The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Form of Presbyterial Church-Government
The Directory for the Public Worship of God Directions for Family-Worship
The Sum of Saving Knowledge etc.
THE SHORTER CATECHISM.
glorify Goda, and to enjoy him for everb.
a 1 Cor. 10:31; Rom 11:36 b Ps.73:25-28
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 scriptures of the Old
and New Testamentsc, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and
enjoy himd.
c 2 Tim. 3:16 d 1 John 1:3,4
Q. 3. What do the scriptures principally teach ? A. The scriptures
principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God
requires of mane.
e 2 Tim. 1:13 (See in letter c above)
Q. 4. What is God ? A. God is a Spiritf, infiniteg, eternalh, and
unchangeablei, in his beingk, wisdoml, powerm, holinessn, justice,
goodness, and trutho.
f John 4:24 g Job 11:7-9 h Ps. 90:2 i James 1:17 k Exod. 3:14 l Ps. 147:5 m
Rev. 4:8 n Rev.15:4 o Exod. 34:6,7
Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one ? A. There is but One only, the living
and true Godp.
p Deut. 6:4; Jer. 10:10
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead ? A. There are three
persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these
three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and gloryq.
q 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19
Q. 7. What are the decrees of God ? A. The decrees of God are, his eternal
purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory,
he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to passr.
r Eph. 1:4,11; Rom. 9:22,23
Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees ? A. God executeth his decrees in
the works of creation and providence.
Q. 9. 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 six
days, and all very goods.
s Gen. 1 throughout; Heb. 11:3
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
over the creaturest.
t Gen. 1:26-28; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24
Q. 11. What are God's works of providence ? A. God's works of providence
are, his most holyv, wisew, and powerful preservingx and governing all his
creatures, and all their actionsy.
v Ps. 145:17 w Ps. 104:24; Isa. 28:29 x Heb. 1:3 y Ps. 103:19; Matt.
10:29-31
Q.12. What special act of providence did God exercise toward .man in the
estate wherein he was created ? A. When God had created man, he entered
into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience;
forbidding him to eat of the tree of the know ledge of good and evil, upon
the pain of deathz.
z Gal. 3:12; Gen. 2:17
Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein 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 sinning against
Goda.
a Gen. 3:6-8,13; Eccl. 7:29
Q. 14. What is sin ? A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or
transgression of, the law of Godb.
b 1 John 3:4
Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate
wherein they were created ? A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from
the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden
fruitc.
c Gen. 3:6 (See in letter a above), 12
Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression ? A. The covenant
being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all
mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and
fell with him, in his first transgressiond.
d Gen. 2:16,17; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21,22
Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind ? A. The fall brought
mankind into an estate of sin and miserye.
e Rom. 5:12
Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell ?
A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt
of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption
of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with
all actual transgressions which proceed from itf.
f Rom. 5:10-20; Eph. 2:1-3; James 1:14,15; Matt. 15:19
Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell ? A. All
mankind by their fall lost communion with Godg, are under his wrath and
curseh, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself,
and to the pains of hell for everi.
g Gen. 3:8,10,24 h Eph. 2:2,3; Gal. 3:10 i Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt.
25:41,46
Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery
? A. God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected
some to everlasting lifek, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver
them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate
of salvation by a Redeemerl.
k Eph. 1:4 l Rom. 3:20-22; Gal. 3:21,22
Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect ? A. The only Redeemer of God's
elect is the Lord Jesus Christm, who, being the eternal Son of God, became
mann, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct
natures, and one person, for evero.
m 1 Tim. 2:5,6 n John 1:14; Gal. 4:4 o Rom. 9:5; Luke 1:35; Col. 2:9; Heb.
7:24,25
Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become .man? A. Christ, the
Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true bodyp, and a reasonable
soulq, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the
Virgin Maryr, and born of her, yet without sins.
p Heb. 2:14,16; Heb. 10:5 q Matt. 26:38 r Luke 1:27,31,35,42; Gal. 4:4 (See
letter n above)
Q. 23. What offices doth Christ excecute as our Redeemer ? A. Christ, as
our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a
king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltationt.
t Acts 3:21,22; Heb. 12:25 compare with 2 Cor. 13:3; Heb. 5:5-7; Heb. 7:25;
Ps. 2:6; Isa. 9:6,7; Matt. 21:5; Ps. 2:8-11
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet ? A. Christ
executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and
Spirit, the will of God for our salvationv.
