Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 1 – Question 16
Of Divine Providence.
Qest. 1 WHAT are God's Works of Providence?
A. God's Works of Providence, are his just, holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his Creatures, and all their Actions.
Q 1 How doth it appear there is a Divine Providence?
A. It appears by plain Scripture Testimonies. Heb. 1.3. Upholding all things by the word of his power. Col. 1.17. By him all things consist. Luke 12.6, 7. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God; but even the very hairs of your head are all numbred.
Q 2 How else is Providence evidenced?
A. By Scripture Emblems as Iacob's Ladder. Gen. 28.12, 13. Ana he dreamed, and behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; behold the Angels of God ascended, and descended on it: And Ezekiel's wheels, Ezek 1.20. VVhithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go, and the wheels were lifted up over against them, for the spirit of the livi…g creature was in the wheels.
Q. 3. VVhat further Scripture evidence is there?
A The sure accomplishment of Scripture Predictions, as Israel's Captivity, and Deliverance from Egypt and Babylon, Christ's Incarnation, the Rise and Ruin of the Four Monarchies. Dan. 2.31. Thou, O King, sawest, and behold a great Image, whose brightnest was excellent, stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible. Dan. 7.3. And four great beasts came up from the Sea, diverse one from the other.
Q 4. VVhat is it's first Act about the Creatures?
A. It sustains, preserves, provides for them. Psalm 145.15, 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season; thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing, and defendest them from danger. Psalm 36. 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, thy judgments are a great deep, O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
Q. 5. VVhat is the Second Act of Providence about the Creatures?
A. It rules and governs the Creatures and their Actions. Psalm 66.7. He ruleth by his power for ever, his eyes behold the nations; let not the rebellions exalt themselves.
Q. 6. How manifold is Divine Providence?
A. It is common and general over all, or special and peculiar to some men. 1 Tim 4.10. VVho is the saviour of all men, especially of those that believe.
Q. 7. How is Providence exercised about sinful Actions?
A. In permitting them. Acts 4.16. In restraining them. Psalm 76.10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, and the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. And over-ruling them to good. Gen. 50.20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Q. 8. VVhat are the Properties of Providence?
A. It is (1) holy. Psalm 145.17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. (2) Wise. Psalm 104.24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all. (3.) Powerful. Dan. 4.35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doth according to his will, in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what dost thou?
Q. 9. VVhat is the First Instruction from it?
A. That God's people are safe amidst all their enemies and dangers. 2 Chron. 16.9. For the eyes of the Lords run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose hearts are perfect towards him.
Q. 10. VVhat is the Second Instruction?
A. That Prayer is the best expedient to prosperity, and success of our lawful affairs. Psalm 145.18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Q. 11. VVhat is the Third Instruction from it?
A. That God's people should rest quietly in the care of his providence for them in all their straits. Matt. 6.26. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet our heavenly father feedeth them; are ye not much better than they?
Q. 12. VVhat is the last Instruction from it?
A. That it is no small priviledge to be adopted Children of God, and the Members of Christ, for all is ordered for their eternal Good. Eph. 1.22, 23. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him, that filleth all in all.
Of the Covenant of Works.
Quest. 12. WHAT special Art of Providence did God exercise towards Man, in the estate wherein he was created?
A. When God had created Man, he entred into a Covenant of Life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience, forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil upon pain of Dea…h.
Q. 1. What was God's Covenant with Adam before the Fall?
A. It was to give Life and Happiness upon condition of perfect personal Obedience. Gal. 3.12. The law is not of faith; but the man that doth them, shall live in them.
Q. 2. Was this Covenant made only with Adam, or with him and his Posterity?
A. It was made with him, and all his natural Posterity, descending in the ordinary way of Generation from him. Rom. 4.12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. v. 14 and 18. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come: Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Q. 3. Was Adam able to preform the obedience required of him in that Covenant?
A. Yes; for he was made upright. Eccles. 7.29. God made man upright, but they have sought out themselves many inventions.
Q. 4. Had this Covenant any Mediator?
A. No, he neither had, nor needed any Mediator for satisfaction; because no sin was in him; nor intercession, for he wanted nothing.
Q. 5. Did this Covenant admit of no repentance, nor accept any short Endeavours?
A. No, it did not; but sentenceth and curseth the Transgressors of it, for the least breach. Gal. 3.10. Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Q. 6. How was the threatning fulfilled, of dying in the day he eat, seeing he lived 930 years?
