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A. It ought most assuredly. There is nothing absurd in it. We can conceive of devils as easily, and as clearly as we can of God, of holy angels, or of any invisible being whatever. There is no reason for rejecting it. On the contrary, we should believe it, because it is the account which God has given, because there is the same reason to believe it, that there is to believe the account of holy angels, and because it is very particularly intermixed with the history of Jesus Christ.

Q. 18. What is the consequence of a denial of this doctrine of fallen angels?

A. It leads to infidelity-to the rejection of the main truths of the gospel, viz. the fall of man, recovery by Jesus Christ, the day of judgment, and final retribution.

Q. 19. How ought we to feel and conduct, towards apostate angels?

A. We ought to hate their character, to condemn all their conduct, to fear their evil devices, to resist their wicked temptations, and to flee their unholy examples.

CHAPTER IX.

Creation and Primitive State of man.

Q. 1. When did God create man?

A. At the close, or on the latter part, of the sixth day from the commencement of the creation of the world. He was the last of God's created works.(*). Q. 2. In what state did God create mankind?

A. He created them male and female, and in His own image, that is, intelligent and holy, and thus resembling, in a degree, their Creator in his natural and moral perfections;-He created them in the state. of manhood, in full vigour of body and mind, in perfect felicity, and but little inferiour, in nature, or order, to the angels, and made them capable of perpetual progression in knowledge, holiness, and happiness.(b)

Q. 3. Is man a simple, or a compound being?

(a) See the first chapter of Genesis.

(b) Gen. 1. 27. So God created man in his own image; in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Eccl. 7. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Eph. 4. 24. And that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Gen. 1. 28. and God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing, that moveth upon the earth. Ps. 8. 5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

A. He is a compound being, made up of body and soul. He possesses a completely organized body, formed of the dust of the earth with the senses of feeling, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing; and a rational soul, a pure, uncompounded, spiritual, created substance or essence, having understanding, affections, and will.(c)

Q. 4.

What is the duration of man's existence? A. His body is mortal, and is of short continuance; but his soul is immortal, endless in its existence.(d)

Q. 5.

What relation does man sustain to this lower world?

A. He sustains the relation of its constituted head and lord.(e)

Q. 6. Where were the first human Pair placed at their creation?

A. They were placed in the garden of Eden, or the earthly paradise, in the enjoyment of every terrestrial good, that heart could wish.(f)

(c) Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Eccl. 12. 7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

(d) Ps. 90. 10. The days of our years are three score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four score years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Matt. 10, 28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(e) Gen. 1. 28. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Ps. 8. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.

(f) Gen. 2. 8, 9. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree, that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Q. 7. In what did the chief happiness of man consist in his primitive state?

A. In knowing, loving, serving, and enjoying God his Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor.

Q. 8. Were our first Parents put upon probation, as it respects their moral conduct, immediately after their creation?

A. They were. As soon as life commenced, their moral trial commenced.(5) Q. 9. In what relation did Adam our first Progenitor stand to his posterity?

A. He stood in relation to them, not only as their natural head, (they descending from him by ordinary generation,) but also as their federal or representative head, as it respects their moral state. He was to be, in both senses, the head of millions and millions of immortal beings.(h)

(g) Gen. 2. 15-17. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

(h) Rom. 5. 18, 19. Therefore as by the offence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous.

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CHAPTER X.

Rule of obedience and life to man in his primitive state.

Q. 1. What rule of obedience and life did God give to our first Parents, in the state, in which they were created?

A. He gave them what is usually denominated the moral law, which has its foundation in the nature and relation of beings, discoverable by the light of nature. It arises solely from the character of God and mankind, and the relations He sustains to them, and they sustain to Him, and to one another.

Q. 2. What is the nature or character of this law? A. It is spiritual and perfect;-extends to all the thoughts, affections, desires, purposes, words, and actions of men;-can never be abated, altered, or repealed; but is wholly immutable, and as durable as the existence of God and man.(")

Q. 3. How was the moral law, at first, delivered to mankind?

A. It was written on their hearts-impressed upon their consciences. By the proper use of their rational and moral faculties, they could attain to a knowledge of their duties. The Creator may also have particularly instructed our first Parents in this respect.(b)

(a) Ps. 119. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection; but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

(b) Rom. 2. 14, 15. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,

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