A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 4
Chap. 4. Of God, and of the Trinity of Perſons in the Godhead.
Q. ARE the Gentiles in an Errour, who worſhip many Gods?
A. Yea. Deut. 6.4. Heave O Iſrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.4, 5, 6. We know that an Idol is nothing in the world; & that there is none other God, but one: for though there be that are called Gods, whether in heaven, or in earth, (as there be Gods many, and Lords many) but to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Q. How doth the Scripture ſet out converts from the worſhip of falſe Gods, or dead Idols, which the Gentiles worſhip?
A. 1 Theſ. 1.9. For they themſelves ſhew of us what manner of entring in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from Idols to ſerve the living and true God. Jer. 10.10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlaſting King, &c.
Q. Is it poſſible for us to know God comprehenſively, or perfectly to comprehend his infinite being and perfection?
A. Job. 11.7, 8, 9. Canſt thou by ſearching find out God? canſt thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven, what canſt thou doe? Deeper than hell, what canſt thou know? The meaſure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader then the Sea. So chap. 26.14. Lo theſe are parts of his waies, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can underſtand?
Q. To ſpeak after the manner of men, is God a Spirit?
A. Yea, Joh. 4.24. God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth.
Q. What doth the Scripture teach us to conceive of the nature of a Spirit? or how doth a Spirit differ from a body?
A. Luk. 24.39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I my ſelfe: handle me and ſee, for a Spirit hath not fleſh and bones, as ye ſee me have.
Q. What Scripture have you to prove that God is inviſible to corporeall eyes?
A. 1 Tim. 1.17. Now unto the King eternall, immortall, inviſible, the only wiſe God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Deut. 4.15, 16, 17. Take ye therefore good heed unto your ſelves, (for ye ſaw no manner of ſimilitude on the day that the Lord ſpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midſt of the fires) leſt ye corrupt your ſelves, and make you a graven image, the ſimilitude of any figure, the likeneſſe of male or female, &c. compared with Rom. 1.21, 23. Becauſe that when they knew God they glorifyed him not as God, neither were thankfull; but became vaine in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkened, and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image, made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and foure-footed beaſts, and creeping things.
Q. What proofe doe you bring that God is without Paſſion?
A. Act. 14.11, 15. When the people ſaw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices ſaying, the Gods are come down to us in the likeneſſe of men, &c. Sirs, why doe ye theſe things, we alſo are men of like paſsions with you, and preach unto you, that you ſhould turne from theſe vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, &c.
Q. Give us a text to ſhew the unchangeableneſſe or Immutability of God.
A. Mal. 3.6. For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore the Sons of Jacob are not conſumed. Jam. 1.17. Every good and perfect gift is from above and cometh downe from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableneſſe, neither ſhadow of turning.
Q. What text of Scripture is there to prove, that God cannot be contained in any place, or that he is Immenſe?
A. 1 King. 8.27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and the Heaven of heavens cannot containe thee, how much leſſe this houſe that I have builded. Jer. 23.23, 24. Am I a God at hand ſayth the Lord, and not a God a far off? Can any hide himſelfe in ſecret places, that I ſhall not ſee him ſaith the Lord? Doe not I fill heaven and earth, ſaith the Lord?
Q. How doe you prove that he is Eternall?
A. Pſal. 90.2. Before the mountaines were brought forth, or ever thou hadſt formed the earth, and the world, even from everlaſting to everlaſting thou art God. 1 Tim. 1.17. Now unto the King eternall, immortall, &c. be honour and glory for ever.
Q. Where is it proved that his greatneſſe is Incomprehenſible or unſearchable?
A. Pſal. 145.3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praiſed, and his greatneſſe is unſearchable.
Q. What text have we that God is Almighty, or Omnipotent?
A. Gen. 17.1. And when Abraham was ninety yeers old and nine, the Lord appeared to him, and ſaid, I am the Almighty God, walke before me, and be thou perfect. Rev. 4.8.—And they reſt not day and night ſaying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Q. How doe you prove God is only wiſe?
A. Rom. 16.27. To God only wiſe be glory through Jeſus Chriſt for ever. 1 Tim. 1.17. To the King eternall, &c. the only wiſe God be honour and glory for ever and ever.
Q. How doe you prove God is moſt holy?
A. Iſai. 6.3. And one cryed unto another and ſaid, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hoſts, the whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. 4.8. And they reſt not day and night ſaying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Q. How doe you prove that God is moſt free in all he doth?
