Q4: What may we learn from the Creation ?

A. That God perfectly knows all that is in the Creature, be it never fo fecret, Pfalm xciv. 8, 9. Understand, O ye brutish among the People; and ye Fools, when will ye be wije? He that planted the Ear, fhall he not hear? he that formed the Eye, fhall be not fee?

Q5. What's the Second Inftruction from the Creation? A. That God is the rightful Owner of us all, and may do what he will with us, Rom. ix. 20. Nay, but O Man, who art thou that repliest against God! Shall the Thing formed fay to him that formed it, why haft thon made me thus? Hath not the Potter Power over the Clay, of the fame Lump to make one Veffel to Honour, and another to Dishonour?

Q6. What is the Third Inftruction from the Creation? A. That God only is the proper Object of Worship, Jer. x. 11. Thus fhall be fay unto them, The Gods that have not made the Heavens and the Earth, even they shall perish from the Earth, and from under thefe Heavens.

Q. 7. What is the Fourth Inftru&tion from hence?

A. That Chriftians should not fear the Power of Creatures, fince they derive their Being and Power from God, Ifa. liv. 16, 17. Behold I have created the Smith that bloweth the Coals in the Fire, that bringeth forth an Inftrument for his Work; and I have created the Wafter to deftroy, no Weapon that is formed against thee all profper.

Q8. What is the Fifth Inftruction hence?

A. That Atheism is a Sin againft natural Light and Reafon, Rom. i. 20. For the invifible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly Jeen, being underflood by the Things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead; fo that they are without Excufe.

Q9. What is the Sixth Inftruction hence?

A. That God's Glory is the End of all Being, Col. i. 16. For by him were all Things created, that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invifible, whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers, all Things were created by him and for him.

10. What is the Seventh Inftruction hence? A. That there is an unnatural Rebellion in Sin, fmiting at him that made and preferves our Being, Ifa. i. 2. I have

nourifbed

nourished and brought up Children, and they have rebelled against me.

Q. 11. What is the Eighth Inftruction from hence?

A. That God can in a Moment revive and fave the Church, when at the loweft Ebb, Ifa. lxv. 18.

create Jerufalem a Rejoicing, and her People a Joy. Q. 12. What is the last Instruction from hence?

Behold, I

A. That it is easy with God to revive a dejected Soul, Ifa. lvii. 19. I create the Fruit of the Lips; Peace Peace to him that is far off, and to him that is uear, faith the Lord, I will heal him. Of Man's Creation."

Quest. 10.

H

God created Man Male and Female, after his own Image, in Knowledge, Righteoufnefs, and Holinefs, with Dominion over the Creatures.

Q. i. How did God create Man?

A. God created Man in his own Image, Gen. i. 27. So God created Man in his own Image, in the Image of God created he him, Male and Female created he them.

Q. 2. What is meant by the Image of God?

A. Not a Refemblance of God in any bodily Shape or Figure, but in Holiness, Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on that new Man, which after God is created in Righteoufnefs and true Holiness.

Q. 3. In what Graces did Man resemble God?

A. In fuch a Knowledge of God himself, and the Creatures, which made him happy, Col. iii. 10. And have put on the new Man, which is renewed in Knowledge, after the Image of him that created him.

Q4. In what other Graces did this Image confift?

A. In Righteoufnefs as well as Holinefs, Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on that new Man, which after God is created in Righteoufnefs and true Holiness.

Q. 5. What is the First Inference from hence?

A. The deplorable Mifery of the Fall, Rom. v. 12. Wherefore as by one Man Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin, and fo Death passed upon all Men, for that all have finned

Q. 6. What is the fecond Inftru&tion hence?

A. The Beauty of Holiness, which is the Image of God, and the Excellency of Man, Pfalm xvi. 3. But to the Saints that are in the Earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my Delight.

Q7. What is the Third Inftruction from hence?

A. We have infinite Caufe to blefs God for Chrift, who repairs this loft Image in his People, Eph. iv. 23. And be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind.

Q. 8. What is the Fourth Inftruction from hence?

A. That the Defpifers of Holiness are the Defpifers of God; for Holiness is God's Image.

Q. 9. What is the Fifth Inftruction from hence?

A. The Excellency of Sanctification, which defaces the Image of Satan, and draws the Image of God upon the Soul of Man.

Queft. I.

Of Diving Providence.

HAT are God's Works of Providence? A. God's Works of Providence, are his juft, holy, wife, and powerful preferving and governing all his Creatures, and all their Actions.

