WCF 5.7

Westminster Confession of Faith

5.7. Of Providence

As the providence of God doth in general reach to all creatures, so after a most special manner, it taketh care of His Church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof.

Proof texts

1 Tim. 4:10 — [10] For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Amos 9:8, 9 — [8] Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD. [9] “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.
Rom. 8:28 — [28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Isa. 43:3, 4, 5, 14 — [3] For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. [4] Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. [5] Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. [14] Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

For discussion

The Assembly cited 1 Tim. 4:10 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q11 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q12 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q11 · WSC Q12 · WLC Q18 · WLC Q19 · WLC Q20 · HC Q26 · HC Q27 · HC Q28 · BC 3.1 · BC 3.2 · 1689 5.1 · SC60 2.1 · IAR 4.1 · IAR 4.2 · IAR 4.3 · IAR 4.4 · SHC 2.1 · SHC 2.2 · SD 5.1

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): these Sections proceed to teach — 1st. That the general providence of God, embracing and dealing with every creature according to its nature, consequently, although one system, embraces several subordinate systems intimately related as parts of one whole, yet also distinct in their respective methods of administration and in the immediate ends designed. The principal of these are the providence of God over the material universe ; the general moral government of God over the intelligent universe ; the moral governi PllOVlDENOE. 143 ment of God over the human family in general in this world ; and the special gracious dispensation of God's providence toward his Church, 2d. These Sections teach also that there is a relation of subordination subsisting…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): The providence of God may be considered as general and as special. His general providence is exercised about all his creatures ; his special providence is exercised, in a particular manner, about his Church and people. " The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him." — 2 Chron. xvi. 9. God has the interests of his own people ever in view; he knows what is most conducive to their happiness; and he will make all things, whether prosperous or adverse, to co-operate in promoting their good Rom. viii. 28. In all past ages, God has watched over his Church with peculiar…