THE LARGER CATECHISM. 156 and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation:l but the Spirit of God bearing
77 KB – 202 Pages
PAGE – 1 ============
THE LARGER CATECHISM Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man? A. Man™s chief and highest end is to glorify God, a and fully to enjoy him forever. ba. Rom. 11:36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 1 Cor. 6:20. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God™s. 1 Cor. 10:31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Ps. 86:9, 12. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.– I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. b. Ps. 73:24Œ28. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My ˜esh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works. John 17:21Œ23. – that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Ps. 16:5Œ11. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my ˜esh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Rev. 21:3Œ4. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them,
PAGE – 2 ============
154 Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; c but his Word and Spirit only do suf˚ciently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation. d Q. 3. What is the Word of God? A. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God, e the only rule of faith and obedience. fand be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. c. Rom. 1:19Œ20. Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Acts 17:28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. See Ps. 19:1Œ3. d. 1 Cor. 2:9Œ10. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. 1:20Œ21. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wis – dom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 2 Tim. 3:15Œ17. – and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro˚table for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. See Isa. 59:21.e. 2 Tim. 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro˚table for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2 Pet. 1:19Œ21. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this ˚rst, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. 3:2, 15Œ16. – that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.– And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Matt. 19:4Œ5. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one ˜esh? With Gen. 2:24. Therefore shall a man Q. 2
PAGE – 3 ============
155 Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the Word of God? A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty g and purity;h by the consent of all the parts, i and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; k by their light leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one ˜esh.f. Deut. 4:2. Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Eph. 2:20. – and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. Rev. 22:18Œ19. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Isa. 8:20. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Luke 16:29, 31. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.– And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Gal. 1:8Œ9. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 2 Tim. 3:15Œ16. – and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro˚table for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. g. Hos. 8:12. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 1 Cor. 2:6Œ7, 13. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.– Which things also we speak, not in the words which man™s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Ps. 119:18, 129. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.– Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. h. Ps. 12:6. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, puri˚ed seven times. Ps. 119:140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. i. Luke 24:27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Acts 10:43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 26:22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come. k. Rom. 3:19, 27. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may Q. 4
PAGE – 4 ============
156and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: l but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very Word of God. m Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach? A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe con -cerning God, n and what duty God requires of man. obecome guilty before God.– Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Rom. 16:25Œ27. Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. See 2 Cor. 3:6Œ11. l. Acts 18:28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. Heb. 4:12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. James 1:18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of ˚rstfruits of his creatures. Ps. 19:7Œ9. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. Rom. 15:4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Acts 20:32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sancti˚ed. m. John 16:13Œ14. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. See 1 John 2:20, 27. John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. n. Gen. 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Ex. 34:5Œ7. And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and pro -claimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children™s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Ps. 48:1. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. See 2 Tim. 3:15. Q. 4
PAGE – 5 ============
157o. Deut. 10:12Œ13. And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the command -ments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 2 Tim. 3:15Œ17. – and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is pro˚table for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Acts 16:30Œ31. And [the keeper of the prison] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. p. John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Ex. 34:6Œ7. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children™s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Isa. 40:18, 21Œ23, 25, 28. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?– Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.– To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.– Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. Heb. 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. q. Matt. 3:16Œ17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Deut. 6:4Œ6. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. Compared with 1 Cor. 8:4, 6. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacri˚ce unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.– But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. See Matt. 28:19Œ20; 2 Cor. 13:14. WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD Q. 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God? A. The Scriptures make known what God is, p the persons in the Godhead,q his decrees, r and the execution of his decrees. sQ. 6
PAGE – 6 ============
158 Q. 7. What is God? A. God is a Spirit,t in and of himself in˚nite in being, u glory, w blessedness, x and perfection;y all-suf˚cient,z eternal, a unchangeable, b incomprehensible, c every where present, d almighty, e knowing all r. Acts 15:14Œ15, 18. Simeon hath declared how God at the ˚rst did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, – Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Isa. 46:9Œ10. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. s. Acts 4:27Œ28. 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 together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. t. John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.u. Ex. 3:14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Job 11:7Œ9. Canst thou by searching ˚nd out God? canst thou ˚nd out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Ps. 145:3. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Ps. 147:5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is in˚nite. w. Acts 7:2. And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. x. 1 Tim. 6:15. – which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. y. Matt. 5:48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.z. Ex. 3:14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Gen. 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Rom. 11:35Œ36. Or who hath ˚rst given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. a. Ps. 90:2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Deut. 33:27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. b. Mal. 3:6. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.c. 1 Kings 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have Q. 7
PAGE – 8 ============
160 Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one? A. There is but one only, l the living and true God.m Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead? A. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;n and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties. operfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. l. Deut. 6:4. Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD. 1 Cor. 8:4, 6. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacri˚ce unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.– But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Isa. 45:21Œ22. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isa. 44:6. Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the ˚rst, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. m. Jer. 10:10. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an ev -erlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. John 17:3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 1 Thess. 1:9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. 1 John 5:20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. n. Matt. 3:16Œ17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. o. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. See also Gen. 1:1Œ3. John 17:5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. John 10:30. I and my Father are one. Ps. 45:6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. See also Heb. 1:8Œ9. Acts 5:3Œ4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan ˚lled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Q. 8
PAGE – 9 ============
161 Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead? A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, p and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, q and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity. r Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father? A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, s attri -butes, t works, u and worship, w as are proper to God only. Rom. 9:5. – whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the ˜esh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. Col. 2:9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. p. Heb. 1:5Œ6, 8. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the ˚rstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.– But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. q. John 1:14, 18. And the Word was made ˜esh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.– No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. r. John 15:26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. Gal. 4:6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. s. Isa. 6:3, 5, 8. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.– Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.– Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. John 12:41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. Acts 28:25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers – 1 John 5:20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Acts 5:3Œ4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan ˚lled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. t. John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Isa. 9:6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. John Q. 11
PAGE – 10 ============
162 Q. 12. What are the decrees of God? A. God™s decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, x whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, un -changeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, y especially concerning angels and men. 2:24Œ25. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. 1 Cor. 2:10Œ11. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. u. Col. 1:16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him. Gen. 1:2. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. w. Matt. 28:19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. 13:14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. x. Isa. 45:6Œ7. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 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 counsel of his own will. Rom. 11:33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past ˚nding out! Rom. 9:14Œ15, 18. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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. y. Ps. 33:11. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Isa. 14:24. The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand. Acts 2:23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cruci˚ed and slain. Acts 4:27Œ28. 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 together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. Rom. 9:22Œ23. What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath ˚tted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. Eph. 1:4, 11. – according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.– in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Q. 12
PAGE – 11 ============
163 Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men? A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; z and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: a and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favor as he pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin in˜icted, to the praise of the glory of his justice. b Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and prov -z. 1 Tim. 5:21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. a. Eph. 1:4Œ6 – according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph. 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 2 Thess. 2:13Œ14. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sancti˚cation of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:2. – elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sancti˚cation of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. b. Rom. 9:17Œ18, 21Œ22. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.– Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath ˚tted to destruction. Matt. 11:25Œ26. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 2 Tim. 2:20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Jude 4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 2:8. – and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. Q. 14
77 KB – 202 Pages