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Q. What is the first Act of Providence concerning the Creature?

A. It fuftains, preferves, and provides for them, Pfaim clxv. 15, 16. The Eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou giveft them their Meat in due Seafon; thou openest thy Hand and fatisfieft the Defire of every living Thing, and defendeth them from Danger, Pf. xxxvi. 6. Thy Righteoufness is like the great Mountain, thy Judgment is a great Deep; O Lord, thou preferveft Man and Beast. Q. What is the fecond Act of Proviaence concerning the Creatures?

A. It rules and governs the Creatures and their Actions, Pf. xlvi. 7. He ruleth by his Power for ever; his Eyes behold the Nations; let not the Rebellious exalt themfelves.

Q. Is the Providence of God over all?

A. It is common and general over all, or special and peculiar to fome Men, 1 Tim. iv. 10. Who is the Saviour of all Men, especially of those that believe.

Q. How is Providence exercifed concerning finful Actions?

A. ft, In permitting them, Ats iv. 16. 2dly, In reftraining them, Pf. lxxvi. 10. Surely the Wrath of Man fhall praife thee, and the Remainder of Wrath fhalt thou eftrain. And, 3dly, In over ruling them to Good, Gen. i. 20. But as for you, ye thought Evil againft me, but God meant it unto Good, to bring to pass as it is to this Day, to fave much People alive.

Q. What are the Properties of Providence ?

A. They are, f, Holy, cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his Ways, and holy in all his Works. 2d, Wife, Pfalm civ. 24. O Lord how manifold are thy Works; in Wisdom haft thou made them all. 3dly, Powerful, Dan. iv 35. And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing, and he doth according to his Will in the Army of Heaven, and amongst the Inhabitants of the Earth, and none can say his Hand, or jay unto him, What doft thou?

The

The 28th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q.

F what Ufe is it to us, to know that God has created all Things, and that he still preferves them by his Providence?

"A. That we may be patient in Adverfity, and "thankful in Profperity; and that whatever happens "to us, we may have a good Confidence in our God, " and faithful Father, that nothing fhall be able to "feparate us from his Love, fince he holds all Man"kind in fuch Manner in his Hands, that they can"not act or move against his Will.

Q. Who can rightly make ufe of this Providence?

A. Only a true Believer, who knows that God is not only the eternal Father of the Lord Jefus Christ, but by Faith in him; alfo, his Father and his God, who knows what he wants, and that he is able to give it to him, Mat. xxvi. 25, 32. In whom alfo he has fuch a Confidence, that he doubts not, he will provide him with all Things neceffary both for Soul and Body, and that he will turn to his Benefit all the Misfortunes, which, by his Permiffion, may befal him in this Valley of Tears; for he is able to do it, as a God of all Power; and will do it, as a faithful Father, Rom. viii. 28.

Q. How then fhould a Christian behave himself in all his Actions?

A. ft, With Patience in Adverfity; because of his conftant Love to his Father, he is refigned in every Thing that may befal him, looking always upon the Lord, waiting for his Advice, and recommending the Event of all to him, Luke xxi. 19. Rev. ii. 2. He is thankful in Profperity, glorifying God in all, not abufing his Gifts, but laying them out to his Glory, adoring his Goodness, Col. iii. 15. G

Q: Can

Q. Can you receive any greater Confolation from the Things of this Life?

A. No. For I know that all Things work together for good, to them that love God, Rom. viii. 28. And 2 Cor. iv. 15, 16, 17, 18. For all Things are for your Sakes, &c. For our light Affliction, which is but for a Moment, worketh for us a far more and exceeding Weight to Glory,&c. Q. What ought they to do, who, hitherto, have neglected to glorify their Creater?

A. To fee the Hand of God in every Thing; not to truft on second Causes; not to be curious in the Misteries of God, acknowledging their Dependency; endeavouring also that God may be their fuftaining

Father.

of GOD the SON.

