Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 6 – Question 7
Of three Persons in the Godhead.
Quest. 6. HOW many Persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three Persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in Power and Glory.
Q. 1. VVhat mean you by the word Godhead?
A. It is the Nature, Essence, or Being of God, as the Apostle speaks; Acts 17.29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art, and mans device.
Q. 2. VVhat is a Person in the Godhead?
A. It is the Godhead distinguished by personal Properties; each person having his distinct personal Properties. Heb. 1.3. VVho being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power.
Q. 3. How doth it appear there are three persons, and no more?
A. First, From Christ's Baptism. Matt. 3.16, 17. And Iesus when he was baptized, went up straitway out of the water, and Io, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.
Q. 4. How else, in the second place, doth it appear?
A. From the Institution of our Baptism. Mat. 28.19. Go ye therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, of the son, and of the holy ghost.
Q. 5. VVhat is the third Proof from Scripture?
A. From the Apostolical Benediction. 2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all, Amen. Where three distinct blessings are wisht, from the three divine persons in the Godhead; Grace from Christ, Love from the Father, and Communion with the Spirit.
Q. 7. What farther evidence is there of it in the Scripture?
A. From plain, positive assertions of the Scripture, asserting, First, A Trinity of Persons. Secondly, A Unity of Essence. 1 Ioh. 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the word, and the holy Ghost, and these three are one.
Q. 7. VVhat is the first Instruction from the Trinity?
A. That the Doctrine of the Gospel concerning Christ, is fully confirmed and ratified by three witnesses from Heaven, who are above all exceptions. 1 Ioh. 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the father, the word, and the Holy Ghost.
Q. 8. What is the second Instruction from the Trinity?
A. Hence we learn the true order and manner of worshipping God in the Son. Ioh. 16.23. Whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name, he will give it you. And by the Spirit. Eph. 6.18. Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.
Q. 9. What is the third Instruction from the Trinity?
A. That the Covenant of Grace conveys a rich portion to Believers, in making over all three persons to them. Ier. 31.33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Q. 10. What is the fourth Instruction from the Trinity?
A. That as it is the duty of all the Saints to give distinct glory to the three persons in the Godhead; so it will be a special part of their blessedness in Heaven, to contemplate the distinct benefits received from them all. Rev. 1.5. And from Iesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the Earth; unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Of God's Decrees.
Quest. 7. WHat are the Decrees of God?
A. The Decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Q. 1. What things are Decreed of God?
A. All things whatsoever come to pass, even the smallest. Eph. 1.11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all thing▪ after the counsel of his own will.
Q. 2. What is the End of God's Decrees?
A. The Glory of his own Name. Eph. 1.11, 12. Who worketh all things according to the counsel of his own will, that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.
Q. 3. But there are some evil things done in the World, do they fall under God's Decree?
A. Though God doth neither approve them, nor necessitate men to commit them, yet he doth permit and suffer them to be done, and will turn them to his own Glory. Acts 4.27, 28. For of a truth, against thy holy child Iesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel are gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand, and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Q. 4. Who are the Objects of God's Special Decrees?
A. Angels and Men are the Objects of God's Special Decrees. 1 Tim. 5.21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things, &c. Rom. 8.33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?
Q. 5. What is the First Property of God's Decrees?
A. That they are most wise Acts of God laid in the depth of Wisdom and Counsel Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Q. 6. What is the Second Property of God's Decrees?
A. The Decrees of God are most free, all flowing from the meer pleasure of his Will. Rom. 9.18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Q 7. What is the Third Property of God's Decrees?
A. They are most firm and stable. 2 Tim. 2.19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, Zech. 6.1.
Q. 8. What is the fourth Property of God's Decrees?
A. They are eternal, and before all time, Acts 15.18. Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world.
Q. 9. VVhat is th Fifth Property of God's Decrees?
A. They are most pure, and altogether unspotted of sin, 1 John 1.5. This is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, That God ie light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Q. 10. VVhat is the First Instruction from God's Decrees?
A. That we ought to ascribe nothing to Chance, but to the appointment or providence of God. Prov. 16.33. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
Q. 11. VVhat is the Second Instruction from God's Decrees?
A. That God's hand is to be acknowledged in the greatest Afflictions that befalls us. 2 Sam. 16.11. And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son which came forth of my bowels seeketh my life, how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.
Q. 12. VVhat is the last Instruction from God's Decrees?
A. That we ought to be thankful to God for all the good, and patient under all the evils that befall us. Iob 2.10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?