THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 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. THAT is the chief end of man? ·WH Anfwer. Man's chief end, is to glorify God ,and to enjoy him for ever b. Q.2. What rule bath 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. 1 Q: 4. 1.a1 Cor.10.31.Whether there- 2. c2 Tim.3.16. All fcripture is fore ye eat or drink,or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Rom. 11. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things to whom be glory for e ver. Amen. given by infpiration ofGod,and is profitable fordoctrine,for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs. Eph. 2. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles 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 Chrift. v. 4. And thee, fhall perifh thou haft de- these 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 trust in the Lord God, that halt heard of me, in faith and love I may declare all thy works. which : ZA of ourselves unable and willing to refift them, to recover out of them, and to improve them m; and worthy to be left under the power of them n: We pray, That God would fo over-rule the world and all in it o, fubdue the flesh P, and reftrain Satan 9, order all but whenthey werecome, he withdrew,andfeparatedhimself,fearing them which were of the circumcifion. 7. 13. And the other Jews diflembled likewife with him, infomuch that Barnabas alfo was carried away with their dissimulation. 7. 14 But when I faw that they walked notuprightly,according to the truth of the gofpel, I faid unto Peter, 2 Chron. 18. 3. AndAhab kingoflfrael faidunto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he anfwered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people, and we will be with thee in thewar. Comparedwith 2 Chron. 19.2 And Jehu the fon of Hanani the feer, went out to meet him, and faid to king Jehofhaphat,fhouldft thouhelp the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? Therefore is wrathupon thee from before the Lord. m Kom. 7. 23, Rut I fee another lawinmymembers. warringagainst the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of fin, which is in my members. v. 24. O wretched man that I am, who fhall deliver me from the body of this death! 1 Chron 21.1. AndSatan ftood up against Ifrael,and provoked Davidto number Ifrael v.2. And David faidto Joab,and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Ifrael,from Beer-fhebaevento Dan, and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.v.3. And Joab aufwered,the Lord make his people an hundred times fo many more as they be: but, my lord the king,are theynot all my Lordsfervants? why thendoth my lord require this thing? why will he be a caule of treipafs to Ifrael? v. 4. things, Nevertheless,the kings word prevailedagainst Joab:wherefore Joab departed, 2Chron. 16.7.Andat that time Hanani the feer came to Afa king of Judah, and faid unto him, Becaule thou haft relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the hoftofthe king ofSyria efcaped out of thine hand. v. 8. Were not the Ethiopians and Lubims a huge holt, with very many chariotsand horfemen? yet because thou didst rely onthe Lord,hedelivered them into thine hand. 9. for the eyes of the Lord run toandfro throughout the whole earth, to fhew himfelf ftrong in the behalf of them, whofe heart is perfect towards him. Herein thou haft done foolishly; therefore from henceforth thou fhalt have wars. v. 10. Then Afa was wroth with the feer, and put him into aprifon-houfe:forhe was in a rage with him,because of this thing; and Afia oppreffed fome of the people the fame time. n Pfal. 81. 11. But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Ifrael would none of me. v. 12. So I gave them up to their own hearts luft: and they walked in their own councils. o John 17. 15. I Pray not that thou fhouldit take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. Pfal. 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right fpiritwithinme.Pfal.119.133. Order my fteps in thy word; and let notanyeniquity have dominion over me. q2 Cor. 12. 7. And left I fhould be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations. there things r; beftow and blefs all means of grace f, and quicken us to watchfulness in the ufe of them; that we and all his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to fin t; or,if tempted, that by his fpirit we may be powerfully fupported and enabled to ftand in the hour of temptation v; or, when fallen, raised again and recovered out of it w, and have a fanctified use and improvement thereof x: That our fanctification and falvation may be perfected y, Satan troden under our feet z, and we fully freed from fin, temptation, and. there was given to me a thorn in inner man; v. 17.That Chrift may the Beth, the meffenger of Satan to dwell in your hearts by faith; buffet me, left I fhould be exalted 1 Thefl. 3. 13. To the end,he may above measure.. 8. For thisthing ftablish yourhearts unblameable in I befought the Lord thrice; that it holinefs before God even our Famight depart from me. ther, at the coming of our Lord II Cor. 10. 12. Wherefore let Jefus Chrift with all his faints. him that thinketh he ftandeth,take Jude.. 24, Now unto him that is heed left he fall, v. 13. There hath able to keep you from falling,and no temptation taken you,but fuch to prefent you faultlefs before the as is common to man: But God is prefence of his glory with exceed faithful, who will not fuffer you to ing joy. be tempted above that you are able; w Pfal. 51.12. Reftore unto me but will with the temptation alfo the joy of thy falvation: and upmake away to escape,that ye may hold me with thy free fpirit. be able to bear it.. XI Pet.5.8.Befober, be vigilant f Heb. 13. 20. Now the God of because your adverfary the devil,as peace that brought again from the a roaring lion,walketh about seekdead our Lord, Jefus that great ing whom he may devour v. 9. thepherd of the fheep, through the Whom refift ftedfaft in the faith, blood of the everlafting covenant, knowing that the fame afflictions v. 21. Make you perfect in every are accomplished in your brethren good work,to do his will, working that are in the world. 