that they shall not come to passe in any other place or time then hee hath ordained and then and there they shall come to passe necessarily Q What is the Decree of God in the things he hath ordained for his glory A. That which is of the good or euill of men or Angels which is called Predestination Q. What is Predestination A. It is the Decree of God touching the euerlasting state of men and Angels especially of men Q. What are the parts of Predestination A. Two Election and Reprobation Q. What is Gods Election of them A. It is his Predestination of certaine men and Angels Ephes 1. 4. 5. 1. Thess 5. 9. to euerlasting life to the praise of his glorious grace Q. What is Reprobation A. It is his Predestination of certaine men and Angels 2. Pet. 2. 8. Iude 4. to destruction to the praise of his glorious iustice Rom. 9. 22. Q. What is the cause why these are chosen and these refused A. The meere will and pleasure of God Rom 9. 18. 21. 22. CHAP. 6. Of the Execution of Gods Decree where of the Creation in generall and speciall The Execution of the Decree is the Creation of things Spirituall Angels Men. Corporal whole masse or Chaos furniture Bodies Simple Compound without sense Earthly Heauēly with sense Brutish Reasonable Man Chap. 7. Gouernment Chap. 8. GENES Chap. 1. vers 1. 2. 3. c. to the 26. 1. In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth 2. And the earth was without forme and void and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe and the Spirit of God moued vpon the face of the waters 3. And God said Let there be light and there was light 4. And God saw the light that it was good and God diuided the light from the darknesse 5. And God called the light Day and the darkenesse he called Night and the euening and the morning were the first day 6. And God said Let there be a firmament in the middest of the waters and let it diuide the waters from the waters 7. And God made the firmament and diuided the waters which were vnder the firmament from the waters which were aboue the firmament and it was so 8. And God called the firmament Heauen and the euening and the morning were the second day 9. And God said Let the waters vnder the heauen bee gathered together vnto one place and let the dry land appeare and it was so 10. And God called the dry land Earth and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas and God saw that it was good 11. And God said Let the Earth bring forth grasse the herbe yeelding seed and the fruit tree yeelding fruit after his kind whose seed is in it selfe vpon the earth and it was so 12. And the earth brought forth grasse and herbe yeelding seed after his kind and the tree yeelding fruit whose seed was in it selfe after his kind and God saw that it was good 13. And the euening and the morning were the third day 14. And God said Let there be lights in the firmament of the heauen to diuide the day from the night and let them bee for signes and for seasons and for daies and yeeres 15. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heauen to giue light vpon the earth and it was so 16. And God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night hee made the starres also 17. And God set them in the firmament of the heauen to giue light vpon the earth 18. And to rule ouer the day and ouer the night and to diuide the light from the darknesse and God saw that it was good 19. And the euening and the morning were the fourth day 20. And God said Let the waters bring forth abundantly the mouing creature that hath life and foule that may flie aboue the earth in the open firmament of heauen 21. And God created great whales and euery liuing creature that moueth which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind and euery winged foule after his kind and God saw that it was good 22. And God blessed them saying Be fruitfull and multiply and fill the waters in the Seas and let the foule multiply in the earth 23. And the euening and the morning were the fifth day 24. And God said Let the earth bring forth the liuing creature after his kind cattell and creeping thing and beast of the earth after his kind and it was so 25. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind and cattell after their kinde and euery thing that creepeth vpon the earth after his kinde and God saw that it was good Q. HItherto of the Decree of God What is the execution of it A. It is an Action of God working all things effectually according to his decree Q. What are the parts of the Execution A. Two the Creation of the world And the Gouernment thereof Q. VVhat is Creation A. It is the execution of the Decree of nothing making all things very good Q. Where is this taught A. In sundry places of the Scripture but especially in Genesis 1. and 2. chap. Q. VVhat are the generall things considered in all this matter of the Creation A. First the Creator of all these things which is God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost Secondly his omnipotencie that he made all by his word that is by his onely will who calleth things that Rom. 4. 