Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 5
GEN. Chap. 1. verſ. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. to the 13.
1 In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth.
2 And the earth was without forme and voide, and darkenes was vponupon the deepe, and the Spirit of God moued vponupon the waters.
3 Then God ſaide, Let there bee light, and there was light.
4 And God ſaw the light that it was good, and God ſeparated the light from the darkeneſſe.
HItherto of the decree of God. What is the execution of it?
It is an action of God working all things effectually according to his decree.
VVhat are the parts of the execution?
Two:
Creation and
Gouernment.
VVhat is Creation?
It is the execution of the decree, of nothing, making all things very good.
VVhere is this taught?
In ſundrie places of the Scripture, but eſpeciallie in Geneſis, 1. and 2. chap.
VVhat are the generall things conſidered in all this creation?
Firſt, the Creator of theſe, which is God the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt.
Secondly, his omnipotencie, that he made all by his word, that is, by his only will, who calleth things that are not as though they were.
Thirdly, that he made not all at once and in a moment, but in ſix daies and ſix nights.
VVhy did hee worke them in ſix daies, which could hauehave perfected all in a moment?
Firſt, becauſe hee would teach vsus the better to vnderſtand their workmanſhip, euen as a man which will teach a childe in the frame of a letter, will firſt teach him one line of the letter, and not the whole letter together. Secondly, that wee might alſo by his example finiſh our worke in ſix daies.
How many ſorts of creatures are there?
Two:
Viſible.
Inuiſible.
VVhat are the things inuiſible?
The Angels, and Soules of men.
Why is not mention made of the creation of the Angels more expreſſely, eſpecially being creatures in glorie paſsing all others?
They are not expreſſely mentioned, becauſe Moſes ſetteth foorth the things that are viſible. But that they were in one of the ſixe daies created, it is moſt euident, Pſal. 103.20. &c. Pſal. 148.2.5. Col. 1.16.
What are the viſible things?
Two: The rude maſſe or matter of the world made the firſt night, wherein all things were confounded and mingled one in another. And ſecondly, the beautifull frame thereof, which hee made the reſt of the ſix daies and nights.
What are the parts of that rude maſſe?
Heauen and earth, as it were the center and circumference: for as the Arch-builders firſt ſhadow out in a plot the building they intend, and as the Painters draw certaine groſſe lineaments of that picture which they will after ſet foorth, and fill vp with orient colours: ſo the Lord our God in this ſtately building and cunning painting of the frame of the world, hath before the moſt beautifull frame ſet out as it were a ſhadow and a common draught thereof.
Why is the rude maſſe called heauen and earth?
By a trope of the matter whereof all the bodilie creatures were made; it ſeemeth that the rudenes was in the earth only, containing the water and the drie land, becauſe the Prophet ſaith that the earth was voide and without ſhape. It is true that Moſes giueth this to the earth, rather then to the maſſe of the heauens, becauſe the confuſion and rudeneſſe was greater there then in the maſſe of the heauens, becauſe the water and drie land being mingled together, there was no forme or figure of them.
VVhereof was the rude maſſe of heauen and earth made?
Of nothing: as appeareth both by the word of creation which Moſes vſeth, ſignifying the making of a thing of nothing: and that hee made this in the beginning, that is, when before there was not any thing but God the Creator, and before which there was no meaſure of time by man or Angels.
It being without forme and voide, how was it kept?
By the holy Ghoſt, which (as a bird ſitting ouer her egges) kept and preſerued it.
VVhat were the things which were made of this rude maſſe?
The beautifull frame and faſhion of this world, with the furniture thereof.
What doe you conſider in the frame and faſhion of the world?
Two things: the elements which are the moſt ſimple ſubſtances, by the vneuen mixture whereof all bodies are compounded; and the bodies themſelues that are compounded of them.
What doe you generally obſerue in all them?
Firſt, that they are all ſaid to be good; which ſtoppeth all the mouthes of thoſe that ſpeake againſt thē.
How did he make all things good, when we ſee there be diuers kinds of Serpents, and noiſome or hurtfull beaſts?
That they are hurtfull it commeth not by the nature of their creation, in regard whereof they at the firſt ſhould only hauehave ſerued for the good of man.
What other things doe you obſerue generally?
Secondly, that their names are giuen them. Thirdly, that their vſes and ends are noted.
What is the firſt of the elements?
A probable opinion.The fire: for when it is ſaid, he ſet light in heauen, (which is a qualitie of the fire) it is to be vnderſtood of fire alſo which hath that qualitie.
What note you hereof?
2 Cor. 4.6.The wonderfull worke of God, not only making ſomething of nothing, but bringing light out of darkneſſe, which is contrarie.
What is the ſecond element?
The aire betweene the cloudes and the earth, diſtinguiſhing betweene water and water, and giueth breath of life to all things that breathe.
What is the third element?
The waters ſeuered from the maſſe called the earth, the ſeas, the floods, the ſprings, the lakes, &c.
What is the fourth element?
The earth, called the drie land, which remaineth, all other being ſent of God to their proper places.
Hitherto of the ſimple bodies called the foure elements: now followeth to ſpeake of the mixt and compounded bodies made of the foure elements vnequally mingled together.