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Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence; according to his infallible fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable counfel of his own will z,

Q. 15. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world and all things therein for himself, within the space of fix days, and all very good a.

Q. 16. How did God create angels?

A. God created all the angels b fpirits c, immortal d, holy e, excelling in knowledge f, mighty in power g, to execute his commandments, and to praise his name h, yet

and prudent, & haft revealed them unto babes. v.26. Even fo Father, for fo it seemed good in thy fight, 1 Tim. 2. 20. But in a great houfe there are not only vefiels of gold, and of filver, but also of wood, and of earth; and fome to honour, and fometodi honour. Jude4. Forthere are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lafcivioufnels,and denyingtheonly Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift, Pet. 2. 8. And a stone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they were appointed.

14. z Eph. I. II. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

15.a Gen, I chapter. Heb. 11. 3. Through faith we underftand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,fo that things which arefeen were not made of things which do appear. Prov.16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 16.bCol. 1.16. For by him were all things created that are in hea

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ven, and that are in earth, visible and invifible, whether they be thrones,ordominions, or principa lities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him,

c Plal. 104. 4. Who maketh his angels fpirits: his minifters aflaming fire.

d Mat, 22, 30. For in the refurrection they neither marry,nor are given in marriage: but are as the angels of God in heaven.

e Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of man fhall come in his glory,andall theholy angels with him, thenthall he fit upon the throne of his glory,

f2Sam.14.17, Then thine handmaid faid, the word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, fo is my lord the king to difcern good and bad: therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee. Mat. 24.36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only,

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g 2 Theff. 1. 7. And to you who are troubled, reft with us, when theLord Jefus fhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels.

h Pfal 103. 20. Blefs the Lord, ye his angels,that excel inftrength, that do his commandments,hearkning unto the voice of his word. v.21. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his

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comes to pass in time v, especially concerning angels and

men.

Q. 13. What hath God efpecially 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 manifefted in due time, hath elected fome angels to glory w; and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life and the means thereof x, and alfo, according to his fovereign power, and the unfearchable counfel of his own will (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth fayour as he pleafeth) hath paffed by, and fore-ordained the reft to dishonour and wrath, to be for their fin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his juftice y. Q. 14.

will have mercy,and whom he will he hardneth.

v Eph.1.4. According as he hath chofen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love.v.11.In whom alfo we have obtainedan inheritance,being predeftinated according to the purpofe of him who worketh all things after the confel of his own will. Rom.9.22.What if God,willing to fhew his wrath, & to make hispower known,endured withmuch long. fuffering the yeffels of wrath fitted to deftruction; v. 23. And that he might makeknown the riches of his glory on theveffelsofmercy, which he nad afore prepared unto glory? Pfal.33.11.The counfel of the Lord flandeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations,

13. w 1 Tim. 5. 21. Icharge thee before God & the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect angels; that thou obferve these things without preferring one before another,doing no, thing by partiality.

x Eph.1.4.According as he hath chofen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we fhould be holy, and without blame before him in love: 7.5.Having predefti, nated us unto the adoption of children by Jefus Chrift to himself,ac.

cording to the good pleasure of his will. .6. To the praife of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved. 2 Thelf, 2. 13. But we are bound to give thanks alway toGod for you, brethren,beloved of the Lord,because God hath from the beginning chofen you to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth: 14. Whereunto he called you by our gofpel, to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jefus Chrift.

y Rom. 9. 17. For the fcripture faith unto Pharaoh, even for this famepurpofe have I raised thee up, that I mightfhewmy power in thee, and that my name might be decla red throughout all the earth. v.18, Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,& whom he will he hardneth. v. 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the fame lump to make one veffel unto honour, and another unto difhonour? .22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long-fuffering the veffels of wrath fitted to deftruction? Mat 11.25, At that time Jefus anfwered and faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, becaufe thou haft hid these things from the wife

and

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Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence; according to his infallible fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable counfel of his own will 2.

Q. 15. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world and all things therein for himself, within the space of fix days, and all very good a.

Q. 16. How did God create angels?

A. God created all the angels b fpirits c, immortal d, holy e, excelling in knowledge f, mighty in power g, to execute his commandments, and to praise his name h, yet

and prudent, & haft revealed them unto babes. v.26. Even so Father, for fo it seemed good in thy fight, 1 Tim. 2. 20. But in a great houfe there are not only veflels of gold, and of silver, but also of wood, and of earth; and some to honour, and fome todifhonour. Jude4. Forthere are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lafcivioufnels,and denyingtheonly Lord God, and our Lord Jefus Chrift, Pet. 2. 8. And a stone of ftumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which ftumble at the word, being difobedient, whereunto alfo they were appointed.

