Anfw. Permiffively and directively only, Acts xiv. 16.

Queft. 25. Is the permiffive decree a bare inactive permitting of evil?

Anfw. No it determines the event of the evil permitted, and over-rules it to a good end, contrary to the intention both of the work and worker. Queft. 26. What scripture example is there hereof?

Anw. God permits Jofeph's brethren to fell him into Egypt, and Potiphar to throw him unjustly into prifon, and yet over-rules both thefe evils, and makes them means, contrary to the intention both of the work and workers, for executing the decree of his advancement to the greatest honour, Gen. xlv. 5, 6, 7, 8. and 1. 20.

Queft. 27. How can the decree of God be permiffive and efficacious at the fame time?

Anfw. It is permiffive, with respect to the finfulnefs of the action as moral; and efficacious, with refpect to the matter of it as natural.

Queft. 28. How do you prove that God cannot be the author of fin?

Anfw. From the contrariety of it to his holy nature and law, and the indignation he has manifested against it, in what Chrift fuffered on account of it; for he can never be the author of that whereof he is the avenger.

Quest. 29. What is the great end of all God's de

crees?

Anfw. His own glory, Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself; and particularly the glory of his mercy and justice, Rom. ix. 22, 23.: and, next to his own glory, the good of the elect, both here and here after, Rom. viii. 28.

Quest. 30. Who are the special objects of God's decree?

Anfw. Angels and men.

Queft. 31. What is God's decree concerning angels and men, commonly called

Anfw. His

Anfw. His predeftinating of them. Queft. 32. What is meant by predeftination Anfw. It is God's unchangeable purpose or decree, concerning the last end, and eternal state of angels and men, 1 Tim, v. 21. Jude ver. 6. Exod. xxxiii, 19. Rom. ix. 1 1,---24.

Queft. 33. Is the precife number of angels and men, thus predeftinated, particularly and unchangeably defigned?

Anfw. Yes their number is fo certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or dimi nished, 2 Tim. ii. 19. John xiii. 18.

Queft. 34. How is the decree of predeftination ufually divided?

Anfw. Into the decree of election and reprobation.

Queft. 35. What is God's decree of election, as it refpects men?

Anfw. It is his choosing a certain number of mankind, in Chrift, unto eternal life, and the means thereof, to the praife of his glorious grace. Eph. i. 4. 2 Theff. ii. 13. 14.

Queft. 36. Was it the forefight of faith, or good works, or perfeverance in either of them, or any other thing whatfoever in the creature, that moved God to make choice of fome men, and not of others? Anfw. By no means; but his mere free grace and love, Eph. i. 6. 12.

Queft. 37. What is God's decree of reprobation, as it refpects men?

Anfw. It is his paffing by, and ordaining all the reft of mankind, whom he hath not chofen, to dishonour and wrath, to be for their fin inflicted, to the praife of the glory of his juftice, Rom. ix. 17, 18, 22. I Pet. ii. 8. Jude ver. 4.

Queft. 38. Since God hath appointed the elect unto glory, hath he not alfo fore-ordained all the means thereunto?

Anfw. Yes:

Anfw. Yes: for they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Chrift; and free grace reigns, through his righteousness, unto their eternal life, Theff. v. 9, 10. Rom. v. 21.

Queft. 39. Do the decrees of election and reprobation, import any partiality, or injuftice, in God? Anfw. No more than a potter is esteemed partial, or injuft, in making one veffel to honour, and another to dishonour, out of the fame lump of clay, Rom. ix. 20, 21.

Quest. 40. Whether is fin, in the reprobate, the caufe of their damnation, or of their reprobation?

Anfw. Their fin is indeed the cause of their damnation, Rom. vi. 23. The wages of fin is death: but the fovereign will and pleasure of God is the caule of their reprobation, Matth. xi. 25, 26. Rom. ix. 18.

Quest. 41. Are the Secret decrees of God, concerning the eternal ftate of men, the rule of faith and practice?

Anfw. No but the revealed will of God only. Deut. xxix. 29.

Quest. 42. Doth not this doctrine of particular election and reprobation limit the general call of the gospel ?

Anjw. No: for Chrift's commiffion is to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, Mark xvi. 15.; not as they are elect or reprobate, but as they are loft finners of Adam's family, Matth. ix. 13.: therefore all that hear the gofpel have an equal warrant to believe, 1 John iii. 23.

Queft. 43. Hath it a tendency to make men carelefs in the use of the means of salvation? ·

Anfw. No: because God hath chofen us to falvation, through fanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth, 2 Theff. ii. 13.

Quest. 44

Queft. 44. Ought we then to improve the means of falvation, without regard to the decree?

Anfw. We ought no more to regard the decree, in the matter of believing to the falvation of our fouls, than in eating drinking, buying, fel. ling, or any other common action of life; because the fecret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us, Deut. xxix. 29.

Queft. 45. What improvement ought we to make of the doctrine of abfolute election?

Anfw. We ought thereby to be encouraged to believe in Chrift, confidering, that electing love pitches on the chief of finners; that it flows not from, nor is founded upon, any condition to be performed by men; and that it contains in it all things pertaining to life and godlinefs, Ezek. xvi. 6. Rom. ix. 11. John xv. 16.

8. QUEST. How doth God execute his decrees?

ANSW. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Queft. 1. What is the execution of a decree? Anfw. It is the actual performance of the thing purposed.

Queft 2. Who is it that executes the decrees of God? Anw. It is God himself; for of him, and through him, and to him, are all things, Rom. xi. 36.

Queft. 3. Doth not God leave the execution of his decrees to fecond causes?

Anfw. Whatever ufe God may make of second causes, in the execution of his decrees, yet they are all but tools in his over-ruling hand, to bring about his glorious defigns; they are his fervants, and muft do all his pleafure, Acts iv. 27. 28.

Queft. 4.

Queft. 4. What difference is there between the decrees and the execution thereof?

Anfw. The decree is an immanent act in God, and is nothing else but God decreeing; but the execution is a tranfient act of his infinite power, bringing the thing decreed into an actual existence.

Queft, 5. Is there an exact harmony, or correfpondence, between God's decree, and the execution there of?

Anfw. When the thing decreed is brought actually into being, it exactly correfponds unto the idea or platform of it in the infinite mind of God; as the tabernacle of Mofes anfwered the pattern given of it in the mount, Exod. xxv. 40. 1 Chron. xxviii. 12. Pfal. cxxxix. 16. Eph. i. 3, 4

Queft. 6. Can none of the decrees of God be defeated, or fail of execution?

Anfw. By no means; the counsel of the Lord shall stand, and he will do all his pleafure who hath refifted his will? None can stay his hand, or Say unto him, What doft thou? Ifa. xlvi. 10. Pfal. xxxiii. 11. Rom. ix. 19. Dan. iv. 35.

Quest. 7. What are the works of God, wherein his decrees are executed?

Anfw. They are the works of creation and providence?

Queft. 8. To which of these works of God doth redemption belong?

Anfw. To the providence of God, as the most glorious part thereof towards men.

Queft. 9. What then is the first external work of God?

Anfw. It is creation; by which this world, and all things in it, had their being from God, out of nothing; which, therefore, is called, the beginning of his ways, Prov. viii. 22.

Quelt. 10. What is the difference betwixt God's executing the work of creation and that of providence? PART I.

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