Westminster Larger Catechism
Qs 1-196
1 What
is the chief and highest end of man? A. Man's Chief and highest end is to
glorify God,(1) and fully to enjoy him forever.(2)
(1)Rom.
(2)Ps 73:24-28; John 17:21-23
2 How
doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light of nature in man, and the
works of God, declare plainly that there is a God;(1) but his word and Spirit
only, do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their
salvation.(2)
(1)Rom.
(2)1 Cor. 2:9,10; 2 Tim. 3:1517; Isa. 59:21
3 What
is the word of God? A. The Holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the
word of God,(1) the only rule of faith and obedience.(2)
(1)2 Tim.
3:16; 2 Pet. 1:19-21;
(2)Eph. 2:20; Rev. 22:18,19; Isa. 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Gal. 1:8,9; 2 Tim. 3:15,16.
4 How
doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God? A. The Scriptures
manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty(1) and purity(2); by
the consent of all the parts(3), and the scope of the whole, which is to give
all glory to God(4); by their light and power to convince and convert sinners,
to comfort and build up believers unto salvation.(5) But the Spirit of God,
bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able
fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.(6)
(1)Hos. 8:12;
1 Cor. 2:6,7,13; Ps. 119:18,129
(2)Ps. 12:6;
Ps. 19:140
(3)Acts
(4)Rom.
(5)Acts
18:28; Heb. 4:12; James 1:18; Ps. 19:79; Rom 15:4; Acts 20:32
(6)John 16:13,14; 1 John 2:20,27; John 20:31
5 What
do the Scriptures principally teach? A. The Scriptures principally teach, what
man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.(1)
(1)2 Tim. 1:13
6 What
do the scriptures make known of God? A. The scriptures make known what God
is,(1) the persons of the Godhead,(2) his decrees,(3) and the execution of his
decrees.(4)
(1)Heb. 11:6
(2)1 John
(3)Acts
(4)Acts 4:27,28
7 What
is God? A. God is a Spirit,(1) in and of himself infinite in being,(2) glory,(3)
blessedness,(4) and perfection;(5) all-sufficient,(6) eternal,(7)
unchangeable,(8) incomprehensible,(9) every where present,(10) almighty,(11)
knowing all things,(12) most wise,(13) most holy,(14) most just,(15) most
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.(16)
(1)John 4:24
(2)Exod.
3:14; Job 11:7-9
(3)Acts 7:2
(4)1 Tim.
(5)Matt. 5:48
(6)Gen. 17:1
(7)Ps. 90:2
(8)Mal. 3:6; James 1:17
(9)1 Kings
(10)Ps
139:1-13
(11)Rev. 4:8
(12)Heb.
4:13; Ps. 147:5
(13)Rom.
(14)Isa. 6:3;
Rev. 15:4
(15)Deut.
32:4
(16)Exod. 34:6
8 Are
there more Gods than one? A. There is but one only, the living and true God.(1)
(1)Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4,6; Jer. 10:10
9 How
many persons are there in the Godhead? A. There be three persons in the Godhead,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal
God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by
their personal properties.(1)
(1)1 John
5:7; Matt.
10 What are the personal properties of the
three persons in the Godhead? A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son,(1)
and to the Son to be begotten of the Father,(2) and to the Holy Ghost to proceed
from the Father and the Son from all eternity.(3)
(1)Heb.
1:5,6,8
(2)John
1:14,18
(3)John 15:26; Gal. 4:6
11 How
doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father? A.
The scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the
Father, ascribing unto them such names,(1) attributes,(2) works,(3) and
worship,(4) as are proper to God only.
(1)Isa.
6:3,5,8 with John
(2)John 1:1;
Isa. 9:6; John 2:24,25; 1 Cor. 2:10,11
(3)Col. 1:16;
Gen. 1:2
(4)Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
12
What are the decrees of God? A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts
of the counsel of his will,(1) whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own
glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time,(2) especially
concerning angels and men.
(1)Eph.
(2)Eph.
1:4,11; Rom.
13 What hath God especially decreed
concerning angels and men? A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of
his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due
time, hath elected some angels to glory;(1) and in Christ hath chosen some men
to eternal life, and the means thereof:(2) and also, according to his sovereign
power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or
withholdeth favour as he pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to
dishonour and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory
of his justice.(3)
(1)1 Tim.
(2)Eph.
1:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:13,14.
(3)Rom.
14 How doth God execute his decrees? A. God executeth his decrees in
the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge,
and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.(1)
(1)Eph. 1:11
15
What is the work of creation? A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in
the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all
things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.(1)
(1)Gen. 1:1-31; Heb. 11:3; Prov. 16:4
16 How
did God create angels? A. God created all the angels(1) spirits(2), immortal(3),
holy(4), excelling in knowledge(5), mighty in power(6), to execute his
commandments, and to praise his name(7), yet subject to change.(8)
(1)Col. 1:16
(2)Ps. 104:4.
(3)Matt.
22:30.
(4)Matt.
25:31
(5)2 Sam.
(6)2 Thess.
1:7
(7)Ps.
103:20,21
(8)2 Pet.
