rev. iii. 21. To him that overcometh, will I grant to fitwith me inmy throne, &c .
Q.11 . Whatdo we defire in prayer for the coming ofthis kingdom?
A. We defire not onlyour preſervation in our paſſage to that ftate ofglory ; 1 Pet. v. 10. But theGod of al grace,who hath calledus unto his eternal glory by Chriſt Jeſus, after that yehavefuffered a while, make you perfect, ſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, ſettleyou.
But the haſtening of it to ourſelves and others ; Rev. xxii. 20.-Amen, even fo, comeLord Jeſus.
Q. 12. What is the firſt inſtruction hence ?
A. That the goſpel is an invaluable mercy, as it is the inſtrument of bringing us into Chriſt's gracious and glorious kingdom ; Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them fromdarkneſs to light, and from the power of Satan untoGod, that they may receive forgiveness of fins, and inheritance amongthem which are ſanctified by faith that is in me.
Q. 13. What is the ſecond inference from hence ?
A. That many men really hate and oppoſe the very thing theypray for.
Q. 14. What is the laſt inſtruction hence ?
A. That how firmly foever Satan's and Antichriſt'skingdom ſeem to be founded in the world, they must and ſhall fallbeforethe daily prayers ofthefaints.
Queſt. 103.W Concerning the doing of God's Will.
Hat do we pray for in the third petition?
A. In the thirdpetition, which is, [Thy willbedonein earth as it is in heaven], we pray, thatGod, by hisgrace, would make us able andwilling to know, obey, andfubmit to his will in all things, as the angels do inheaven.
Q. 1. What will ofGod is here intended ?
A. Not the will ofhis decree ; for that is in himselfalone ;'
1 Cor. ii. 11. The things of Godknoweth no man, but the Spirit ofGod.
An Expofition of the Affembly's Catechism.
Q. 2. Whatwillthen is here meant ?
A. The will ofhis providence maybehere meant ; Pfalm cxxv. 6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that didhe inheaven, and in earth, and inthe feas, andall deep places. And Pfalm cxix. 89. For ever,O Lord, thyword is ſettledin heaven. Ver.
91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances ; for all are thy ſervants.
Q. 3. How are we to understand the doing of this will of providence in heaven ?
A. (r.) As it is done by the ſun, moon, and ſtars ; Pfalm cxix. 89. Thy word is fettled in heaven.
Ver. 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances.
Pfalm xix. 6.
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuitunto the ends of it; and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
(2.) As it is done by angels ; Pfalm civ. 4.
Who maketh the angels ſpirits, his miniſters a flaming fire.
Heb. i. 14. Are they not all miniſtering ſpirits, ſent forthto miniſter for them who ſhallbe heirs ofſalvation ?
Q. 4. How do theſe perform the will ofGod's providence ?
A. (r . ) The heavenly bodies do it evenly, conſtantly, and unweariedly ; Pfalm civ. 19. He appointeth the moon for feafons, the fun knoweth his goingdown.
(2.) The angels do it ſpeedily, voluntarily, chearfully, and ſo knowingly'; Pfalm ciii. 21. Ye miniſters ofhis, that do his pleaſuré.
Q. 5. Muſt we be agents in thisprovidentialwill ?
A. Yes, we must ; Acts xiii. 36. For David, after he had ſervedhis generation by the will ofGod, fell on ſleep.
+ Q. 6. How muſtwedo it?
A. By employing our abilities, faculties, and intereſts, in the duties ofourparticular callings, and by moving conftantly, prudently, and vigorously in our own ſphere, and ſo imitate thoſe inheaven.
Q. 7. Whydo we pray that God's will ofprovidencemay bedoneby us ? is A. Because we are his creatures, andthe moſtnoble inftruments of the inferior world; and therefore we shouldbe willing to be actedby him, and active for him ; and becauſe this will of providence is always juſt, good, and true, and for his ownglory ; Pfalm cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, andholy in all his works.
Pfalm cxix. 89. For ever, OLord, thyword is ſettled inheaven.
Ver. 91. They contirnue thisdayaccording to thineordinances ; for all are thy fervants.
; 0.8. What other will ofGod is here meant ?
An Exposition of the Affembly's Gatechism.
A. Thewill of his precepts, andthis is chiefly intended.
Q. 9. Andhow is this will ofGoddone inheaven ?
A. Bythe angels it isdone univerfally, chearfully, conſtantly, humbly, thankfully, loyally, readily; Pfalm ciii. 20. Blefo the Lord, ye his angels,that excel in ſtrength,thatdo hiscommandments, hearkening unto the voice ofhis word. Andfo
: it isdoneby thefaints in heaven ; Rev. vii. 15. Therefore are theybeforethethrone ofGod, and ſervehimdayandnight in his temple; Andchap. xxii. 3. And his fervants ſhall ſerve him.