Q. How doth it appear there is a divine Providence? A. It appears by plain Scripture Teftimonies, Heb. i. 3. Upholding all Things by the Word of his Power, Col. i. 17. By him all Things confift, Luke xii. 6, 7. Are not five Sparrows fold for two Farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God; but even the very Hairs of your Head are all numbered,

Q. 2. How elfe is Providence evidenced?

A. By Scripture Emblems, as Jacob's Ladder, Gen. xxviii. 12, 13. And he dreamed, and behold a Ladder jet upon the Earth, and the Top of it reached to Heaven; behold the Angels of Ged afcended and defcended on it: And Ezekiel's Wheels, Ezek. i. 20. Whitherfoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their Spirit to go, and the Wheels were lifted up over against them, for the Spirit of the living Creature was in the Wheels. Q3. What further Scripture Evidence is there?

A. The fure Accomplishment of Scripture Predictions,

as

as Ifrael's Captivity, and Deliverance from Egypt and Babylon, Chrift's Incarnation, the Rife and Ruin of the Four Monarchies, Dan. ii. 31. Thou, O King, faweft, and behold a great Image, whofe Brightness was excellent, flood before thee, and the Form thereof was terrible, Dan. vii. 3. And four great Beafts came up from the Sea, diverfe, one from the other. Q. 4. What is its first Act about the Creatures.

A. It sustains, preferves, provides for them, Pfalm cxlv. 15, 16. The Eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou giveft them their Meat in due Seafon; thou openeft thine Hand, and fatisfieft the Defire of every living Thing, and defendeft them from Danger, Pfalm xxxvi. 6. Thy Righteoufnefs is like the great Mountains, thy Judgments are a great Deep, O Lord, thou prefereft Man and Beaf.

Q. 5. What is the Second Act of Providence about the Creatures?

A. It rules and governs the Creatures and their Actions, Pfalm lxvi. 7. He ruleth by his Power for ever, his Eyes behold the Nations; let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

Q. 6. How manifold is divine Providence?

A. It is common and general over all, or special and peçuliar to fome Men, 1 Tim. iv. 10. Who is the Saviour of all Men, efpecially of thofe that believe.

Q. 7. How is Providence exercised about finful Actions? A. In permitting them, Acts iv. 16. In reftraining them. Pfalm lxxvi. 10. Surely the Wrath of Man fhall praife thee, and the Remainder of Wrath halt thou refrain. And overruling them to good, Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought Evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this Day, to fave much People alive.

Q. 8. What are the Properties of Providence ?

A. It is (1) holy, Pfalm cxlv. 7. The Lord is righteous in all his Ways, and holy in all his Works. (2) Wife, Pfalm civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy Works! in Wisdom haft thou made them all. (3) Powerful, Dan. iv. 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing, and he doth according to his Will, in the Army of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth, and none can flay his Hand, or Say nnto him, what doft thou?

Q. 9. What is the First Inftruction from it?

A. That God's People are fafe amidst all their Enemies, and Dangers, 2 Chron. xvi. 9. For the Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to fhew himself strong in the Behalf of them whofe Hearts are perfect towards him. Q. 10. What is the Second Instruction ?

A. That Prayer is the best Expedient to Profperity, and Succefs of our lawful Affairs, Pfalm cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in Truth.

Q. 11. What is the Third Inftruction from it?

A. That God's People fhould reft quietly in the Care of his Providence for them in all their Straits, Matt. vi. 26. Behold the Fowls of the Air, for they fow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into Barns; yet our heavenly Father feedeth them; are ye not much better than they?

Q. 12. What is the last Inftrution from it?

A. That it is no fmall Privilege to be adopted Children of God, and the Members of Christ, for all is ordered for their eternal Good, Eph. i. 22, 23. And hath put all Things under his Feet, and gave him to be head over all Things to the Church, which is his Body, the fulness of him, that filleth all

in all.

Quest. 12.

Of the Covenant of Works.

WH

HAT fpecial Art of Providence did
God exercise towards Man, in the Ef

tate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created Man, he entered into a Covenant of Life with him, upon Condition of perfect Obedience, forbidding him to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, upon Pain of Death.

Q. 1. What was God's Covenant with Adam before the Fall?

A. It was to give Life and Happiness upon Condition of perfect perfonal Obedience, Gal. iii. 12. The Law is not of Faith; but the Man that doth them fall live in them.

Q. 2. Was this Covenant made only with Adam, or with him and his Pofterity?