17
How did God create man? A. After God had made all other
creatures, he created man male and female;(1) formed the body of the man of the
dust of the ground,(2) and the woman of the rib of the man,(3) endued them with
living, reasonable and immortal souls;(4) made them after his own image,(5) in
knowledge,(6) righteousness, and holiness;(7) having the law of God written in
their hearts,(8) and power to fulfil it,(9) and dominion over the creatures;(10)
yet subject to fall.(11)
(1)Gen. 1:27.
(2)Gen. 2:7.
(3)Gen. 2:22.
(4)Gen. 2:7
with Job 35:11 and Eccl. 12:7 and Matt.
(5)Gen. 1:27.
(6)Col. 3:10.
(7)Eph. 4:24
(8)Rom.
(9)Eccl.
7:29.
(10)Gen. 1:28
(11)Gen. 3:6; Eccl. 7:29
18
What are the works of providence? A. God's works of providence are his most
holy,(1) wise,(2) and powerful preserving(3) and governing(4) all his creatures;
ordering them, and all their actions,(5) to his own glory.(6)
(1)Ps. 145:17
(2)Ps.
104:24; Isa. 28:29
(3)Heb. 1:3
(4)Ps. 103:19
(5)Matt.
10:29,31; Gen. 45:7
(6)Rom.
19 What is God's providence towards the angels? A. God by his
providence permitted some of the angels, wilfully and irrecoverably, to fall
into sin and damnation,(1) limiting and ordering that, and all their sins, to
his own glory;(2) and established the rest in holiness and happiness;(3)
employing them all,(4) at his pleasure, in the administrations of his power,
mercy, and justice.(5)
(1)Jude 6; 2
Pet. 2:4; Heb. 2:16; John 8:44
(2)Job 1:12;
Matt. 8:31
(3)1 Tim.
(4)Ps. 104:4
(5)2 Kings 19:35; Heb. 1:14
20
What was the providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created?
A. The providence of God toward man in the estate in which he was created, was
the placing him in paradise, appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to
eat of the fruit of the earth;(1) putting the creatures under his dominion,(2)
and ordaining marriage for his help;(3) affording him communion with himself;(4)
instituting the Sabbath;(5) entering into a covenant of life with him, upon
condition of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience,(6) of which the tree of
life was a pledge;(7) and forbidding to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, upon the pain of death.(8)
(1)Gen. 2:8,15,16
(2)Gen. 1:28
(3)Gen. 2:18
(4)Gen. 1:26,27,28,29; Gen. 3:8
(5)Gen. 2:3
(6)Gal. 3:12;
(7)Gen. 2:9
(8)Gen. 2:17
21
Did man continue in that estate wherein God first created him? A. Our first
parents being left to the freedom of their own will, through the temptation of
Satan, transgressed the commandment of God in eating the forbidden fruit; and
thereby fell from the estate of innocency wherein they were created.(1)
(1)Gen. 3:6,7,8,13; Eccl. 7:29; 2 Cor. 11:3
22 Did
all mankind fall in that first transgression? A. The covenant being made with
Adam as a publick person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all
mankind descending from him by ordinary generation,(1) sinned in him, and fell
in that first transgression.(2)
(1)Acts
(2)Gen.
2:16,17 with Rom.
23 Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? A. The fall brought
mankind into an estate of sin and misery.(1)
(1)Rom.
24 What is sin? A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or
transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.(1)
(1)1 John 3:4; Gal. 3:10,12
25
Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? A. The
sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam's
first sin,(1) the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the
corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made
opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and
that continually;(2) which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do
proceed all actual transgressions.(3)
(1)
(2)Rom.
3:10-19; Eph. 2:1-3; Rom. 5:6; Rom. 8:7,8; Gen. 6:5.
(3)James 1:14,15; Matt. 15:19.
26 How
is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity? A.
Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural
generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born
in sin.(1)
(1)Ps. 51:5; Job 14:4; Job 15:14; John 3:6.
27
What misery did the fall bring upon mankind? A. The fall brought upon mankind
the loss of communion with God,(1) his displeasure and curse; so as we are by
nature children of wrath,(2) bond slaves to Satan,(3) and justly liable to all
punishments in this world, and that which is to come.(4)
(1)Gen.
3:8,10,24.
(2)Eph.
2:2,3.
(3)2 Tim.
(4)Gen. 2:17; Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41,46; Jude 7.
28
What are the punishments of sin in this world? A. The punishments of sin in this
world are either inward, as blindness of mind,(1) a reprobate sense,(2) strong
delusions,(3) hardness of heart,(4) horror of conscience,(5) and vile
affections;(6) or outward, as the curse of God upon the creatures for our
sakes,(7) and all other evils that befall us in our bodies, names, estates,
relations, and employments;(8) together with death itself.(9)
(1)Eph. 4:18.
(2)
(3)2 Thess.
(4)Rom. 2:5
(5)Isa.
33:14; Gen. 4:13; Matt. 27:4.
(6)
(7)Gen. 3:17.
(8)Deut.
28:15-18.
(9)Rom.
