Catechistical Guide to Sinners and Babes in Christ, Part 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of God's Government relating to Men, before the ſin of our firſt Parents, and thence to the times wherein Chriſt was raiſed up.
Q. WHat have you learned more particularly touching God's Government in reſpect of Men?
A. Touching God's Government in reſpect of Men, I have learned ſeveral things, according to its difference in different times; namely, the time before our firſt Parents ſinned, and the times after it.
Q. What have you been taught concerning the Government of God, as it reſpects the time before our firſt Parents ſinned?
A. Concerning God's Government as relating to the time before our firſt Parents ſinned, I am taught ſome general things; namely, That they had for the place of their abode, the Garden of Eden, which the Man was to dreſs and keep; that they had given to them for Meat, every Herb, and the Fruit of all Trees, except the Tree of the Knowledg of Good and Evil, which God forbad them to eat of: Alſo that they both tranſgreſſed this Commandment; the Woman firſt, being ſeduced by the Serpent, the Devil; then the Man, whom his Wife drew to eat of the forbidden Fruit. Gen. 1. & 2. & 3. Chapters. 1 Tim. 2.14. 2 Cor. 11.3.
Q. What have you been taught concerning the Government of God, as it reſpects the times after our firſt Parents had ſinned?
A. I am taught in the general, That when Man had ſinned, and ſo became ſubject to the Judgment of God, then God publiſh'd his Promiſe of Chriſt, whom ſince he hath raiſed up; and ſince by one Man Sin entred into the World, and Death by Sin, and ſo Death paſſed upon all Men: The Government of God towards Man is to be conſidered according to the times in which Chriſt was promiſed, and the times after his being raiſed up. Gen. 3.8, &c. Rom. 3.19. & 5.12. Luk. 1.68, 69, &c. Acts 13.23.
Q. What have you been taught touching God's Government towards Men in the times when Chriſt was promiſed?
A. I am taught, That the Government of God did then reſpect Mens being in the World, and their ſeeking of God therein, and both in a way agreeable to Men that were ſubjected to a natural Death, and by their ſins liable to eternal Death; and in a way ſuitable to the times before the appearing of our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who hath aboliſhed Death, and hath brought Life and Immortality to light by the Goſpel. Act. 17.25, &c. Rom. 5.12. & 6.23. Epheſ. 2.1, 2. 1 Theſſ. 1.10. Matth. 11.20, &c. 2 Tim. 1.10.
Q. How did this Government of God reſpect the Being of Men in the VVorld?
A. This Government did reſpect Mens Being in the World, in that God gave unto them places wherein to live, and ſupplies for the ſuſtaining of their Lives, and the maintaining of good order amongſt them.
[Gen. 3.23, 24. Deut. 32. Pſalm. 115.16. Act. 17.26. Exod. 23.20. Neh. 9.6. Pſalm. 36.6. Nehem. 9.21. Pſal. 65. & 147. Prov. 24.12. 1 King. 8.45. Job. 10.22. Rom. 13.1, &c.]
Q. How did this Government of God reſpect Mens ſeeking of God in the World?
A. This Government of God did reſpect Mens ſeeking of him, in that he dealt in ſuch a way and manner with them, that they might ſo ſeek him as to find mercy and favour with him. Heb. 11.6. Pſalm. 105.4. & 14.2. Act. 17.27. Jer. 29.13, &c. Jer. 6.16. Prov. 21.21. Gen. 6.8. Pſ. 33.22. & 63.13. Nehem. 1.5. Pſal. 25.10. & 32.10. & 86.5. & 103.11. Prov. 8.35, 36.
