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holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.i

Q, 8. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but One only, the living and true God.k
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; and these three are one, true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.1

me: thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising, thou understandest my thoughts afar off, &c. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? &c.

d Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

e Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked, and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Pal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

f Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

g Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. xv. 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee: for thy judgments are made manifest.

h Deut. xxxii. 4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is he.

i Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

8. Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Israel, The Lord, our God, is one Lord. 1 Cor. viii. 4, 6. As concerning, therefore, the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice 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. Jer x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

9. 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Mat. iii. 16, 17. 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. Mat. xxviii. 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. xiii. 14. The grace of

Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?

n

A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son,m and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son, from alt eternity.o

Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God qual 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, attributes, works, and worship, as are proper to God only,

the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. John x. 30. I and my Father are one.

10. m Heb. i. 5, 6, 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 first begotten 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.

n John i. 14, 18. And the Word was made flesh, 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.

o John xv. 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. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

11. p Isa. vi. 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, Wo 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. Compared with John xii. 41. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. And with Acts xxviii. 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 v. 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 v. 3, 4. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While 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. 12. What are the decrees of God?

A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and

men.

Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and

men?

A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his

:

q John i. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Isa. ix. 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 ii. 24, 25. 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. ii. 10, 11. 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.

r Col. i. 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. i. 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.

9 Mat. xxviii. 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. xiii. 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.

12. t Eph. i. 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. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out? Rom. ix. 14, 15, 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 and whom he will, he hardeneth.

mercy,

v Eph. i. 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. Rom. ix. 22, 23. What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured, with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of his mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory? Psal. xxxiii. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; and, in Christ, hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will. (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favour as he pleaseth,) hath passed by, and fore-ordained the rest to dishonour and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.y

Q. 14. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.z

13. w 1 Tim. v.. 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.

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x Eph. i. 4, 5, 6. 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 as 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. 2 Thess. ii. 13, 14. 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 sanctification 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.

y Rom. ix. 17, 18, 21, 22. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that 1 might show 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 pow er over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured, with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction? Mat. xi. 25, 26. 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. ii. 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. ii. 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.

14. z Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh alá things after the counsel of his own will

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 six days, and all very good.a

Q. 16. How did God create angels?

b

Jl. God created all the angels, spirits, immortal,d holy,e excelling in knowledge,f mighty in power,g to execute his commandments, and to praise his name, yet subject 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 dust of the ground, and the woman of the rib of the man ;m

15. a (Gen. i. chapter.) Heb. xi. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

16. b Col. i. 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.

c Psal. civ. 4. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire.

d Mat. xxii. 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels of God in heaven.

e Mat. xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.

f2 Sam. xiv. 17. Then thine handmaid said, The word of my Lord, the King, shall now be comfortable for as an angel of God, so is my Lord, the King, to discern good and bad: therefore, the Lord, thy God, will be with thee. Mat. xxiv. 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

g 2 Thess. i. 7. And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels. h Psal. ciii. 20, 21. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts, ye ministers of his that do his pleasure.

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

17. k 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.

1 Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

m Gen. ii. 22. And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

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