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Psalm xxxiii. 6, 9, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth: he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Q. 4. In what time did God create all things?

A. God created all things in the space of six days. He could have created all things together in a moment, but he took six days time to work in, and rested on the seventh day, that we might the better apprehend the order of the creation, and that we might imitate him in working but six days of the week, and in resting on the seventh.

Q. 5. What was God's work on the first day?

A. On the first day, 1. God created heaven, that is, the highest heaven, called the third heaven, which is removed above all visible. heavens, where the throne of God is, and the seat of the blessed; in which the angels were created, who are called the hosts of heaven, and the sons of God, who rejoiced in the view of the other works, Job. xxxviii. 7. 2. God created the earth and the water mingled together, without such distinct beautiful forms, either of themselves, or of the creatures, which afterwards were produced out of them. 3. God created light, which was afterwards placed in the sun and moon, and other stars, when they were made.

Q. 6. What was God's work on the second day?

A. On the second day, 1. God created the firmament which seemeth to include both the heaven, in which af terwards the sun, moon, and stars, were placed, and likewise the air (called often heaven in scripture) where after the birds did fly. 2. God divided the waters, which were above part of the firmament of air: from the waters beneath the firmament of air; that is, he placed distinct the waters which were above the clouds, from the waters which were mingled with the earth.

Q. 7. What was God's work on the third day?

A. On the third day, 1. God gathered the waters which were mingled with the earth into one place, and called them seas, and the dry land which then appeared, he called earth. 2. He caused the earth to bring forth all kind

of trees, plants and herbs, before there was any sun or rain upon the around.

Q. 8. What was God's work on the fourth day?

A. On the fourth day, 1. God made the great lights the sun and moon; and the lesser lights, namely, the stars, and placed them in the heavens. 2. He appointed these lights their motions, office, and use, to compass the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to be for signs and for seasons, and for days and for years.

Q. 9. What was God's work on the fifth day?

A. On the fifth day, 1. God made of the waters, whales and all kind of great and small fishes, and every living creature which moveth in the sea. 2. God made of the waters, all kind of winged fowl, which fly in the open heaven.

Q. 10. What was God's work on the sixth day?

On the sixth day, 1. God made of the earth, all beasts, and cattle, and creeping things. 2. God made the first man, his body of the dust of the ground, and immediately created his soul in him, breathing in him the breath of life; and the woman he made of a rib taken out of his side.

Q. 11. Wherefore did God create all things?

A. God created all things for his own glory, that he might make manifest, 1. The glory of his power in effecting so great a work, making every thing of nothing by a word. Rev. iv. 11, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power; for thou hast created all things. 2. The glory of his wisdom in the order and variety of his creatures. Psalm civ. 24, O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all. 3. The glory of his goodness, especially towards man, for whom he provided first an habitation, and every useful creature, before he gave him his being.

Q. 12. In what condition did God create all things at efirst?

A. God made all things at first very good. Gen. i. 31, And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good. All the evil which since hath come into the world, is either sin itself, which is the

work of the devil and man, or the fruit and consequence of sin. God made man good and happy; man made himself sinful and miserable.

Q. 10. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Q. 1. Why did God create man male and female?

A. God created man male and female for their mutual help, and for the propagation of mankind. Gen. ii. 18, And God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make an help meet for him. Gen. i. 27, 28, God created man; male and female: and God blessed them, and said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, &c.

Q. 2. What is meant by the image of God, after which man was at first created?

A. By the image of God, we are to understand the similitude or likeness of God. Gen. i. 26, And God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.

Q. 3. Wherein doth consist the image of God, which was put upon man in his first creation?

A. 1. Negatively, the image of God doth not consist in any outward visible resemblance of his body to God, as if God had any bodily shape. 2. Positively, the im-" age of God doth consist in the inward resemblance of his soul to God in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Col. iii. 10, Renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Eph. iv. 24, Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Q. 4. What is included in this image of God, in knowledge, righteousness and holiness, as man had it at first?

A. The image of God in man at the first, doth include the universal and perfect rectitude of the whole soul; knowledge in his understanding, righteousness in his will, holiness in his affections.

Q. 5. What knowledge had man, when he was created in his understanding?

A. Man had, in his first creation, the knowledge of

God, and his law, and his creatures, and all things which were necessary to make him happy.

Q. 6. What righteousness had man at first in his will ? A. Man had at first in his will, a disposition, accompanied with an executive power, to every thing which was right, and to give that which was both due to God, and also to man, had there been any man besides himself.

Q. 7. What holiness had man at first in his affections? A. Man's affections at first were holy and pure, free from all sin and defilement, free from all disorder and distemper; they were placed upon the most holy, high, and noble objects: man at first had true and chief love to God, his desires were chiefly after him, and his delight was chiefly in him, and no creature in the world had too great a share. As for grief and shame, and the like affections, though they were in man radically, yet they were not in man actively, so as to put forth any acts, until he had committed the first sin; then he began to mourn and be ashamed.

Q. 8. What dominion had man at his first creation? A. Man had dominion, not only over himself and his own affections; but he had also dominion over the inferior creatures, the fish and the fowls, and the beasts; many of which, since man's disobedience to the command of God, are become disobedient to the command of men. Gen. i. 28, God said unto them, have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every creature that moveth upon the earth.

Q. 11. What are God's works of Providence?

A. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

Q. 1. What are the parts of God's providence?

A. The parts of God's providence are, 1. His preservation of things. Psalm xxxvi. 6, O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. 2. His government of things. Psalm lxvii. 4, Thou shalt govern the nations upon the

earth.

Q. 2. What is it for God to preserve things?

A. God preserveth things, 1. When he continueth and upholdeth them in their beings. Psalm cxix. 89, 90, 91, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth: they continue this day according to thine ordinances. 2. When he maketh provision of things needful for their preserva tion. Psalm cxlv. 15, 16, The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand and satisfiest the desire of every liv ing thing.

Q. 3. What is it for God to govern things?

A. God governeth things when he ruleth over them, disposeth and directeth them to his and their end. Psal. lxvi. 7, He ruleth by his power forever, his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Prov. xvi. 9, A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.

Q. 4. What is the subject of God's providence?

A. The subject of God's providence is, 1. All his créatures, especially his children. Heb. i. 3, Upholding all things by the word of his power. Psal. ciii. 19, His kingdom ruleth over all. Matth. x. 29, 31, One sparrow falleth not to the ground without your Father: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matth. vi. 26, 28, 30, Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly fa ther feedeth them: Are ye not much better than they? Consider the lillies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And if God clothe the grass of the field, shall he not much more clothe you? 2. All the actions of his creatures-1. All natural actions. Acts xvii. 28, In him we live and move. 2. All morally good actions. John xv. 5, Without me ye can do nothing, that is, nothing that is good. 3. All casual actions. Exod. xxi. 12, 13, He that smiteth a man that he die, and lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand, I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 4. All morally evil actions or sins.

Q. 5. How doth God's providence reach sinful actions? A. 1. God doth permit met to sin. Acts xiv. 16, Who

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