29 What are the punishments of sin in the world to come? A. The
punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the
comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body,
without intermission, in hell-fire for ever.(1)
(1)2 Thess. 1:9; Mark 9:43,44,46,48; Luke 16:24.
30
Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? A. God
doth not leave all men to perish in the estate of sin and misery,(1) into which
they fell by the breach of the first covenant, commonly called the Covenant of
Works;(2) but of his mere love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it, and
bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second covenant, commonly
called the Covenant of Grace.(3)
(1)1 Thess.
5:9.
(2)Gal.
3:10,12.
(3)Tit. 3:4-7; Gal. 3:21; Rom. 3:20-22
31
With whom was the covenant of grace made? A. The covenant of grace was made with
Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed.(1)
(1)Gal.
32 How is the grace of God manifested in the
second covenant? A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in
that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a Mediator,(1) and life and
salvation by him;(2) and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in
him,(3) promiseth and giveth his Holy Spirit(4) to all his elect, to work in
them that faith,(5) with all other saving graces;(6) and to enable them unto all
holy obedience,(7) as the evidence of the truth of their faith(8) and
thankfulness to God,(9) and as the way which he hath appointed them to
salvation.(10)
(1)Gen. 3:15;
Isa. 42:16; John 6:27
(2)1 John
(3)John 3:16;
John 1:12
(4)Prov. 1:23
(5)2 Cor.
(6)Gal.
5:22,23
(7)Ezek.
36:27
(8)James
2:18,22
(9)2 Cor.
(10)Eph. 2:18.
33 Was
the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner? A. The
covenant of grace was not always administered after the same manner, but the
administration of it under the Old Testament were different from those under the
New.(1)
(1)2 Cor. 3:6-9.
34 How
was the covenant of grace administered under the Old Testament? A. The covenant
of grace was administered under the Old Testament, by promises,(1)
prophecies,(2) sacrifices,(3) circumcision,(4) the pass-over,(5) and other types
and ordinances, which did fore-signify Christ then to come, and were for that
time sufficient to build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah,(6) by
whom they then had full remission of sin, and eternal salvation.(7)
(1)Rom. 15:8.
(2)Acts
(3)Heb. 10:1
(4)Rom.
(5)1 Cor. 5:7
(6)Heb.
Chapters VIII, IX and X; Heb.
(7)Gal. 3:7,8,9,14.
35 How
is the covenant of grace administered under the New Testament? A. Under the New
Testament, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the same covenant of grace
was and still is to be administered in the preaching of the word,(1) and the
administration of the sacraments of baptism(2) and the Lord's Supper;(3) in
which grace and salvation are held forth in more fulness, evidence, and
efficacy, to all nations.(4)
(1)Mark
(2)Matt.
28:19,20
(3)1 Cor.
(4)2 Cor. 3:6-18; Heb. 8:6,10,11; Matt. 28:19
36 Who
is the Mediator of the covenant of grace? A. The only Mediator of the covenant
of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ,(1) who, being the eternal Son of God, of one
substance and equal with the Father,(2) in the fulness of time became man,(3)
and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and
one person, for ever.(4)
(1)1 Tim.
2:5.
(2)John
1:1,14; John 10:30; Phil. 2:6
(3)Gal. 4:4
(4)Luke 1:35;
37 How
did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A. Christ the Son of God became
man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul,(1) being conceived
by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance,
and born of her,(2) yet without sin.(3)
(1)John 1:14;
Matt. 26:38.
(2)Luke
1:27,31,35,42; Gal. 4:4.
(3)Heb. 4:15; Heb. 7:26.
38 Why
was it requisite that the Mediator should be God? A. It was requisite that the
Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from
sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death;(1) give worth
and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession,(2) and to satisfy
God's justice,(3) procure his favour,(4) purchase a peculiar people,(5) give his
Spirit to them,(6) conquer all their enemies,(7) and bring them to everlasting
salvation.(8)
(1)Acts
(2)Acts
20:28; Heb. 9:14; Heb. 7:25-28.
(3)
(4)Eph. 1:6;
Matt. 3:17.
(5)Tit.
2:13,14.
(6)Gal. 4:6.
(7)Luke
1:68,69,71,74.
(8)Heb.
5:8,9; Heb.
39 Why was it requisite that the Mediator
should be man? A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he
might advance our nature,(1) perform obedience to the law,(2) suffer and make
intercession for us in our nature,(3) have a fellow-feeling of our
infirmities;(4) that we might receive the adoption of sons,(5) and have comfort
and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.(6)
(1)Heb. 2:16.
(2)Gal. 4:4
(3)Heb. 2:14; Heb. 7:24,25
(4)Heb. 4:15
(5)Gal. 4:5
(6)Heb. 4:16
40 Why
was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person? A. It
was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should
himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of
each nature might be accepted of God for us,(1) and relied on by us, as the
works of the whole person.(2)
(1)Matt.
1:21,23; Matt. 3:17; Heb. 9:14.
