A Scripture Catechism, Chapter 5 – Chapter 6
Cap. 5. Of God's Decrees.
Q. HOW prove you that nothing can come to paſse in time, but what God did moſt wiſely and freely, decree, and ordaine unchangably from all eternity?
A. Eph. 1.11. In whom alſo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeſtinated according to the purpoſe of him, who worketh all things after the counſell of his own will. Rom. 11.33, 34. O the depth of the riches both of the wiſdome and knowledge of God! how unſearchable are his judgments, and his waies paſt finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his Counſeller? Heb. 6.17. Wherein God willing more abundantly to ſhew unto the Heires of promiſe the immutability of his Counſell, confirmed it by an oath. Rom. 9.15, 18. For he ſaith to Moſes, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compaſſion on whom I will have compaſſion: Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Q. How prove you that for all this decree God is not the Author of ſin?
A. Jam. 1.13, 17. Let no man ſay when he is tempted I am tempted of God: for God cannot betēpted with evill, neither tempteth he any man. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableneſſe, nor ſhadow of turning. 1 Joh. 1.5. This then is the meſſage which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkneſſe at all.
Q. How prove you that God's Decrees, or eternall predeſtination, or foreordaining of all that comes to paſſe in time, doth not take away man's liberty, or offer violence to him, and conſequently free man from ſinne?
A. Act. 2.23. Him being delivered by the determinate counſell and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and ſlain. So Chap. 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 togeither for to doe whatſoever thy hand and thy counſell determined before to be done. Math. 17.10, 11, 12. Why then ſay the Scribes that Elias muſt firſt come? And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, Elias truly ſhall firſt come, and reſtore all things: But I ſay unto you, that Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatſoever they liſted; likewiſe ſhall alſo the Son of man ſuffer of thē. Prov. 16.33. The Lot is caſt into the lap, but the whole diſpoſing thereof is of the Lord. Joh. 19.11. Jeſus anſwered, thou could'ſt have no power at all againſt me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater ſin. The power of the Magiſtrate being from God, therefore the Jewes ſin'd grievouſly in making uſe of the Magiſtrate to condemne the innocent, and the Son of God. Beza.
Q. How prove you that God knowes all that comes to paſſe?
A. Act. 15.18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Q. How prove you he knowes what may, or can come to paſſe upon ſuch and ſuch conditions?
A. 1. Sam. 23.11, 12. Will Saul come down as thy Servant hath heard, O Lord God of Iſrael, I beſeech thee tell thy Servant? And the Lord ſaid, he will come down. Then ſaid David, will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? and the Lord ſaid, they will deliver thee up. Matth. 11.21, 23. Woe unto thee Chorazin, wo unto thee Bethſaida, for if the mighty workes which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long agoe in ſackcloth and aſhes. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, ſhalt be brought down unto hell, for if the mighty works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodome, it would have remained unto this day.
Q. How prove you that God did not decree ſuch and ſuch things, becauſe he foreſaw they would come to paſſe, or come to paſſe upon ſuch conditions?
A. Rom. 9.11, 13, 18. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evill, that the purpoſe of God according to election might ſtand, not of works, but of him that calleth: As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Eſau have I hated. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Chap. 6. Of the Creation, and of the firſt eſtate of Man.
Q. VVAS the world Eternall, or did God make heaven, and earth, and all things therein in the beginning?
A. Gen. 1.1. In the beginning God created the heaven, and the earth. Heb. 11.3. Through faith we underſtand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, ſo that things which are ſeen were not made of things which doe appeare.
Q. In what ſtate did God make man at firſt, did he make him after his own image, in knowledge, righteouſneſſe, and holineſſe; upright, having the law written in his heart, induing him with power to fulfill the Law, with dominion over the creatures?
A. Gen. 1.27, 31. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. And God ſaw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. Col. 3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Eph. 4.24. and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſſe and true holineſſe. Eccleſ. 7.29. Loe! this only have I found, that God hath made man upright. Rom. 2.14, 15. Theſe having not the Law, are a Law unto themſelves, which ſhew the worke of the Law written in their hearts. Gen. 1.28. And God ſaid unto them—repleniſh the earth, & ſubdue it, and have dominion over the fiſh of the Sea—and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Q. Did man continue in that ſtate wherein God made him, or did he hearken to the Divell, that old Serpent, and diſobey God, and ſo fell?
A. Gen. 3.6, 13, 23. And when the woman ſaw that the tree was good for food—ſhe took of the fruit thereof, & did eate, and gave alſo unto her husband with her, and he did cate. And the Lord God ſaid unto the Woman; what is this that thou haſt done? And the Woman ſaid, the Serpent beguiled me, and I did eate: Therefore the Lord God ſent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken. Eccl. 7.29. But they have ſought out many inventions. 2 Cor. 11.3. But I feare leſt by any meanes, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his ſubtilty, ſo your minds ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt.
Q. Was Adam the firſt man, or were there any before him, or was he a common Father, from whom all Perſons deſcended?
A. 1. Cor. 15.45, 47. The firſt man Adam was made a living ſoule.—The firſt man is of the earth, earthy.