Of the Baptist Catechism
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Question What are God’s works of providence?
Answer God’s works of providence are his most holy,1 wise,2 and powerful preserving3 and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. 5
[1] Psalm 145:17
[2] Isaiah 28:29; Psalm 104:24
[3] Hebrews 1:3
[4] Psalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29-31

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Is God’s providence universal?
Yes.

His kingdom ruleth over all,
Psalm 103:19

Does it extend to all worlds?
Yes.

Whatsoever the Lord pleased that did he in heaven and in earth,
Psalm 135:6

And to all creatures?
Yes.

He upholdeth all things by the word of his power,
Hebrews 1:3

Does it extend to inanimate creatures?
Yes.

He binds the sweet influences of the Pleiades, and looses the bands of Orion,
Job 38:31

And to the animal creation?
Yes.

The stork knoweth her appointed times,
Jeremiah 8:7

Does it order all events relative to particular persons?
Yes.

Man’s days are determined, the number of his months are with God,
Job 14:5

And to kingdoms and societies of men?
Yes.

He changeth the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and setteth up
Daniel 2:21

Doth God exercise a special providence over some places?
Yes.

Thus Canaan was a land that God cared for,
Deuteronomy 11:12

And over some persons?
Yes.

He is the Saviour of all men, but especially of them that believe,
1 Timothy 4:10

Is it a desirable thing to be interested in God’s special providence?
Yes.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favour which thou bearest to thy- people,
Psalm 106:4


Doth God’s providence extend to all actions?
Yes.

A man’s heart deviseth his way, but God directeth his steps,
Proverbs 16:9

Doth it extend to all natural actions?
Yes.

In him we live and move,
Acts 17:28

And to all fortuitous actions?
Yes.

Thus a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness,
1 Kings 22:34

And to all good actions?
Yes.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
Psalm 37:23

And to evil actions?
Yes.

It was not you that sent me hither, but God,
Genesis 45:8

And can God bring good out of evil?
Yes.

You thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good,
Genesis 50:20

Are God’s providences mysterious?
Yes.

His judgments are a great deep,
Psalm 36:6

But are they harmonious?
Yes.

They work together,
Romans 8:28


Is preservation an act of providence?
Yes.

Which holdeth our soul in life,
Psalm 66:9

Did God preserve us in our infant state?
Yes.

Thou art my God from my mother’s belly,
Psalm 22:10

And will he preserve us in declining years?
Yes.

To hoary hairs will I carry you,
Isaiah 46:4

Doth he give us food?
Yes.

He filleth our hearts with food and gladness,
Acts 14:17

And rest?
Yes.

He giveth his beloved sleep,
Psalm 127:2

Doth he preserve us from threatening dangers?
Yes.

He keepeth all our bones,
Psalm 34:20

And endow us with wisdom for our several trades?
Yes.

Bezaleel and Oholiab were filled with the spirit of God in all manner of workmanship,
Exodus 35:31

Does God’s care extend to the meanest creatures?
Yes.

Not a sparrow shall fall to the ground without your Father,
Matthew 10:29


Is government also an act of providence?
Yes.

God ruleth by his power for ever,
Psalm 66:7

Doth God maintain the laws and ordinances of nature?
Yes.

Thus we read of his covenant of the day, and his covenant of the night,
Jeremiah 33:20

But doth he sometimes suspend and act contrary to them?
Yes.

So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day,
Joshua 10:13

Doth he uphold all creatures in their operations?
Yes.

The eagle mounteth up at his command, and maketh her nest on high,
Job 39:27

But can he also restrain those operations?
Yes.

He shut the lion’s mouth,
Daniel 6:22

Doth he exercise a peculiar government over the church?
Yes.

God ruleth in Jacob,
Psalm 59:13


Is God’s government supreme?
Yes.

He is King of kings and Lord of lords,
Revelation 19:16

Is it just and rightful?
Yes.

Thine is the kingdom, O Lord,
1 Chronicles 29:11

Is it most wise?
Yes.

How unsearchable are his judgments,
Romans 11:33

Is it holy?
Yes.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works,
Psalm 145:17

Is it absolute and arbitrary?
Yes.

Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters,
Job 33:13

Is it effectual and uncontrollable?
Yes.

What his soul desireth that he doth,
Job 23:13


Is God’s providential government an argument for trust and confidence?
Yes.

Commit thy way unto the Lord,
Psalm 37:5

And for silence and submission?
Yes.

Be still, and know that I am God,
Psalm 46:10

And for praise and thanksgiving?
Yes.

Allelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,
Revelation 19:6

From A Scriptural Exposition of the Baptist Catechism

The Westminster Larger Catechism Copy a link to this section

#18 Copy this
Question What are God's works of providence?
Answer God's works of providence are his most holy,1 wise,2 and powerful preserving3 and governing4 all his creatures; ordering them, and all their actions,5 to his own glory.6
[1] Psalm 145:17
[2] Psalm 104:24; Isaiah 28:29
[3] Hebrews 1:3
[4] Psalm 103:19
[5] Matthew 10:29–31; Genesis 45:7
[6] Romans 11:36; Isaiah 63:14