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ye were not redeemed with corruptible Things, as Silver and Gold- -but with the precious Blood of Chrift.

Q.6. What is the third Inftruction from God's Infinity? A. The third Inftruction is, That those who are reconciled to God in Chrift, need not fear his Ability to perform any Mercy for them; for he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can afk or think, Eph. iii. 20. And thofe that are not reconciled, are in a very miferable Condition, having infinite Power fet on work to punish them, 2 Thef. i. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting Deftruction from the Prefence of the Lord, and from the Glory of

his Power.

Q.7. What is the fourth Inftruction from God's Infinity? A. That no Place can bar the Access of gracious Souls to God. They are as near him in a Dungeon, as when at Liberty; and that he knows their Thoughts, when their Tongues cannot utter them.

Queft. 1.

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[Eternal.]

HAT is it to be eternal as God is? A. The Eternity of God is, to be without Beginning and without End. Pfal. xc. 2. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.

Q.2. How doth God's Eternity differ from the Eternity of Angels, and humane Souls?

A. It differs in two Refpects; Firf, In this, That tho' Angels, and the Souls of Men fhall have no End; yet they had a Beginning, which God had not; Secondly, Our Eternity is by Gift from God, or by his Appointment; but his Eternity is neceffary, and from his own Nature.

Q. 3. In what Sense is the Covenant called an everlasting Covenant?

A. The Covenant is called an everlasting Covenant, 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. because the Mercies of it, coveyed to Believers, as Pardon, Peace, and Salvation, are Mercies that fhall have no End.

Q.4. In what Senfe is the Gofpel everlasting?

A. The Gospel is called the everlasting Gospel, Rev. xiv.

6. because

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6. because the Effects thereof upon the Souls it fanctifies, will abide in them for ever.

Q5. In what Senfe is the Redemption of Chrift called the eternal Redemption?

A. The Redemption of Chrift is called eternal Redemption in Heb. ix. 12. because those whom he redeems by his Blood, shall never more come into Condemnation, John v. 24. He that beareth my Word, and believeth on him that fent me, bath everlasting Life, and shall not come into Condemnation, but is paffed from Death to Life.

Q.6. Why is the last Judgment of the World by Christ, called eternal Judgment?

A. The laft Judgment is called eternal Judgment, not becaufe God judged men from Eternity, or because the Day of Judgment fhall laft to Eternity; but because the Confequences of it will be everlafting Joy or Mifery to the Souls of Men; therefore it is called eternal Judgment, Heb. vi. 2. Q7. What may wicked Men learn from the Eternity of God?

A. Hence wicked Men may fee their own Mifery in the Perfection of it; that they will have an eternal Enemy to avenge himfelf upon them for ever, in the World to come, 2 Theff. i. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting Deftruction, from the Prefence of the Lord.

Q.8. What may good Men learn from it?

A. That their joy and Happiness will be perfect and endless, who have the eternal God for their Portion, Pfalm xvi. 11. In thy Prefence is Fulness of Joy, at thy right Hand there are Pleafures for evermore.

Q9 What may all Men, good and bad, learn from it? A. All Men may learn three Things from the Eternity of God. First, That their Life is a Thing of Nought, compared with God, Pfal. xxxix. 5. Mine Age is nothing before thee. Secondly, That Sins, or Duties, long fince committed, or performed, are all present before God. Thirdly, That God can never want Opportunity to do his Work, and carry on his Defigns in the World. All Time is in the Hand of the eternal God, Rev. xii. 12. The Devil is come down unto you, having great Wrath, because be knoweth that he hath but a fort Time.

Quest. 1.

Quest. 1.

Of God's Unchangeableness.

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HAT Scriptures plainly affert this Attri

bute?

A. Exod. iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM, that I AM, Dan. vi. 26. For he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, Jam. i. 17. With whom is no Variableness, neither Shadow of Turning.

Q. 2. Whence doth God's Immutability flow?

A. The Immutability of God flows from the Perfection of his Nature, to which nothing can be added, and from which nothing can be taken away. If any Thing could be added to make him better than he is; or if any Thing could be taken away, to make him lefs good than he is, then he were not the chiefeft Good, and confequently not God.

Q3. By what other Argument prove you his Immutability?