Q. VVhat is it ſo to ſeek God, as to find mercy and favour with him?
A. To ſeek God ſo as to find Mercy and Favour with him, is, To fear God, and to hope in his Mercy.
[This is variouſly expreſt in the Scriptures; ſometimes as in the Anſwer. So in Pſal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleaſure in them that fear him, in thoſe that hope in his Mercy, Pſal. 33.18. Sometimes more conciſely, as in Pſal. 103.11. For as the Heaven is high above the Earth; ſo great is his Mercy toward them that fear him: And in Pſal. 33.22. Let thy Mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. It is ſometimes ſet forth by Repentance, Jer. 8.6. Job 42.6. 1 King. 8.47. Ezek. 14.6. & 18.30, &c. Joel 2.14. Alſo thus, To turn to the Lord, and to be obedient to his Voice, Deut. 4.29, 30. To acknowledg our Offences, and ſeek the face of the Lord, Hoſ. 5.15. To return to the Lord and ſeek him, Hoſ. 7.10. Sow to your ſelves in Righteouſneſs, reap in Mercy: break up your fallow Ground, for it is time to ſeek the Lord, till he come and rain Righteouſneſs upon you, Hoſ. 10.12. See Prov. 3.1, &c. If thou do well, ſhalt thou not be accepted? Gen. 4.7. Noah found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord. Noah was a juſt Man, upright in his Generations, and walked with God, Gen. 6.8, 9. There was a Man in the Land of Uz whoſe name was Job, and that Man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eſchewed evil, Job 1.1. He hath ſhewed thee, O Man, what is Good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do juſtly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? [or to humble thy ſelf to walk with thy God] Mich., 6.8. Then Peter opened his Mouth, and ſaid Of a truth I perceive that God is no reſpector of Perſons: But in every Nation, he that feareth him, and worketh Righteouſneſs, is accepted with him, Act. 10.34, 35. God will render to every Man according to his Deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, ſeek for Glory, and Honour, and Immortality, he will render eternal Life, &c. Rom. 2.6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.]
Q. How did God make known unto Men this way of ſeeking him?
A. God by his Works and Word made known unto Men this way of ſeeking him, Pſal. 19.
Q. Did God, both by his Works and Word, make known unto all Men this way of ſeeking him?
A. No; For this way of ſeeking God was made known unto ſome, only by his Works of Creation, and by ſome Works of his in the Government of the World.
[Pſal. 147.19, 20. He ſheweth his Words unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Iſrael. He hath not dealt ſo with any Nation; and as for his Judgments, they have not known them. Rom. 1.19, &c. That which may be known of God, was manifeſt in [among] them, [to wit, the Gentiles] for God hath ſhewed it unto them. 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: Becauſe that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, &c. Rom. 2.4. Or deſpiſeſt thou the riches of his goodneſs, and forbearance, and long-ſuffering, not knowing that the goodneſs of God leadeth thee to Repentance? Act. 14.16, 17. God in times paſt ſuffered all Nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheleſs he left not himſelf without witneſs, in that he did good, and gave us Rain from Heaven, and fruitful Seaſons, filling our Hearts with Food and Gladneſs.]
Q. Was there no more made known by the Word of God, then was made known by his Works?
A. Much more was made known by the Word of God, than was by his Works. Pſ. 147.19, 20. & 19.7, &c.
Q. What more was there made known by the Word of God, than by his Works?
A. Firſt, This Doctrine; That there is forgiveneſs with God, that he may be feared, (which is the ſubſtance of the Doctrine of Chriſt) was more plainly made known by the Word of God, than by his Works. Pſal. 130. Deut. 34.6, 7. Rom. 3.1, 2. Joh. 5.39, &c.
Q. What elſe was made known by the Word of God, that was not by his Works?
A. The Works of Righteouſneſs were more fully made known by the Word of God, than by his Works. Deut. 4.5, &c.
Q. Is there any thing elſe wherein the Word of God did excel his Works, in point of Inſtruction?
A. Yes; For thoſe Ordinances which were ſhadows of good things to come, and were to be done away by Chriſt, were made known only by the Word of God. Pſal. 99.7. Epheſ. 2.15. Col. 2.14, &c.
Q. Where are theſe Ordinances to be found?
A. Theſe Ordinances are to be found eſpecially in the Law of Moſes: for they appertain only to the times of the Old Covenant, wherein Chriſt was promiſed. Exod. 18.20. 2 Kings 17.37. Heb. 9.1, 10.
Q. What mean you by the Old Covenant?
A. By the Old Covenant, I mean that Covenant which God made with them, whom he brought out of Egypt, to give the Land of Canaan to them, I mean the Children of Iſrael, the Son of Iſaac, the Son of Abraham, to whom and to whoſe Seed were the Promiſes made. Heb. 8.9. Gal. 3.16.