A. Pſal. 135.6. Whatſoever the Lord pleaſed, that did he in heaven and in earth; in the Seas and all deep places.
Q. How prove you that God is abſolute?
A. Exod. 3.14. And God ſaid unto Moſes, I am that I am; and he ſaid, Thus ſhalt thou ſay unto the Children of Iſrael, I Am hath ſent me unto you.
Q. How prove you that God Works all according to the counſill of his own will?
A. Eph. 1.11. In wom alſo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeſtinated according to the purpoſe of him, who worketh all things after the counſill of his own will.
Q. What text of Scripture proves God doth all for his own glory?
A. Prov: 16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himſelfe; yea, even the wicked for the day of evill. Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever.
Q. Is the Atheiſt, or he that denyes there is a God, cal'd a Fool in Scripture?
A. Pſal. 14.1. The Fool haith ſaid in his heart, there is no God.
Q. Where have we ground in Scripture for ſuch expreſſions as theſe, the nature of God, the God-head, the Eſſence of God, the Perſon of the Father.
A. Gal. 4.8. Howbeit then when ye knew not God ye did ſervice unto them which by nature are no Gods. Exod. 3.14. And God ſaid unto Moſes, I am that I am; Thus ſhalt thou ſay unto the Children of Iſrael, I am hath ſent me unto you.
Rev. 1.4. Grace be to you and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. Col. 2.9. For in him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the God-head bodily. Heb. 1.3. Who being the brightneſſe of his glory, and the expreſſe image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, &c.
Q. What ſay you to thoſe many Scriptures, which ſay that God is in heaven?
A. The Reaſon why God is ſaid to be in Heaven, is not becauſe his Eſſence is included in a certaine place, cal'd Heaven, but he may be ſaid to be in Heaven in regard of the more eminent manifeſtation of his glory there to Saints and Angels, & in reſpect of ſome more eminent diſpenſations and workes of his manifeſted from thence.
Q. What ſay you to thoſe Scriptures, that teſtify that God came down from heaven, or appeared on Mount Sinai, &c.
A. The Scripture ſpeaks of God after the manner of men, condeſcending to our capacity: & God is, or may be, ſaid to be, or appeare, or come to ſuch a place, when either ſome glorious appearances are ſeen there, or ſome more glorious diſpenſations are there,M. Mede. or when the Angels or Courtiers of Heaven are there, or when there are ſome eminent ſignes of his favour there. God who in his own being and Eſſence is infinite and immenſe,D. Ow. is by reaſon thereof preſent in, and to the whole creation equally, not by a diffuſion of his Subſtance or mixture with other things, heaven or earth, in or upon them, but by an inconceivable indiſtancy of Eſſence to all things; though he exert his power, and manifeſt his glory in one place more than another, as in Heaven, in Sion, at the Arke, &c.
Q. How prove you that God hath no corporeall, viſible figure, and ſhape, or ſimilitude?
A. Iſ. 40.25. To whom then will ye liken me, or ſhall I be equall, ſayth the Holy one?
Q. When the Scripture ſaith that man is made after the image and likeneſſe of God, doth it intend that God hath a bodily figure or ſhape like a man?
A. Col. 3.9, 10.—Seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him.
Q. What meanes the Scripture by attributing unto God parts like a man, eyes, cares, noſtrils, armes, hands, fingers, are we to underſtand that God hath a body of fleſh, and parts fleſhly like us?
A. No, but they are ſpoken of him after the manner of men, for it is written, 2 Chr. 32.8. With him is an Arme of fleſh, but with us is the Lord our God to helpe us, and to fight our battels. Jer. 17.5. Curſed be the man that truſteth in man, and maketh fleſh his Arme, and whoſe heart departeth from the Lord. Job. 10.4. Haſt thou eyes of fleſh, or ſeeſt thou as man ſeeth?
Q. How muſt thoſe Scriptures be underſtood, which attribute Affections and Paſſions to God, as Anger, Fury, Zeale, Wrath, Love, Hatred, Jealouſy, Repentance, Griefe, Joy, &c?
A. They are Metaphorically aſſigned unto him, & ſpoken of him only in reference to his outward workes and diſpenſations, correſpondent and anſwering to the actings of men,D. Ow. in whom ſuch affections are, and under the power whereof they are in thoſe actings.
Q. How prove you that theſe are ſpoken foreign, and to be underſtood, foreign, metaphorically?
A. Mal. 3.6. For I am the Lord, I change not. Iſ. 27.4. Fury is not in me. 1 Sam. 15.29. And the ſtrength of Iſrael will not lye, nor repent: for he is not a man that he ſhould repent. To inſtance in Anger, that may denote either God's vindictive juſtice whence puniſhments flow; or elſe the effects of it, in the puniſhments themſelves, either threatned or inflicted.
