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powerful Being, by whom they must have been created, and by whose power they continue to be upheld. Thus when we

see a house, we are certain that it could nothave made or built itself, but must have been the work of some man; so when we behold things indicative of design that far exceed the ability of man, we reasonably attribute them to a superior power.

Psal. civ. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament sheweth his handy work. 2. Day: unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.

Acts xiv. 17. He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

Rom. i. 20. The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.

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Psal. cxxxix. 14. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are thy works, my soul knoweth right well.

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7th Q.-How does God reveal himself to man?

A. By his Holy Spirit, which checks us when we incline to do evil, and incites and encourages us to do good,*

"How often," says the pious Grove, "are good thoughts suggested, heavenly affections kindled and inflamed! How often

Deut. xxx. 11. command thee this neither is it far off. unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayst do it.

For this commandment which I day, is not hidden from thee, 14. But the word is very nigh

Neh. ix. 20. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them.

Rom, ii. 14. When the gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15. Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing, or else excusing one another.

Rom. x. 6. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above). 7. Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). 8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach..

8th Q.-Has not God also revealed hiswill to man by the holy Scriptures?

A. Yes, inasmuch as they were written for the instruction of mankind by men inspired of God.

is the Christian prompted to holy actions, drawn to his duty, restored, quickened, persuaded, in fuch a manner, that he would be unjust to the Spirit of God, to question his agency in the whole! Yes, O my soul! there is a Supreme Being, who governs the world, and is present with it; who takes up his more special habitation in good men, and is nigh to all who call upon him, to sanctify and assist them! Hast thou not felt him, O my soul! like another soul, actuating thy faculties, exalting thy views, purifying thy passions, exciting thy graces, and begetting in thee an abhorrence of sin, and a love of holiness? And is not all this an argument of his presence, as truly as if thou didst see him?"Hints on Regeneration by Richard Phillips, 2d edit. p. 41.

2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Rom. xv. 4. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2 Pet. i. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

John xv. 15. All things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. 16. I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. 27. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 John i. 1. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life; 2. (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3. That which we have seen and heard, declared we unto you.

9th Q.-What do the holy Scriptures declare of God?

A. That he is the Creator of all things, and perfect in power, wisdom and holiness; that he abhors sin; that he is the fountain of every thing lovely, yea, that he is love itself. That he dispenses his goodness to all his creatures according to their capacities, and willeth not the destruction of sinners, but

that they should return to him, repent and live.

1 Chron. xxix. 11. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Exod. xv. 11, Who is like unto thee, O Lord, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Rev. iv. 8. And they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

Psal. v. 4. Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

1 John iv. 7. Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.

Psal. xxxiii. 5. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Psal. cvii. 8. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9. For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Matt. v. 45. He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on . the unjust.

Isai. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Ezek. xxxiii. 11. As Llive, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

2 Pet. iii. 9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

§. III.

10th Q.-How do the Scriptures describe the creation?

A. They inform us that God created the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all things that are therein, whether animate or inanimate, by the word of his power.

Gen. i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the carth.

Neh. ix. 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all.

Psal. xxxiii. 6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

Heb. xi. 3. The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

11th Q.-Do not the Scriptures describe the creation of man as differing in its manner from that of other creatures?

A.-The irrational animals were created by the divine Word calling them into

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