Two Short Catechisms

Chap. II. — Of God.

Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning God?

A. First, what he is, or his nature; secondly, what he doth, or his works.
Exod. iii. 14; Isa. xlv. 6; Heb. i. 1–3, xi. 6.

Q. 2. What is God in himself?

A. An ^aeternal, ^binfinite,⁸⁸   The perfection of God’s being is known of us chiefly by removing all imperfections. ⁹⁹   Hence the abominable vanity of idolaters, and of the blasphemous Papists, that picture God. ¹⁰¹⁰   Let us prostrate ourselves in holy adoration of that which we cannot comprehend. ^cincomprehensible ^dSpirit, ^egiving being to all things, and doing with them whatsoever he pleaseth.
^aDeut. xxxiii. 27; Isa. lvii. 15; Rev. i. 8. ^b1 Kings viii. 27; Ps. cxxxix. 2–5, &c. ^cExod. xxxiii. 20; 1 Tim. vi. 16. ^dJohn iv. 24. ^eGen. i. 1; Ps. cxv. 3, cxxxv. 6; Isa. xlvi. 10; John v. 17; Heb. i. 2.

Q. 3. Do we here know God as he is?

A. No, his glorious being is not of us, in this life, to be comprehended.
Exod. xxxiii. 23; 1 Cor. xiii. 12.

Q. 4. Whereby is God chiefly made known unto us in the Word?

A. First, by his ^anames; secondly, by his ^battributes or properties.
^aExod. iii. 14, vi. 3; Ps. lxxxiii. 18. ^bExod. xxxiv. 6, 7; Matt. v. 48.

Q. 5. What are the names of God?

A. Glorious titles, which he¹¹¹¹   The divers names of God signify one and the same thing, but under diverse notions in respect of our conception. hath given himself, to hold forth his excellencies unto us, with some perfections whereby he will reveal himself.
Exod. iii. 14, 15, vi. 3, xxxiv. 6, 7; Gen. xvii. 1.

Q. 6. What are the attributes of God?

A. His infinite perfections in being and working.
Rev. iv. 8–11.

Q. 7. What are the chief attributes of his being?

A. ^aEternity, ^binfiniteness, ^csimplicity¹²¹²   Some of these attributes belong so unto God, as that they are in no sort to be ascribed to any else, — as infiniteness, eternity, &c. Others are after a sort attributed to some of his creatures, in that he communicates unto them some of the effects of them in himself; — as life, goodness, &c. ¹³¹³   The first of these are motives to humble adoration, fear, self-abhorrency; the other, to faith, hope, love, and confidence, through Jesus Christ. or purity, ^dall-sufficiency, ^eperfectness, ^fimmutability, ^glife, ^hwill, and ⁱunderstanding.
^aDeut. xxxiii. 27; Ps. xciii. 2; Isa. lvii. 15; Rev. i. 11. ^b1 Kings viii. 27; Ps. cxxxix. 1–4, 8–10. ^cExod. iii. 14. ^dGen. xvii. 1; Ps. cxxxv. 4–6. ^eJob xi. 7–9; Rom. xi. 33–36. ^fMal. iii. 6; James i. 17. ^gJudges viii. 19; 1 Sam. xxv. 34; 2 Kings iii. 14; Ezek. xiv. 16, xvi. 48; 472Matt. xvi. 16; Acts xiv. 15; 1 Thess. i. 9. ^hDan. iv. 35; Isa. xlvi. 10; Eph. i. 5, 11; James i. 18. ⁱPs. vii. 8, cxxxix. 2, cxlvii. 4; Jer. xi. 20; Heb. iv. 13.

Q. 8. What are the attributes which usually are ascribed to him in his works, or the acts of his will?

A. ^aGoodness, ^bpower,¹⁴¹⁴   Nothing is to be ascribed unto God, nor imagined of him, but what is exactly agreeable to those his glorious properties. ¹⁵¹⁵   These last are no less essential unto God than the former — only we thus distinguish them, because these are chiefly seen in his works. ^cjustice, ^dmercy, ^eholiness, ^fwisdom, and the like; which he delighteth to exercise towards his creatures, for the praise of his glory.
^aPs. cxix. 68; Matt. xix. 17. ^bExod. xv. 11; Ps. lxii. 11; Rev. xix. 1. ^cZeph. iii. 5; Ps. xi. 7; Jer. xii. 1; Rom. i. 32. ^dPs. cxxx. 7; Rom. ix. 15; Eph. ii. 4. ^eExod. xv. 11; Josh. xxiv. 19; Hab. i. 13; Rev. iv. 8. ^fRom. xi. 33, xvi. 27.