5. Providence (Qs 18-20)
18
What are the works of providence? A. God's works of providence are his most
holy,(1) wise,(2) and powerful preserving(3) and governing(4) all his creatures;
ordering them, and all their actions,(5) to his own glory.(6)
(1)Ps. 145:17
(2)Ps.
104:24; Isa. 28:29
(3)Heb. 1:3
(4)Ps. 103:19
(5)Matt.
10:29,31; Gen. 45:7
(6)Rom.
19 What is God's providence towards the angels? A. God by his
providence permitted some of the angels, wilfully and irrecoverably, to fall
into sin and damnation,(1) limiting and ordering that, and all their sins, to
his own glory;(2) and established the rest in holiness and happiness;(3)
employing them all,(4) at his pleasure, in the administrations of his power,
mercy, and justice.(5)
(1)Jude 6; 2
Pet. 2:4; Heb. 2:16; John 8:44
(2)Job 1:12;
Matt. 8:31
(3)1 Tim.
(4)Ps. 104:4
(5)2 Kings 19:35; Heb. 1:14
20
What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?
A. The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was
the placing him in paradise, appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to
eat of the fruit of the earth;(1) putting the creatures under his dominion,(2)
and ordaining marriage for his help;(3) affording him communion with himself;(4)
instituting the Sabbath;(5) entering into a covenant of life with him, upon
condition of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience,(6) of which the tree of
life was a pledge;(7) and forbidding to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, upon the pain of death.(8)
(1)Gen. 2:8,15,16
(2)Gen. 1:28
(3)Gen. 2:18
(4)Gen. 1:26,27,28,29; Gen. 3:8
(5)Gen. 2:3
(6)Gal. 3:12;
(7)Gen. 2:9
(8)Gen. 2:17