Westminster Daily

Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence 5. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave, for a season, his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they may be humbled; 1 and, to raise them to a more...

Larger Catechism Q 19. What is God's providence towards the angels? A. God by his providence permitted some of the angels, willfully 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 justi...

Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence 4. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his providence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men; 1 and that not by a bare permission, 2 but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding, 3 and otherwise ordering, and governing of...

Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence 3. God, in his ordinary providence, maketh use of means, 1 yet is free to work without, 2 above, 3 and against them, at his pleasure. 4 Acts 27:24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay...

Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence 2. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; 1 yet, by the same providence, he ordereth them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 2 Acts 2:23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and fo...

Shorter Catechism Q 11. What are God's works of providence? A. God's works of providence are, his most holy, 1 wise, 2 and powerful 3 preserving 4 and governing 5 all his creatures, and all their actions. 6 Larger Catechism Q 18. What are God's works of providence? A. God's works of providence are his most holy, 7 wise, 8 and powerful preserving 9 and governing 10 all his creatures; ordering them,...

Confession of Faith Chapter 5: Of Providence 1. God the great Creator of all things doth uphold, 1 direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, 2 from the greatest even to the least, 3 by his most wise and holy providence, 4 according to his infallible foreknowledge, 5 and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice,...

Shorter Catechism Q 10. How did God create man? A. God created man male and female, after his own image, 1 in knowledge, 2 righteousness, and holiness, 3 with dominion over the creatures. 4 Larger Catechism Q 17. How did God create man? A. After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female; 5 formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground, 6 and the woman of the rib of th...

Confession of Faith Chapter 4: Of Creation 2. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female, 1 with reasonable and immortal souls, 2 endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image; 3 having the law of God written in their hearts, 4 and power to fulfill it: 5 and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own...

Larger Catechism Q 16. How did God create angels? A. God created all the angels 1 spirits, 2 immortal, 3 holy, 4 excelling in knowledge, 5 mighty in power, 6 to execute his commandments, and to praise his name, 7 yet subject to change. 8 Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all thing...

Shorter Catechism Q 9. What is the work of creation? A. The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, 1 in the space of six days, and all very good. 2 Larger Catechism Q 15. What is the work of creation? A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself,...

Confession of Faith Chapter 4: Of Creation 1. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 1 for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness, 2 in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days; and all very good. 3 Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all th...

Shorter Catechism Q 8. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. 1 Larger Catechism Q 14. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, 2 according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will. 3 Psalm 148:8 fire and hail, snow and mist, sto...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 8. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, 1 that men, attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. 2 So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, revere...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 7. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as he pleaseth, for the glory of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonor and wrath for their sin, to the praise of his glorious justice. 1 Matthew 11:25-26 At that...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 6. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto. 1 Wherefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ, 2 are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 5. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, 1 out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or pe...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 4. These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished. 1 John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his...

Larger Catechism Q 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men? A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; 1 and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: 2 and also, according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable coun...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels 1 are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death. 2 1 Timothy 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Jude 6...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 2. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, 1 yet hath he not decreed anything because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions. 2 1 Samuel 23:11-12 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord , the...

Shorter Catechism Q 7. What are the decrees of God? A. 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. 1 Larger Catechism Q 12. What are the decrees of God? A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, 2 whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glo...

Confession of Faith Chapter 3: Of God's Eternal Decree 1. God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: 1 yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, 2 nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. 3 Psal...

Larger Catechism Q 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father? A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, 1 attributes, 2 works, 3 and worship, 4 as are proper to God only. Isaiah 6:3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is...

Larger Catechism Q 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead? A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, 1 and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, 2 and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity. 3 Hebrews 1:5-6 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to...