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Q8 Q10

Q9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

See also in WCF: 4.1, 4.2 See also in WLC: Q15, Q16, Q17 Compare: Creation
Gen. 1
[1] In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. [2] The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. [3] And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. [4] And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. [5] God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. [6] And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” [7] And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. [8] And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. [9] And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. [10] God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. [11] And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. [12] The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [13] And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. [14] And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, [15] and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. [16] And God made the two great lights — the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night — and the stars. [17] And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, [18] to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. [20] And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” [21] So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [22] And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” [23] And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. [24] And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds — livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. [25] And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. [26] Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. [28] And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” [29] And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. [30] And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. [31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Heb. 11:3
[3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Q1. How do you know that the world had a beginning?

A. The light of nature teaches, that there must be a first cause; besides, "through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God," Heb. 11:3.

Q2. Might not this world have existed from eternity?

A. No; it is impossible: this supposition is not only contrary to scripture, but to common sense and reason, which tells us, that what is created; and has a duration by succession of time, must have had a beginning.

Q3. From whom did this world receive its being and beginning?

A. From God only, who is being itself, and gives being to all things, Neh. 9:6.

Q4. What is it for God to create?

A. It is his making all things of nothing.

Q5. When did God create this world?

A. In the beginning of time, Gen. 1:1.

Q6. Was there any pre-existent matter out of which God created the world?

A. No; for, by his powerful word, he called "those things which be not, as though they were," Rom. 4:17; "so that things which are seen, were not made of things which do appear," that is, of any pre-existent matter, Heb. 11:3.

Q7. In what time did God create all things?

A. In the space of six days, Ex. 20:11.

Q8. Could he not have created all things in a moment of time?

A. Yes; but he saw it more for his own glory, and the good of mankind, to set them an example of working six days, and resting the seventh.

Q9. On which of the six days, is it reckoned, that the angels were created?

A. It is probable they were created upon the first day, as would seem from Job 38:4, 7 - "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth, - when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

Q10. Can creating power be imparted to any creature?

A. No; it implies a contradiction for a creature to create, because this would vest a finite creature with infinite power, Isaiah 14:12.

Q11. Is it not then a clear proof of the supreme Deity of the Son of God, that all things were made by him?

A. No doubt it is: for, none but he, who is truly and properly God, can command things that are not into being, Isaiah 44:24.

Q12. Is creation a work common to all the persons of the Trinity?

A. Yes; for all the external works of God are common to each person; every one of the three adorable persons being the same in substance, equal in power and glory, 1 John 5:7 - "These three are one."

Q13. For what end did God make all things?

A. He made all things for himself, or for the display of his matchless excellencies, Proverbs 16:4.

Q14. What are those excellencies or perfections of God which are more especially displayed in the work of creation?

A. His infinite power, extensive goodness, and manifold wisdom, Rom. 1:20.

Q15. How does the infinite power of God shine forth in creating the world?

A. In bringing all things, of a sudden, out of nothing, by his bare word, Psalm 33:6.

Q16. What was that bare word?

A. Let such a thing be, Gen. 1:3.

Q17. How is his manifold wisdom displayed in this work?

A. In the vast variety of creatures, great and small, which he has made; the order and harmony of them all; and their subserviency one to another, Psalm 104:24.

Q18. Why is it said that he made all things very good?

A. Because God, upon a survey of his works, declared them to be so, Gen. 1:31 - "God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good."

Q19. In what consists the goodness of the creatures of God?

A. In the perfection of their nature, their being fit to answer the end of their creation; and their usefulness to man, being both profitable and pleasant to him.

Q20. Are not many creatures hurtful to man?

A. They were not so at their first creation, and while man continued in his allegiance to God: but through his sinning against God he has brought a curse on himself, and the whole creation, Gen. 3:17 - "Cursed is the ground for thy sake."

Q21. Is not God said to create evil, Isaiah 45:7?

A. Not the evil of sin; but of punishment, as a just judge, Rom. 3:5, 6; Amos 3:6.

Q22. How then came sin and death into the world?

A. Man is the parent of sin, and sin opened the door to death: "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin," Rom. 5:12.

