What Is the Work of Creation?

Answ. The work of creation is, God’s meking all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Q. In what did God begin the execution of his decree?

A. In the creation of the world, Gen. i.

Q. When did God create all things?

A. In the beginning of time, Gen. i. 1.

Q. Was there no matter, or any thing else besides God, before the creation? A. No, Heb. xi. 3.

Q. How prove you that the world had a beginning?

A. Reason shews, and t’^e scripture asserts it, Gen. i.

Q. How do you prove from reason, that the world did »ot exist from eternity? A. Because it is finite and

changeable j history reacheth but a few thousand years backward; arts, sciences, and many other discoveries, arc but very late, &c>

Q. Why might not the world come into being by mere chance? A. Because chance, being the mere want

of design, (or nothing), can produce nothing.

Qj Why might not creatures make themselves?

A. Because that which makes a thing, must be before it,

O. Who then is the alone Creator of all things?

A. God j Father, Son, and PJoly Ghost, Psal. xxxiii. 6,

Qj. How do you prove, that no creature did or could assist God in creation-work? A. Because, as there is an infinite distance between nothing and being, creation-work requires infinite power, which no creature can have.

Q^ What is meant by God’s creating of things I

A. His making them cut of nothing, Gen. i. 1.

Q What different kinds of creation are there?

A. Two, viz. creation out of mere nothing, and crea* tion out of unfit matter, Gen. i. 1, — 31.

Q. What was created immediately out of mere nothing?

A. Heaven, earth, light, angels, and the souls of men.

Q. What did God create out of unfit matter?

A. Fishes, fowls, cattle, the body of man, &c.

Q Out of what were the fishes and fowls made?

A Out of the waters, Gen. i. 20.

A. Of earth, Gen. i. 24.

Q. In what space of time did God create all things?

A. In the space of six days, Exod. xx. 11.

Qj Could r,oi Gcd have created all things in a moment?

A. Yes there is nothing too hard for the Lord

Qj, Why then took he up six days in creation-work?

A. That we might the better see the wise order of his work j and might imitate him in working six days, and resting on the seventh, Exod. xx. 9, — 11.

Q, What was God’s work on the first day?

A. He made the heavens, the earth, the light, and probably also the angels, Gen. i. 1,3.

Q. How does it seem probable that the angels were created on the first d?.y?

A. Because it is said, they shouted for joy, when God laid the corner-stone of the earth, Job xxviii. 6, 1.

Qj, What manner of creatures are angels?

A. Spirits, who have great wisdom and strength.

£). Of what u<<e are angels? A. To attend God

in heaven, guard his people on earth, and destroy their

enemies, Matth. xviii. 10. Psal. xxxiv, 7. and xx.sv. 5, G»

Q. In what estate were angels created?

A. In a most holy and happy estate, 2 Pet. ii. 4.

Q. Did they all abide in that estate? A. No

many of them sinned and became devils, Jude 6.

Q. What did God upon the second day?

A. He made the air and firmament, Gen. i. 6.

Q What did God upon the third day? A. He

separated the water from the earth, and made the herbs, gra»-<, and trees. Gen. i. 9, II.

Q. What did God upon the fourth day?

A. He made the sun, moon, and stars, and appointed them their motions and use, Gtr>. i. 14.

Q. What did God upon the fifth day?

A. He made the fishes and the fowls, Gen. i. 20.

Q. What did God upon the sixth day? A. He

made cattle, creeping things, and man, Gsn. i. 25, 26.

Q. For what end did God make all things?

A. For the glory of his own perfections, Prov. xvi. 4.

Q. What perfections of God were especially glorified in creation? A. His eternity, independence, wisdom, power, holiness, goodness, &.c. Psal. civ. 24.

Q. How was God’s eternity manifested in creation?

A. His making all things, shewed that he was before all things, John i. 1. 2. Psal. cii. 25, 27.

Q. How was God’s independence manifested in creation?

A. His giving a being to all things shews, that all things depend on him; and that he is self- sufficient, and depends upon none, Rom. xi. 36.

Q. By what did God make all things?

A. By the word of his power, Gen. i. 3, 6. &c.

Q^, What was that word? A. Let them be.

Q. In what condition did God make all things?

A. He made all things very good; that is, they were perfect in their kind, and fit to answer the ends for which they were made, Gen. i. 31.

Q. How then are many things now very hurtful?

A. Sin hath made them hurtful, Lam. iii. 38, 39. Q. How hath sin made irrational creatures hurtful?

A. Sin made man a rebel against God; anc$%herefbre God hath made sundry creatures to hurt him, or what belongs to him, Deut. xxviii. 15, — 68.

Q. What evil is it that God is said to create?

A. The evil of punishment, but not the evil of sin.

Q. Who created sin? A. It cannot be created, as

it hath no being; but the devil brought it into the world.

Q. What did God upon the seventh day I

A. He thereon rested from all his work, Gen. ii. 2.

Q. Was God wearied with his working six days?

A. No; he fainteth not, neither is weary, Isa. xl. 28.

£). What then doth his resting signify? A. His ceasing from creation-work, and rejoicing in it, Gen. ii. 1, 2.

.Q. H*ath God created nothing since the first six days?

A. Though he still immediately creates the souls of infants, yet he has made no new species of creatures.

Q. What may we learn from creation? A. To

humble ourselves before God, and to trust in his power.