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Quest. 4.

God is a Spirit.

HAT is God? :

W A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal,

and unchangeable in his Being, Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Justice, Goodness, and Truth.

Q. 1. Can the Nature of God he defined, so as Men may express properly and strictly what God is? A. No: Job xi. 7. Canst thou by fearching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto Perfection?

We do then conceive most rightly of God, when we acknowledge him to be unconceivable; and therefore one being asked the Question, what God is? answered rightly; If I fully knew that, I should be a God myself; for God only knows his own Effence.

Q. 2. How many Ways are there by which Men may know and defcribe the Nature of God, though Aill with imperfect Knowledge?

A. There are two Ways of knowing God in this Life; First, by Way of Affirmation; affirming that of God by Way of Eminence, which is excellent in the Creature; as when we affirm him to be wife, good, merciful, &c. Secondly, by Way of Negation, when we remove from God in our Conceptions all that is imperfect in the Creature: So we fay God is immenfe, infinite, immutable; and in this Sense we also call him a Spirit, i. e. he is not a gross corporeal

Substance.

Q. 3. How many Sorts of Spirits are there? And of which Sort is God

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A. There be two Sorts of Spirits, created and finite; as Angels, and the Souls of Men are. Secondly, uncreated, and infinite; and such a Spirit God only is, infinitely above all other Spirits. :

Q. 4. If God be a Spirit, in what Sense are we to underftand all those Scriptures, which speak of the Eyes of the Lord, the Ears and Hand of God

A. We are to understand them as Expressions of God, in Condescention to the Weakness of our Understandings; even as the Glory of Heaven is exprest to us in Scripture by a City, and the Royal Feast. These Shadows are useful to us whilst we are in the Body; but we shall know him in Heaven after a more perfect Manner.

Q. 5. What may be inferred from the Spiritual Nature of God?

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A. Hence learn, that it is both finful and dangerous to frame an Image or Picture of God. Who can make an Image of his Soul? which yet is not so perfect a Spirit as God is? And as it is finful to attempt it, so it is impossible to do it; Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no Manner of Similitude on the Day that the Lord spoke to you in Horeb out of the midst of the Fire; left ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven Image, the Similitude of any Figure, &c.

Q. 6. What else may be inferred from thence?

A. That our Souls are the most noble and excellent Part of us, which most resembles God, and therefore our chief Regard and Care should be for them, whatever becomes of the vile Body, Mat. xvi. 26. For what is a Man profited if be gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul? Or what shall a Man give in Exchange for his Soul?

Q.7. What further Truth may be inferred hence?)

A. That Men should beware of spiritual Sins, as well as' of grofs and outward Sins; for there is a Filthiness of the Spirit, as well as of the Flesh, 2 Cor. vii. 1. Let us cleanse ourselves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit; and as God fees them, so he greatly abhors them, as Sins that defile the noblest Part of Man, on which he stamped his own Image. Q. 8. What also may be inferred from hence? A. Hence we learn, that spiritual Worship is most agreeable to his Nature and Will; and the more spiritual it is, the more acceptable it will be to him, John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and in Truth. Externals in worship are of little Regard with God; as places, Habits, Gestures, &c.

Apply this,

First, To fuperftitious Men, Ifa. lxvi. 1, 2, 3.
Secondly, To Children that fay a Prayer, but mind not to

whom, nor what they say.

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Of

Of God's Infinity.

Quest. I. W 7 HAT is the Senfe and Meaning of this

Word [Infinity?]...

A. It fignifies that which hath no bounds or Limits, within which it is contained, as all created 'Things are. Q. 2. In how many Respects is God infinite? A. God is infinite or boundless in three Respects.

First, In Respect of the Perfection of his Nature; his Wisdom, Power, and Holiness, exceed all Measures and Limits; as 1 Sam. ii. 2. There is none holy as the Lord, &c. Secondly, In Respect of Time and Place; no Time can meafure him, Ifa. lvii. 15. Thus faith the bigh and lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity, 1 Kings, viii. 27. Bebold the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this House which I have built? The Heaven of Heavens contains all created Beings; but not the Creator. Thirdly, In Respect of his Incomprehenfibleness, by the Understanding of all Creatures, Job xi. 7. Canft thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to Perfection?

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Q3 If God be thus infinite, and no no Understanding can comprehend him, how then is it faid in John iii. 2. We fhall fee him as he is ?

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A. The Meaning is not, that glorified Saints shall comprehend God in their Understandings; but that they shall have a true apprehensive Knowledge, though not a comprehenfive Knowledge of God: And that we shall fee him immediately, and not as we do now thorough a Glass darkly.

Q. 4. What is the first Lesson to be learnt from God's Infinity?

A. That therefore Men should tremble to fin even in Secret, Pfal. cxxxix. 11. If I say, Surely the Darkness shall cover me, even the Night shall be Light about me.

Q. 5. What is the second Instruction from hence?

A. The second Instruction is, That there is an infinite Evil in Sin, objectively confidered, as it is committed against an infinite God; and therefore it deserves eternal Punishment; and no Satisfaction can possiblybe made for it, but by the Blood of Christ, 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that

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

Q. 6. What is the third Instruction from God's Infinity ? A. The third Instruction is, That those who are reconciled to God in Christ, need not fear his Ability to perform any Mercy for them; for he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, Eph. iii. 20. And those 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 Destruction from the Presence of the Lord, and from the Glory of his Power.

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Q.7. What is the fourth Instruction 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.

[Eternal.]

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Quest. 1.

W

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 Respects; First, In this, That tho' Angels, and the Souls of Men shall 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 necessary, 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 shall have no End...

Q. 4. In what Sense is the Gospel everlasting? A. The Gospel is called the everlasting Gospel, Rev. xiv. 6. because

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

Q. 5. In what Sense is the Redemption of Chrift called the eternal Redemption?

A. The Redemption of Christ 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 heareth my Word, and believeth on him that fent me, bath everlasting Life, and shall not come into Condemnation, but is passed from Death to Life.

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

A. The last Judgment is called eternal Judgment, not because God judged men from Eternity, or because the Day of Judgment shall last to Eternity; but because the Consequences of it will be everlasting Joy or Misery to the Souls of Men; therefore it is called eternal Judgment, Heb. vi. 2.

Q. 7. What may wicked Men learn from the Eternity of God?

A. Hence wicked Men may see their own Misery in the Perfection of it; that they will have an eternal Enemy to avenge himself upon them for ever, in the World to come, 2 Theff. i. 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction, from the Presence 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 Presence is Fulness of Joy, at thy right Hand there are Pleasures for evermore.

Q. 9. 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 since committed, or performed, are all present before God. Thirdly, That God can never want Opportunity to do his Work, and carry on his Designs 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 he knoweth that he hath but a Short Time.

Quest. 1.