Chap. IV. — Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are Internal and Immanent.

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

A. That they are of two sorts; first, internal,²⁰²⁰   The purposes and decrees of God, so far as by him revealed, are objects of our faith, and full of comfort. in his counsel, decrees, and purposes, towards his creatures; secondly, external, in his works over and about them, to the praise of his own glory.
Acts xv. 18; Prov. xvi. 4.

Q. 2. What are the decrees of God?

A. ^aEternal, ^bunchangeable purposes²¹²¹   Farther reasons of God’s decrees than his own will, not to be inquired after. ²²²²   The changes in the scripture ascribed unto God are only in the outward dispensations and works, variously tending to one infallible event, by him proposed. ²³²³   The Arminians’ blasphemy, in saying God sometimes fails of his purposes. of his will, concerning the being and well-being of his creatures.
^aMic. v. 2; Eph. iii. 9–11; Acts xv. 18. ^bIsa. xiv. 24, xlvi. 10; Rom. ix. 11; 2 Tim. ii. 19.

Q. 3. Concerning which of his creatures chiefly are his decrees to be considered?

A. Angels and men, for whom other things were ordained.
1 Tim. v. 21; Jude 6.

Q. 4. What are the decrees of God concerning men?

A. Election and reprobation.
Rom. ix. 11–13.

Q. 5. What is the decree of election?

A. The ^aeternal, ^bfree, ^cimmutable²⁴²⁴   The decree of election is the fountain of all spiritual graces, for they are bestowed only on the elect. ²⁵²⁵   In nothing doth natural corruption more exalt itself against God, than in opposing the freedom of his grace in his eternal decrees. purpose of God, ^dwhereby in Jesus Christ he chooseth unto himself whom he pleaseth out of ^ewhole mankind, determining to bestow upon them, for his sake, ^fgrace here, and everlasting happiness hereafter, for the praise of his glory, by the way of mercy.²⁶²⁶   From the execution of these decrees flows that variety and difference we see in the dispensation of the means of grace, — God sending the Gospel where he hath a remnant according to election.
^aEph. i. 4; Acts xiii. 48; Rom. viii. 29, 30. 474^bMatt. xi. 26. ^c2 Tim. ii. 19. ^dEph i. 4, 5; Matt. xxii. 14. ^eRom. ix. 18–21. ^fJohn vi. 37, xvii. 6, 9, 11, 24.

Q. 6. Doth any thing in us move the Lord thus to choose us from amongst others?

A. No, in no wise; we are in the same lump with others rejected, when separated by his undeserved grace.
Rom. ix. 11, 12; Matt. xi. 25; 1 Cor. iv. 7; 2 Tim. i. 9.

Q. 7. What is the decree of reprobation?

A. The eternal purpose of God to suffer many to sin, leave them in their sin, and not giving them to Christ, to punish them for their sin.
Rom. ix. 11, 12, 21, 22; Prov. xvi. 4; Matt. xi. 25, 26; 2 Pet. ii. 12; Jude 4.