17. are not as though they were Thirdly that he made not all at once and in a moment but in six daies Q. VVhy did hee make them in six daies which could haue perfected all in a moment A. First that wee might thereby more easily conceiue that the world was not made confusedly or by chance but orderly and by counsell Secondly that all men from the beginning of the world to the end thereof might haue in God himselfe an example of labouring in their vocations sixe daies in this life and resting the seuenth Q. How many sorts of creatures are there A. Two Spirituall and inuisible Corporall and visible Q. What are the things Spirituall and inuisible A. The Angels and Soules of men Q. Why is not mention made of the Creation of the Angels more expresly especially being creatures in glory passing all others A. They are not expressely mentioned because Moses propoundeth heere to set forth the things that are visible and corporall But that they were in one of the six daies created it is euident enough Psal 103. 20. 22. 148. 2. 5. Coloss 1. 16. Q. What are the visible and corporall things A. Two first the masse or matter of the world made as is probable the first night wherin all things were contained and mingled one in another And secondly the beautifull frame thereof which he made the rest of the six daies and nights Q. What are the parts of that masse A.
Heauen and earth as it were the center and circumference for as the Arch-builders first shadow out in a plot the building they intend and as the Painters draw certaine grosse lineaments of that picture which they will after set forth and fill vp with orient colours so the Lord our God in this stately building and cunning painting of the frame of the world hath before the most beautifull frame set out as it were a shadow and a common draught thereof Q. Whereof was that lumpe or masse created of which after other things were made A. Of nothing that is to say when as yet there was not any thing whereof it might be made God by his Almighty power caused it to be as appeareth both by the word of Creatiō which Moses vseth signifying the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making of a thing of nothing and that hee made this in the beginning that is when before there was not any thing but God the Creator and before which there was no measure of time by man or Angels Q. It being without forme and void how was it kept A. By the holy Ghost which * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gen. 1. 2. as a bird sitting ouer her egges kept and preserued it Q. What were the things that were made of this masse A. The beautifull frame and fashion of this world with the furniture thereof Q. What doe you consider in the Creatures of the world A. Two things the Elements which are the most simple substances by the vneuen mixture whereof all bodies are compounded and the bodies themselues that are compounded of them Q. What doe you generally obserue in them all A. First that they are all said to bee good which should stop all the mouthes of those that speak against any of them Q. How did hee make all things good when we see there be diuers kinds of Serpents and noisome or hurtfull beasts A. That they are hurtfull it commeth not by the nature of their Creation in regard wherof they at the first should only haue serued for the good of man Q. What other things doe you obserue generally A. Secondly that their names are giuen them Thirdly that their vses and ends are noted Q. What is the highest of the Elements A. The fire for when it is said he set light in heauen A probable opinion which is a quality of the fire it is to bee vnderstood of fire also which hath that quality Q. What note you hereof A. The wonderfull worke of God not onely making 2. Cor. 4. 6. something of nothing but bringing light out of darkenesse which is contrary Q. What is the next Element A. The Aire betweene the clouds and the earth distinguishing betweene water and water in which and by meanes of which all things that haue life doe breathe and thereby continue in life Q. What is the third Element A. The waters seuered from the masse called the earth the seas the flouds the springs the lakes c. Q. What is the fourth Element A. The earth called the drie land which remaineth al other being separated of God to their proper places Hitherto of the simple bodies called the foure Elements now followeth to speake of the mixt and compounded bodies made of the foure Elements vnequally mingled together Q. What is generall in the Creation of the compound and earthly bodies A. First that prouision is made for the inhabitants of the earth before they bee made as grasse for the beasts and light for all liuing and mouing creatures and all for man Q. What learne you from hence A. Not to bee carking for the things of this life Mat. 6. 26. Luk. 12. 