v John 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; John 15:15; John 20:31
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest ? A. Christ executeth
the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to
satisfy divine justicew, and reconcile us to Godx; and in making continual
intercession for usy.
w Heb. 9:14,28 x Heb. 2:17 y Heb. 12:24,25
Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the ofiice of a king ? A. Christ executeth
the office of a king, in subduing us to himselfz, in rulinga and defending
usb, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemiesc.
z Acts 15:14-16 a Isa. 33:22 b Isa. 32:1,2 c 1 Cor. 15:25; Ps. 110
throughout
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist ? A. Christ's humiliation
consisted in his being born, and that in a low conditiond, made under the
lawe, undergoing the miseries of this lifef, the wrath of Godg, and the
cursed death of the crossh; in being buriedi, and continuing under the
power of death for a timek.
d Luke 2:7 e Gal. 4:4 f Heb. 12:2,3; Isa. 53:2,3 g Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46
h Phil.2:8 i 1 Cor. 15:3,4 k Acts 2:24-27,31
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation ? A. Christ's exaltation
consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third dayl, in
ascending up into heavenm, in sitting at the right hand of God the Fathern,
and in coming to judge the world at the last dayo.
l 1 Cor. 15:4 m Mark 16:19 n Eph. 1:20 o Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ ? A.
We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the
effectual application of it to usp by his Holy Spiritq.
p John 1:11,12 q Tit. 3:5,6
Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working
faith in usr, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual callings.
r Eph. 1:13,14; John 6:37,39; Eph. 2:8 s Eph. 3:17; 1 Cor. 1:9
Q. 31. What is effectual calling ? A. Effectual calling is the work of
God's Spiritt, whereby, convincing us of our sin and miseryv, enlightening
our minds in the knowledge of Christw, and renewing our willsx, he doth
persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the
gospely.
t 2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Thess. 2:13,14 v Acts 2:37 w Acts 26:18 x Ezek. 36:26,27 y
John 6:44,45; Phil. 2:13
Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this
life ? A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of
justificationz, adoptiona, and sanctification, and the several benefits
which in this life do either accompany or flow from themb.
z Rom. 8:30 a Eph. 1:5 b 1 Cor. 1:26,30
Q. 33. What is justification ? A. Justification is an act of God's free
grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sinsc, and accepteth us as righteous in
hls sightd, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to use, and
received by faith alonef.
c Rom. 3:24,25; Rom. 4:6-8 d 2 Cor. 5:19,21 e Rom. 5:17-19 f Gal. 2:16;
Phil. 3:9
Q. 34. What is adoption ? A. Adoption is an act of God's free graceg,
whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the
privileges of the sons of Godh.
g 1 John 3:1 h John 1:12; Rom. 8:17
Q. 35. What is sanctification ? A. Sanctification is the work of God's free
gracei, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of Godk,
and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto
righteousnessl.
i 2 Thess. 2:13 k Eph. 4:23,24 l Rom. 6:4,6; Rom. 8:1
Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from
justification, adoption, and sanctfication ? A. The benefits which in this
life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification,
are, assurance of God's love, peace of consciencem, joy in the Holy Ghostn,
increase of graceo, and perseverance therein to the endp.
m Rom. 5:1,2,5 n Rom. 14:17 o Prov. 4:18 p 1 John 5:13; 1 Pet. 1:5
Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death ? A. The
souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holinessq, and do
immediately pass into gloryr; and their bodies, being still united to
Christs, do rest in their gravest till the resurrectionv.
q Heb. 12:28 r 2 Cor. 5:1,6,8; Phil. 1:23; Luke 23:43 s 1 Thess 4:14 t Isa.
57:2 v Job 19:26,27
Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection ?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in gloryw, shall be
openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgmentx, and made
perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of Gody to all eternityz.
w 1 Cor. 15:43 x Matt. 25:23; Matt. 10:32 y 1 John 3:2; 1 Cor. 13:12 z 1
Thess. 4:17
Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man? A. The duty which God
requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed willa.
a Micah 6:8; 1 Sam. 15:22
Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience ?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the
moral lawb.
b Rom. 2:14,15; Rom. 10:5
Q. 4l. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended ? A. The moral law is
summarily comprehended in the ten commandmentsc.
c Deut 10:4; Matt. 19:17
Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments ? A. The sum of the ten
commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our
soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as
ourselvesd.
d Matt. 22:37-40
Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments ? A. The preface to the
ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondagee.
e Exod. 20:2
Q. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us ? A. The
preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord,
and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his
commandmentsf.