A. He died spiritually, that day; and though the sentence on his body was respited in order to posterity, yet then his body received the death wound, of which afterward he died.
Q. 7. What is the first Inference from Adam's Covenant?
A. Miserable are all they that grow on the natural root of the first Adam. Gal. 4.21.22. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law. Do ye not hear the law? for it is wrrtten, That Abraham had two sons, the one by a Bond-maid, the other by a Free-woman.
Q. 8. VVhat is the second Inference?
A. That God is just in all the punishments and miseries that came upon Man, yea, Infants, that never sinned after his similitude. Rom. 5.14. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam, to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression.
Q. 9. VVhat is the third Inference?
A. The glorious priviledge of believers, who are under a better covenant, establisht upon better promises. Heb. 8.6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the Mediator of a better covenant, which is establisht upon better promises.
Q. 10. VVhat is the last Inference?
A. That we should pity the unregenerate, especially our own among them; and labour to plant them in the second Adam.
Of the Fall of Man.
Quest. 13. DID our first Parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?
A. Our first Parents being left to the freeedom of their own w…ll, fell from thee estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.
Q. 1. How doth it appear that man is fallen?
A. By the Scripture History, an account of it in Gen. 3.6, 7. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves Aprons, and they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden, in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God, amongst the trees if the garden. And the sad experience we all have of it in our own selves. Rom. 5.12. Therefore as by one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Q. 2. How could man fall, since he was made upright?
A. Though he was upright, yet his will was mutable; and by abusing that liberty, he fell. Eccles. 7.29. Lo this only have I found, that God hath made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions.
Q. 3. How did God leave him to abuse the freedom of will?
A. Not by inclining him to abuse it; but by with-holding that further grace which he was no way obliged to continue to him.
Q. 4. Did the will of man lose its liberty to good, by the Fall?
A. Yes, it did, and is so wounded, that it cannot without preventing and regenerating grace put forth one spiritual and saving act. Eph. 2.8, 9, 10. For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of our selves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast; for we are all his workmanship, created in Christ Iesus unto good works, &c.
Q. 5. VVhat was the aggravation of Adam's Sin?
A. It was aggravated in his being a publick innocent person, so newly placed in a State of Happiness and Liberty.
Q, 6. What is the first inference from the Fall?
A. That the best Creature left to himself, cannot be long safe; as the Angels, and Adam. Psal. 49.12. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not, he is like the beast that perish.
Q. 7. What is the second Inference?
A. That since man could not be his own keeper, he can be much less his own Saviour. 2 Cor. 3.5. Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our s…lves; but our sufficiency is of God.
Q. 8. What is the third Inference?
A. That it is impossible for the covenant of works to justify any one. Rom. 3.20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. Rom. 8.3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh; God sending his own son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
Q. 9. What is the last Inference?
A. What cause have we to bless God for Christ, who recovered us when the Fall left us helpless? Rom. 5.6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Of Sin.
Quest. 14. WHAT is Sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.
Q. 1. What is meant by the Law?
A. The Commands and Rules flowing from God's Soveraignty, whereby his will is manifested, and the Creature bound to obedience.
Q. 2. Where is this Law written?
A. It is written either in the heart, Rom. 2.15. Which shews the work of the law written in their hearts, which we call the law of nature. Or in the Bible, which we call the written Moral Law.
Q. 3. What conformity is due to this Law of God?
A. A two fold conformity is due to it. First, Internal, in our hearts. Secondly; External, in our lives; and the want of either is sin, 1 Ioh. 3.4. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.
Q 4. How doth it appear that the want of internal conformity is sin?
A. Because the Law requires it. Mark 12.30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; for this is the first commandment. And condemns the want of it, Rom. 7.7. What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid; nay, I had not known sin but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Q 5. Is nothing a sin but what is against God's Law?
A No, nothing can be a sin but what God hath either expresly, or by consequence forbidden in his word.
Q 6 Wherein lies the evil of transgressing God's Laws?
A. The evil of sin principally lies in offence and wrong done to God, whose soveraignty it labours to shake off, and despises his will. Psal. 31.4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.
Q. 7. VVhat further evil is in sin?
A. It highly wrongs the Sinner's Soul, by defacing, defiling, and damning it. Prov. 8.36. But he that sinneth against me, wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me, love death.
