SHORTER CATECHISM. Agreed upon by the Affembly of DIVINES A T WESTMINSTER. With affistance of COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. A S A part of the covenanted uniformity in religion betwixt the churches of CHRIST in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland. AND Approved Anno 1648, by the General Affembly of the CHURCH of Scotland, to be a DIRECTORY for Catechifing such as are of weaker capacity. With the proofs from the Scripture. GLASGOW, Printed by JAMES KNOX. 1752 Affembly at Edinburgh, July 28. 1648.Seff. 19. Tter Catechifim agreed upon by the allembly of divines fit HE general affembly having seriously confidered the Shor ting at Westminster, with affiftance of commiffioner's from this kirk; do find, upon due examination thereof, that the faid Catechifm is agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, difcipline and government of this kirk: and therefore approve the faid Shorter Catechism,as a part of the intended uniformity, to be a directory for catechifing fuch as are of a weaker capacity. Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES at WESTMINSTER: Examined and approved, Anno 1648, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, &c. Question 1. Anfwer. Man's chief end, is to glorify God HAT is the chief end of man?· , and to enjoy him for ever b. Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him? A. The word of God, which is contained in the fcriptures of the old and new teftaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him d. Q. 3. What do the fcriptures principally teach? A. The fcriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man e. Q. 4. 1.a1 Cor.10.31.Whether there- 2. c2 Tim.3.16. All fcripture'is fore ye eat or drink,or whatsoever given by infpiration ofGod,and is ye do, do all to the glory of God. profitable fordoctrine,for reproof, Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and for correction, for inftruction in through him, and to him are all righteousness. Eph. 2. 20. And are things: to whom be glory for e- built upon the foundation of the aver. Amen. poftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift b Pfal. 73. 25. Whom have I in himself beingthechiefcorner-ftone. heaven but thee? and there is none di John1.3. That which we have upon earth that I defire befides feen and heard, declare we unto thee. v. 26, My flesh, and my heart you, that ye alfo may have fellowfaileth: but God is the ftrength of fhip with us: and truly our fellow. my heart, and my portion for ever, fhip is with the Father, and with 7.27. For lo, they that are far from his Son Jefus Christ. v. 4. And thee, fhall perifh: thou haft de- thefe things write we unto you, troyed all them that go a whoring that your joy may be full. from thee, v.28. But it is good for 3. e 2 Tim. 1. 13. Hold faft the me to draw near to God I have form of found words, which thou put my truft in the Lord God, that halt heard of me, in faith and love I may declare all thy works. Z4 which Q. 4. What is God? A. God is a spirit f, Infinite g, Eternal h, and unchange. able i, in his being k, Wifdom 1, power m, Holiness n, Juftice, goodness and truth o. Q. 5. Are there more God's than one? A. There is but one only, the living and true God P, Q. 6. How many perfons are there in the Godhead? A. There are three perfons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son,and the holy Ghost; and these three are one God the fame in fubftance, equal in power and Glory 9. Q7. What are the Decrees of God? A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpofe according which is in Chrift Jefus, 2 Tim, 3. 16. (See in letter c,) 4. fohn 4, 24. God isa fpirit, and they that worship him, muft worthip him in spirit and in truth. g Job. 11. 7 Cantt houbyle rch ing find out God? Canft thou find outthe Almighty unto perfection? v. 8 It is as high asheaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft thou know? v, 9, The meafurethereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea, h Pfal. 90. 2, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world; even from everlafting to everlafting thou art God. i James 1. 17. Every good gift & everyperfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights,withwhomisno variablenefs,neither fhaddow of turning. k Exod. 3. 14, And God faid un to Mofes, I AM THAT I AM; and he faid, thus fhalt thou fay unto the children of Ifrael I AM hath fent me unto you. 1 Pfal. 147,5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his under Itanding is infinite. m Rev. 4,8. And the four bealls had each of them fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within and they relt not day and night, faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. to n Rev. 15. 4. Who fhallnot fear thee, O Lord,& glorify thyname? for thou only art holy; for all nations fhall come and worship bes fore thee; for thy judgments are made manifeft. o Exod. 34,6. And the Lordpaffed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord, God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering & abundantin goodness and truth, v. 7.keeping mercy for thoufands, forgiving iniquityandtranfgreffion and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting theiniquityof the lathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. 5 p Deut. 6. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. Jer. 10, 10. But the Lord is the true God,he is the living God,and an everlasting king, at his wrath the earth fhall tremble,and the nations fhall not be able to abide his indignation. 6. q, John 5, 7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,the Word, and the ho ly Ghoft; and these three are one. Mat. 28, 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghoft 7rEph. to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatfoever comes to pass r. Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. -Q9. What is the work of creation ? A. The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of fix days, and all very good f. Q. 10. How did God create man? A. God created man male and female,after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness,with dominion o ver the creatures t Q.11. What are God's works of providence? A. God's works of providence are, his most holy v, wife w, and powerful preserving x, and governing all his crea 7. r Eph 1. 4. According as he thing that creepethupon theearth. hath chofen us in him, before the v. 27. So God created man in his foundation of the world, that we own image in the image of God fhould be holy, and without blame created he him; male and famale before him in love.v,11. In whom created he them. 7, 28 And God alfo we have obtained an inheri- bleffed them, and God faid unto tance, being predeflinated accord- them, Be fruitful, and multiplyand ing to the purpose of him who replenish the earth, and fubdue it: work ethallthings after the counfel and have dominion over the fish of of his own will. Rom. 9. 22. What if God, willing to fhew his wrath and to make his power known,en dured withmuch long-fuffering the yeffels of wrath fitted to deftruction;,23. And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the veffels of mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory? 9.fGen.1.throughout.Heb.11.3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,fo that things which are feen were not made of things which do appear. the sea,andover the fowl of the air, &over every living thingthat moveth upon the earth, Col,3 10. And have put on the new man,which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of himthat createdhim,Eph 4. 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteoufnefs,and true holiness, 11. v Pfal.145. 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways,and holy in all his works. w Pfal. 104. 24. O Lord, how, manifold are thy works! in wifdom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ifa. 28. 29. This alfo cometh forth from the Lord of holts, which is wonderful in counfel, and excellent in 10. t Gen. 1.26. AndGod faid, Let us make manin our own image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, working, and over the cattle, and over all, the earth,and over every creepingn els of his glory, and the exprefs xHeb.1.3.Whobeing the bright |