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8. I believe in the Holy Ghost,

9. The holy Catholic Church, the communion

of saints,

10. The forgiveness of sins,

11. The resurrection of the body,

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

24. Q. Into how many parts is this creed divided?

A. Into three parts. The first is, of God the eternal Father, and our creation. The second is, of God the Son, and our redemption. The third is, of God the Holy Ghost, and our sanctification.

25. Q. Since there is only one divine essence or being, why do you name these three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?

A. Because God hath so manifested himself in his word, that these three distinct persons are that one true and everlasting God.

£ Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord. Deut. vi. 4. There is none other God but one. 1 Cor. viii. 4. Isa. xliv. 6. xlv. 5.

8 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matt. iii. 16, 17. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matt. xxviii. 19. Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Gal. iv. 6. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. ii. 18. John xiv. 26. 2 Cor. xiii. 14.

OF GOD THE FATHER.

26. Q. What do you believe when you say, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth?

A. I believe the everlasting Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who created out of nothing the heavens and the earth, with all things that are therein, and who likewise sustains and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence, to be my God and my Father for Christ's sake ; j and therefore I do trust in him, and so rely on

h In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1. Lord thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Acts iv. 24. The living God which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein. Acts xiv. 15; Exod. xx. 11.

i Upholding all things by the word of his power. Heb. i. 3. Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will. Eph. i. 11. Thou hast made the heavens with all their host, the earth, the seas, and all that is therein; and thou preservest them all. Neh. ix. 6. O Lord, thou preservest man and beast: how excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Ps. xxxvi, 6, 7; civ. 2, 3. He is the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways. Dan. v. 23. In him we live, move, and have our being.

Acts xvii. 28.

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. John i. 12. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Gal. iv. 5, 6, 7.

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him, that I doubt not but that he will provide all things necessary both for my soul and body. And further, that whatsoever ills he sendeth on me in this troublesome life he will turn to my benefit,1 since he is able to do it, as an omnipotent God," and willing to do it, as a kind and affectionate Father."

27. Q. What is the Providence of God?

A. The omnipotent and omnipresent power of God, whereby he does, as it were with his own

k Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory, by Jesus Christ. Phil. iv. 6, 19. He hath given meat unto them that fear him. Ps. cxi. 5. They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Ps. xxxiv. 10. Mat. vi. 26; Luke xii. 22.

We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom. viii. 28.

m For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord is rich unto all them that call upon him. Rom. x. 12. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. viii. 38, 39.

" And even to your old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Is. xlvi. 4. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek :) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. vi. 32, 33; vii. 7, 8, 9.

• Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar

hand, sustain and govern the heavens and the earth, with all creatures therein; P so that all those things which are produced on earth, both rain and drought, fertility and barrenness, meat and drink,' health and sickness,s riches and poverty, in fine,

off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jer. xxiii. 23, 24; Acts xvii. 25, 27.

P Upholding all things by the word of his power. Heb. i. 3. 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. Neh. ix. 6.

Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season; he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of harvest. Jer. v. 24. Nevertheless 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. Acts xiv. 17.

Acts xiv. 17. He watereth the mountains from his chambers, and the earth is filled with the fruit of his works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the use of man, that he may bring forth bread out of the earth, and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. Ps. civ. 13-15.

• I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand, Deut. xxxii. 39. Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty; for he maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole. Job v. 17, 18. But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies. Lament. iii. 32.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich; he bringeth low, and lifteth up. 1 Sam. ii. 7.

all things whatsoever, happen, not fortuitously, nor by chance, but by his paternal counsel and will."

28. Q. What advantages do we derive from this knowledge of the creation, and providence of God?

A. We learn, that we should be patient in adversity, and grateful in prosperity;w that for the future we should rest our best hope in God our most faithful Father, assuring ourselves that there

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u The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Prov. xvi. 33. Affliction cometh not forth out of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground. Job v. 6. Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south; but God is the Judge; he putteth down one, and setteth up another. Ps. lxxv. 6, 7. If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? Job xi. 10. Who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Eph. i. 11.

▾ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience. Rom. v. 3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James i. 3. Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy who endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. Jam. v. 10, 11. Be ye not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Heb.vi. 12. 2 Cor. i. 2-5, 7.

When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. Deut. viii. 10. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thess. v. 18.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. Heb. x. 35. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 2 Cor. v. 6. We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present

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