f Luke 1:74,75; 1 Pet. 1:15-19
Q. 45. Which is the first commandment ? A. The first commandment is, Thou
shalt have no other gods before meg.
g Exod. 20:3
Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment? A. The first commandment
requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our
Godh, and to worship and glorify him accordinglyi.
h 1 Chron. 28:9; Deut. 26:17 i Matt.4:10; Ps. 29:2
Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment ? A. The first
commandment forbiddeth the denyingk, or not worshipping and glorifying the
true God as Godl, and our Godm; and the giving of that worship and glory to
any other, which is due to him alonen.
k Ps. 14:1 l Rom. 1:21 m Ps. 81:10,11 n Rom. 1:25
Q. 48. What are we specially taught by these words [before me] in the first
commandment ? A. These words [before me] in the first commandment teach us,
That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased
with, the sin of having any other godo.
o Ezek. 8:5,6; Ps. 96:20,21
Q. 49. Which is the second commandment ? A. The second commandment is, Thou
shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any liheness of any thing
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that .i.love; love me,
and keep my commandmentsp.
p Exod. 20:4-6.
Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment ? A. The second
commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and
entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in
his wordq.
q Deut. 32:46; Matt. 28:20; Acts. 2:42
Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment ? A. The second
commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by imagesr, or any other way
not appointed in his words.
r Deut. 4:15-19; Exod. 32:5,8 s Deut. 12:31,32
Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment ? A. The
reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over ust,
his propriety in usv, and the zeal he hath to his own worshipw.
t Ps. 95:2,3,6 v Ps. 45:11 w Exod. 34:13,14
Q. 53. Which is the third commandment ? A. The third commandment is, Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vainx.
x Exod. 20:7
Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment? A. The third commandment
requireth the holy and reverent use of God's namesy, titlesz, attributesa,
ordinancesb, wordc and worksd.
y Matt. 6:9; Deut. 28:58 z Ps. 68:4 a Rev. 15:3,4 b Mal. 1:11,14 c Ps.
138:1,2 d Job 36:24
Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment ? A. The third
commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God
maketh himself knowne.
e Mal. 1:6,7,12; Mal.2:2; Mal. 3:14
Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment ? A. The reason
annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this
commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not
suffer them to escape his righteous judgmentf.
f 1 Sam. 2:12,17,22,29; 1 Sam. 3:13; Deut. 28:58,59
Q. 57. Which is the fourth commandment? A. The fourth commandment is,
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou, labour, and
do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in
it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea,
and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord
blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed itg.
g Exod. 20:8-11
Q. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment ? A. The fourth
commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath
appointed in his word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy
sabbath to himselfh.
h Deut. 5:12-14
Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weehly sabbath ?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God
appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the
first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world,
which is the Christian sabbathi.
i Gen. 2:2,3; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7
Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified ? A. The sabbath is to be
sanctified by a holy resting all that dayk, even from such worldly
employments and recreations as are lawful on other daysl; and spending the
whole time in the publick and private exercises of God's worshipm, except
so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercyn.
k Exod. 20:8,10; Exod. 16:25-28 l Neh. 13:15-22 m Luke 4:16; Acts 20:7 (See
letter i above); Ps. 92:title; Isa. 66:23 n Matt. 12:1-31
Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment ? A. The fourth
commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties
requiredo, and the profaning the day by idlenessp, or doing that which is
in itself sinfulq, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our
worldly employments or recreationsr.
o Ezek. 22:26; Amos 8:5; Mal. 1:13 p Acts 20:7,9 q Ezek. 23:38 r Jer.
17:24-26; Isa. 58:13
Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment ? A. The
reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days
of the week for our own employmentss, his challenging a special propriety
in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath dayt.
s Exod. 20:9 t Exod. 20:11
Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment ? A. The fifth commandment is, Honour
thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which
the Lord thy God giveth theev.
v Exod. 20:12
Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment ? A. The fifth commandment
requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging
to every one in their several places and relations, as superiorsw,
inferiorsx or equalsy.
w Eph. 5:21 x 1 Pet. 2:17 y Rom. 12:10
Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment ? A. The fifth
commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against, the
honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and
relationsz.
z Matt. 15:46; Ezek. 34:2-4; Rom. 13:8
Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fiifth commandment ? A. The reason
annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity
(as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such
as keep this commandmenta.
a Deut. 5:16; Eph. 6:2,3
Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment ? A. The sixth commandment is, Thou
shalt not killb.
b Exod. 20:13
Q. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment ? A. The sixth commandment
requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own lifec, and the life of
othersd.
