Chapter 5: Of Creation

Q. Had this world a beginning by creation, or was it from everlasting?

A. The scripture in many places, and especially in the first of Genesis does declare that the world was not from everlasting, but had a beginning by the Lord's creating of it (Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11; Proverbs 8:22; Psalms 90:2; Ephesians 1:4).

Q. Who was it that created the world?

A. God that is without beginning, and has his being of himself, he it was who gave beginning, and being to the world (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24; Isaiah 40:28; Isaiah 44:24).

Q. Whether was this the work of the Father, or of the Son, or of the Holy Ghost?

A. Of every person in the Trinity; not of the Father only but also of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Q. What are the things that are created?

A. All things without exception, that have a being, except God only who did create them (Acts 4:24; Acts 17:24; Acts 14:15; Genesis 2:1; Revelation 4:11).

Q. Do you mean that the third heaven was also created by God?

A. Yes, for that heaven is said to be a city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10, 16).

Q. But what do you think of the Angels, were they also created by God?

A. Angels are the chief of those invisible things, those thrones and dominions, principalities, and powers, which are expressly mentioned to have been created by the Lord (Colossians 1:16).

Q. With what did God make the world?

A. Though men must have tools, and instruments, and sometimes more hands than their own for the effecting of works; yet when the Lord made the world, with him it was not so.

Q. How then or with what did he make it?

A. He made it himself alone, and without any other means but only by his word.

Q. Of what or of what materials did he create the world?

A. Not of any pre-existent matter, but of nothing (Hebrews 11:3; Romans 4:17).

Q. How do you mean when you say that all things are made of nothing? For the body of Adam was made of the dust of the ground, and fishes of the waters, and therefore it may seem all things were not made of nothing.

A. I mean that some things were made of nothing without any matter at all, and that the first matter of which other things were made, was not eternal, but was immediately created of nothing; and that that first matter was so [illegible] disposed to be the things that were made of it, that no less a power was seen in making other things out of it, than in making that first matter, or the lump itself; as it was as great a work to bring great whales out of the waters, as to bring forth the water out of nothing; and in these respects, all things may be said to be made of nothing.

Q. In what time was the world created?

A. Every particular thing quickly, and as it were in an instant, and the whole in the space of six days.

Q. What was the work of each day?

A. The work of the first day was heaven, the dark and deep lump of earth, and waters, and light.

Q. What of the second day?

A. The firmament which is called heaven.

Q. What of the third day?

A. The gathering of the waters together, which is called sea, the drying of the earth, and making it fruitful.

Q. What of the three last days?

A. On the fourth day sun, moon, and stars, on the fifth day fish, and fowl, on the sixth day beasts and creeping things, and man.

Q. When was the highest heaven, and Angels created?

A. Most likely on the first day (Genesis 1:1; Job 38:7).

Q. Why was God six days in making the world?

A. Not because he needed so much time, but that we might more distinctly consider of his works.

Q. Why did God make the world?

A. Not because he needed it, for he is all-sufficient in and of himself, not needing any thing, but giving to all life, and breath, and all things (Acts 17:25).

Q. Did he make it out of necessity of nature, or because he could not choose?

A. No, for had he pleased, he might have made it sooner, or later, or not at all.

Q. Why then did he make it?

A. Because it so pleased him (Revelation 4:11).

Q. For what end did God make the world?

A. For the declaration of his own glory (Proverbs 16:4; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:16).

Q. What was the state of all things by creation?

A. God looked upon all the work which he had made, and behold it was very good (Genesis 1:31).