4. EXPLANATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. In the beginning, at the commencement of time. His own glory, the purpose of shewing to his creatures the glory of his perfections.

Created, brought into being.

All things, every thing which exists.

Of nothing, from no substance which previously existed. Very good, all in a state of perfection.

Dust, earth, or the dust of the ground.

Always, constantly, and without intermission. Preserves, keeps in being, and prevents from falling back into nothing.

Us, all the human race.

Creature, created thing, animate and inanimate.
Formed, contrived and made.

5. DOCTRINES PROVED.

1. (1.) God in the beginning created all things.-Gen. i. 1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

2. (2.) God created all things for his own glory.-Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself.

3. (3.) God created all things of nothing.-Heb. xi. 3. Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4. (4.) God created all things at first very good.-Gen, i. 31. God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good.

5. (5.) God made us of dust.-Gen. iii. 19. Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

6. (6.) God always preserves us.Acts xvii. 28. In him we live, and move, and have our being.

7. (7.) God preserves all his creatures.-Psal. cxlv. 15. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

[For Doctrines in Rhyme, &c. see Appendix.}

6. LESSONS FROM THE DOCTRINES.

From these doctrines we learn,

(1.) That as God is the maker and owner of all things,

we ought to be contented and thankful for what he bestows upon us.

(2.) That we should dedicate our talents and possessions to the glory of God.

(3.) That God can supply us with all that we need. (4.) That we should hate sin, and strive to be holy. (5.) That we should be humble, and always be preparing

for death.

(6.) That we should take notice of, and rely upon, the care and providence of God.

(7.) That we should, in imitation of God, attend to the wants, and endeavour to increase the comforts, of others.

[For collateral Lessons and Inferences, see Appendix.]

7. APPLICATION OF THE LESSONS.

With and for what should we be contented and thankful? (Lesson 1.)

What should we dedicate to the glory of God? (2.)
With what can God always supply us? (3.)
What should we strive to be? (4.)

For what should we be always preparing? (5.)
Upon what should we always rely? (6.)
What should we endeavour to do to others? (7.)

8. DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE FROM THE ANSWER. Adoration. Thou art the great God, who in the beginning, for thine own glory, made all things of nothing, and very good, who made us of dust, and who always preserves us, and every creature which thou hast formed.

9. DEVOTIONAL EXERCISE FROM THE LESSONS. O Lord, (1.) Thou art the maker and owner of all things, do thou make us contented and thankful for all that thou, in thy kind providence, bestowest upon Enable us to (2.) dedicate all our talents and pos sessions to thy service and glory; who (3.) art able, by

us.

thine almighty power, to supply us with all that we need. May we (4.) hate sin, and constantly and perseveringly strive to be holy. Make us (5.) increasingly humble; and enable us constantly to look forward to, and prepare for death; and may we, while in this world, (6.) take notice of, and rely upon thy gracious providence and care; (7.) and, in imitation of thy universal goodness, may we always attend to the wants, and endeavour to increase the comforts, of others around us.

10. PARAPHRASE FORMED.

The great God, who, [at the commencement of time,] for [the purpose of shewing to his creatures the glory of his perfections,] [brought into being] [every thing which exists,] [from ne substance which previously existed,] and [all in a state of perfection,]-made us of [earth, or the dust of the ground,] and [constantly, and without intermission,] [keeps in being, and prevents from falling back into nothing,] [all the human race,] and every [created thing, animate or inanimate,] which he has [contrived and made.]

2. Q. How do we come to the knowledge of God?

A. Every thing in nature shews forth God's wisdom, ower, and goodness; but the Bible, which is the word of God, and which was written by holy men at different times, under his direction, has most clearly revealed what God is, what he has done and what we should do.

1. VERBAL AND GENERAL EXERCISE. What shews forth God's wisdom, power, and goodness? What does every thing in nature do?

A 2

Whose wisdom, power, and goodness do they shew forth? What does all nature shew forth, besides God's wisdom and power?

What does all nature shew forth, besides God's power and goodness?

What does all nature shew forth, besides God's goodness and wisdom?

What other thing is it which reveals God?
What is the Bible?

Whose word is the Bible?

By whom was the Bible written ?
What kind of men wrote the Bible?
What was written by holy men?

When did holy men write the Bible?

What was written at different times?

How is the Bible the Word of God, when it was written by men?

Under whose direction was the Bible written?

What does the Bible do?

What does the Bible reveal about God?

What who is?

What does the Bible reveal about God, besides shewing

what he is?

What tells us about what God has done?

What does the Bible reveal, besides shewing what God is, and what he has done ?

What who should do?

What reveals to us what we should do

2. NUMERICAL EXERCISE.

How many things are here mentioned, by which God is made known? (Two.-1. Every thing in Nature. 2. The Bible, or word of God.) What is the first? &c. How many of God's attributes are here mentioned as being shewn forth by his works? (Three.-1. His wisdom. 2. His power. 3. His goodness.) What is the first? &c.

How many things are here stated respecting the Bible?

(Five.-1. It is the word of God. 2. It was written by holy men. 3. It was written at different times. 4. It was written under the direction of God. 5. It was given as a revelation from God.) What is the first? &c. How many things are here stated as being revealed by the Bible? (Three.-1. What God is. 2. What God has done. 3. What we should do.) What is the first? &c.

3. DOCTRINES SEPARATED.

How many doctrines are contained in this answer? (Eleven. 1. Every thing in nature shews forth God's wisdom. 2. Every thing in nature shews forth God's power. 3. Every thing in nature shews forth God's goodness. 4. The Bible is the word of God. 5. The Bible was written by holy men. 6. The Bible was

written at different times. 7. The Bible was written by the prophets, under the direction of God. 8. The

Bible contains the clearest revelation of God. 9. The Bible reveals what God is. 10. The Bible reveals what God has done. 11. The Bible reveals what we should do.) What is the first? &c.

4. EXPLANATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. In nature, that has been made in the world and sky. Shews forth, gives clear and constant proof of. Wisdom, chusing the best ends, and accomplishing these by the best means.

Power, his being able to do any thing and every thing. Goodness, never ceasing to care for, and to promote the happiness of all his creatures.

Word of God, only declaration of God's mind and will

to man.

Written, composed, and put, with pen and ink, upon parchment or paper.

Holy, good and pious.

Different times, dates long distant from each other.