Q. 10.Dowepraythen thatwemaythus dothewill ofGod ?
A. Yes ; for tho' we cannot perfectly without fin do it, yet that is ourduty ; Mat. v. ult. Beyetherefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Andin all other particulars wemay andwe must imitate themherein ; Pfalm cxix. 6. Then ſhall I notbe ashamed,whenI have reſpect untoallthycommandments. Verfe 14. I have rejoiced in theway ofthy teftimonies as much as in all riches Verſe 60. Imade haſte, anddelayednot to keep thy commandments. Verſe 112,
&c.
I have inclined myheart toperform thyſtatutes always evenuntothe end.
Q. 11. How muſtweknowGod's will ?
A. Not notionally and rationallyonly, but ſpiritually alfo ; Cor. ii. 14. They are ſpirituallydifcerned.
Q. 12. Why is knowingGod's will placedhere beforedoing it, &c. ?
A. Becauſe the understanding is the leading faculty, withoutwhich itis impoſſible thereſhouldbe any obedience; Prov. xix. 2. Alfo that the foul be without knowledge it isnotgood.
Jer. v. 4. Therefore I faid, Surely theſe are poor, they are foolish; for they know notthe way ofthe Lord, northejudgment of their God.
Q. 13. Why praywe toGodforthis knowledge; canwe notknow itof ourſelves ?
A. No, it is the ſpecial gift and grace ofGod ; Gal. i. 15, 16. Butwhen itpleaſedGod,who ſeparatedme frommymother'swomb, and calledme by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among theHeathen, immediately
Iconferred not with flesh andblood. Eph. i. 17, 19. Thatthe God ofour LordJesusChrift,theFatherofglory, maygiveuntoyou the ſpirit ofwisdom and revelation intheknowledge of him.-Andwhat is the exceeding greatneſs ofhis power to us-ward who believe, according to the working ofhis mighty power. Eph. v. 8. Forye were ſometimes darkneſs, butnow are ye light in the Lord.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q. 14. Whydo we praythat we may obey; canwenotdo it ofour own free-will when we know it ?
A. No, for our wills are ſtubborn and rebellious against God'scommands, as well as our minds ignorantofthem; Rom. viii. 7. Becauſethe carnal mind is enmityagainstGod; for it is not ſubject to the law of God, neither indeedcanbe. Ezek. xxxvi . 25 , 26. Then will I ſprinkle clean water uponyou, and ye ſhall beclean; from all your filthineſs, and from all your idols, will I cleanſe you. Anew heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you ; and I will take away the ſtonyheart out of your fleſh, and Iwillgiveyou an heart of fleſh. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and todo ofhis good pleaſure.
Q. 15. What is meantby submitting to God's will ?
A. (1.) Either a voluntary ſubjection of foul, and a preparedneſs actually to do his will : Or, (2.)Avoluntary and filent fubmiffion to his will of providence in affliction : but in this particular we cannot imitate thoſe in heaven, becauſe no croſs ever befals them .
Q. 16. Why is will added in all things ?
A. Becauſe partial obedience is no obedience ; he that does not obeyGod in every thing, obeys him in nothing ; Jam. ii.
10. For whoſoever ſhall keep the whole law, andyet offend in onepoint,he is guilty of all.
Q. 17. Whydo we pray thatGodby his grace would work thiswill in us, andby us ?
A. Becauſe it is free gracethatdetermines it ; 2Tim. i. 9.
Who hath ſaved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpoſe and grace, which was given us in Chrift Jefus, before the world began. And efficacious grace that works it inus, and enables us todo it ; Eph. v. 8. Forye were ſometimesdarkneſs,but now areyelight in the Lord. Verſe 10. Proving what isacceptable unto the Lord.
Q. 18. What is the firſt inference from hence ?
A. That it isman's glory and felicity tobe conformedto the will ofGod ; Prov. xii. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour. Pfal.xix. 10, 11. More to be defired are they than gold, yea, than inuch fine gold; fweeter alſo than honey andthe honey-comb. Moreover, bythem is thy ſervant warned, and in keeping ofthem there is great reward.
Q. 19. What is the ſecond inference ?
A. That we must mortify in ourſelves every luſt that contradictsGod's will, and renounce without ourſelves everything