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good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy ftatutes.' His Truth is that

whereby he is perfectly faithful, and free from all Falfehood, Tit. i. 2. In hope of eternal life, which 'God that cannot lye, promised before the world 'began.'

Queft. 5. Are there more Gods than

one?

Anf. There is but One only, the living and true God.

EXPLICATION.

God is called the living God, to distinguish him from dead Idols; and the true God, to diftinguish him from all falfe Gods. 1 Theff. i. 9. Ye turned to God from idols, to ferve the living and < true God.' He is the living God, in that all Life is in him, and from him, 1 Tim. vi. 13. 'God, who quickeneth all things.' To be the true God, is to be God truly and really; and not in Name only, or in the Opinion of Men. Now, there is but one true God: 1 Cor. viii. 4. 6 an idol is nothing in the world, < none other God but one.' And Reason teaches, that there can be no more than one, in that there can be but one most perfect Being. So the gods many, mentioned 1 Cor. viii. 5. are Gods in Name only, or in the Opinion of their blinded Worshippers.

We know that and that there is

Quest. 6. How many Perfons are there in the Godhead?

Anf.

Anf. There are three Perfons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft: And these three are one Go, the fame in Subftance, equal in Power and Glory.

EXPLICATION.

By the Godhead is meant the divine Nature. A Perfon in the Godhead, is the Godhead diftinguished by perfonal Properties. The Godhead is one only in Number: But the Perfons in the Godhead are three; and they are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft 1 John v. 7. For there are three 'that bear record in heaven, the Father, the 'Word, and the Holy Ghoft: and thefe three

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are one.' Jefus Chrift is the fecond of thefe Perfons, namely, the Son. And the Father is true God: The Son is frue God: And the Holy Ghost is true God. Yet they are not three Gods, but one God, 1 John v. 7. forecited. Howbeit, the Godhead neither is, nor can be divided into Parts: But each of the three Perfons hath the one whole indivifible Godhead. They are not then of a like Subftance only, but the very fame in Subftance. But they are diftinguished by their perfonal Properties. And it is the perfonal Property of the Father, to beget the Son: Heb, i. 5. For unto 'which of the angels faid he at any time, Thou

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art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? 'And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall 'be to me a Son?' And it is the perfonal Property of the Son, to be begotten of the Father: John

i. 14.

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The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and < truth. And it is the perfonal Property of the Holy Ghoft, to proceed from the Father and the Son: John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall teftify of me.' Gal. iv. 6. 6 And because ye are fons, God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' The Son and the Holy Ghost are not below the Father, but equal with him: They are all equally powerful and glorious. So the perfonal Properties make no Inequality among them; forafmuch as these Properties are not temporary and accidental, but eternal and neceffary, and could not but be: And every one of the three Perfons, is the eternal, the fupreme, the most high God. This appears, in that to the Son and the Holy Ghoft, as well as to the Father, is afcribed the peculiar Name of the true God, the Moft High: If. vi. 3. And one cried unto ano

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ther, and faid, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hofts, the whole earth is full of his glory.” John xii. 41. These things faid Efaias, when he faw his glory, and spake of him.' Acts xxviii. 25. 26. And when they agreed not among themfelves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well fpake the Holy Ghost by Efaias the prophet, unto our fathers, faying, c.' Pfal. lxxxiii. 18. That men may know, that thou whofe name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.' And his Attributes are afcribed to them: Rev. i. 8. 'I am Al

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pha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, faith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.' Pfal. cxxxix. 7. 'Whither fhall I go from thy Spirit? or whither fhall I flee from thy prefence?' Likewife his Works: John i. 3. 'All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Matth. xii. 28. But if I caft out 'devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of 'God is come unto you.' And also his Worthip: 'Heb. i. 8. But unto the Son he faith, Thy throne,

O God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righ'teousness is the fceptre of thy kingdom.' Matth. 'xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of 'the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.'

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Queft. 7. What are the Decrees of God?

Anf. The Decrees of God are, his eternal Purpose, according to the Counsel of his Will, whereby, for his own Glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

EXPLICATIO N.

By the Decrees of God is meant his Purpose foreordaining what fhould come to pass. God hath foreordained in his Decrees, whatsoever comes to pass: Eph. i. 11. In whom alfo we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated < according

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according to the purpofe of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.' Even the most free Acts of the Creature, and the moft cafual Things, are foreordained of God: Prov. xxi. I. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whitherfoever he will.' Chap. xvi. 33. The lot 'is caft into the lap: but the whole difpofing there' of is of the Lord.' Yea, evil Actions, as well as good ones, fall within the Compafs of his Decree : Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have cruci'fied and flain' But with this Difference, that he decreed his effecting of Good, and his permitting of Ill. Now, whatfoever God hath foreordained, infallibly comes to pafs: And his Decrees are unchangeable: I. xlvi. 10. 'Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, faying, My counsel fhall ftand, and I will do all my pleasure.' Yet Men have no Excufe for their Sin, from the Decree of God, Acts ii. 23. above cited: For they fin out of free Choice, without the leaft Knowledge of, or Force upon them from the Decree: Acts xiii. 27. For they that dwell at Jerufalem, and their 'rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every fabbath-day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.' The Defign and End of God's Decrees is his own Glory: Rom. xi. 36. For of < him, and through him, and to him, are all things:

to whom be glory for ever:' And therefore he will certainly get Glory of what foever comès to pafs, f. xlvi. 1o. forecited. As to finful Actions,

he

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