Q. What is meant when 'tis ſaid that Moſes ſhould ſee the Similitude of the Lord, &c. Exod. 34. Num. 12.8. Doth it mean that God hath any reall, viſible ſhape?
A. No: but it may be poſſibly he ſhall ſee an Angel, or ſome glorious light. 1 Tim. 6.16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath ſeen, nor can ſee. 1 Joh. 4.12. No man hath ſeen God at any time.
Q. What doe the Scriptures ſay concerning God's Omniſcience, or Knowledge of all things paſt, preſent, and to come, how contingent ſoever they are in their own nature, or wrought by Agents free in working?
A. Act. 4.27, 28. For of a truth againſt thy holy Child Jeſus, whom thou haſt anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Iſrael, were gathered together for to doe whatſoever thy hand and thy counſell determined before to be done. Heb. 4.13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeſt in his ſight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him, with whom we have to doe. Pſal. 139.2, 3, 4. Thou knoweſt my down ſitting, & mine upriſing thou underſtandeſt my thought afar off: thou compaſſeſt my path, & my lying down, & art acquainted with all my wayes: For there is not a word in my tongue, but loe O Lord thou knoweſt it altogether. Pſ. 147.5. Great is our Lord—his underſtanding is infinite. Iſ. 40.28. There is no ſearching of his underſtanding.
Q. How are thoſe Scriptures to be expounded, which ſpeake of God's proving and trying men, that he may know what is in their hearts, &c. ſuch as Deut. 8.2. and 13.3. 2 Chr. 32.31. And what meanes that other place Philip. 4.6. Let your requeſt be made known unto God?
A. Theſe things are aſcribed to God figuratively, diſcovering the kind of his works & diſpenſations, not his own nature and properties; & ſo they muſt have a figurative interpretation.D. Ow. God deales with men much like or proportionably to what we would doe, when we would really find out what we doe not know.
Q. Doth the Scripture teach that there is but one only true God?
A. Deut. 6.4. Heare O Iſrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. 8.5, 6. For though there be that are called Gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be Gods many, & Lords many) but to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, & we in him, &c.
Q. What ſaith the Scripture concerning the Trinity, or the three Perſons in the God-head?
A. 1 Joh. 5.7. For there are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one. Matth. 28.29. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt.
Q. Are we by the Word to underſtand Chriſt the Son of God?
A. Joh. 1.14. And the Word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
Q. Is Chriſt God?
A. Rom. 9.5. Of whom, as concerning the Fleſh, Chriſt came, who is over all, God bleſſed for ever. Amen. John. 20.28. And Thomas anſwered, and ſaid unto him, my Lord and my Ood. Col. 2.9. For in him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the God-head bodily. Heb. 1.3, 8. Who being the brightneſſe of his glory, and the expreſſe image of his Perſon, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himſelfe purged our ſinnes, ſate down on the right hand of the majeſty on high. But unto the Son he ſaith, thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a Scepter of Righteouſneſſe is the Scepter of thy Kingdome. 1 Tim. 3.16.
Q. Is he equall with the Father?
A. Phil. 2.6. Who being in the forme of God, thought it not robbery to be equall with God.
Q. Is he one with his Father?
A. Joh. 10.30. I and my Father are one.
Q. How doe you prove that the Holy Ghoſt is God?
A. Act. 5.3, 4. But Peter ſaid, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghoſt, and to keep back part of the price of the land? while it remained was it not thine own? and after it was ſold, was it not in thine own power? why haſt thou conceived this thing in thy heart? thou haſt not lyed unto men, but unto God. 1 Cor. 3.16. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? So chap. 6.19. What, know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghoſt, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 2 Cor. 6.16. and what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? for ye are the Temple of the living God; as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walke in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. Iſ. 6.1, 9. In the yeer that King Uzziah died, I ſaw alſo the Lord ſitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his traine filled the Temple. And he ſaid, Goe and tell this people, Heare ye indeed but underſtand not, and ſee ye indeed but perceive not. Compared with Acts 28.25, 26. And when they agreed not among themſelves they departed, after that Paul had ſpoken one word, well ſpake the Holy Ghoſt by Eſaias the Prophet unto our Fathers, ſaying, Go unto this people, and ſay, Hearing ye ſhall heare and ſhall not underſtand, and ſeeing ye ſhall ſee and not perceive.