The 29th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

QWHY is the Son of God called Fefus; that is,

Saviour?

"A. Because he faves and delivers us from all our «Sins; and because moreover we ought not to look "for and cannot find our Salvation in any other."

Q. Since the Catechift hath delivered his Opinion of God the Father, that is his Faith concerning Jefus Chrift?

A. He confeffes the Son as our Redeemer, whom he described in fome of his Names, Natures, and States, as a Right Object of our Faith.

Q. How many Names has the Son of God?

A. Several; but efpecially two, fefus and Chrift? Q From whence is the Name of Jefus derived? A. From a Hebrew Word, which fignifies to fave; which, with others of the fame Import, fuch as

Fofbua,

Joshua, Hofea, Jefchangjahu, Jebofehuang or Joshua, were commonly used in the Old Teftament, and were given to the Sons of Nun, and of fofadack, Numb. xiii. 16. Zacha. iii. 2. as Types of Chrift; thus Jobua is exprefly called Jefus, Heb. iv. 8.

Q. What is the Signification of the Name of Jefus ? A. Saviour and Redeemer, Matt. i. 21. And he fhall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call his Name Jefus; for he fall fave his People from their Sins. Q. What is meant by faving and redeeming ?

A. To fave and ranfom the Sinner from his Sin and Mifery.

Q: Does Jefus do that?

A. Yes. Rom. viii. 1, 2. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Chrift Jefus; who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit; for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chrift Jefus, had made me free from the Law of Sin and Death.

Q. Doth he reftore us again?

A. Certainly; he reconciles us to God, Rom. v. 10, 18. And by his Righteousness, the Free Gift comes upon us to fuftification of Life. He fanctified us by his Spirit, Eph. v. 8. Preferves us in our State, John

X.

And at laft he will lead us to a full Poffeffion of Glory, Philip. iii. 21.

Q. Who will be redeemed and faved?

A. Only his People, i. e. all who truly believe on him, John iii. 16. For God fo loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in bim fhould not perish, but have everlasting Life.

Is not Chrift then the Saviour of all Men?

A. No; but only of them who are elected and called, and given unto him from the Father, John xvii. 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the World, but for them which thou haft given me, for they are thine.

Q. Is there no other Way of Salvation but by Christ? A. No other Way is revealed in Scripture, As iv. 12. Neither is their Salvation in any others for there

is none other Name under Heaven, given among Men, whereby we must be faved. And John xiv. 6. Because he is only able, he is powerful, and no other Means or Perfon can.

The 30th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. Do thofe then believe alfo in one only Saviour, Jefus Chrift, who seek their Salvation and. their Happiness in the Saints, in themselves or elsewhere? "A. No. For they do in effect deny our Saviour, "Jefus Chrift, though they confefs him with their Lips, for of thefe two Things one must be, either that Jefus Chrift is not a perfect Saviour, or if we embrace him as fuch, by a true Faith, we have "all that is neceffary for our Salvation in him."

Q. What is the Catechifl's principal Design herein? A. It is to fhew the perverfenefs of those who truft to their own Works: but efpecially thofe of the popish Religion, who feek their Salvation by the Saints, by the Virgin Mary, by themselves, fuch as the Celebration of Mafs for the Dead, an Abftinence from Meat, auricular Confeffion of Sins, &c. which cannot be confiftent with Faith in Chrift; but by fuch Things they deny him inwardly whom they externally confefs, Gal. ii. 2r. For Chrift is a perfect Saviour. Heb. ix. 26. Which has put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself; and therefore all true Believers feek every Thing through him, Phil. iii. ix. 1 Cor. i. 30. which thofe of the popifh Religion do not, but deny him in his Perfections as a compleat Saviour.

Q. What do you conclude then from what hath been already faid?..

A. That there is adminiftred great Satisfaction to the Difciple, propofing to him the right Means by which he can get a lafting Confolation, and confe

quently

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