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?

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 testaments, 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 inspiration 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 righteoufnefs. 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-stone. 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 forever, fhip is with the Father, and with 3.27. For lo, they that are far from his Son Jefus Christ. 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.

Z 4

which

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a fpirit f, Infinite g, Eternal h, and unchange. able i, in his being k, Wifdom I, 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 Ghoft; and the'e three are one God the fame in fubftance, equal in power and Glory q.

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 is a fpirit, and they that worthip him, mult worthip him in fpirit and in truth. g Job. 11. Canftthoubyfe 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 everlasting 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.

IPfal. 147,5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his under Itanding is infinite.

m Rev. 4,8. And the four beafts 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,

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.

5p 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 everlafting king; at his wrath the earth fhall tremble,and the nations fhall not be able to abide his indignation.

6. 9, John 5, 7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,the Word, and the ho ly Ghoft; and thefe 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 7+ Eph.

to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pafs 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, righteoufnefs, 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 moft holy v, wife w, and powerful preferving x, and preferving x, and governing all his

crea

7. r Epb t. 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, Thould 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 counsel and have dominion over the fifh of of his own will. Rom. 9. 22. What the fea,andover the fowl of the air, 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?

&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 createdbim,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

9.fGen.1.throughout.Heb.11.3.
Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the in all his works.
word of God,fo that things which
are feen were not made of things
which do appear.

w Pfal. 104. 24. O Lord, how, manifold are thy works! in wif dom haft thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Ifa. 28. 29. This alfo cometh forth from the Lord of hofts, which is wonderful in counfel, and excellent in working,

10. t Gen. 1.26. And God faid, Let us make manin our own image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fifh of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all, xHeb.1.3.Whobeing the brightthe earth,and over every creepingn els of his glory, and the exprefs

creatures, and all their actions y.

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercife to ward man in the estate wherein he was created?

A. When God had created man, he entred into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience: forbidding him to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death z.

Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate where in they were created?

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by finning against God a.

Q. 14. What is Sin?

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or tranfgreffion of, the law of God b.

Q. 15. What was the fin whereby our first parents fell from the eftate wherein they were created?

A. The fin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit c.

image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself, purged our fins, fat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. y Pfal. 103. 19. The Lord hath prepared histhrone in the heavens, and his kingdom ruleth over all. Mat. 10.29. Are not two fparrows fold for a farthing? and one of them fhall not fall on the ground without your father. v. 30. But the very hairs of your head are all numbred. v. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

12. Z Gal. 3. 12, And the law is not of faith; but, the man that doth them,fnall live in them. Gen. 2. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou fhalt not eat of it: for in the day thou eatest thereof, thou shalt furely die.

13. Gen. 3. 6. And when the woman faw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleafant to the eyes,and a tree to be defired

Q. 16.

to make one wife; fhe took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave alfo to her husband with her, and he did eat. v. 7. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they fewed fig-leaves together,and made themselves aprons. v.8. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the prefence of the Lord God, amongst the trees of the garden. v. 13. And the LordGod faid unto the woman, What is this that thou haft done? and the woman faid, the ferpent beguiled me,and I did eat.Eccl.7.29;

o,this only have Ifound, thatGod hath made man upright; but they have fought out many inventions,

14 b John 3. 4. Whofoever committeth fin, tranfgreffeth alfo the law; for fin is the tranfgreffion of the law.

15. c Gen. 3.6. (See in letter a.) v, 12. The woman whom thou ga

Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first tranfgreffion? A. The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himfelf, but for his pofterity, all mankind defcending from him by ordinary generation, finned in him, and fell with him in his firft tranfgreffion d.

Q. 17. Into what eftate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of fin and mifery e.

Q. 18. Wherein confifts the finfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. The finfulness of that eftate, whereinto man fell, confifts in the guilt of Adam's first fin the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original fin; together with all actual tranfgreffions which proceed from it f.

Q. 19.What is the mifery of that eftate whereinto man fell? A. All mankind by their fall loft communion with God g,

16. d Gen. 2. 16. And the Lord God commanded the man, faying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayeft freely eat.v. 17. But of the tree ofthe knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou fhalt furely die. Rom. 5 12. Wherefore,as by one man fin entred into the world, and death by fin; and to death paffed upon all men,forthat all have finned. 1 Cor. 15.21.For finceby mancame death, by man came alfo the refurrection of the dead. v. 22.For as in Adam alldie,fo in Chrift shall all be made alive

arc

velt to be with me, fhe gave me of mansdifobediencemany were made the tree, and I did eat. finners: fo by the obedience ofone, fhallmany be made righteous, Rom. 5.Fromverse 10.tothe20. Eph.2.1, And you hath he quickned, who were dead in trefpaffes and fins. v. 2. Wherein in times past ye walked according to the courfe of this world,according the prince of the power of the air, the fpirit that now worketh in the children of difobedience.".3.Among whom alfo we all had our converfation in times palt, in the lufts of our flesh, fulfilling the defires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by na ture the children of wrath even as others. James 1. 14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luft, and enticed, v. 15. Then when luft hath conceived, it bringeth forth fin: and fin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Mat. 5. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, falle witness, blafphemies.

17. e Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore, as by one man fin entred into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men,forthat all have finned.

18. f Rom. 5. 12. Wherefore,as by one man fin entred into the world, and death by fin; and fo death paffed upon all men, for that all have finned.v.19.For as by one

19. g Gen. 3. 8.And they heard the voice of the LordGod walking