10. But in you that which is well pleafing the God of all grace, who hath calin his fight,through Jefus Chrift; led us unto his eternal glory by t Mat, 26. 41. Watch and pray Chrift Jelus, after that ye have that ye enter not into temptation, fuffered a while,make you perfect, Pfal. 19.13.Keep back thy fervant ftablifh, ftrengthen, fettle you. alfo from prefumptuous fins, let y 2 Cor.13.7. Now I prayto God them not have dominion over me: that ye do no evil; not that we then fhall I be upright, and I fhall fhould appear approved, but that be innocent from the great tranf- ye should do that which is honeft greffion. tho' we be as reprobates v.9. For v Eph.3. 14.Forthis cause I bow we are glad when we are weak my knees unto the Father of our and ye are ftrong: this alfo we Lord Jefus Chrift, v. 15.Of whom with, even your perfection. the whole family in heaven and z Rom 16. 20. And the God of earth is named, v. 16. That he peace fhall bruife Satan underyour would grant you according to the feet fhortly,-Zech. 3, 2 And the riches of his glory,to be ftrength- Lord faidunto Satan, The Ord réned with might,by his spirit in the buke thee, O'Satan. even the Lord that and all evil for ever a. Q. 196. What doth the conclufion of the Lords prayer teach us ? A. The couclufion of the Lord's prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever, Amen. b) teacheth us to enforce our petitions with agruments c, which are to be taken, not from any worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God d: And with our Prayers to join praises e, afcribing to God alone eternal fovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious excellency ; in regard where that hath cholen Jerufalem,rebuke against thee. v. 9. To the Lord thee: is not this a brand pluckt our God belong mercies and forout of the fire? Luke 22. 31. And giveneffes, tho we have rebelled the Lord faid, Simon, Simon, be- against him. 1.16. O Lord accordhold, Satan hath defired to have ing to all thy righteousness, I beyou,that he may fift you as wheat: feech thee,let thine anger and thý 2. 32 But I have prayed for thee, fury be turned away from thy city that thy faith fail not; and when Jerufalem, v. 17. Now therefore, thou art converted,ftrengthen thy O our God, hear the prayer of brethren. thy fervant, and his fupplications, a John. 17. 15. I pray not that and caufe thy face to fhine upon thou shouldft take them out of the the fanctuary that is defolate, for world, but that thou fhouldft keep the Lord's fake. v.18. O my God, them from the evil.1 Theff. 5.23. incline thine ear, and hear; open And the very God of peace fancti- thine eyes, and behold our defolafy you wholly: And I pray God tions,and thy city, which is called your whole fpirit, and foul and bo- by thy name: for we do not predy, be preferved blamelefs unto the fent our fupplications before thee coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift. for our righteoufneffes,but for thy 196. b Mat 6. 13; great mercies. v 19. O Lord,hear, c Rom. 15. 30. Now I befeech O Lord, forgive, O Lord,hearken you, brethren, for the Lord Jefus and do, defer not, for thine own Chriff s fake, and for the love of fake, Omy God: for thy city,and the fpirit, that you ftrive together thy people are called by thy name. with me in your prayers to God, e Phil. 4, 6. Be careful for nofor me. thing:but inevery thing by prayer d Dan. 9, 4. And I prayed unto & fupplication with thanfgiving, the Lord my God, and made my let your requests be made known confeffion, and faid, O Lord, the unto God, &c. great and dreadful God, keeping fi Chron. 29. 10. Wherefore the covenant, and mercy to them David bleffed the Lord before all that love him, and to them that the congregation: and David faid keep his commandments. 7. O Bleiled be thou,Lord God of Ifrael Lord,righteoufnefsbelongethunto our father,for ever and ever v1. thee,but unto usconfufionoffaces, Thine, O Lord, is the greatnefs, as at this day; -- 8. O Lord, to and the power, and the glory, and us belongeth confufion of face, to the victory, and the majefty for our kings, to cur princes, and to all thatis in the heaven,and in the our fathers becaufe we have finned earth is thine; thine is the king ⚫dom whereof, as he is able and willing to help us g, fo we by faith are emboldned to plead with him that he would b, and quietly to rely upon him that he will fulfil our requests i, and, to teftify our defire and affurance, we fay, Amen k. dom, O Lord,and thou art exalted as head above all. v. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reigneft over all, and in thine hand is power and might, and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give ftrength unto all. v. 13. Now therefore, ourGod, we thank thee and praife thy glorious name. g Eph.3.20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we afk or think, according to the power that worketh in us. v. 21, Unto him be glory in the churchbyChrift Jefus,through out all ages, world without end. Amen. Luke 11, 13. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more fhall your heavenly Father give the holy spirit to them that afk him? h2 Chron.20. 6. And (Jehofhaphat) faid, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and ruleft not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withftand thee? v. 11. Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to caft us out of thy poffeffion, which thou haft given us to inherit. i2 Chron 14. 11. AndAfa cried unto the Lord his God, and faid, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go a gainst this multitude: O Lord,thou art our God,let not man prevail against thee. k 1 Cor. 14. 16. Elfe when thou fhalt blefs with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing he understandeth not what thou fayeft? Rev. 22. 20. He which teftifieth these things, faith, Surely 1 come quickly. Amen. Even fo, come, Lord Jefus. v. 21. The grace of our Lord JefusChrist be with you all. Amen. |