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The Baptist Catechism

Question 14

    What are God’s works of providence?

    God’s works of providence are his most holy,a wise,b and powerful preservingc and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.d

    1. aPsalm 145:17
    2. bIsaiah 28:29; Psalm 104:24
    3. cHebrews 1:3
    4. dPsalm 103:19; Matthew 10:29-31
    Beddome's Scriptural Exposition 41 questions answered from Scripture

    1. Is God’s providence universal? Yes.

      “His kingdom ruleth over all” Psalm 103:19

    2. Does it extend to all worlds? Yes.

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

    3. And to all creatures? Yes.

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

    4. Does it extend to inanimate creatures? Yes.

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

    5. And to the animal creation? Yes.

      “The stork knoweth her appointed times” Jeremiah 8:7

    6. 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

    7. And to kingdoms and societies of men? Yes.

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

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

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

    9. And over some persons? Yes.

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

    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

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

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

    2. Doth it extend to all natural actions? Yes.

      “In him we live and move” Acts 17:28

    3. 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

    4. And to all good actions? Yes.

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

    5. And to evil actions? Yes.

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

    6. And can God bring good out of evil? Yes.

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

    7. Are God’s providences mysterious? Yes.

      “His judgments are a great deep” Psalm 36:6

    8. But are they harmonious? Yes.

      “They work together” Romans 8:28

    1. Is preservation an act of providence? Yes.

      “Which holdeth our soul in life” Psalm 66:9

    2. Did God preserve us in our infant state? Yes.

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

    3. And will he preserve us in declining years? Yes.

      “To hoary hairs will I carry you” Isaiah 46:4

    4. Doth he give us food? Yes.

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

    5. And rest? Yes.

      “He giveth his beloved sleep” Psalm 127:2

    6. Doth he preserve us from threatening dangers? Yes.

      “He keepeth all our bones” Psalm 34:20

    7. 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

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

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

    1. Is government also an act of providence? Yes.

      “God ruleth by his power for ever” Psalm 66:7

    2. 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

    3. 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

    4. 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

    5. But can he also restrain those operations? Yes.

      “He shut the lion’s mouth” Daniel 6:22

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

      “God ruleth in Jacob” Psalm 59:13

    1. Is God’s government supreme? Yes.

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

    2. Is it just and rightful? Yes.

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

    3. Is it most wise? Yes.

      “How unsearchable are his judgments” Romans 11:33

    4. Is it holy? Yes.

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

    5. 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

    6. Is it effectual and uncontrollable? Yes.

      “What his soul desireth that he doth” Job 23:13

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

      “Commit thy way unto the Lord” Psalm 37:5

    2. And for silence and submission? Yes.

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

    3. And for praise and thanksgiving? Yes.

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

    Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.

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