A Catechism, Chapter 8
CHAP. 8. Of the estate of man in Innocency by creation.
Q HOw doth the providence of God exercise it selfe towards man?
A. In a fourefold estate; the state of Innocency by creation afore the fall, the state of Corruption by and fince the fall, the state of grace in this world, and the state of Glory in the world to come.
Q What was the state of man in Innocency by by creation afore the fall?
A. God did as it were deliberate with himselfe, the father son and spirit consulting together about the making of man aGen. 1. 26., and therefore it must needs be that the state of man at the first by Gods creating of him, was very excellent.
Q. Wherein did his cheife excellency consist?
A. In that he was made in the Iikenesse and image of God. Gen 1. 26. 27.
Q. What was that image of God?
A. Principally it stood in knowledge, righteousnesse, and true holynesse Col. 3. 10. Eph. 4. 24. Eccles. 7. 29.
Q. What was the knowledge that man was indued withall in that estate?
A. He did then truely, and distinctly know God, and the will of God bRom. 1. 19, 20. Ier. 31. 34., with the nature of the creatures cGen. 2. 19, 20, 23., and his own present happinesse dGen. 2. 24. Rom. 2. 15..
Q. What was that holynesse and righteousnesse?
A. That his will, and affections, with his whole heart and soule, was exactly conformable to the revealed will of God.
Q. Did not man in that state besides this conformty to God enjoy communion with God?
A. Yes, at that time there was great amity, and love betweene God and man eGen. 1. 29., all the destance that is now being risen since as the effect and fruit of sinne.
Q Did not the place where man was then put, something set forth his happinesse in that estate?
A. Yes; for he was placed in Paradise which was an excellent garden planted by God himselfe, and abounding with all delight, and pleasures. Gen. 2. 8, 9, 10, 15.
Q But seeing man was to worke and labour in the garden in dressing and keeping it, how doth this agree with happinesse?
A. Yea very well, because happinesse doth not consist in idlenesse; and as for his labour, it then was, and alwayes should have bin without paine, and wearinesse, if man had continued in that estate.
Q. What was mans condition at that time in respect of food and raiment?
A. The earth at that time was furnished with plenty, and variety of wholesome and delightsome fruits, and he had liberty to eat of them all, except onelyonly of the tree of knowledge of good and evill. Gen. 2. 16.
Q. His food then was excellent; but what was his apparrell?
A. Such was the strength and beauty of his body outwardly, and the perfection of Gods image, wherewith he was clothed inwardly, that he had no neede of other bodily apparrell either in respect of shame or season of weather, and therefore he lived naked. Gen. 2. 25.
Q. What was his condition in respect of other creatures?
A. All the fishes of the Sea, all the birds of the ayre, and beasts of the field were all of them subject to his dominion, and rule, Gen. 1. 20, 28, and 2. 19, 20.
Q. But what helpe had he in his condition against solitarinesse?
A. The Lord saw it was not good for a man to be alone, and that amongst all the other creatures there was not a meete helpe for him, and therefore of a ribbe of his side he made a woman and brought her to the man to be his wife. Gen. 2. 18. &c.
Q But why was man created last of all ceatures?
A. This also doth declare his excellency and happy estate by creation; for being made last it appeareth thereby, that he was under God the end for which the other creatures were made, and so was more excellent then they, as the end is more excellent then the meanes.
Q How else did the time of mans creation declare his happinesse?
A. It appeareth thereby, that God would not make him before he had first provided for him, but brought him into the world as into a great store-house already fully furnished with all variety of good things that might be for his service and comfort.