The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the Natural Knowledge of GOD and Heaven.
Qu. 1. YOu have told me how we know the things which we see and feel, without us and within us: But how can we know any things which we neither see nor feel, but are quite above us?
A. By certain Effects and Signs which notifie them: How little else did man differ from a Beast; if he knew no more than he seeth and feeleth? Besides what we know from others that have seen; you see not now that the Sun will rise to morrow, or that Man must die: you see not Italy, Spain, France; You see no mans Soul: And yet we certainly know that such things are and will be.
Q. 2. How know you that there is any thing above us, but what we see?
A. 1. We see such things done here on Earth, which nothing doth or can do which is seen. What thing that is seen can give all Men and Beasts their life and sense and safety? and so marvellously form the bodies of all, and govern all the matters of the World? 2. We see that the spaces above us, where Sun, Moon and Stars are, are so vast, that all this Earth is not so much to them, as one Inch is to all this Land: And we see that the Regions above us, excel in the glory of purity and splendor: And when this dark spot of Earth hath so many millions of Men, can we doubt whether those vast and glorious parts are better inhabited? 3. And we find that the grossest things are the basest, and the most invisible the most Powerful and Noble; as our Souls are above our Bodies: And therefore the most vast and Glorious Worlds above us, must have the most invisible, powerful, noble inhabitants.
Q. 3. But how know you what those Spirits above us are?
A. 1. We partly know what they are, by what they do with us on Earth. 2. We know much what they are, by the Knowledge of our selves. If our Souls are Invisible Spirits, essentiated by the Power of Life, Understanding and Will, the Spirits above us can be no less, but either such or more excellent. And he that made us, must needs be more excellent than his work.
Q. 4. How know you who made us?
A. He that made all things, must needs be our Maker, that is, GOD;aRom. 1. 19, 20, 21.
Q. 5. What mean you by God? And what is He?
A. I mean, The Eternal, Infinite, Glorious Spirit, and Life, most Perfect in Active Power, Understanding and Will, Of whom, and by whom, and to whom are all things; being the Creator, Governour and End of all. This is that God whom All things do declare.
Q. 6. How know you that there is such a God?
A. By his works; (And I shall afterwards tell it you more fully by his Word.) Man did not make himself; Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Trees and Plants make not themselves: The Earth, and Water, and Air made not themselves: And if the Souls of men have a maker, the Spirits next above them must have a Maker: and so on, till you come to a first Cause that was made by none. There must be a first Cause, and there can be but one.
Q. 7. Why may there not be many Gods, or Spirits, that were made by none, but are Eternally of themselves?
A. Because it is a Contradiction; The same would be both perfect and imperfect: Perfect, because he is of himself Eternally, without a cause, and so dependent upon none: And yet Imperfect, because he hath but a Part of that Being that is said to be perfect: For many are more than One, and all make up the absolute, perfect being, and One of them is but a Part of all: And to be a Part is to be Imperfect. However, many subordinate Created Spirits may unfitly be called Gods, there can be but one uncreated God in the first and proper sence.
Q. 8. How know you that God is Eternal, without Beginning?
A. Because else there was a time when there was Nothing; if there were a time when there was no God. And then there never would have been any thing: For nothing can make nothing.
Q. 9. But how can man conceive of an Eternal uncaused Being?
A. That such a GOD there is, is the most certain easie Truth, and that he hath all the Perfection before described: But neither Man nor Angel can know him Comprehensively.
Q. 10. What mean you by his Infiniteness?
A. That his Being and Perfection have no limits or measure, but incomprehensibly comprehend all Place and Beings.
Q. 11. What is this GOD to us?
A. He is our Maker; and therefore our absolute Owner, our Supream Ruler, and our Chief Benefactor and Ultimate End.
Q. 12. And how stand we related to him? what duty do we owe him? and what may we expect from him?
A. We are his Creatures; and all that we are and have is of him; we are his Subjects, made with Life, Reason and Free-will, to be ruled by him: He is the Infinite Good, and Love it self. Therefore we owe him perfect Resignation, perfect Obedience, and perfect Complacency and Love▪ All that we are, and all that we have, and all that we can doe, is due to him in the way of our Obedience; to pay which, is our own Rectitude and Felicity as it is our Duty: But all this you must much better learn from his Word, than Nature alone can teach it you. Though Mans Nature and the frame of Nature about us, so fully proveth what I have said, as leaveth all the Ungodly without excuse.