The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of God's Almightiness, and Creation.
Qu. 1. WHy is God here called [The FATHER] in whom we believe?
A. 1. As he is the first Person in the Eternal Trinity, and so called, The Father of the Eternal Word or Wisdom, as his Son.
2. As he is the Father of Jesus Christ, as Incarnate.a2 Cor. 1. 3. & 11. 31. 1 Cor. 8. 6. & 15. 24. Gal. 1. 1. 3, 4. Eph. 1. 3. 17. & 4. 6. & 6. 23. Ph. 2. 11. Col. 2. 2. & 3. 17. 2 Tim. 1. 2. Iam. 3. 9.
3. As he is the Maker of the whole Creation, and as a Common Father giveth Being to all that is.
4. As he is our Reconciled Father by Christ; and hath adopted us as his Sons, and bound us to Love, and Trust, and Obey him as our Father. But the two first are the chief Sence.
Q. 2. What is God's [ALMIGHTINESS?]
A. His Infinite Power by which he can do all things which are works of Power: He cannot Lie, nor Die, nor be the Cause of sin, for these are no Effects of Power, but of Impotencie.
Q. 3. Why is his Almightiness to be believed by us?
A. We do not else believe him to be GOD: And we cannot else Reverence, Admire, Trust him and Obey him as we ought.bGen. 17. 1. Rev. 1. 8. 2 Cor. 6. 18. Psal. 91. 1, 2. Mat. 8. 2.
Q. 4. Why is his Almightiness only named, and no other properties?
A. All the rest are supposed when we call him GOD. But this is named, because he is first to be Believed in as the Creator; and his Creation doth eminently manifest his Power. And though the Son and the Holy Ghost are Almighty, the Scripture eminently attributeth POWER to the FATHER, WISDOM to the SON, and LOVE and Perfective Operations to the Holy Ghost.
Q. 5. Is the Creation named to notifie to us God's Almightiness?
A. Yes, and it is a great part of our Duty when we look up to the Heavens, and daily see so far as our short sight can reach, of this wondeful World, to think with most reverend admiration; O what a GOD have we to serve and trust!cGen. 17. 31. Rev. 4. 11. & 10. 6. Isa. 40. 28. & 42. 5. & 45. 12. 18. Psal. 8. 1. 3. & 19. 1. & 89. 5. 11. & 104. 1, 2. & 115. 16.
Q. 6. HOw did God make all things?
A. He gave them all their Being, Order and well-being by the Power of his Will and Word.dGen. 1. 2, 3.
Q. 7. When did he make all things?
A. It is not yet Six thousand Years since he made this World, even as much as belongs to us to know.
Q. 8. How long was God making this World?
A. It pleased him to make it the work of Six dayes: and he consecrated the seventh day a Sabbath for the Commemoration of it, and for the solemn Worshipping Him as our Creator.
Q. 9. For whom, and for what use did God make the World?
A. God made all things for himself; not as having need of them, but to please his own will, which is the Beginning and the End of all his Works; and to shine in the Glory of the Greatness, Order and Goodness of the World, as in a glass to understanding Creatures, and to communicate Goodness variously to his Works.eProv. 16. 4. Rev. 4. 11.
Q. 10. What did God with the World when he had made it?
A. By the same Power, Wisdom and Will he still continueth it; or else it would presently return into nothing.fHeb. 1. 3. Ezek. 18. 4. 1 Cor. 6. 20. Psal. 10. 16.
Q. 11. What further must we learn from God… CREATING us?
A. We certainly learn that he is our OWNER, our RULER, and our BENEFACTOR or FATHER, and that we are his OWN, and His SUBJECTS, and his BENEFITED Children.
Q. 12. What mean you by the First, that he is our OWNER?
A. He that maketh us of nothing, must needs be our absolute Lord or Owner: And therefore may do with all things what he Will, and cannot possibly do any wrong, however he useth us. And we must needs be wholly his Own, and therefore should wholly resign our selves to his disposing Will.gPsal. 119. 94. Act. 27. 23. 1 Cor. 6. 19. Ioh. 17. 6. 9, 10. Isa. 63. 19. 1 Chron. 29. 11.
Q. 13. What mean you by the Second, that God is our Ruler?
A. He that by Creation is our absolute Owner, and hath made us Reasonable, and with Free-will, must needs have the only right and fitness to be our Ruler by his Laws and Doctrine: And we are bound as his Subjects to Obey him absolutely in all things †Psal. 59. 13. & 66. 7. & 103. 19. Dan. 4. 17. 25. 32. 1 Tim. 6. 15. & 1. 17. Rev. 17. 14. & 19. 6..
Q. 14. How gather you that he is our Father or Benefactor?
A. If we have our very Being from him, and all the Good that the whole Creation enjoyeth be his free Gift, then as he is LOVE it self, so he is the Great Benefactor of the World, but specially to his chosen faithful People: And no Man or Angel hath any thing that is good by way of merited exchange from God, but all is of free Gift: And we owe him our superlative Love, and and Thanks, and Praise.
Q. 15. Why are Heaven and Earth named as the parts of his Creation?
A. They are all that we are concerned to know: We partly see the difference between them, and Gods Word tells us of more than we see: Earth is the place of our present abode in our Life of Tryals in Corruptible Flesh: Heaven is the place where God doth manifest his Glory, and from whence he sendeth down those Influences which maintai… Nature, and which communicate his Grace, and prepare us for the Glory which we shall enjoy in Heaven. By Heaven and Earth is meant all Creatures, both Spirits and Corporeal.hGen. 1. 1.
Q. 16. Were there no more Worlds made and dissolved before this: It seems unlikely that God from all Eternity should make nothing till less than Six Thousand Years ago; when he is a communicative Good, and delighteth to do good in his Works?
A. It is dangerous presumption so much as to put such a Question with our Thought or Tongue▪ and to pry into Gods Secrets, of which we are utterly uncapable, (unless it be to shame it or suppress it.) God hath by Christ and the Holy Ghost in Scripture set up a Ladder, by which you may ascend to the Heaven that you are made for: But if you will climb above the top of the Ladder, you may fall down to Hell.iDeut. 29. 29.