(2)1 Pet. 2:6
41 Why
was our Mediator called Jesus? A. Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he
saveth his people from their sins.(1)
(1)Matt. 1:21
42 Why
was our Mediator called Christ? A. Our Mediator was called Christ, because he
was annointed with the Holy Ghost above measure;(1) and so set apart, and fully
furnished with all authority and ability,(2) to execute the offices of
prophet,(3) priest,(4) and king of his Church,(5) in the estate both of his
humiliation and exaltation.
(1)John 3:34;
Ps. 45:7.
(2)John 6:27;
Matt. 28:18,19,20.
(3)Acts
3:21,22; Luke 4:18,21.
(4)Heb.
5:5,6,7; Heb. 4:14,15.
(5)Ps. 2:6; Matt. 21:5; Isa. 9:6,7; Phil. 2:8-11.
43 How
doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? A. Christ executeth the office of a
prophet, in his revealing to the church,(1) in all ages, by his Spirit and
word,(2) and in divers ways of administration,(3) the whole will of God,(4) in
all things concerning their edification and salvation.(5)
(1)John 1:18.
(2)1 Pet.
(3)Heb.
1:1,2.
(4)John 15:15
(5)Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:11,12,13; John 20:31
44 How
doth Christ execute the office of a priest? A. Christ executeth the office of a
priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God,(1) to be a
reconciliation for the sins of his people;(2) and in making continual
intercession for them.(3)
(1)Heb.
9:14,28.
(2)Heb. 2:17.
(3)Heb. 7:25.
45 How
doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a
king, in calling out of the world a people to himself,(1) and giving them
officers,(2) laws,(3) and censures, by which he visibly governs them;(4) in
bestowing saving grace upon his elect,(5) rewarding their obedience,(6) and
correcting them for their sins,(7) preserving and supporting them under all
their temptations and sufferings,(8) restraining and overcoming all their
enemies,(9) and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory,(10) and their
good;(11) and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey
not the gospel.(12)
(1)Acts
15:14,15,16; Isa. 55:4,5; Gen. 49:10; Ps. 110:3
(2)Eph.
4:11,12; 1 Cor. 12:28
(3)Isa.
33:22.
(4)Matt
18:17,18; 1 Cor. 5:4.
(5)Acts
(6)Rev.
22:12; Rev. 2:10.
(7)Rev. 3:19.
(8)Isa. 63:9.
(9)1 Cor.
(10)Rom.
(11)Rom.
(12)2 Thess. 1:8,9; Ps. 2:8,9.
46
What was the estate of Christ's humiliation ? A. The estate of Christ's
humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself
of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth,
life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection.(1)
(1)Phil 2:6,7,8; Luke 1:31; 2 Cor. 8:9; Acts 2:24.
47 How
did Christ humble himself in his conception and birth? A. Christ humbled himself
in his conception and birth, in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in
the bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time to become the son
of man, made of a woman of low estate, and to be born of her; with divers
circumstances of more than ordinary abasement.(1)
(1)John 1:14,18; Gal. 4:4; Luke 2:7.
48 How
did Christ humble himself in his life? A. Christ humbled himself in his life, by
subjecting himself to the law,(1) which he perfectly fulfilled,(2) and by
conflicting with the indignities of the world,(3) temptations of Satan,(4) and
infirmities in his flesh, whether common to the nature of man, or particularly
accompanying that his low condition.(5)
(1)Gal. 4:4.
(2)Matt.
(3)Ps. 22:6;
Heb. 12:2,3.
(4)Matt.
4:1-12; Luke 4:13.
(5)Heb. 2:17,18; Heb. 4:15; Isa. 52:13,14.
49 How
did Christ humble himself in his death? A. Christ humbled himself in his death,
in that having been betrayed by Judas,(1) forsaken by his disciples,(2) scorned
and rejected by the world,(3) condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his
persecutors,(4) having also conflicted with the terrors of death and the powers
of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath,(5) he laid down his life
an offering for sin,(6) enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the
cross.(7)
(1)Matt. 27:4
(2)Matt.
26:56.
(3)Isa.
53:2,3.
(4)Matt.
27:26-50; John 19:34.
(5)Luke
22:44; Matt. 27:46.
(6)Isa.
53:10.
(7)Phil 2:8; Heb. 12:2; Gal. 3:13.
50
Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his death? A. Christ's humiliation
after his death consisted in his being buried,(1) and continuing in the state of
the dead, and under the power of death till the third day;(2) which hath been
otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.
(1)1 Cor.
15:3,4.
(2)Ps.
51 What was the estate of Christ's
exaltation ? A. The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his
resurrection,(1) ascension,(2) sitting at the right hand of the Father,(3) and
his coming again to judge the world.(4)
(1)1 Cor.
15:4.
(2)Mark
(3)Eph. 1:20
(4)Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31.
