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The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. God, who created everything, also upholds everything. He directs, regulates, and governs every creature, action, and thing, from the greatest to the least,[1] by his completely wise and holy providence.[2] He does so in accordance with his infallible foreknowledge[3] and the voluntary, unchangeable purpose of his own will,[4] all to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.[5]
[1] Heb 1:3, Dn 4:34-35, Ps 135:6, Acts 17:25-26,28, Jb 38-41, Mt 10:29-31, 6:26,30, Neh 9:6, Ps 114:14-16.
[2] Prv 15:3, 2 Chr 16:9, Ps 104:24, Ps 145:17.
[5] Is 63:14, Eph 3:10, Rom 9:17, Gn 45:7, Ps 145:7.
2. God is the first cause, and in relationship to him everything happens unchangeably and infallibly.[6] However, by this same providence, he orders things to happen from secondary causes. As a result of these secondary causes, some things must inevitably happen;[7] others may or may not happen depending on the voluntary intentions of the agents involved; and some things do not have to happen but may, depending on other conditions.[8]
[6] Acts 2:23, see under figures 3 and 4 above, Jer 32:19.
[8] Ex 21:13, Dt 19:5, 1 Kgs 22:28,34, Is 10:6-7, Gn 50:19-20.
3. God uses ordinary means to work out his providence day by day.[9] But, as he pleases,[10] he may work without,[11] beyond,[12] or contrary to these means.
[9] Acts 27: 24, 31, 44, Is 55:10-11, Hos 2:21-22.
[10] 2 Kgs 6:6, Dn 3:27, 1 Kgs 18:17-39, Jn 11:43-45, Rom 1:4.
[11] Hos 1:7, Mt 4:4, Jb 34:10.
4. God's providence reveals his almighty power, unknowable wisdom, and infinite goodness. His providence extends even to the fall[13] and to all other sins of angels and men.[14] These sins are not simply allowed by God, but are bound,[15] ordered, and governed by him in the fullness of his wisdom and power so that they fulfill his own holy purposes.[16] However, the sinfulness still belongs to the creature and does not proceed from God, whose holy righteousness does not and cannot cause or approve sin.[17]
[13] This statement is sustained by the doctrines of God's decrees and providence. See citations under Chapter 3 and Chapter 5, Sections 1, 2, 3.
[14] Rom 11:32-34, 2 Sm 24:1, 1 Chr 21:1, 1 Kgs 22:22-23, 1 Chr 10:4, 13-14, 2 Sm 16:10, Acts 2:23, 4:27-28, see citations under Chapter 3 and Chapter 5, Sections 1, 2, 3, Is 45:7.
[15] Acts 14:16, Ps 76:10, 2 Kgs 19:28, Is 10:5-7, 12, 15:
[16] Gn 50:20, Is 10:6-7, 12-15, see under figure 15 above.
[17] Jas 1:13-14, 17, 1 Jn 2:16, Ps 50:21.
5. In the fullness of his wisdom, righteousness, and grace God often allows his own children to be tempted in various ways and for a time to pursue the corruption of their own hearts. God does this to chastise them for their previous sins and to reveal to them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness in their hearts, so that they may be humbled.[18] In addition to various other just and holy results, believers are thereby raised to a closer and more constant dependence on God for their support and are also made more alert in detecting and resisting opportunities to sin.[19]
[18] 2 Chr 32:25,26,31, 2 Sm 24:1,25, Dt 8:2, Lk 22:31-32.
[19] 2 Cor 12:7-9, Ps 73, 77:1-12, Mk 14:66-72, Jn 21:15-19.
6. It is different for the wicked and the ungodly. As punishment for their previous sins, God, the righteous judge, spiritually blinds and hardens them in their own sinfulness.[20] From them God not only withdraws his grace, by which they might have been spiritually enlightened,[21] but sometimes he also withdraws whatever gift of spiritual understanding they already had[22] and deliberately exposes them to the opportunities for sinning which their corrupt nature naturally seeks.[23] He thereby gives them over to their own desires, to the temptations of the world, and to the power of Satan,[24] and so it happens that they harden themselves even under those circumstances which God uses to soften others.[25]
[20] Rom 1:24-26,28, 11:7-8, 2 Thes 2:11-12.
[22] Mt 13:12, 25:29, Acts 13:10-11, 2 Cor 11:13,15.
[24] Ps 81:11-12, 2 Thes 2:10-12, 2 Cor 2:11, 11:3.
[25] Ex 7:3, 8:15,32, 2 Cor 2:15-16, Is 8:14, 1 Pt 2:7-8, Is 6:9-10, Acts 28:26-27
7. Just as the providence of God in general extends to every creature, so, in a very special way it takes care of his church and orders all things for its good.[26]
[26] 1 Tm 4:10, Am 9:8-9, Rom 8:28, Is 43:3-5,14, Eph 1:22, Mt 16:18.
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