Q23. Upon what day did God rest from creating the world?

A. Upon the seventh day, Gen. 2:2, 3; which was therefore appointed to be the weekly Sabbath, till the resurrection of Christ.

Q24. Does this resting, on the seventh day, say that he was weary with working?

A. No; "The everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary," Isaiah 40:28.

Q25. What then is meant by his resting?

A. It is spoken after the manner of men; and the meaning is, that God ceased to create any other sorts of creatures than he had already made.

Q26. Is not the same power that created all things, exerted in sustaining them in their being?

A. Yes; for he, by whom the worlds were made, is said to uphold all things by the word of his power, Heb. 1:2, 3.

Q27. Do not the scriptures speak of a new creation, as well as of the old?

A. Yes; the Spirit of God, in scripture, speaks of a new world of grace, under the name of "new heavens" and a "new earth," Isaiah 66:22; Rev. 21:1.

Q28. What is to be understood by this new creation, or new world of grace?

A. The true church of Christ, particularly under the New Testament, not excluding the church triumphant in heaven.

Q29. By whom is this new world created?

A. By the same God that made the old world; "Behold, I create new heavens, and a new earth," Isaiah 65:17.

Q30. Who are the inhabitants of this new world?

A. They are all new creatures, taken out of the old world, 2 Cor. 5:17.

Q31. How came they out of this material, into that spiritual world?

A. By the new birth; for, except a man be born again, he cannot enter into it, John 3; flesh and blood, or corrupted nature, continuing such, cannot inherit it, 1 Cor. 15:50.

Q32. Is there any difference of nations, sexes, or persons, in this new world?

A. No; for "there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision, nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free; but Christ is all, and in all," Col. 3:11.

Q33. By what door do men enter into this new world of grace?

A. Christ says, "I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture," John 10:9, and chap. 14:6 - "I am the way - no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Q34. In what lies the happiness of the inhabitants of this new world of grace?

A. None so happy as they, because they dwell in God, and God dwells in them as in a temple, 1 Cor. 3:16; and walks in them as in his garden of pleasure, 2 Cor. 6:16; and, at death, they are transported by the ministry of angels, to the world of glory above, Luke 16:22.

Q35. What may we learn from the doctrine of the creation?

A. That we ought to contemplate God in all his creatures, Psalm 104; acknowledge him as the rightful proprietor and sovereign disposer of them all, 1 Chron. 29:11; and believe that the same almighty power of God, which was put forth in creating of all things, shall be exerted in defence and support of his church and people, in the time of their need, Psalm 121:2.

Q1. What is it to create?

A. To create, is to give a being to that which had no being; or to bring something out of nothing; Hebrews 11:3. 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 that do appear.

Q2. How did God create the world?

A. By his infinite power, executed in his word of command; Psalm 33:6, 9. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth; for he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Q3. What attributes of God shine forth in the creation?

A. The wisdom of God shines forth gloriously, not only in their formation, but dependence one upon another; Psalm 104:24. O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.

Q4. What may we learn from the creation?

A. That God perfectly knows all that is in the creature, be it never so secret; Psalm 94:8, 9. Understand, O you brutish among the people; and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, shall he not hear: He who formed the eye, shall he not see?

Q5. What is the second instruction from the creation?

A. That God is the rightful owner of us all, and may do what he will with us? Romans 9:20. Nay but, O man, who are you that replies against God! shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why have you made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honor, and another to dishonor?

Q6. What is the third instruction from the creation?

A. That God only is the proper object of worship; Jeremiah 10:11. Thus shall he say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens, and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

Q7. What is the fourth instruction from hence?

A. That Christians should not fear the power of creatures, since they derive their being and power from God; Isaiah 54:16, 17. Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy; no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.

Q8. What is the fifth instruction from hence?

A. That Atheism is a sin against natural light and reason; Romans 1:20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Q9. What is the sixth instruction from hence?

A. That God's glory is the end of all being; Colossians 1:16. 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.

Q10. What is the seventh instruction from hence?

A. That there is an unnatural rebellion in sin, smiting at him that made and preserves our being; Isaiah 1:6. I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

Q11. What is the eighth instruction from hence?

