HenryWSC 4

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 4

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Is God a Spirit? Yes: for Christ himself has said, God is a Spirit,
John 4:24
. Is he a pure Spirit? Yes: for God is light, and with him is no darkness at all,
1 John 1:5
. Has he a body as we have? No: Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as a man seeth?
Job 10:4
. Can he be seen with bodily eyes? No. For he is one whom no man hath seen, or can see,
1 Tim. 6:16
. Are not the angels spirits? Yes: He maketh his angels spirits,
Ps. 104:4
. Are not the souls of men spirits? Yes: for he formeth the spirit of man within him,
Zech. 12:1
. But is God a Spirit like unto them? No: for he is the Father of spirits,
Heb. 12:9
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Is God infinite? Yes: for we cannot by searching find out God,
Job 11:7
. Is he contained in any place? No: for the heaven of heavens cannot contain him,
1 Kings 8:27
. Is he everywhere present? Yes: for whither can we go from his Spirit, or flee from his presence?
Ps. 139:7
. Can any hide himself in secret places that God shall not see him? No: for do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord,
Jer. 23:24
.
Is God eternal? Yes: from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,
Ps. 90:2
. Had he beginning of days? No: for he is the Ancient of days,
Dan. 7:9
. Shall there be any end of his life? No: for he is the same, and his years have no end,
Ps. 102:27
. Is there with him any succession of time? No : for his days are not as the days of man,
Job 10:5
. Can he die? No: he is the only potentate, that hath immortality,
1 Tim. 6:16
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Is God unchangeable? Yes: for he is the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning,
James 1:17
. Is there any decay of his perfections? No : for he fainteth not, neither is weary,
Isa. 40:28
. Is there any alteration in his counsels? No: for he is not a man that he should repent,
1 Sam. 15:29
. Is it well for us that he is unchangeable? Yes: I am the Lord, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed,
Mal. 3:6
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Is God infinite in his being? Yes: for he has said, I AM THAT I AM,
Ex. 3:14
. Is he self-existent? Yes: for the Father hath life in himself
John 5:26
. Is he the best of beings? Yes: for who is a God like unto him?
Ex. 15:11
. Is he the first of causes? Yes: for he is the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him,
1 Cor. 8:6
. Is he the highest of powers? Yes: for he Kingof kings, and Lord of lords,
1 Tim. 6:15
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Is he a God of perfect knowledge? Yes: for his understanding is infinite,
Ps. 147:5
. Can any thing be hid from him? No: for all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do,
Heb. 4:13
. Does he know things to come? Yes: for he declareth the end from the beginning,
Isa. 46:10
. Does he know our hearts? Yes: for he understandeth our thoughts afar off;
Ps. 139:2
. Does he know all our actions? Yes: for his eyes are upon the ways of man,
Job 34:21
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Is God infinitely wise? Yes: for wisdom and might are his,
Dan. 2:20
. Are all his works wisely done? Yes: in wisdom he hath made them all,
Ps. 104:24
. And particularly the work of redemption? Yes: for it is the wisdom of God in a mystery,
1 Cor. 2:7
. Can the wisdom of God’s counsels be fathomed? No : 0 the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
Rom. 11:33
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Is. he a God of power? Yes: God hath spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God,
Ps. 62:11
. Is he Almighty? Yes: he is the Lord God Almighty, Rev. xv. 3. Is his power irresistible? Yes: for none can stay his hand,
Dan. 4:35
. Is his sovereignty incontestable? Yes: for he giveth not account of any of his matters,
Job 33:13
. Is any thing too hard for him? No: for with God all things are possible,
Matt. 19:26
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Is he a God of perfect holiness? Yes: for holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts,
Isa. 6:3
. Is there iniquity with God? No: he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity,
Heb. 1:13
. Is this his glory? Yes: for he is glorious in holiness,
Ex. 15:11
. And must we give him the glory of it? Yes: give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness,
Ps. 30:4
. And must we study herein to resemble him? Yes: Be ye holy, for I am holy,
1 Pet. 1:16
.
HenryWSC 4