CHAPTER 4.–Of Creation.

I. It pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,[a] for the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,[b] in the beginning, to create, or make of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.[c]

[a] Heb. 1:2. John 1:2,3. Gen. 1:2. Job. 26:13. Job. 33:4.

[b] Rom. 1:20. Jer. 10:12. Ps. 104:24. Ps. 33:5,6.

[c] Gen. chap. 1. Heb. 11:3. Col. 1:16. Acts 17:24.

II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,[d] with reasonable and immortal souls,[e] endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image,[f] having the law of God written in their hearts,[g] and power to fulfil it;[h] and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.[i] Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;[k] which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.[l]

[d] Gen. 1:27.

[e] Gen. 2:7 with Eccl. 12:7 and Luke 23:43 and Matt. 10:28.

[f] Gen. 1:26. Col. 3:10. Eph. 4:24.

[g] Rom. 2:14,15.

[h] Eccl. 7:29.

[i] Gen. 3:6. Eccl. 7:29.

[k] Gen. 2:17. Gen. 3:8-11,23.

[l] Gen. 1:26,28.