14. Z Eph. I. II. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

15.a Gen, 1 chapter. Heb. 11. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word ofGod,fo that things which arefeen were not made of things which do appear. Prov.16.4. The Lord hath made all things for himfelf: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 16.bCol. 1.16. For by him were all things created that are in hea

fub.

ven, and that are in earth, vilible and invisible, whether they be thrones,ordominions,or principa lities or powers; all things were created by him, and for him,

c Plal. 104. 4. Who maketh his angels fpirits; his ministers aflaming fire.

d Mat, 22, 30. For in the refur rection they neither marry,nor are given in marriage: but are as the angels of God in heaven.

e Mat. 25. 31. When the Son of man fhall come in his glory,andall theholy angels with him,thenthall he fit upon the throne of his glory,

f2Sam.14.17, Then thine handmaid faid, the word of my lord the king fhall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, fo is my lord the king to difcern good and bad; therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee. Mat.24.36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels in heaven, but my Father only,

g 2 Theff. 1.7. And to you who are troubled, reft with us, when theLord Jefusfhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels.

h Pfal 103. 20. Blefs the Lord, ye his angels, that excel inftrength, that do his commandments,hearkning unto the voice of his word. v.21. Blefs ye the Lord, all ye his

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fubject to change i.

Q. 17. How did God create man?

A. After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female k; formed the body of the man of the duft of the ground 1, and the woman of the rib of the man m; endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal· Soulsn; made them after his own image o, in knowledge P, righteousness and holiness ¶, having the law of God writ ten in their hearts r, and power to fulfil it f, with dominion over the creatures t; yet fubject to fall v, Q. 18. in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female created he them.

hofts, ye minifters of his that do his pleasure.

i 2 Pet. 2. 4. For if God spared not the angels that finned,but caft them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be referved unto judgment.

17.k Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

1 Gen, 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the duft of the ground, and breathed into his notrils the breath of life.

m Gen.2.22, And the rib,which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man,

nGen.2.7.Andthe Lord Godform ed man of the duft of the ground, and breathed into his noftrils the breath of life: and man became a living foul.Compared with Job 35. 11. Who teacheth us more than the beafts of the earth, and maketh us wiler than the fowls of heaven. And with Eccl.12.7.Thenfhallthe duft return to the earth as it was: and the spirit fhall return untoGod who gave it. And with Mat. 10. 28. And fear not them which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the foul but rather fear himwhich is able to deftroy both foul and body in hell. And with Luke 23, 43. And Jefus said unto him, vefily I fay unto thee, to-day fhalt thou be with me in paradife.

Gen.1.27. SoGod created man

p Col.3.10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.

q Eph.4.24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteoufnels, and true holinefs.

r Rom.2.14. For when theGen. tiles which have not the law, de by nature the thing's contained in the law, these having not the law, are a law unto themfelves: v. 15. Which fhew the work of the law written in their hearts, their confcience alfo bearing witnefs, and their thoughts the mean while ac culing, or elfe excusing one ano. ther.

(Eccl. 7. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright, but they have fought out many inventions,

t Gen. 1. 28. And God bleffed them, and God faid unto them, be fruitful and multiply,and replenish the earth,and fubdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that mo veth upon the earth.

v Gen. 3. 6. And when the wo man faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be defired to make one wife; fhe took of thefruit thereof, and did eat, and gave alfo

unto

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Q. 18. What are Gods work of providence?

A. God's works of providence are his most holy w, wife x, and powerful preferving y, and governing all his creatures z; ordering them, and all their actions a, to his own glory b, Q. 19. What is Gods providence towards the angels?

A. God by his providence permitted fome of the angels, willfully and irrecoverably, to fall into fin and damnation c limiting and ordering that and all their fins to his own glo. ry d; and established the reft in holiness and happiness e;

unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Eecl.7.29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; butthey have fought out many inventions.

18. w Pfal, 145.17.The Lordis righteous in all his ways,and holy in all his works.

x Pfal. 104,24,OLord, how manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ifa. 28. 29. This alfo cometh forth from the Lord of hofts, which is wonderful in counfel, and excellent in work ing.

yHeb.1.3. Who being the brigh nefs of his glory, and exprefs i mage of his perion,and upholding allthingsby the word of his power, when he hadby himfelf purgedour fins, fat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.

z Pfal. 103. 19. The Lord hath preparedhisthrone in the heavens: and his kingdom ruleth over all. a Mat 10. 29.Are not two fparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall onthe ground without your Father.v. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred, v. 31. Fear ye not there fore, ye are of more valuethanma ny fparrows. Gen. 45. 7. AndGod fent me beforeyou, topreferveyou a pofterity in the earth, and to fave your lives by a great deliverance, b Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom beglory forever.

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Amen. Ifa. 63, 14. As a beaftgoeth down into the valley, the Spiritof the Lord causeth him to rest; fo didft thou lead thy people,to make. thyfelfa glorious name.

19.c Jude6. Andtheangels which kept not their firft eftate, but left their own habitation, he hath referved in everlafting chains under darkness,unto the judgment of the great day. 2 Pet,2. 4. For if God pared not the angels that finned, but caft them down to hell,and delivered them into chains of darknefs,tobe refervedunto judgment, Heb,2.16,For verilyhetook not on him the nature of angels; but he tookon him the feed of Abraham, John8.44.Ye areofyour father the devil,andthe lufts of your fatherye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,because there is no truth in him. When he fpeaketh a lie, he fpeaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

d Job, 1. 12. And the Lord faid unto Satan, behold, all that he hath is in thy power, only upon himself put not forth thine hand, So Satan went forth from the prefence of the Lord, Mat. 8. 31. So the devils belought him, faying,if thou caft us out, fuffer us to go away into the herd of fwine,

e 1 Tim. 5, 21. I charge thee be fore God and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the elect angels, that thou obferve thefe things without prefer, ring one before another,doing no

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