c Eph. 5:28,29 d 1 Kings 18:4
Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment ? A. The sixth
commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our
neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereuntoe.
e Acts 16:28
Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment ? A. The seventh commandment is,
Thou shalt not commit adulteryf.
f Exod. 20:14
Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment ? A. The seventh
commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's
chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviourg.
g 1 Cor. 7:2,3,5,34,36; Col. 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:2
Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment ? A. The seventh
commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actionsh.
h Matt. 15:19; Matt. 5:28; Eph. 5:3,4
Q. 73. Which is the eighth commandment ? A. The eighth commandment is, Thou
shalt not steali.
i Exod. 20:15
Q. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment ? A. The eighth
commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and
outward estate of ourselves and othersk.
k Gen. 30:30; 1 Tim. 5:8; Lev. 25:35; Deut. 22:1-5; Exod. 23:4,5; Gen.
47:14,20
Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment ? A. The eighth
commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or
our neighbour's wealth or outward estatel.
l Prov. 21:17; Prov. 23:20,21; Prov. 28:19; Eph. 4:28
Q. 76. Which is the ninth commandment ? A. The ninth commandment is, Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbourm.
m Exod. 20:16
Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment ? A. The ninth commandment
requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between .man and mann, and
of our own and our neighbour's good nameo, especially in witness-bearingp.
n Zech. 8:16 o 3 John 12 p Prov. 14:5,25
Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment ? A. The ninth
commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to
our own or our neighbour's good nameq.
q 1 Sam. 17:28
Q. 79. Which is the tenth commandment ? A. The tenth commandment is, Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour'sr.
r Exod. 20:17
Q. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment ? A. The tenth commandment
requireth full contentment with our own conditions, with a right and
charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is hist.
s Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:6 t Job 31:29; Rom. 12:15; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Cor. 13:4-7
Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment ? A. The tenth
commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estatev, envying or
grieving at the good of our neighbourw, and all inordinate motlons and
affections to any thing that is hisx.
v 1 Kings 21:4; Esther5:13; 1 Cor. 10:10 w Gal. 5:26; James 3:14,16 x Rom.
7:7,8; Rom. 13:9; Deut. 5:21
Q. 82. Is any .i.man;man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God ?
A. No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the
commandments of Gody, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and
deedz.
y Eccl. 7:20; 1 John 1:8,10; Gal. 5:17 z Gen. 6:5; Gen. 8:21; Rom. 3:9-21;
James 3:2-13
Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous ? A. Some sins in
themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the
sight of God than othersa.
a Ezek. 8:6,13,15; 1 John 5:16; Ps. 78:17,32,56
Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve ? A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and
curse, both in this life, and that which is to comeb.
b Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10; Lam. 3:39; Matt. 25:41
Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse
due to us for sin ? A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for
sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto lifec, with
the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to
us the benefits of redemptiond.
c Acts 20:21 d Prov. 2:1-5; Prov. 8:33-36; Isa. 55:3
Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ ? A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving
gracee, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is
offered to us in the gospelf.
e Heb. 10:39 f John 1:12; Isa. 26:3,4; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16
Q. 87. What is repentance unto life ? A. Repentance unto life is a saving
graceg, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sinh, and apprehension
of the mercy of God in Christi, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin,
turn from it unto Godk, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new
obediencel.
g Acts 11:18 h Acts 2:37,38 i Joel 2:12; Jer. 3:22 k Jer. 31:18,19; Ezek.
36:31 l 2 Cor. 7:11
Q. 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the
benefits of redemption ? A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ
communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances,
especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual
to the elect for salvationm.
m Matt. 28:19,20; Acts 2:42,46,47
Q. 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation ? A. The Spirit of God
maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual
means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in
holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvationn.
n Neh. 8:8; 1 Cor. 14:24,25; Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8; Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4; 2
Tim. 3:15-17; Rom. 10:13-17; Rom. 1:16
Q. 90. How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual
to salvation ? A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must
attend thereunto with diligenceo, preparationp, and prayerq; receive it
with faith and lover, lay it up in our heartss, and practise it in our
livest.
o Prov. 8:34 p 1 Pet. 2:1,2 q Ps. 119:18 r Heb. 4:2; 2 Thess. 2:10 s Ps.
