Q. 6. How long is it since the world was created? A. According to the best chronology, it was created about 4,000 years before Christ.

Q. 7. Would there have been any more holiness and happiness in the universe had it been created sooner than it was? or would any good purpose have been answered by its earlier creation?

A. Certainly not. The reasons for creating the world 10,000 years before it was created, would have existed at that time for its creation, 10,000 years earlier still, and so on, in infinitum. Good and sufficient reasons, no doubt, existed in the mind of God for creating the world at the time He did, rather than before, or after, though he has not divulged them to us.

Q. 8. In what season of the year did the world begin to exist?

A. Most probably in Autumn. This seems to have been the fact, 1. From astronomical calculations; and 2. From the circumstance, that everything was created in its most mature and complete state. The first fruits of the earth were brought into existence in a state of ripeness, and fit for the use of man and beast. (ƒ)

Q. 9. In what state did God create all things?A. In the most perfect state. There was no blemish in the natural or moral world. Everything came

it was so. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind. So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.-Ex. xx. 11. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day.

(f) Gen. ii. 5. And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

*Bedford and Kennedy, two chronologers of eminence, have attempt. ed to demonstrate this fact by astronomical calculations.

from the hand of its Creator, perfect in its kind, and was produced, not by growth, but by mediate creation, and was so constituted as to propagate its own species. (g)

Q. 10. What end had God in view in creating all things?

A. The gratification of His benevolence by exhibiting His own glorious perfections in the production of holiness and happiness. In the communication of holiness and happiness, God must necessarily display His perfections; and in displaying His perfections, He must necessarily communicate holiness and happiness. God had both these objects in view in creating angels and men, and all the works of His hands. The supreme glory of God, and the supreme good of the universe, are necessarily and inseparably connected. (h)

CHAPTER VII.

Providence.

Q. 1. What is meant by the providence of God? A. His upholding, governing, and disposing of all things, and directing all events, according to the counsel of His own will.

Q. 2. How does it appear that God exercises such a providence in all the universe?

A. 1. It appears from the consideration, that none

(g) Gen. i. 31. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.-Gen. i. 11. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth.

(h) Rom. xi. 36, For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever.-Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for thou hast created ail things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.-1 Cor. x, 31. Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil,

but God, who created, can uphold, govern, and s pose of all things with the regularity, harmony, wisdom, and goodness exhibited in them; for it is obvious that preservation requires omnipotence. The supposition that a created being is independent, or exists of itself, is absurd. Independence is an incommunicable attribute. 2. The fact that the doctrine of Divine providence has been generally received by mankind in all ages and in all countries of the world, is an evidence of it. 3. This doctrine is taught most fully in the Sacred Scriptures. (a)

Q. 3. In what way does God exercise His providence over the works of creation?

A. He does it either immediately or mediately. He exercises an immediate providence by His own direct and immediate agency; and He exercises a mediate providence by the instrumentality of means or second causes. God is able to manage all the concerns of the universe with or without means.

Q. 4. Is the providence of God particular, as well as general?

A. It is. His providence extends to the smallest insect, as well as to the most exalted angel; to every individual, as well as to the species, or the whole collectively; to the falling of a sparrow, and the numbering of the hairs of our heads, as well as to the

(a) Heb. i. 3. Who, being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.-Col. i. 17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.-Ps. ciii. 19. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.-Dan. iv. 34. 55. And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhab itants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?-Ps. cxxxv. 6. Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

revolutions of empires or of worlds; to the thoughts, and affections, as well as to the external actions of intelligent creatures; and to all these creatures, things and events, whether produced with or without means. Nothing in the whole universe of God, takes place by chance or fate. (b)

Q. 5. Are the smallest creatures and things objects worthy of God's notice in their preservation and government?

A. Most certainly they are. If they were worthy of His notice in creation, they are worthy of His superintendence, or providential regard. And their preservation may, and doubtless does, contribute to important ends, as well as their creation.

Q. 6. Is it not derogatory to the character of the great God to suppose, that his providence is concerned in the trifling occurrences of life?

A. By no means. But it exalts and magnifies His greatness, and goodness, and wisdom, to suppose,

(b) Matt. x. 29, 30, 31. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows.-Isaiah xlv. 7. I form the light and create darkness; I make peace and create evil; I the Lord do all these things.Prov. xxi. 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whithersoever he will.-Gen. xlv. 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Jer. xxxi. 35. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the sun for a -light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the Lord of hosts is his name.—Amos ix. 9. For lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.-Job v. 6, 7. 17, 18. Although afflic tion cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty! For he maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole.-2 Chron. xvi. 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him

that His providence is concerned in the most minute events, as well as those of the greatest magnitude, throughout His vast dominions. Frequently events, which at the time of their occurrence seem trivial, are afterwards found to be of the greatest moment. Q. 7. What effect has the disbelief or denial of God's particular and general providence ?

A. It destroys the foundation of submission, trust, hope, and prayer, and leads directly to a neglect of these important duties.

Q.8. What effect has the belief of God's particular and general providence?

A. It leads us, 1. To see and acknowledge God in all things; 2. To feel our immediate, constant and absolute dependence upon Him, and obligations to Him; 3. To fear Him, to trust in Him, to be grateful to Him, to hope in Him, and to worship Him.

Q. 9. Has God a right to exercise a providence over the works of His hands?

A. He has. As all creatures and things are His by virtue of creation; so, He has an undoubted and inalienable right to exercise such a providence over them as His infinite wisdom and goodness shall dictate.

Q. 10. Is submission to the providence of God. at all times, a duty?

A. It is. And this duty arises from the fact, 1. That God has a right to exercise a providence over all creatures, and, 2. That His providence is wise, holy, just, and good. Were any event to take place, in which the providence of God was not concerned, submission would not be duty. And in submitting to God's dispensations, we should view them connectedly, and not singly ;-in their designs and consequences, as well as in their nature. (c)

(c) Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.-Isaiah xxviii. 29. This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.-Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.-Ps. xxxix. 9. I