24. nor to be distracted with the cares thereof seeing God prouided for the necessity and comfort of the beasts before hee brought them into the world and therefore will much more haue care of them especially of man seeing now they are Q. What is generall in all the earthly Creatures A. That God proceedeth frō the things that be lesse perfect to those that are perfecter vntill he come to the perfectest as from the trees corne herbes c. which haue but one life that is whereby they nourish and grow vnto the beasts which haue both an encreasing and feeling or sensitiue life as fishes fowles beasts c. and from them to man which hath besides both them a reasonable soule Q. What learne you from thence A. That wee should therein follow the example of the Lord to go from good to better vntill we come to be perfect Q. What else is generall A. That they haue power and vertue giuen them to bring forth the like vnto themselues for the continuance of their kind which is generally giuen to all those that are expressed in the creation here And this blessing of multiplication is principall in the things that haue the life of sense beside the life of encrease And therfore the Lord is brought in speaking to them in the second person which he did not to the Plants Gen. 1. 2◠Q. What learne you from hence A. That the chiefe and speciall cause of the continuance of euery kinde of creatures to the worlds end Heb. 1. 3. is this will and word of God without which they or sundry of them would haue perished ere this by so many meanes as are to consume them Q. VVhat is the first Creation of the compound bodies A. God hauing caused the waters to retire into their vessels the third night in the third day which followed that night clad the earth with grasse corne and trees for the vse of man and beast but chiefly of man Q. Seeing that the growth of these is from the influence of the heauenly bodies how commeth it to passe that hee first maketh the grasse corne and trees before he made the heauenly bodies of the Sunne Moone and Starres A. To correct an errour in vs who vse so to tie the the encrease of these to the influence of the heauenly bodies that we doe after a sort euen worship them therein forgetting the Lord who hereby sheweth that all hangeth vpon him and not on them for as much as he made them whē the heauenly bodies were not Q. VVhat else A. That the fruitfulnesse of the earth standeth not so much in the labour of the Husband-man as in the power which God hath giuen to the earth to bring forth fruit Q. VVhat was made the fourth day A. The Lights all which although they bee great in themselues to the end they might giue light to the darke earth that is farre remoued from them yet are they distinguished into great ones as the Sun and Moone and small as the Stars all which are as it were certaine vessels whereinto the Lord did gather the light which before was scattered in the whole body of the heauens Q. VVhy doth Moses call the Sunne and Moone the greatest lights A. First because they are greatest in their vse giuing vs more light
Mat. 18. 10. but so to doe it as the Angels and Saints in heauen doe the will of God who therefore are c Esay 6. 2. set forth winged to shew their speedinesse And so all vnwilling obedience or enforced by law is d Ezech. 1. 7. here condemned and prayed against as also all murmuring and disputing against his will Philip. 2. 14. Q. But seeing we are sinfull and the Angels holy how can we imitate them A. Wee should endeauour to the like holinesse and so grow therein daily more and more till wee bee like vnto them not that wee can performe it to the ful as they do God himselfe saith Be ye holy as I am Leuit. 11. 44. 1. Pet. 1. 16. Mat. 5. 48. holy yet we are not to thinke that any man can attaine vnto the holinesse of God though he be commaunded to follow it This petition also agreeth well with our desire of hastening the Lords comming in the former petition CHAP. 47. Of the fourth Petition The three Petitions following which concerne our selues Wherein we aske Either the things of this life whether of Necessity Delight Or of the life to come Ch. 26. MATTH 6. 11. Giue vs this day our daily bread Q. HItherto of the Petitions which concerne God those which concerne our selues follow what is generally to be considered in them A. First that there is no lawfull vse of these petitions which follow or hope to get that which wee request in them vnlesse wee first labour for the graces which we are to aske in the former petitions concerning the seruice of God considering that godlinesse 1. Tim. 4. 8. Luk. 17. 8. hath the promises of this life and the life to come Secondly that as in the former the word Thy sheweth that they onely respect God so in these following Ephes 6. 18. Psal 25. 22. 51. 18. Job 30. 25. these words Our and vs teach vs to haue a fellow-feeling of the miseries and necessities of others and therefore in making them wee are to remember their necessities as well as our owne which is the triall of the true spirit of prayer Thirdly that for all things required therein we depend on Gods prouidence mercy and power Q. How are these Petitions diuided A. First there is one onely for the things of our bodily life Secondly two that belong to the things of our spirituall life Q. Why haue we but one petition concerning our bodily life and two for the things concerning our spirituall life A. To teach vs how smally earthly things are to be Mat. 6. 32. Phil. 3 19. Luk. 16. 