Q. Is the holy Ghoſt a diſtinct perſon, or ſubſiſtence in the God-head?
A. Joh. 16.7, 8. For if I goe not away the comforter will not come unto you, &c. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of ſinne, and of righteouſneſſe, and of Judgment. Mat. 3.16. And Jeſus when he was baptized, went up ſtraightway out of the water, and lo the heavens were opened unto him, & he ſaw the Spirit of God deſcending like a Dove, and lighting upon him. Act. 13.2. As they miniſtred to the Lord, and faſted, the Holy Ghoſt ſaid, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the worke whereunto I have called them.
Q. Are we baptized into the faith, and worſhip of one God in three Perſons?
A. Mat. 28.19. Goe ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy Ghoſt. 2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghoſt be with you all. Amen.
Q. Is not God the Father cal'd the only true God in Joh. 17.3. How then is Chriſt God?
A. Chriſt and the Holy Ghoſt are one and the ſame God with the Father; and ſome expound this text by 1 Joh. 5.20. where of Jeſus Chriſt it is ſaid,D. Ch. Beza. in loc. D. Ch. This is the true God, and Eternall life. Theſe termes, one and only, exclude all Idols, not the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt; no more than in Jude. v. 4. According to our Tranſlation the word only Lord God, being applyed to Chriſt, doth exclude God the Father from being God.
Q. Doth not Chriſt ſay Joh. 14.28. My Father is greater than I. And again Joh. 10.29. My Father is greater than all?
A. Preſently after Chriſt had ſaid, My Father is greater than all, he addes, I and my Father are one, (i.e.) one in nature, and yet in regard of his manhood, and in reſpect of his office of Mediator, about which he was ſent into the world, his Father was greater than he.
Q. Are not God the Father and God the Son ſaid to ſend the Holy Ghoſt? And is not he that ſendeth greater than he that is ſent?
A. M. Perk.One Equall may ſend another by conſent.
Q. Doth not Chriſt ſay concerning the Holy Ghoſt, Joh. 16.13, 14, 15.—he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelfe—and he ſhall receive of mine, &c?
A. The Holy Ghoſt hath his ſubſiſtence from the Father and the Son, but this by nature; and he imparts to every one of us as he will, 1 Cor. 12.11. and the Church is commanded to hearken unto him. Rev, 2. Yet the mercy, grace,D. Ow. his Anſ. to Bid. light, guidance, direction, comfort, peace, gifts, that he ſhould communicate, were no other but what were procured and purchaſed for them by Chriſt himſelfe, according to that diſpenſation that the Trinity is pleaſed to proceed in, to accompliſh the work of our Salvation.
Q. May we give prayſe and glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghoſt?
A. Iſ. 6.1, 2, 3. I ſaw alſo the Lord ſitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the Temple. Above it ſtood the Seraphims—And one cryed unto another, and ſayd, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hoſts, the whole earth is full of his glory. So verſ. 8.9. And I heard the voice of the Lord ſaying,—go and tell ye this people, Heare ye indeed, but underſtand not, compared with Act. 28.25, 26. Well ſpake the Holy Ghoſt by Eſaias the Prophet unto our Fathers, ſaying, Goe unto this people and ſay, Hearing ye ſhall heare and ſhall not underſtand. Rev. 7.9, 10. After this I beheld, and lo a great multitude—And cryed with a loud voice, ſaying, Salvation to our God, which ſitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lambe.
Q. May we lawfully pray to any particular Perſon of the Holy Trinity? And may we give glory to a particular Perſon?
A. Luk. 23.34. Then ſaid Jeſus, Father forgive them, for they know not what they doe. Act. 7.59, 60. And they ſtoned Stephen calling upon God, and ſaying, Lord Jeſus receive my ſpirit: and he kneeled downe, and cryed with a loud voice, Lord lay not this ſin to their charge. 2 Cor. 13. laſt. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt be with you all Amen. Rev. 5.13. And every creature— heard I ſaying, Bleſſing, Honour, Glory, and Power, be unto him that ſitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Q. May we lawfully in a continued prayer, wherein we have many petitions, put up one to God the Father by name, another to the Son, and a 3d to the Holy Ghoſt?
A. 2 Cor. 13. laſt. The Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt be with you all Amen. 2 Theſ. 2.16, 17. Now our Lord Jeſus Chriſt himſelfe: & God even our Father—comfort your hearts, &c.
Q. Which Perſon of the Trinity is moſt frequently named in the prayers of holy men, recorded in Scripture?
A. Eph. 2.18. For through him we both have an acceſſe, by one Spirit, unto the Father. Eph. 3.14, 21. For this cauſe I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Unto him be glory in the Church by Chriſt Jeſus throughout all Ages world without end Amen.