An Help for the Ignorant, WSC Question 9
By John Brown of Haddington
QUEST. 9. What is the work of creation?
ANSW. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
Q. Wherein did God begin the execution of his decree?
A. In the creation of the world.
Q. When did God create all things?
A. In the beginning of time, Genesis 1:1.
Q. Was there no matter, or any thing else besides God, before the creation?
A. No.
Q. How prove you that the world had a beginning?
A. Reason shows, and scripture asserts it, Genesis 1.
Q. How do you prove from reason, that the world did not exist from eternity?
A. Because it is finite and changeable; history reaches but a few thousand years backward; arts, sciences, and many other discoveries, are but of very late, etc.
Q. Why might not the world come into being by mere chance?
A. Because chance, being the mere want [lack] of design, (or nothing), can produce nothing.
Q. Why might not creatures make themselves?
A. Because what makes a thing, must be before it.
Q. Who then is the alone Creator o fall things ?
A. God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Psalm 33:6.
Q. How do you prove, that no creature did or could assist God in creation-work?
A. Because, as there is an infinite distance between nothing and being, creation-work requires infinite power, which no creature can have.
Q. What is meant by God’s creating of things?
A. His making them out of nothing.
Q. What different kinds of creation are there?
A. Two, viz. creation out of mere nothing, and creation out of unfit [unformed] matter.
Q. What was created immediately out of mere nothing?
A. Heaven, earth, light, angels, and souls of men.
Q. What did God create out of unfit matter?
A. Fishes, fowls, cattle, the body of man, etc.
Q. Out of what were the fishes and fowls made?
A. Out of the waters, Genesis 1:20.
Q. Of what were cattle and creeping things made?
A. Of the earth, Genesis 1:24.
Q. In what space of time did God create all things?
A. In the space of six days, Exodus 20:11.
Q. Could God have created all things in a moment?
A. Yes; there is nothing too hard for the Lord.
Q. Why then took he up six days in creation-work?
A. That we might the better see the wise order of his work; and might imitate him in working six days, and resting on the seventh, Exodus 20:9-11.
Q. What was God’s work on the first day?
A. He made the heavens, the earth, the light, and probably also the angels, Genesis 1:1-3.
Q. How does it seem probable that the angels were created on the first day?
A. Because it is said they shouted for joy when God laid the corner-stone of the earth, Job 38:6-7.
Q. What manner of creatures are angels?
A. Spirits, who have great wisdom and strength.
Q. Of what use are angels?
A. To attend God in heaven, guard his people on earth, and destroy their enemies.
Q. In what estate were angels created?
A. In a most holy and happy estate.
Q. Did they all abide in that estate?
A. No; many of them sinned, and became devils, Jude 6.
Q. What did God upon the second day?
A. He made the air and firmament, Genesis 1:6.
Q. What did God upon the third day?
A. He separated the water from the earth, and made the herbs, grass, and trees, Genesis 1:9, 11.
Q. What did God upon the fourth day?
A. He made the sun, moon, and stars, and appointed them their motions and use, Genesis 1:14.
Q. What did God upon the fifth day?
A. He made the fishes and fowls, Genesis 1:20.
Q. What did God upon the sixth day?
A. He made cattle, creeping things, and man, Genesis 1:25-26.
Q. For what end did God make all things?
A. For the glory of his own perfections.
Q. What perfections of God were especially glorified in creation?
A. His eternity, independency, wisdom, power, holiness, goodness, etc. Psalm 104:24.
Q. How was God’s eternity manifested in creation?
A. His making all things showed, that he was before all things, John 1:1-2.
Q. How was God’s independency manifested in creation?
A. His giving a being to all things shows, that all things depend on him, and that he is self-sufficient, and depends on none.
Q. By what did God make all things?
A. By the word of his power.
Q. What was that word?
A. LET THEM BE.
Q. In what condition did God make all things?
A. He made all things very good, Genesis 1:31.
Q. How were all things very good?
A. They were all perfect in their kind, and fit to answer the ends for which they were made.
Q. How then are many things now very hurtful?
A. Sin has made them hurtful, Lamentations 3:39.
Q. How hath sin made irrational creatures hurtful?
A. Sin made man a rebel against God; and therefore God has made sundry creatures to hurt him, or what belongs to him, Deuteronomy 28:15-68.
Q. What evil is it that God is said to create?
A. The evil of punishment, but not the evil of sin.
Q. Who created sin?
A. It cannot be created, as it has no being; but the devil brought it into the world.
Q. What did God upon the seventh day?
A. He therein rested from all his work.
Q. Was God wearied with his working six days?
A. No; he fainteth not, neither is weary, Isaiah 40:28.
Q. What then doth his resting signify?
A. His ceasing from creation-work, and rejoicing in it, Genesis 2:2-3.
Q. Has God created nothing since the first six days?
A. Though he still immediately creates the souls of infants, yet he has made no new species of creatures.
Q. What may we learn from creation?
Α. Το humble ourselves before God, and trust in his power.