11. accounted in regard of heauenly and therefore that our prayers for things of this life should bee short and more large for heauenly things Q. Why is the petition for the things concerning our bodily life put before the petitions for the things concerning our spirituall life A. First because as the naturall a 1. Cor. 15. 48. Psal 78. 34. Hos 5. 15. life is before the spirituall so the necessities thereof are sooner felt then the necessities of the former Secondly b Prou. 30. 7. Gen. 32. because men hauing outward things in some competent measure are lesse distracted and more free to call vpon God for spirituall and heauenly graces Q. What is that petition which concerneth bodily life A. Giue vs this day our daily bread A. What is meant by Bread A. First all outward things both for our necessity and Christian delight as clothing food peace liberty c. Secondly all the meanes and helpes to attaine them as good Princes Magistrates Lawes seasonable a 1. Cor. 15. 46. weather c. Wherein also wee pray for the remouall b Psal 78. 34. Hos 5. 15. Mat. 8. 2. 2. Sam. 15. 25. 26. of the contrary as tyrannie warre plague famine euill weather All which must be asked with this exception if it seeme good vnto his Maiesty which exception is proper to this petition Q. What need is there of asking these things A. Because a Mat. 6. 32. the frailty of our nature is such that we are not able to continue in health scarce one day without these helpes and as it were props to vphold this decayed and ruinous cottage of our mortall bodies lesse able to forbeare them then many beasts for b Gen. 1. 29. seeing there was a necessary vse of our meate in the time of our innocency the necessity by our fall is much greater Q. What learne you from the word Giue A. First that all things in this life come from God Psal 104. 27. 28. 29. 30. Ezec. 16. 17. 19. which we are ready to ascribe either to the earth or to our money wherewith we buy them or to our friends that giue vs them as if wee should looke vpon the Act. 14. 17. Steward onely and passe by the Master of the family or vpon the breast that giueth sucke and neglect the nurse Secondly that although in regard of our labour or purchase it may be called ours yet we say Giue Lord to shew that wee cannot deserue the least crumme of Psal 136. 25. bread or drop of water much lesse the kingdome of heauen Thirdly that seeing God giueth to whom he will and what he wil we learne to a Heb. 13. 5. be content with whatsoeuer wee haue receiued Moreouer to bee thankfull for it seeing b 1. Tim. 4. 5. all things are sanctified to vs by the word and prayer with thanks-giuing And last of all c Mat. 20. 15. not to enuie other mens plenty it being Gods gift Q. What reason is there that they should pray for these things to God who haue them already in their Garners Cellars c. A. Very great First for that wee in Adam haue lost the right of them all which a Heb. 1. 2. Psal 8. 7-9 1. Cor. 3. 22. in Christ the heire of the world we onely recouer so that although wee possesse them yet are we not right owners of them but by faith which also we declare by praying for them Secondly for that the things wee doe possesse wee b 1. Sam. 30. 16. 17. Dan. 5. 5. 2. King 7. 17. 19. may easily a hundred waies be thrust from the possession of them before we come to vse them according to the prouerbe that many things come betweene the cup and the lippe Lastly c Esay 3. 1. Hagg. 1. 6. Prou. 10. 22. Dan. 1. 13. 14. 15. Psal 78. 30. 31. for that although we haue the vse of them yet will they not profit vs neither in feeding nor clothing vs vnlesse wee haue the blessing of God vpon them yea without the which they may bee hurtfull and poysonable vnto vs. By all which reasons it may appeare that the rich are as well to vse this petition as the poorest Q. Why is this added this Day A. That we are to pray for bread for a day and not Exod. 16. 19. 20. 21.
the Iudge For the faithfull Against the wicked The execution thereof Chap. MATTH chap. 25. vers 34. to the end 34. Then shall the King say vnto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father in herit the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world 35. For I was an hungred and ye gaue me meat I was thirstie and ye gaue me drinke I was a stranger and yee tooke mee in 36. Naked and ye clothed me I was sicke and ye visited me I was in prison and ye came vnto me 37. Then shall the righteous answere him saying Lord when saw wee thee an hungred and fed thee or thirstie and gaue thee drinke 38. When saw wee thee a stranger and tooke thee in or naked and clothed thee 39. Or when saw we thee sicke or in prison and came vnto thee 40. And the King shall answere and say vnto them Verily I say vnto you In as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these my brethren ye haue done it vnto me 41. Then shall he say also vnto them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his angels 42. For I was an hungred and ye gaue me no meat I was thirstie and ye gaue me no drinke 43. I was a stranger and ye tooke me not in naked and yee clothed me not sicke and in prison and ye visited me not 44. Then