119:11 t Luke 8:15; James 1:25
Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation ? A. The
sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in
them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of
Christv, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive themw.
v 1 Pet. 3:21; Matt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 3:6,7 w 1 Cor. 12:13
Q. 92. What is a sacrament ? A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted
by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new
covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believersx.
x Gen. 17:7,10; Exod. 12; 1 Cor. 11:23,26
Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament ? A. The sacraments of
the New Testament are, Baptismy, and the Lord's supperz.
y Matt. 28:19 z Matt. 26:26-28
Q. 94. What is baptism ? A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing
with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghosta, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of
the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the
Lord'sb.
a Matt. 28:19 (See in letter y above) b Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27
Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered ? A. Baptism is not to be
administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess
their faith in Christ, and obedience to himc; but the infants of such as
are members of the visible church are to be baptizedd.
c Acts 8:36,37; Acts 2:38 d Acts 2:38 (See letter c), 39; Gen. 17:10 (See
in letter x above) compared with Col. 2:11,12; 1 Cor. 7:14
Q. 96. What is the Lord's supper ? A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament,
wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's
appointment, his death is shewed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not
after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his
body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and
growth in gracee.
e 1 Cor. 11:23-26; 1 Cor. 10:16
Q. 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper ? A.
It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper,
that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's
bodyf, of their faith to feed upon himg, of their repentanceh, lovei, and
new obediencek; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to
themselvesl.
f 1 Cor. 11:28,29 g 2 Cor. 13:5 h 1 Cor. 11:31 i 1 Cor. 10:16,17 k 1 Cor.
5:7,8 l 1 Cor. 11:28,29 (See in letter f)
Q. 98. What is prayer ? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto
Godm, for things agreeable to his willn, in the name of Christo, with
confession of our sinsp, and thankful acknowledgment of his merciesq.
m Ps. 62:8 n 1 John 5:14 o John 16:23 p Ps. 32:5,6; Dan. 9:4 q Phil. 4:6
Q. 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer ? A. The whole
word of God is of use to direct us in prayerr; but the special rule of
direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples,
commonly called The Lord's prayers.
r 1 John 5:14 s Matt. 6:9-13 compared with Luke 11:2-4
Q. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us ? A. The
preface of the Lord's prayer (which is, Our Father which art in heavent)
teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as
children to a father, able and ready to help usv; and that we should pray
with and for othersw.
t Matt. 6:9 v Rom. 8:15; Luke 11:13 w Acts 12:5; 1 Tim. 2:1,2
Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition ? A. In the first
petition (which is, Hallowed be thy namex) we pray, That God would enable
us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself knowny;
and that he would dispose all things to his own gloryz.
x Matt. 6:9 y Ps. 67:2,3 z Ps. 83
Q. 102. What do .we pray for in the second petition ? A. In the second
petition (which is, Thy kingdom comea) we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be
destroyedb; and that the kingdom of grace may be advancedc, ourselves and
others brought into it, and kept in itd; and that the kingdom of glory may
be hastenede.
a Matt. 6:10 b Ps. 68:1,18 c Rev. 12:10,11 d 2 Thess. 3:1; Rom. 10:1; John
17:9,20 e Rev. 22:20
Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition ? A. In the third
petition (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heavenf) we
pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey,
and submit to his will in all thingsg, as the angels do in heavenh.
f Matt. 6:10 g Ps. 67; Ps. 119:36; Matt. 26:39; 2 Sam. 15:25; Job 1:21 h
Ps. 103:20,21
Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition ? A. In the fourth
petition (which is, Give us this day our daily breadi) we pray, That of
God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of
this life, and enjoy his blessing with themk.
i Matt. 6:11 k Prov. 30:8,9; Gen. 28:20; 1 Tim. 4:4,5
Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition ? A. In the fifth
petition (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtorsl)
we pray, That God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sinsm;
which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are
enabled from the heart to forgive othersn.
l Matt. 6:12 m Ps. 51:1,2,7,9; Dan. 9:17-19 n Luke 11:4; Matt. 18:35
Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition ? A. In the sixth
petition (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evilo) we pray, That God would either keep us from being tempted to sinp,
or support and deliver us when we are temptedq.
o Matt. 6:13 p Matt. 26:41 q 2 Cor. 12:7,8
Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer teach us ? A. The
conclusion of the Lord's prayer (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and
the power, and the glory, for ever, Amenr) teacheth us to take our
encouragement in prayer from God onlys, and in our prayers to praise him,
ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to himt. And, in testimony of our
desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amenv.
r Matt. 6:13 s Dan. 9:4,7-9,16-19 t 1 Chron. 29:10-13 v 1 Cor. 14:16; Rev.
22:20,21
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- England, London, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catechism,
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