Q. 8. VVherein is the evil of sin manifested?
A. It's manifested in the death of Christ, the terrors of Conscience, and torments of Hell.
Q. 9. VVhat course must the Sinner take to recover himself out of his misery?
A. Repentance towards God, faith towards Christ; and both evidenced by new obedienc…. Acts 20.21. Testifying both to the Jew, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Iesus Christ.
Q. 10. VVhat may we infer from hence?
A. That we have infinite cause to bless God for Christ's satisfaction of the Law for our Sins.
Of the Tree of Knowledge.
Quest. 15. WHat is the sin whereby our first Parents fell from the Estate wherein they were created?
A. The sin whereby our first Parents fell from the Estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.
Q. 1 VVhy was this Tree called the Tree of Knowledge?
A. Not from any natural efficacy it had to give knowledge; but the Knowledge he should have by eating, or not eating, was experimental Knowledge, (i. ….) Knowledge to his Sorrow.
Q. 2. VVhy did God forbid him this Tree?
A. First, For the discovery of his dominion over man. Secondly, For the trial of his subjection and obedience. Thirdly, For the aggravation of his sin, if he should eat.
Q. 3. VVhat evil was there in eating of it?
A. There was a twofold Evil, the evil of Sin, and the evil of Punishment, both very great.
Q. 4. What was the Evil of Sin?
A. A threefold Evil of Sin. First, Against God, called disobedience. Rom. 5.19. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. Secondly, Against himself, Soul, Body, and Estate. Thirdly, Against his Posterity. Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
Q 5. What was the Evil of Punishment?
First, Loss of God's Image. Secondly, Horror of Conscience. Thirdly, Sorrow on the Female Sex. Fourthly, Curse on the Creature. Fifthly, Expulsion from Paradise. Sixthly, Death both of Body and Soul.
Q 6. What is the first Instruction from it?
A. To take heed of small beginnings of Temptations, and resist it in the first motions. Iam. 3.5. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
Q. 6. What is the second Inference?
A. Not to hold a parly with the tempter. See 2 Cor. 11.3. But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve, through his subtilty; so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Q. 8. What is the third Inference?
A. That Satan's policy lies much in the choice of his tempting instruments; as Eve and Peter, &c.
Q. 9. VVhat is the fourth Inference?
A. A necessity of keeping strong-guards on our Senses. Isa. 33.15. That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, he shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks.
Q. 10. VVhat is the fifth Inference?
A That Covenant-breaking is a heinous sin, which God will punish. Hos. 8.1. He shall come as an Eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my laws.
Q. 11. VVhat is the last Inference?
A. That the corruption of our nature is much seen in desiring forbidden things. Rom. 7.7. VVhat shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid: Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Of the Fall of Adam, and ours in him.
Quest. 16. DId all Mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
A. The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind descending from him by ordinary Generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.
Q. 1. Did no man ever escape the Sin of Adam?
A. Yes, The man Christ Jesus did, and he only. Heb. 7.26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.
Q. 2. Why was not Christ tainted with it?
A. Because he came into the world in an extraordinary way. Mat. 1.18. Now the birth of Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Q. 3. How doth it appear all others are tainted with it?
A. It appears by Scripture-Testimony. Rom. 5.12. Wherefore as by one man sin entred into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. And experience of the best men. Rom. 7.21. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Q. 4. How came all men to fall with Adam?
A. Because all were included in Adam's Covenant, as a Man's Covenant includes his Children before they be born; or the treason of the father affects his posterity.
Q. 5. What infer you from hence?
A. The stupendious wisdom of God in sending Christ in our nature, and yet without the sin and taint of it. 1 Cor. 1.24. Christ the wisdom of God.
Q. 6. What is the second Inference?
A. Hence we learn the admirable love of Christ in taking our nature, with all the sinless Infirmities thereof. Rom. 8.3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.
Q. 7. What is the third Inference?
A. The necessity of our Union with Christ, in order to our participation of his Righteousness and Redemption. 1 Cor. 15.22. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Q. 8. What is the fourth Inference?
A. Hence we learn the malignant and mortal nature of sin, in as much as our sin defiled and destroyed a whole world.
Q. 9. What is the fifth Inference?
A. That though all be not equally sensible of their need, yet one sinner needs Christ as much as another.
Q. 10. What is the last Inference?
A. That no man hath any cause or reason to boast of the goodness of his nature, since the best were by nature under the same sin and misery as the worst. Eph. 2.3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath even as others.