Question 4

What are we to believe concerning God?

We are to believe concerning his Being and nature, that he is a Substance and a Spirit; or that he is a spiritual Substance.^a

Why is God called a Spirit?

1. Negatively, because he hath no bodily Substance.^b 2. Affirmatively and positively, because he is a pure active life, intelligence and will.

Are not Angels, and the Souls of men Spirits?

Yes.^c

How then is God distinguished from Angels, and the souls of men?

God is an infinite,^d eternal,^e and unchangeable^f Spirit. Angels and the Souls of men are finite Spirits,^g but of yesterday and changeable.

But since Angels as well as the Souls of men are finite, how are they to be distinguished?

Angels are pure Spirits, and have no commerce or society with Bodies, which the Souls of men have, being in the most intimate conjunction with them. And though in the separate state they do subsist and live without them; yet because their happiness or misery is not compleat without them, the souls of the Iust already made perfect in holiness, will be carried out with strong inclinations unto and earnest expectation of reunion with their Bodies, to be together made perfect in happiness, in good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over: And in the souls of the unjust, there shall be a fearful expectation of reunion with their Bodies as of a certain approaching, unavoidable and utterly undoing evil, to fill up the measure of their misery, suffering together the vengeance of eternal fire. Or more briefly, God, Angels and the souls of men may be thus distinguished. Angels are created Spirits compleat. As Angels are created Spirits, they are distinguished from God, who is a Spirit uncreate, or the Creator of all, or the God of the Spirits of all flesh. As Spirits compleat, they are distinguished from the souls of men which in their compleat subsistence require Bodies, which Angels do not, and may therefore be called Persons, or compleat subsistences.^*

What else are we to believe concerning God?

We are to believe concerning his attributes that they are of two sorts; 1. Incommunicable. 2. Communicable.

What and which are his Incommunicable attributes?

His Incommunicable attributes are such as are not partaken of by the Creatures, [or that cannot be communicated to them] such are these, his Infiniteness, Eternity and Vnchangeableness.

What is it to be Infinite?

To be without end, bounds or limits.

What is it to be Eternal?

To be without beginning, or succession, or end of time.

What is it to be unchangeable?

To be alwaies the same without any alteration.

What and which are the Communicable attributes of God?

His Communicable attributes are such as in a measure are partaken of by the creatures [or may be communicated to them] such are these, his Wisdom, Power, Holiness, Iustice, Goodness and Truth.

But are they in the same manner in the Creatures as in God?

No.

After what manner are they in the Creatures, and how are they in God?

God is Infinite, Eternal and unchangeable in them, and the Creatures are not.

May then Gods Incommunicable Attributes be applied to and spoken of the Communicable?

Yes, they may.

How is God said to be Infinite, Eternal and Unchangeable?

1. In his Wisdom.^h

What is the Wisdom of God?

The Wisdom of God, is his Essential property, whereby by one simple and eternal Act, he knoweth both himself and whatsoever is possible to be known.

How else is God said to be Infinite, Eternal and Unchangeable?

In his Power,ⁱ and Holiness.^j

What is the power of God?

It is his Essential property, whereby he can do all things.

What is the holiness of God?

It is his Essential property, whereby he is infinitely pure and holy in himself, delighteth in his own purity, and loveth the resemblances of it in his Creatures.

What doth your Catechism last of all mention God to be Infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable in?

In his Iustice,^k Goodness,^l and Truth.^m

What is the Justice of God?

The Iustice of God is his Essential Property, whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself, and equal in all his waies and dealings with his Creatures.

What is the goodness of God?

It is his Essential property, whereby he is altogether good in himself, and the Author of all good.

What is the Truth of God?

It is his Essential property, whereby he agreeth with himself, Truth with Truth; and is so immutably faithful in respect of his Creatures, that it is not possible for him to lie, or deceive any of them.ⁿ