A. I prove it from the Eternity of God. If God be eternal, he must be immutable; for if he change by Addition of fomething to him he had not before, then there is fomething in God which he had not from Eternity: And if ne change by Diminution, then there was fomething in God from Eternity, which now is not; but from everlasting to everlafting, he is the fame God, and therefore changeth

not.

Q.4. But it is faid, God repents, and Repentance is a Change; how then is he unchangeable, and yet repents?

A. In thofe Phrafes God fpeaks to us, as we muft fpeak of, and to him; not properly, but after the Manner of Men; and it only notes a Change in his outward Providence, not in his Nature.

Q5. But how could God become Man, and yet no Change made on him?

A. There is a twofold Change, one active, made by God, that we allow. He made a Change upon our Nature by uniting it to Chrift; but a paffive Change made upon God, we deny. The Nature of Man was made more excellent; but the divine Nature was ftill the fame.

Q6. What is the first Inftruction from God's Immutability?

A. That those that are most unchangeable in Holiness, are moft like God. Let him that is holy be holy fill.

Q.7. What is the fecond Inftruction from hence ?

A. That the Happiness of God's People is firm, and fure, being built upon the Word of an unchangeable God, Mal. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye Sons of Ja'cob are not confumed, Heb. vi. 18.

Q. 8. What is the third Inflruction from this Attribute? A. That the Hopes of all wicked Men are vain, being built upon a Prefumption, that God will not deal with them as he hath threatned he will do.

Q9. What is the laft Inftruction from God's Immutability?

A. That Chriftians may take as much Encouragement now from the Nature, Word, and Providence of God, as the Saints in any former Generation did, or might do; for he is the fame now, as he was then.

Queft. 1.

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Of God's Wisdom.

OW manifold is the Wifdom of God? A. There is a personal and effential Wifdom of God; the perfonal Wisdom is the Son of God, 1 Cor. i. 24. Chrift the Power of God, and the Wisdom of God, Col. ii. 3. In whom are bid all the Treafures of Wisdom and knowledge. The effential Wisdom of God, is the Effence of God; of which this Question fpeaks.

Q2. What is the effential Wisdom of God?

A. The effential Wisdom of God, is his moft exact and perfect Knowledge of himfelf, and all his Creatures, and his ordering, and difpofing them in the moft convenient Manner, to the Glory of his own Name, Ephef. i. 11. According to the Purpose of him who worketh all Things after the Council of his own Will.

Q3. What is the first Property of God's Wifdom?

A. The firft Property is, he is only wife, Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wife be Glory. And whatsoever wisdom is in Angels, or Men, is all derived and borrowed from God C

but his from none. Ifa. xl. 14. With whom took he counfel? and who inftructed him, and taught him in the Path of Judgment, and taught him Knowledge, and fhewed to him the Way of Understanding?

Q. 4. What is the fecond Property of God's Wisdom? A, The fecond Property is, That he is incomprehenfible in his Wisdom, Rom. xi. 33, 34. Oh the Depth of the Riches, borb of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God, &c.

Q5. What is the third Property of the Wisdom of God? A. The third Property is, That God is perfectly wife, which no Creatures, no not the very Angels in Heaven are, Job iv. 18. And his Angels he chargeth with Folly.

Q. 6. What is the most glorious and eminent Discovery of the Wifdem of God?

A. The most glorious Display of the Wisdom of God was in the Work of our Redemption by Jefus Chrift, Col. ii. 3. In whom are bid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge, 1 Cor. i. 24. Ghrift the Wisdom of God.

Q. 7. What is the firit Inftruction from God's Wifdom? A. The firft Inftruction is, That God is a fit Object of our Trust, Dependence, and Refignation, Ifa. xxx. 18. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exhalted, that he may have Mercy upon you; for the Lord is a God of Judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him.

Q.8. What is the fecond Inftruction from hence ?

A. The fecond Inftruction is, That it is a dangerous Arrogancy in the Creature, either to prefcribe unto God, and direct his Maker, Job xxi. 22. Shall any teach God Knowledge, feeing he judgeth thofe that are high? Or to quarrel with his Providences, as not fo fit and convenient as they fhould be, Job xl. 2. Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty inftruct him? He that reproveth God, let him anfwer it. Q9. What is the third Inftruction from it?

A. That the People of God have much Reason to quiet, and encourage themselves, when crafty and fubtil Enemies furround them. For the Foolifonefs of God is wifer than Man, 1 Cor. i, 25.

Q10. What is the fourth Inftruction from God's Wifdom?

A. The

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