52 How
was Christ exalted in his resurrection? A. Christ was exalted in his
resurrection, in that not having seen corruption in death (of which it was not
possible for him to be held(1)), and having the very same body in which he
suffered, with the essential properties thereof,(2) (but without mortality, and
other common infirmities belonging to this life), really united to his soul,(3)
he rose again from the dead the third day by his own power;(4) whereby he
declared himself to be the Son of God,(5) to have satisfied divine justice,(6)
to have vanquished death, and him that had the power of it,(7) and to be Lord of
quick and dead:(8) all which he did as a public person,(9) the head of his
Church,(10) for their justification,(11) quickening in grace,(12) support
against enemies,(13) and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at
the last day.(14)
(1)Acts
(2)Luke 24:39
(3)Rom. 6:9;
Rev. 1:18
(4)John 10:18
(5)
(6)Rom.
(7)Heb. 2:14.
(8)Rom. 14:9
(9)1 Cor.
(10)Eph.
1:20,22,23; Col. 1:18.
(11)Rom.
(12)Eph.
2:1,5,6; Col. 2:12
(13)1 Cor.
(14)1 Cor. 15:20.
53 How
was Christ exalted in his ascension? A. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in
that having after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed with his
apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God,(1)
and giving them commission to preach the gospel to all nations,(2) forty days
after his resurrection, he, in our nature, and as our head,(3) triumphing over
enemies,(4) visibly went up into the highest heavens, there to receive gifts for
men,(5) to raise up our affections thither,(6) and to prepare a place for us,(7)
where himself is, and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the
world.(8)
(1)Acts 1:2,3
(2)Matt.
28:19,20.
(3)Heb. 6:20.
(4)Eph. 4:8.
(5)Acts
1:9,10,11; Eph. 4:10; Ps. 68:18.
(6)Col.
3:1,2.
(7)John 14:3.
(8)Acts 3:21.
54 How
is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right hand of God? A. Christ is exalted
in his sitting at the right hand of God, in that as God-man he is advanced to
the highest favour with God the Father,(1) with all fulness of joy,(2) glory,(3)
and power over all things in heaven and earth,(4) and doth gather and defend his
church, and subdue their enemies; furnisheth ministers and people with gifts and
graces,(5) and maketh intercession for them.(6)
(1)Phil. 2:9.
(2)Acts
(3)John 17:5.
(4)Eph. 1:22;
1 Pet. 3:22.
(5)Eph.
4:10,11,12; Ps. 110:1 (see the Psalm throughout).
(6)
55 How
doth Christ make intercession ? A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing
in our nature continually before the Father in heaven,(1) in the merit of his
obedience and sacrifice on earth,(2) declaring his will to have it applied to
all believers;(3) answering all accusations against them,(4) and procuring for
them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings,(5) access with
boldness to the throne of grace,(6) and acceptance of their persons(7) and
services.(8)
(1)Heb
9:12,24.
(2)Heb. 1:3.
(3)John 3:16;
John 17:9,20,24.
(4)Rom.
(5)
(6)Heb. 4:16.
(7)Eph. 1:6.
(8)1 Pet. 2:5.
56 How
is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world? A. Christ is to
be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly
judged and condemned by wicked men,(1) shall come again at the last day in great
power,(2) and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father's,
with all his holy angels,(3) with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trumpet of God,(4) to judge the world in righteousness.(5)
(1)Acts
(2)Matt.
24:30.
(3)Luke 9:26;
Matt. 25:31.
(4)1 Thess.
(5)Acts 17:31.
57
What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation? A. Christ, by his
mediation, hath procured redemption,(1) with all other benefits of the covenant
of grace.(2)
(1)Heb. 9:12.
(2)2 Cor. 1:20.
58 How
do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured ? A.
We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the
application of them unto us,(1) which is the work especially of God the Holy
Ghost.(2)
(1)1 John
(2)Tit. 3:5,6
59 Who
are made partakers of redemption through Christ? A. Redemption is certainly
applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ hath
purchased it;(1) who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ
according to the gospel.(2)
(1)Eph.
1:13,14; John 6:37,39; John 10:15,16
(2)Eph. 2:8; 2 Cor. 4:13
60 Can
they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe
in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature? A. They who,
having never heard the gospel,(1) know not Jesus Christ,(2) and believe not in
him, cannot be saved,(3) be they never so diligent to frame their lives
according to the light of nature,(4) or the laws of that religion which they
profess;(5) neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone,(6) who
is the Saviour only of his body the church.(7)
(1)Rom.
(2)2 Thess.
1:8,9; Eph.
(3)John 8:24;
Mark
(4)1 Cor.
(5)John
(6)Acts
(7)Eph. 5:23
61 Are
all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in the church? A. All that hear the
gospel, and live in the visible church, are not saved; but they only who are
true members of the church invisible.(1)
(1)John 12:38-40; Rom. 9:6; Matt. 22:14; Matt. 7:21; Rom. 11:7
62
What is the visible church? A. The visible church is a society made up of all
such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion,(1) and
of their children.(2)
(1)1 Cor.
1:2; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 15:9-12; Rev. 7:9; Ps. 2:8; Ps. 22:27-31; Ps. 45:17;
Matt. 28:19,20; Isa. 59:21
(2)1 Cor.
7:14; Acts
63
What are the special privileges of the visible church? A. The visible church
hath the privilege of being under God's special care and government;(1) of being
protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all
enemies,(2) and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of
salvation,(3) and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the
ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be
saved,(4) and excluding none that will come unto him.(5)
(1)Isa.