shall they also answere him saying Lord when saw we thee an hungred or a thirst or a stranger or naked or sicke or in prison and did not minister vnto thee 45. Then shall he answere them saying Verily I say vnto you In as much as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me 46. And these shall goe away into euerlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternall Q. So much of Christs preparation to the Iudgment what are the parts thereof A. Two first the sentence of the Iudge which is twofold one for the faithfull another against the wicked and secondly the execution of the sentence Q. What is the former sentence which is for the faithfull A. It is this Come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdome prepared for you before the foundation of the world c. Q. Why doth the iudgement begin at the godly A. Because our Sauiour will haue them to fit with him to iudge the wicked therefore hee fitteth them thereunto by clearing them first 1. Cor. 6. 2. Reuel 3. 21. Q. What gather you of this order A. A notable comfort to the godly against all trouble that as the Lord in mercy beginneth his correction at them in this life so in the last day he shall begin with them the iudgement of ioy and comfort and that hauing bin mis-iudged here they shall then iudge their Iudges vnlesse in time they repent Q. What learne you out of this former sentence A. First a notable harmonie betwixt Christ and his Church that as they say vnto him Come Lord Iesus Reuel 22. 20. come quickly so shall hee say vnto them Come yee blessed of my Father Come declaring their exceeding desire of mutuall fellowship and society Q. What else A. That life euerlasting is called a kingdome and therefore euery godly one shall be made partaker of a most glorious kingdome Q. How commeth this kingdome by grace or desert A. By the onely grace of God in Iesus Christ Q. Declare the same more euidently A. First it is the blessing of God and therefore of grace Secondly it is giuen to vs as to heires not as the wages of a seruant which commonly deserueth more then a sonne Thirdly it was prepared for vs from the beginning of the world and therefore is of the meere loue of God and not of merit Q. So much of the sentence What is the reason of it A. When Christ was an hungred they fed him when he was a thirst they gaue him drinke when he was naked they clothed him when he was sicke and in prison they visited him Q. Doth not this reason plainly strengthen the doctrine of merits A. Not so seeing for importeth not heere the For. cause but the effect as wee say Summer is come for flowers doe spring and It is a good tree for it bringeth forth good fruit these are effects and not causes Moreouer if Christ would haue taught merit then would he haue chosen the greatest and chiefest works as of his owne worship in the first table else some might iustly complaine that they were not rewarded according to the measure of their good workes hauing yeelded a greater obedience to the first table then others Q. VVhy then doth Christ choose those workes of the second table A. Because they are most manifest to the world following therein the custome of earthly Iudges who insist most vpon plainest proofes either to conuince the guiltie or cleare the innocent so Christ pronounceth his sentence rather according to workes then to faith and those of the second table rather then of the first because workes are more visible then faith and it is easier to play the hypocrite in the obedience of the first table then of the second Q. Why doth Christ here vse so long a catalogue of these workes A. To teach vs to exercise mercie in all those duties and not content our selues with any one of them Q. How could they doe these things vnto Christ whom most of them did neuer see A. When they did any of them to his poore members Mat. 25. 41. then they did it vnto him Q. VVhat gather you of this A. That seeing it was a great honour to lodge Angels at vnawares in stead of strangers this is a far more excellent honour whereunto Christians are called being assured that in receiuing such poore as are there spoken of they receiue Christ himselfe which should stirre vp the bowels of mercy and compassion in vs towards them seeing not so much as a cup of cold water Mat. 10. 42. shall be vnrewarded Q. So much of the former sentence What is the latter against the wicked A. Depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the diuell and his Angels Q. VVhat is the equitie of this speech A. It is likewise answerable to their owne deserts Amos 6. 3. Iob 21. 14. who in their life thrust away from them the day of the Lord and as it were bid Christ depart Q. When doe the wicked say so to Christ A. When they refuse to know his will when they disdaine the ministerie are vnmercifull to the poore and the stranger or the like Q. What are the parts of this his iudgement A. First to be depriued of Gods presence as it is a great part of glory to bee continually in his presence Secondly to be euerlastingly tormented in hell fire Q. What is the reason of this sentence A. It is cleane contrary to the former for leauing