A. That God can in a moment revive and save the church when at the lowest ebb; Isaiah 65:18. Behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Q12. What is the last instruction from hence?

A. That it is easy with God to revive a dejected soul; Isaiah 57:19. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, says the Lord; and I will heal him, Of Man's Creation

Q1. Did God create the world?

A. Yes: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, Gen. 1:1.

Q2. Did he create everything in the world?

A. Yes: For without him was not any thing made that was made, John 1:3; Jhn 1:10; Col 1:16-17.

Q3. Did he create the world by his word?

A. Yes: For through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, Heb. 11:3.

Q4. Did all things come into being by that word?

A. Yes: For by the word of God the heavens were of old, 2 Pet. 3:5.

Q5. And are they thereby preserved in being?

A. Yes: By the same word they are kept in store, 2 Pet 3:7.

Q6. Did God find any difficulty in making the world?

A. No: For he spake and it was done; he said, Let there be light, and there was light, Ps. 33:9; Gen. 1:3.

Q7. Did he need assistance in it?

A. No: For he stretcheth forth the heavens alone, and spreadeth abroad the earth by himself, Isa. 44:24.

Q8. Did he make all out of nothing?

A. Yes: For the things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear, Heb. 11:13.

Q9. Did he bring light out of darkness?

A. Yes: For God commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 2 Cor. 4:6.

Q10. And order out of confusion?

A. Yes: For the earth was without form and void, Gen. 1:2.

Q11. Did he make all in six days?

A. Yes: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, Exod. 20:11.

Q12. Did God make all well?

A. Yes: God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good, Gen. 1:31.

Q13. Did he make all firm?

A. Yes: He hath made a decree which shall not pass, Ps. 148:6.

Q14. And all for himself?

A. Yes: The Lord has made all things for himself, Prov. 16:4.

Q15. Did God make all things by Jesus Christ?

A. Yes: For by him also he made the worlds, Heb. 1:2. and created all things by Jesus Christ, Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; John 1:3.

Q16. Did God manifest his own perfections in the work of creation?

A. Yes: For the heavens declare the glory of God, Ps. 19:1.

Q17. Must we give him the glory of this work?

A. Yes: We must worship him that made the heaven and the earth, Rev. 14:7.

Q18. Must we give him thanks for his creatures?

A. Yes: Every creature of God is good, and to be received with thanksgiving, 1 Tim. 4:4.

Q19. May we be encouraged by the work of creation to trust in God?

A. Yes: My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth, Ps. 121:2.

Q20. Did God create the angels?

A. Yes: He maketh his angels spirits, Heb. 1:7.

Q21. Are they attendants upon him?

A. Yes: Thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him, Dan. 7:10.

Q22. Are they employed for the good of the saints?

A. Yes: They are sent forth to minister for them which shall be heirs of salvation, Heb. 1:14.

Q23. Have true believers communion with them in faith, hope, and love?

A. Yes: For we are come to an innumerable company of angels, Heb. 12:22.

Q24. Did all the angels continue in their integrity?

A. No: There were angels that left their first state, Jude 1:6.

Q25. Is it probable that they who fell, fell by pride?

A. Yes: For they that are lifted up with pride, fall into the condemnation of the devil, 1 Tim. 3:6.

Q26. Were they punished for their sin?

A. Yes: God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, 2 Pet. 2:4.

### 13. The Creation

Q-7: WHAT ARE THE DECREES OF GOD?

A: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever shall come to pass.

I have already spoken something concerning the decrees of God under the attribute of his immutability. God is unchangeable in his essence, and he-is unchangeable in his decrees; his counsel shall stand. He decrees the issue of all things, and carries them on to their accomplishment by his providence; I shall proceed therefore to the execution of his decrees.

Q-9: The next question is, WHAT 1S THE WORK OF CREATION?

A: It is God's making all things from nothing by the word of his power. Gen 1:1. ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.'

