Clause 1

What believest thou when thou sayest, I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth?

I believe the everlasting Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, who made of nothing Heaven and Earth, with all that are in them; who likewise upholdeth and governeth the same by his eternal Counsel and Providence. This God I believe to be my God and Father for Christ sake; and therefore so trust in him, and rely on him, that I make no doubt but he will provide all things necessary both for my soul and body; and further, whatsoever evils he sendeth on me in this troublesome life, he will turn them to my safety; seing both he is able to do it, as being God Almighty, and willing to do it, as being a bountiful Father.

What is the Providence of God?

The almighty Power of God, every where present, whereby he doth as it were by his hand uphold and govern Heaven and Earth, with all the Creatures therein, so that those things which grow in the Earth, as likewise rain and drowth, fruitfulness and barenness, meat and and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty; in a word, all things come not rashly and by chance, but by his fatherly Counsel and will.

What doth this knowledg of the Creation and Providence of God profit us?

That in adversity we may be patient, and thankful in prosperity, and have hereafter our chiefest hope reposed in God our most faithful Father; being sure that there is nothing which may withdraw us from his love; forasmuch as all creatures are so in his Power, that without his Will they are not able not only to do any thing, but not so much as once to move.

What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?”

That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them: who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things.

That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.