A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 10
Chap. 10. Of God's Providence.
Q. HOW prove you that God's Providence reacheth over all things, Creatures, and their actions, from the greateſt to the leaſt?
A. 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? Pſal. 135.6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the ſeas and all deep places. Act. 17.25, 28. Seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things: For in him we live, and move, and have our being. Mat. 10.30. But the very haires of your head are all numbred. Prov. 16.33. The Lot is caſt into the lap, but the whole diſpoſing thereof is of the Lord. Pſal 94.11. The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Q. How prove you that God orders the actions of men, and the events of all their actions, beyond whatever came into their hearts?
A. Deut. 19.5. compared with Exod. 21.13. And if a man lye not in waite, but God deliver him into his hand, &c. As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a ſtroke with the axe, to cut down the tree, & the head ſlippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he dye, &c. 1 Kin. 22.34, compared with verſ. 28. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and ſmote the King of Iſrael between the joynts of the harneſſe. Iſai. 10.6, 7. I will ſend him againſt an hypocriticall nation, and againſt the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the ſpoyle, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the ſtreets: Howbeit he meaneth not ſo, neither doth his heart think ſo; but it is in his heart to deſtroy and cut off nations not a few.
Q. Can you prove that God, who is omnipotent, and can worke without meanes, that he uſeth meanes to bring about his purpoſe?
A. Act. 27.31, 44. Paul ſaid unto the Centurion, and to the Souldiers. Except theſe abide in the ſhip ye cannot be ſaved. And the reſt, ſome on boards, and ſome on broken pieces of the ſhip: and ſo it came to paſſe that they eſcaped all ſafe to land. Iſa. 55.11. For as the raine cometh down, and the ſnow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give ſeed to the ſower, and bread to the eater: ſo ſhall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth, it ſhall not returne unto me void, but it ſhall accompliſh that which I pleaſe, and it ſhall proſper in the thing whereto I ſent it. Hoſ. 2.21, 22. And it ſhall come to paſſe in that day, I will heare ſaith the Lord: I will heare the heavens, and they ſhall heare the earth, and the earth ſhall heare the corne and the wine, and the oyle, and they ſhall heare Jezreel.
Q. What Scriptures teach that God doth not only barely permit, but moſt wiſely and powerfully bound and order ſinfull actions to his own holy ends, and yet neither is, nor can be, the Author or approver of ſin?
A. 1 King. 22.22, 23. And he ſaid, I will goe forth, and I will be a lying ſpirit in the mouth of all his Prophets. And he ſaidt thou ſhalt perſwade him, and prevaile alſo; goe forth and doe ſo. Now therefore behold, the Lord hath put a lying Spirit in the mouth of all theſe thy Prophets. Pſal. 76.10. Surely the wrath of man ſhall praiſe thee, the remainder of wrath ſhalt thou reſtrain. Gen. 50.20. But as for you, ye thought evill againſt me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to paſſe as it is this day, to ſave much people alive. Jam. 1.13, 17. Let no man ſay when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evill, neither tempteth he any man. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and commeth down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableneſſe neither ſhadow of turning. 1 Joh. 2.16. The luſt of the fleſh, the luſt of the eyes, the pride of life, is not of the Father. Pſal. 50.21. Theſe things haſt thou done, and I kept ſilence, thou thoughteſt that I was altogether ſuch an one as thy ſelfe; but I will reprove thee, and ſet them in order before thine eyes.
Q. What Scriptures prove that God blinds and hardens ſome mens hearts for former ſins?
A. Rom. 11.8. God hath given them the ſpirit of ſlumber, eyes that they ſhould not ſee, and ears that they ſhould not heare unto this day. Ro. 1.28. And as they did not like to retaine God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to doe thoſe things which are not convenient.
Q. How may God be ſaid to harden mens hearts for former ſinnes?
A. Rom. 1.24. Wherefore God gave them up unto uncleanneſſe, through the luſts of their own hearts, to diſhonour their own bodies between themſelves. Pſ. 106.15. And he gave them their requeſt, but ſent leanneſſe into their ſoul. 2 Theſ. 2.11. And for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe a lye. Exod. 7.3. And I will harden Pharaoh's heart: compared with chap. 8.32. And Pharaoh hardened his heart, &c.
Q. How is it proved that God doth blind and harden men by withholding his grace to enlighten their underſtandings, and to worke upon their hearts?
A. Mat. 13.13. Therefore ſpeake I to them in Parables, becauſe they ſeeing ſee not, and hearing they heare not, neither doe they underſtand.
Q. Doth God ſometimes withdraw the gifts which men have had, for their not uſing, or abuſing of them?
A. Math. 25.29. From him that hath not ſhall be taken away even that which he hath.
Q. Is it a meanes of blindneſſe and hardneſſe, that ſometimes they are expoſed to ſuch objects, as their corruption will make occaſion of Sinne?
A. 2 King. 8.12. And Hazael ſaid why weepeth my Lord? and he anſwered, becauſe I know the evill that thou wilt doe unto the children of Iſrael, their ſtrong holds wilt thou ſet on fire, and their young men wilt thou ſlay with the ſword, and wilt daſh their children, and rip up their women with child. verſ. 15. And Hazael reigned.
Q. What Scriptures prove that God's Providence eſpecially doth reach his Church, and that he diſpoſeth all things to the good thereof?
A. 1 Tim. 4.10. Who is the Saviour of all men, eſpecially of thoſe that believe. Amos. 9.9. I will ſift the houſe of Iſrael among all nations, &c. Yet ſhall not the leaſt graine fall upon the earth. Iſ. 43.3, 4, 5. I am the Lord thy God, the holy one of Iſrael thy Saviour. I gave Egypt for thy ranſome, Ethyopia and Seba for thee:—therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not, for I am with thee: I will bring thy ſeed from the Eaſt, &c.