Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 4
PSAL. 99. verſ. 1, 2, 3, 4.
1 The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble: he ſitteth betweene the Cherubims, let the earth be moued.
2 The Lord is great in Zion, & he is high aboue all the people.
3 They ſhall praiſe thy great and fearefull Name (for it is holie)
4 And the Kings power that loueth iudgement: for thou haſt prepared equitie: thou haſt executed iudgement and iustice in Iaakob.
HAuing ſpoken of the first part of diuinitie, which is of the nature of God; it followeth that wee ſpeake of his kingdome, which is the ſecond.
VVhat learne you from theſe words, the Lord reigneth?
That God alone hath and exerciſeth ſoueraigne and abſolute empire ouer all, and that he admitteth no fellow gouernour with him.
VVhat is the kingdome of God?
Eſay 9.7. Dan. 3.33. Eſay 40.13. Rom. 11.34.35.36. Eph. 1.11 Eſay 44.24. & 45.7.48.11. Eph. 1.12.14. Pſal. 97.5.It is an eternall kingdome appointed and ruled by the counſell of his owne will.
Wherewith doth he raigne and rule?
Principally by his owne powerfull ſpirit, which none can reſiſt.
What end doth hee propound vntounto himſelfe in his kingdome?
His owne glorie.
VVhat is that, about which his kingdome is occupied?
All things viſible and inuiſible.
VVhen ſhall it end?
Neuer: either in this world or in the world to come.
VVhat manner of kingdome is it?
Pſal. 45.7. & 97.2.A righteous kingdome.
VVhat inſtruction gather you of this that God reigneth?
Firſt, that all nations and ſorts of men tremble, for that hee alone is able to ſaue and to deſtroy. For if men tremble vnderunder the regiment and kingly rule of men, how much more ought wee to tremble vnderunder the powerfull kingdome of God, which hath more power ouer them, then they hauehave ouer their ſubiects?
This trembling doth it ſtand only in feare?
Pſal. 2.No: but in reuerence alſo, that that which wee comprehend not in this kingdome with our reaſon, we reuerence and adore.
VVhat learne you thereby?
That we ſubiect our ſelues to his kingdom erected amongſt vsus, that wee preſume to know nothing, but that he teacheth vsus, to will nothing but what he biddeth vsus; to louelove, hate, feare, and affect nothing but as he requireth.
VVhat other fruis are there of his kingdome?
That hee ought to bee magnified, becauſe hee is great, and fearefull, and yet holie and holineſſe it ſelfe: verſ. 3.
VVhat comfort learne you from that God reigneth?
Firſt,Eccleſiaſt. 5.7. that when wee are wronged and oppreſſed by tyrannie of men, wee may hauehave our recourſe to the iuſt and righteous iudgement of God, which is the righteous Iudge of the world.
Secondly,Pſal. 93.10.11. & 97.1. that although all the world rore and fret, yet wee ſhould not feare, becauſe the Lord is greater.
VVhat learne you of that the Prophet ſaith, he is high, and higher then they?
That which himſelfe teacheth, verſ. 5.Pſal. 145.12. that we extoll him with praiſes.
VVhat are the parts of his kingdome?
Two:
1. His decree.—
2. The execution of his decree.
verſ. 4.
VVhat is Gods Decree?
It is an action of his moſt perfect will, which maketh the thing he decreeth perfectly good.
Seeing his Decree is defined by his will, what must we conſider therein?
Wee muſt not ſubiect it to our ſhallow and baſe capacitie, to meaſure it by our reaſon, conſidering that the will of God, from whence the decree commeth, is vnſearchable.
VVhat gather you from that fourth verſe?
Acts 27.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.17.31.32.34.44.That hee hath not only decreed the things themſelues, but alſo their circumſtances of place or time: ſo that they ſhall not come in any other place or time then he hath ordained: and then and there they ſhal come to paſſe neceſſarily.
VVhat is the principall decree of God in the things he hath ordained for his glorie?
That which is of the good or euill of men or Angels, which is called predeſtination.
VVhat is predeſtination?
It is the decree of God touching the euerlaſting ſtate of men and Angels.
VVhat are the parts of predeſtination?
Two:
Election, and
Reprobation.
VVhat is Gods election of them?
It is his predeſtination of certaine men and Angels to euerlaſting life, to the praiſe of his glorious grace.
VVhat is Reprobation?
It is his predeſtination of certaine men and Angels to deſtruction, to the praiſe of his glorious iuſtice: Rom. 9.22.
VVhat is the cauſe why theſe are choſen and refuſed, and not theſe?
The meere will and pleaſure of God.