A Catechism, Chapter 5
CHAP. 5. Of Creation.
Q. HAd this world a beginning by Creation, or was it from everlasting?
A. The scripture in many places, and speci▪ in the first of Gen. doth declare that the World was not from everlasting, but had a beginning by the Lords creating of it, Heb. 11. 3. Reu. 4. 11. Prov. 8. 22. &c. Ps. 90. 2. Eph. 1. 4.
Q. Who was it that created the world?
A. God that is without beginning, and hath his being of himselfe, he it was who gave beginning, and being to the world. Gen. 1. 1. Act. 17. 24. Isay. 40. 28. & 44. 24.
Q. Whether was this the worke of the Father, or of the Sonne, or of the Holyghost?
A. Of every person in the trinity; not of the father onelyonly but also of the sonne aIoh. 1. 3. 10. Col. 1. 16., and of the Holyghost bIob 26. 13 and 33. 4..
Q. What are the things that are created?
A. All things without exception, that have a being, except God onelyonly who did create them, Act. 4. 24. & 17. 24. & 14, 15. Gen. 2. 1. Rev. 4. 11.
Q. Doe you meane that the third heaven was also created by God?
A. Yes, for that heaven is said to be a city whose builder, & maker is God, Heb. 11. 10. 16.
Q. But what thinke you of the Angels, were they also created by God?
A. Angels are the cheife of those invisible things, those thrones and Dominions, Principalities, and powers, which are expressely mentioned to have been created by the Lord. Col. 1. 16.
Q. Wherewith did God make the world?
A. Though men must have tooles, and instruments, and sometimes more hands then their owne for the effecting of works; yet when the Lord made the world, with him it was not so.
Q. How then or wherewith did he make it?
A. He made it himselfe alone cIsa. 44. 25. Iob. 9. 8., and without any other meanes but onelyonly by his word dGen. 1. 3. psal. 33. 6. 9. and 148. 5. Heb. 11. 3..
Q Whereof or of what materials did he create the world?
A. Not of any praeexistent matter, but of nothing Heb. 11. 3. Rom. 4. 17.
Q. How do you meane when you say that all things are made of nothing? for the body of Adam was made of the dust of the ground, and fishes of the waters, and therefore it may seeme all things were not made of nothing.
A. I meane that some things were made of nothing without any matter at all, and that the first matter whereof other things were made, was not eternall, but was immediately created of nothing; and that that first matter was so in▪ disposed to be the things that were made of it, that no lesse a power was seene in making other things out of it, then in making that first matter, or the lumpe it selfe; as it was as great a worke to bring great whales out of the waters, as to bring forth the water out of nothing; and in these respects, all things may be said to be made of nothing.
Q. In what time was the world created?
A. Every particular thing quickly, and as it were in an instant ePsal. 33. 9, and the whole in the space of six dayes fGen. 1. Exod 10 11..
Q. What was the worke of Each day?
A. The worke of the first day was Heaven, the darke and deepe lumpe of earth, and waters, and light.
Q. What of the second day?
A. The firmament which is called Heaven.
Q. What of the third day?
A. The gathering of the waters together, which is called Sea, the drying of the earth, and making it fruitfull.
Q. What of the three last dayes?
A. On the fourth day sun, moone, and starres, on the fifth day fish, and foule, on the sixt day beasts and creeping things, and man.
Q. When was the highest heaven, and Angels created?
A. Most likely on the first day, Gen. 1. 1. Iob. 38 7.
Q. Why was God sixe dayes in making the world?
A. Not because hee needed so much time, but that we might more distinctly consider of his workes.
Q. Why did God make the world?
A. Not because he needed it, for he is alsufficient in and of himselfe, not needing any thing, but giving into all life, and breath, and all things Act. 17. 25.
Q. Did he make it out of necessity of nature, ot because he could not choose?
A. No, for had he pleased, he might have made it sooner, or later, or not at all.
Q. Why then did he make it?
A. Because it so pleased him, Revel. 4. 11.
Q. For what end did God make the World?
A. For the declaration of his owne glory. Prov. 16. 4. Rom. 11. 36. Col. 1. 16.
Q. What was the state of all things by creation?
A. God looked upon all the worke which he had made, and behold it was very good. Gen. 1. 31.