The creation is glorious to behold, and it is a pleasant and profitable study. Some think that when Isaac went abroad into the fields to meditate, it was in the book of the creatures. The creation is the heathen man's Bible, the ploughman's primer, and the traveller's perspective glass, through which he receives a representation of the infinite excellencies which are in God. The creation is a large volume, in which God's works are bound up; and this volume has three great leaves in it, heaven, earth, and sea.

The author of the creation is God, as it is in the text, ‘God created.' The world was created in time, and could not be from eternity, as Aristotle thought. The world must have a maker, and could not make itself. If one should go into a far country, and see stately edifices, he would never imagine that they could build themselves, but that there had been some artificer to raise such goodly structures; so this great fabric of the world could not create itself, it must have some builder or maker, and that is God. ‘In the beginning God created.' To imagine that the work of the creation was not framed by the Lord Jehovah, is as if we should conceive a curious landscape to be drawn without the hand of an artist. ‘God that made the world and all things therein.' Acts 17:24.

In the work of creation there are two things to be considered: 1: The making. 2: The adorning.

I. The making of the world. Here consider, [1] God made the world without any pre-existent matter. This is the difference between generation and creation. In generation there is materia habilis et disposita [suitable material at hand], some matter to work upon; but in creation there is no pre-existent matter. God brought all this glorious fabric of the world out of the womb of nothing. Our beginning was of nothing. Some brag of their birth and ancestry; but how little cause have they to boast who came from nothing.

[2] God made the world with a word. When Solomon had to build a temple he needed many workmen, and they all had tools to work with, but God wrought without tools. ‘By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.' Psa 33:6. The disciples wondered that Christ could with a word calm the sea; but it was more with a word to make the sea.

[3] God made all things at first very good, Gen 1:31I, without any defect or deformity. The creation came out of God's hands a curious piece; it was a fair copy, without any blot, written with God's own fingers. Psa 8:3. His work was perfect.

II. The adorning of the world. God made this great lump and mass, Rudis indigestaque moles [with neither shape nor order], and then beautified it. He divided the sea and the earth, he decked the earth with flowers, the trees with fruit; but what is beauty when it is masked over? Therefore, that we might behold this glory, God made the light. The heavens were bespangled with the sun, moon, and stars, that so the world's beauty might be beheld and admired. God, in the creation, began with things less noble and excellent, rocks and vegetables; and then the rational creatures, angels and men. Man is the most exquisite piece in the creation. He is a microcosm, or little world. Man was made with deliberation and counsel. ‘Let us make man.' Gen 1:26. It is the manner of artificers to be more than ordinarily accurate when they are about their masterpieces. Man was to be the masterpiece of this visible world, therefore God consulted about making so rare a piece. A solemn council of the sacred persons in the Trinity was called. ‘Let us make man, and let us make him in our own image.' On the king's coin his own image or effigy is stamped; so God stamped his image on man, and made him partaker of many divine qualities.

I shall speak, [1] Of the parts of man's body. (1.) The head, the most excellent architectural part, is the fountain of spirits, and the seat of reason. In nature the head is the best piece, but in grace the heart excels. (2.) The eye is the beauty of the face; it shines and sparkles like a lesser sun in the body. The eye occasions much sin, and therefore may well have tears in it. (3.) The ear is the conduit-pipe through which knowledge is conveyed. Better lose our seeing than our hearing, for ‘faith cometh by hearing.' Rom 10:17. To have an ear open to God is the best jewel on the ear. (4.) The tongue. David calls the tongue his glory, Psa 16:6, because it is an instrument to set forth the glory of God. The soul at first was a viol in tune to praise God, and the tongue made the music. God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth, and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue. (5.) The heart is a noble part, and the seat of life.

[2] The soul of man. This is the man of the man. Man, in regard of his soul, partakes with the angels; nay, as Plato says, the understanding, will, and conscience, are a glass that resemble the Trinity. The soul is the diamond in the ring, it is a vessel of honour; God himself is served in this vessel. It is a spark of celestial brightness, says Damascene. David admired the rare contexture and workmanship of his body. ‘I am wonderfully made, I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.' Psa 139:14, 15. If the cabinet be so curiously wrought, what is the jewel? How richly is the soul embroidered' Thus you see how glorious a work the creation is, and man especially, who is the epitome of the world.