4:5,6; 1 Tim. 4:10
(2)Ps.
115:1,2,9; Isa. 31:4,5; Zech. 12:2,3,4,8,9
(3)Acts
(4)Ps.
147:19,20; Rom. 9:4; Eph. 4:11,12; Mark
(5)John 6:37
64
What is the invisible church? A. The invisible church is the whole number of the
elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the
head.(1)
(1)Eph. 1:10,22,23; John 10:16; John 11:52
65
What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ? A.
The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him
in grace and glory.(1)
(1)John 17:21; Eph. 2:5,6; John 17:24
66
What is that union which the elect have with Christ? A. The union which the
elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace,(1) whereby they are
spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as
their head and husband;(2) which is done in their effectual calling.(3)
(1)Eph. 1:22;
Eph. 2:6-8
(2)1 Cor.
(3)1 Pet. 5:10; 1 Cor. 1:9
67
What is effectual calling? A. Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty
power and grace,(1) whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and
from nothing in them moving him thereunto(2)) he doth, in his accepted time,
invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his word and Spirit;(3) savingly
enlightening their minds,(4) renewing and powerfully determining their wills,(5)
so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able
freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and
conveyed therein.(6)
(1)John 5:25;
Eph. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 1:8,9
(2)Tit.
3:4,5; Eph. 2:4,5,7,8,9;
(3)2 Cor.
(4)Acts
26:18; 1 Cor. 2:10,12
(5)Ezek.
11:19; Ezek. 36:26,27; John 6:45
(6)Eph. 2:5; Phil. 2:13; Deut. 30:6
68 Are
the elect only effectually called? A. All the elect, and they only, are
effectually called;(1) although others may be, and often are, outwardly called
by the ministry of the word,(2) and have some common operations of the
Spirit;(3) who, for their wilful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to
them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus
Christ.(4)
(1)Acts
(2)Matt.
22:14
(3)Matt.
7:22; Matt. 13:20,21; Heb. 6:4-6
(4)John 12:38-40; Acts 28:25-27; John 6:64,65; Ps. 81:11,12
69
What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have
with Christ? A. The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church
have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their
justification,(1) adoption,(2) sanctification, and whatever else, in this life,
manifests their union with him.(3)
(1)Rom.
(2)Eph. 1:5
(3)1 Cor. 1:30
70
What is justification? A. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto
sinners,(1) in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and accounteth their
persons righteous in his sight;(2) not for any thing wrought in them, or done by
them,(3) but only for the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by
God imputed to them,(4) and received by faith alone.(5)
(1)Rom.
(2)2 Cor.
(3)Tit.
3:5,7; Eph. 1:7
(4)
(5)Acts 10:43; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9
71 How
is justification an act of God's free grace? A. Although Christ, by his
obedience and death, did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's
justice in the behalf of them that are justified,(1) yet in as much as God
accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them
and did provide this surety, his own only Son,(2) imputing his righteousness to
them,(3) and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith,(4)
which also is his gift,(5) their justification is to them of free grace.(6)
(1)
(2)1 Tim.
2:5,6; Heb.
(3)2 Cor.
(4)Rom.
(5)Eph. 2:8
(6)Eph. 1:7
72
What is justifying faith? A. Justifying faith is a saving grace,(1) wrought in
the heart of a sinner by the Spirit(2) and word of God,(3) whereby he, being
convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other
creatures to recover him out of his lost condition,(4) not only assenteth to the
truth of the promise of the gospel,(5) but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and
his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin,(6) and for the
accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for
salvation.(7)
(1)Heb. 10:39
(2)2 Cor.
(3)Rom.
(4)Acts 2:37;
Acts 16:30; John 16:8,9; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:1; Acts 4:12
(5)Eph. 1:13
(6)John
(7)Phil. 3:9; Acts 15:11
73 How
doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God? A. Faith justifies a sinner in
the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany
it, or of good works that are the fruits of it,(1) not as if the grace of faith,
or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification;(2) but only as it
is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his
righteousness.(3)
(1)Gal.
(2)Rom. 4:5;
Rom.
(3)John 1:12; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16
74
What is adoption? A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God,(1) in and for
his only Son Jesus Christ,(2) whereby all those that are justified are received
into the number of his children,(3) have his name put upon them,(4) the Spirit
of his Son given to them,(5) are under his fatherly care and dispensations,(6)
admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of
all the promises and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory.(7)
(1)1 John 3:1
(2)Eph. 1:5;
Gal. 4:4,5
(3)John 1:12
(4)2 Cor.
(5)Gal. 4:6
(6)Ps.
103:13; Prov. 14:26; Matt. 6:32
(7)Heb. 6:12; Rom. 8:17
75
What is sanctification? A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they
whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in
time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit(1) applying the death and
resurrection of Christ unto them,(2) renewed in their whole man after the image
of God;(3) having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving
graces, put into their hearts,(4) and those graces so stirred up, increased and
strengthened,(5) as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness
of life.(6)
(1)Eph. 1:4;
1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13
(2)
(3)Eph.
