Chap. IV. -- Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are Internal and

Q. 1. Is there but one God to whom these properties do belong?

A. ^aOne only, in respect of his essence and being, but one ^bin three distinct persons, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. ^aDeut. vi. 4; Matt. xix. 17; Eph. iv. 5, 6. ^bGen. i. 26; 1 John v. 7; Matt. xxviii. 19.

Q. 2. What mean you by person?

A. A distinct manner of [16] [17] [18] subsistence or being, distinguished from the other persons by its own properties. John v. 17; Heb. i. 3.

Q. 3. What is the distinguishing property of the person of the Father?

A. To be of himself only the fountain of the Godhead. John v. 26, 27; Eph. i. 3.

Q. 4. What is the property of the Son?
A. To be begotten of his Father from eternity.
Ps. ii. 7; John i. 14, iii. 16.
Q. 5. What of the Holy Ghost?
A. To proceed from the Father and the Son.
John xiv. 17, xvi. 14, xv. 26, xx. 22.
Q. 6. Are these three one?

A. One ^aevery way, in nature, will, and essential properties, ^bdistinguished only in their personal manner of subsistence. ^aJohn x. 30; Rom. iii. 30. ^bJohn xv. 26; 1 John v. 7.

Q. 7. Can we conceive these things as they are in themselves?

A. Neither ^awe nor yet the ^bangels [19] of heaven are at all able to dive into these secrets, as they are internally in God; ^cbut in respect of the outward dispensation of themselves to us by creation, redemption, and sanctification, a knowledge may be attained of these things, saving and heavenly. ^a1 Tim. vi. 16. ^bIsa. vi. 2, 3. ^cCol. i. 11-14.

[16] This is that mysterious ark that must not be pried into, nor the least tittle spoken about it, wherein plain Scripture goeth not before.

[17] To deny the Deity of any one person, is in effect to deny the whole Godhead for whosoever hath not the Son, hath not the Father.

[18] This only doctrine remained undefiled in the Papacy.

[19] We must labour to make out comfort from the proper work of every person towards us.

Immanent.

Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning the works of God?

A. That they are of two sorts; first, internal, [20] in his counsel, decrees, and purposes, towards his creatures; secondly, external, in his works over and about them, to the praise of his own glory. Acts xv. 18; Prov. xvi. 4.

Q. 2. What are the decrees of God?

A. ^aEternal, ^bunchangeable purposes [21] [22] [23] of his will, concerning the being and well-being of his creatures. ^aMic. v. 2; Eph. iii. 9-11; Acts xv. 18. ^bIsa. xiv. 24, xlvi. 10; Rom. ix. 11; 2 Tim. ii. 19.

Q. 3. Concerning which of his creatures chiefly are his decrees to be considered?

A. Angels and men, for whom other things were ordained. 1 Tim. v. 21; Jude 6.

Q. 4. What are the decrees of God concerning men?
A. Election and reprobation.
Rom. ix. 11-13.
Q. 5. What is the decree of election?

A. The ^aeternal, ^bfree, ^cimmutable [24] [25] purpose of God, ^dwhereby in Jesus Christ he chooseth unto himself whom he pleaseth out of ^ewhole mankind, determining to bestow upon them, for his sake, ^fgrace here, and everlasting happiness hereafter, for the praise of his glory, by the way of mercy. [26] ^aEph. i. 4; Acts xiii. 48; Rom. viii. 29, 30. ^bMatt. xi. 26. ^c2 Tim. ii. 19. ^dEph i. 4, 5; Matt. xxii. 14. ^eRom. ix. 18-21. ^fJohn vi. 37, xvii. 6, 9, 11, 24.

Q. 6. Doth any thing in us move the Lord thus to choose us from amongst others?

A. No, in no wise; we are in the same lump with others rejected, when separated by his undeserved grace. Rom. ix. 11, 12; Matt. xi. 25; 1 Cor. iv. 7; 2 Tim. i. 9.

Q. 7. What is the decree of reprobation?

A. The eternal purpose of God to suffer many to sin, leave them in their sin, and not giving them to Christ, to punish them for their sin. Rom. ix. 11, 12, 21, 22; Prov. xvi. 4; Matt. xi. 25, 26; 2 Pet. ii. 12; Jude 4.

[20] The purposes and decrees of God, so far as by him revealed, are objects of our faith, and full of comfort.

[21] Farther reasons of God's decrees than his own will, not to be inquired after.

[22] The changes in the scripture ascribed unto God are only in the outward dispensations and works, variously tending to one infallible event, by him proposed.

[23] The Arminians' blasphemy, in saying God sometimes fails of his purposes.

[24] The decree of election is the fountain of all spiritual graces, for they are bestowed only on the elect.

[25] In nothing doth natural corruption more exalt itself against God, than in opposing the freedom of his grace in his eternal decrees.

[26] From the execution of these decrees flows that variety and difference we see in the dispensation of the means of grace, -- God sending the Gospel where he hath a remnant according to election.