But why did God make the world?

(1.) Negatively. Not for himself; for he did not need it, being infinite. He was happy in reflecting upon his own sublime excellencies and perfections before the world was. God did not make the world to be a mansion for us, since we are not to abide here for ever. Heaven is the mansion house. John 14:4. The world is only a passage-room to eternity; the world is to us as the wilderness was to Israel, not to rest in, but to travel through to the glorious Canaan. The world is a dressing-room to dress our souls in, not a place where we are to stay for ever. The apostle tells us of the world's funeral. ‘The elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up.' 2 Pet 3:30.

(2.) Positively. God made the world to demonstrate his own glory. The world is a looking glass, in which we may see the power and goodness of God shine forth. ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.' Psa 19:9. The world is like a curious piece of tapestry, in which we may see the skill and wisdom of him that made it.

Use one: Did God create this world? (1.) This convinces us of the truth of his Godhead. To create is proper to a Deity. Acts 17:74. Plato was convinced of a Deity when he saw that all the world could not make a fly. Thus God proves himself to be the true God, and distinguishes himself from idols. Jer 10:11. It is written in Chaldee, ‘Thus shall ye say to them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish.' Who but God can create? The creation is enough to convince the heathen that there is a God. There are two books out of which God will judge and condemn the heathen, viz., the book of Conscience, ‘Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts,' Rom 2:25, and the book of the Creation, ‘The invisible things of him are clearly seen by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.' Rom 1:10. The world is full of emblems and hieroglyphics. Every star in the sky, every bird that flies in the air, is a witness against the heathen. A creature could not make itself.

(2.) It is a mighty support of faith that God creates. He that made all things with a word, what cannot he do? He can create strength in weakness; he can create a supply of our wants. What a foolish question was that, ‘Can he prepare a table in the wilderness?' Psa [28:19. Cannot he that made the world do much more? ‘Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.' Psa 124:4. Rest on this God for help, who made heaven and earth. As the work of creation is a monument of God's power, so it is a stay to faith. Is thy heart hard? He can with a word create softness. Is it unclean? He can create purity. ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God.' Psa 51:10. Is the church of God low? He can create Jerusalem a praise. Isa 65:18. There is no such golden pillar for faith to stay upon as a creating power.

(3.) Did God make this world full of beauty and glory, everything very good? Then, what an evil thing is sin, that has put out of frame the whole creation! Sin has much eclipsed the beauty, soured the sweetness, and marred the harmony of the world. How bitter is that gall, a drop whereof can embitter a whole sea! Sin has brought vanity and vexation into the world, yea, a curse. God cursed the ground for man's sake. Gen 3. There were several fruits of the curse.

'In sorrow shalt thou eat of it.' Verse 17. By sorrow is to be understood all the troubles and cares of this life. ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.' Verse I9. In innocence Adam tilled the ground, for he must not live idly; but it was rather a delight than a labour. That tilling was without toiling. The eating in sorrow, and the sweat of the brow, came in after sin. ‘Thorns and thistles shall the ground bring forth.' Verse 18. Did the earth in innocence bear thorns, though they were afterwards threatened as a punishment? It is likely it did bear thorns; for, when God had done creating, he made no new species or kinds of things; but the meaning is, Now, after sin, the earth should bring forth more plentifully of thorns, and now those thorns should be hurtful, and choke the corn, which hurtful quality was not in them before. Ever since the fall, all the comforts of this life have a thorn and a thistle in them! The fourth fruit of the curse was the driving of man out of paradise. ‘So he drove out the man.' Verse 24. God at first brought Adam into paradise as into a house ready furnished, or as a king into his palace. ‘Have dominion over every living thing that moveth.' Gen 1:28. God's driving Adam out of paradise signified his dethroning and banishing him, that he might look after a heavenly and a better paradise. A fifth fruit of the curse was death. ‘To dust thou shalt return.' Verse I9. Death was not natural to Adam, but came in after sin. Josephus is of opinion that man would have died, though he would have had a longer term of years added to his life; but, out of question, death grew out of the root of sin, as the apostle says. ‘By sin came death.' Rom 5:12. See then how cursed a thing sin is, that has brought so many curses upon the creation. If we will not hate sin for its deformity, let us hate it for the curse it brings.