4:23,24
(4)Acts
11:18; 1 John 3:9
(5)Jude 20;
Heb. 6:11,12; Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 1:10,11
(6)
76
What is repentance unto life? A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace,(1)
wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit(2) and word of God,(3) whereby
out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger,(4) but also of the
filthiness and odiousness of his sins,(5) and upon the apprehension of God's
mercy in Christ to such as are penitent,(6) he so grieves for(7) and hates his
sins,(8) as that he turns from them all to God,(9) purposing and endeavouring
constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.(10)
(1)2 Tim.
(2)Zech.
12:10
(3)Acts
(4)Ezek.
18:28,30,32; Luke 15:17,18; Hos. 2:6,7
(5)Ezek.
36:31; Isa. 30:22
(6)Joel
2:12,13
(7)Jer.
31:18,19
(8)2 Cor.
(9)Acts
26:18; Ezek. 14:6; 1 Kings 8:47,48
(10)Ps. 119:6,59,128; Luke 1:6; 2 Kings 23:25
77
Wherein do justification and sanctification differ? A. Although sanctification
be inseparably joined with justification,(1) yet they differ, in that God in
justification imputeth the righteousness of Christ,(2) in sanctification his
Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof;(3) in the former,
sin is pardoned;(4) in the other, it is subdued:(5) the one doth equally free
all believers from the revenging wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life,
that they never fall into condemnation;(6) the other is neither equal in all,(7)
nor in this life perfect in any,(8) but growing up to perfection.(9)
(1)1 Cor.
(2)
(3)Ezek.
36:27
(4)Rom.
(5)
(6)Rom.
(7)1 John
2:12-14; Heb. 5:12-14
(8)1 John
1:8,10
(9)2 Cor.
7:1; Phil.
78 Whence ariseth the imperfection of
sanctification in believers? A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers
ariseth from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and the
perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit; whereby they are often
foiled with temptations, and fall into many sins,(1) are hindered in all their
spiritual services,(2) and their best works are imperfect and defiled in the
sight of God.(3)
(1)Rom.
(2)Heb. 12:1
(3)Isa. 64:6; Exod. 28:38
79 May
not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations
and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace? A. True
believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God,(1) and his decree and
covenant to give them perseverance,(2) their inseparable union with Christ,(3)
his continual intercession for them,(4) and the Spirit and seed of God abiding
in them,(5) can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of
grace,(6) but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.(7)
(1)Jer. 31:3
(2)2 Tim.
(3)1 Cor.
1:8,9
(4)Heb. 7:25;
Luke 22:32
(5)1 John
3:9; 1 John
(6)Jer.
32:40; John 10:28
(7)1 Pet. 1:5
80 Can
true believers be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and
that they shall persevere therein unto salvation? A. Such as truly believe in
Christ, and endeavour to walk in all good conscience before him,(1) may, without
extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises,
and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which
the promises of life are made,(2) and bearing witness with their spirits that
they are the children of God,(3) be infallibly assured that they are in the
estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.(4)
(1)1 John 2:3
(2)1 Cor.
(3)Rom.
(4)1 John 5:13
81 Are
all true believers at all times assured of their present being in the estate of
grace, and that they shall be saved? A. Assurance of grace and salvation not
being of the essence of faith,(1) true believers may wait long before they
obtain it;(2) and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and
intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions;(3)
yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God
as keeps them from sinking into utter despair.(4)
(1)Eph. 1:13
(2)Isa. 1:10;
Ps. 88:1,2,3,6,7,9,10,13,14,15
(3)Ps.
77:1-12; Cant. 5:2,3,6; Ps. 60:8,12; Ps. 31:22; Ps. 22:1
(4)1 John 3:9; Job 13:15; Ps. 73:15,23; Isa. 54:7-10
82
What is the communion in glory which the members of the invisible church have
with Christ? A. The communion in glory which the members of the visible church
have with Christ, is in this life,(1) immediately after death,(2) and at last
perfected at the resurrection and day of judgment.(3)
(1)2 Cor.
(2)Luke 23:43
(3)1 Thess. 4:17
83
What is the communion in glory with Christ which the members of the invisible
church enjoy in this life? A. The members of the invisible church have
communicated to them in this life the first-fruits of glory with Christ, as they
are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which
he is fully possessed of;(1) and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of
God's love,(2) peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory;(3)
as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a
fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of their
torments which they shall endure after death.(4)
(1)Eph. 2:5,6
(1)Eph. 2:5,6
(2)Rom. 5:5
compared with 2 Cor. 1:22
(3)Rom.
5:1,2; Rom.
(4)Gen. 4:13; Matt. 27:4; Heb. 10:27; Rom. 2:9; Mark 9:44
84
Shall all men die? A. Death being threatened as the wages of sin,(1) it is
appointed unto all men once to die;(2) for that all have sinned.(3)
(1)Rom.
(2)Heb. 9:27
(3)Rom. 5:12
85
Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death,
seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ? A. The righteous shall be
delivered from death itself at the last day and even in death are delivered from
the sting and curse of it;(1) so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's
love,(2) to free them perfectly from sin and misery,(3) and to make them capable
of further communion with Christ, in glory, which they then enter upon.(4)
(1)1 Cor.