(4.) Did God make this glorious world? Did he make everything good? Was there in the creature so much beauty and sweetness? Oh! then what sweetness is there in God? Quicquid efficit tale, illud est magis tale; ‘the cause is always more noble than the effect.' Think with yourselves, is there so much excellence in house and lands? Then how much more is there in God, that made them! Is there beauty in a rose? What beauty then is there in Christ, the Rose of Sharon! Does oil make the face shine? Psa 104:15. How will the light of God's countenance make it shine! Does wine cheer the heart? Oh! what virtue is there in the true vine! How does the blood of this grape cheer the heart! Is the fruit of the garden sweet? How delicious are the fruits of the Spirit! Is a gold mine so precious? How precious is he who founded this mine! What is Christ, in whom are hid all treasures? Col 2:3. We should ascend from the creature to the Creator. If there be any comfort below, how much more is there in God, who made all these things! How unreasonable is it that we should delight in the world, and not much more in him that made it! How should our hearts be set on God, and how should we long to be with God, who has infinitely more sweetness in him than any creature!

Use two: Of exhortation. (1.) Did God create the world? Let us wisely observe the works of creation. God has given us not only the book of the Scriptures to read in, but the book of the creation. Look up to the heavens, for they show much of God's glory. The sun gilds the world with its bright beams. Behold the stars, their regular motion in their orbs, their magnitude, their light and their influence. We may see God's glory blazing in the sun and twinkling in the stars. Look into the sea, and see the wonders of God in the deep. Psa 107:24. Look into the air, there the birds make melody, and sing forth the praises of their Creator. Look into the earth, there we may wonder at the nature of minerals, the power of the loadstone, the virtue of herbs. See the earth decked as a bride with flowers. All these are the glorious effects of God's power. God has wrought the creation as with curious needlework, that we may observe his wisdom and goodness, and give him the praise due to him. ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all.' Psa 104:44.

(2.) Did God create all things? Let us obey our Maker. We are his jure creationis [By right of creation], we owe ourselves to him. If another gives us our maintenance we think ourselves bound to serve him; much more should we serve and obey God who gives us our life. ‘In him we live and move.' Acts 17:28. God has made everything for man's service; the corn for nourishment, the beasts for usefulness, the birds for music, that man should be for God's service. The rivers come from the sea, and they run into the sea again. All we have is from God. Let us honour our Creator, and live to him that made us.

(3.) Did God make our bodies out of the dust, and that dust out of nothing? Let this keep down pride. When God would humble Adam he uses this expression, ‘Out of the dust wast thou taken.' Gen 3:19. Why art thou proud, O dust and ashes? Thou art made but of coarse metal. Cum sis humillimus, cur non humillimus? [Since you are humble, why do you not walk humbly?] Bernard. David says, ‘I was curiously wrought.' Psa 139:15. Thy being curiously wrought, may make thee thankful; but being made of the dust, may keep thee humble. If thou hast beauty, it is but well-coloured earth. Thy body is but air and dust mingled together, and this dust will drop into the dust. When the Lord had said of the judges, they were gods, Psa 82:2, lest they should grow proud he told them they were dying gods. ‘Ye shall die like men.' Verse 7.

(4.) Did God create our souls after his image, but we lost it? Let us never rest till we are restored to God's image again. We have now got the devil's image in pride, malice, and envy. Let us get God's image restored, which consists in knowledge and righteousness. Col. 3:10. Eph 4:44. Grace is our best beauty, it makes us like God and angels. As the sun is to the world, so is holiness to the soul. Let us go to God to repair his image in us. Lord! thou hast once made me, make me anew; sin has defaced thy image in me, oh draw it again by the pencil of the Holy Ghost.

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Q8: How doth God execute his decrees? Q10: How did God create man?

God as Creator

The nature and works of God as Creator and Sustainer

Q1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Q2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Q4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

Q5. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

Q6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Q7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Q8. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Q9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Q10. 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.

Q11. 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.

Q12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate 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 the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death.