(2)Isa.
57:1,2; 2 Kings 22:20
(3)Rev.
14:13; Eph. 5:27
(4)Luke 23:43; Phil 1:23
86
What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible
church enjoy immediately after death? A. The communion in glory with Christ,
which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is, in
that their souls are then made perfect in holiness,(1) and received into the
highest heavens,(2) where they behold the face of God in light and glory,(3)
waiting for the full redemption of their bodies,(4) which even in death continue
united to Christ,(5) and rest in their graves as in their beds,(6) till at the
last day they be again united to their souls.(7) Whereas the souls of the wicked
are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter
darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the
resurrection and judgment of the great day.(8)
(1)Heb. 12:23
(2)2 Cor.
5:1,6,8; Phil.
(3)1 John
3:2; 1 Cor.
(4)Rom.
(5)1 Thess.
(6)Isa. 57:2
(7)Job
19:26,27
(8)Luke 16:23,24; Acts 1:25; Jude 6,7
87
What are we to believe concerning the resurrection? A. We are to believe, that
at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the
just and unjust:(1) when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be
changed; and the self-same bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave,
being then again united to their souls for ever, shall be raised up by the power
of Christ.(2) The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of
his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spiritual,
incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body;(3) and the bodies of the
wicked shall be raised up in dishonour by him, as an offended judge.(4)
(1)Acts 24:15
(2)1 Cor.
(3)1 Cor.
(4)John 5:27-29; Matt. 25:33
88
What shall immediately follow after the resurrection? A. Immediately after the
resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men;(1)
the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be
ever ready for the coming of the Lord.(2)
(1)2 Pet.
2:4; Jude 6,7,14,15; Matt. 25:46
(2)Matt. 24:36,42,44; Luke 21:35,36
89
What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment? A. At the day of
judgment, the wicked shall be set on Christ's left hand,(1) and, upon clear
evidence, and full conviction of their own consciences,(2) shall have the
fearful but just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them;(3) and
thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence of God, and the
glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, and all his holy angels, into hell,
to be punished with unspeakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil
and his angels for ever.(4)
(1)Matt.
25:33
(2)Rom.
(3)Matt.
25:41-43
(4)Luke 16:26; 2 Thess. 1:8,9
90
What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment? A. At the day of
judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds,(1) shall be
set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted,(2) shall
join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men,(3) and shall be
received into heaven,(4) where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all
sin and misery;(5) filled with inconceivable joys,(6) made perfectly holy and
happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy
angels,(7) but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the
Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity.(8)
And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible
church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of
judgment.
(1)1 Thess.
(2)Matt.
25:33; Matt. 10:32
(3)1 Cor.
6:2,3
(4)Matt.
25:34,46
(5)Eph. 5:27;
Rev. 14:13
(6)Ps. 16:11
(7)Heb.
12:22,23
Part 2: What Duty God Requires of Man (Qs 91-196)
91
What is the duty which God requireth of man ? A. The duty which God requireth of
man, is obedience to his revealed will.(1)
(1)
92 What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of his
obedience? A. The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence,
and to all mankind in him, besides a special command not to eat of the fruit of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the moral law.(1)
(1)Gen.
1:26,27; Rom.
93 What is the
moral law? A. The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to mankind,
directing and binding every one to personal, perfect, and perpetual conformity
and obedience thereunto, in the frame and disposition of the whole man, soul and
body,(1) and in performance of all those duties of holiness and righteousness
which he oweth to God and man:(2) promising life upon the fulfilling, and
threatening death upon the breach of it.(3)
(1)Deut.
5:1-3,31,33; Luke 10:26,27; Gal. 3:10; 1 Thess 5:23
(2)Luke 1:75;
Acts 24:16
(3)Rom. 10:5; Gal. 3:10,12
94 Is there any use of the moral law to man since the fall?
A. Although no man, since the fall, can attain to righteousness and life by the
moral law;(1) yet there is great use thereof, as well common to all men, as
peculiar either to the unregenerate, or the regenerate.(2)
(1)Rom. 8:3;
Gal. 2:16
(2)1 Tim. 1:8
95
Of what use is the moral law to all men ? A. The moral law is of use to all men,
to inform them of the holy nature and will of God,(1) and of their duty, binding
them to walk accordingly;(2) to convince them of their disability to keep it,
and of the sinful pollution of their nature, hearts, and lives;(3) to humble
them in the sense of their sin and misery,(4) and thereby help them to a clearer
sight of the need they have of Christ,(5) and of the perfection of his
obedience.(6)
(1)Lev.
11:44,45; Lev. 20:7,8; Rom.
(2)Micah 6:8;
James 2:10,11
(3)Ps.
19:11,12; Rom.
(4)
(5)Gal.
3:21,22
(6) Rom. 10:4
96
What particular use is there of the moral law to unregenerate men? A. The moral
law is of use to unregenerate men, to awaken their consciences to flee from
wrath to come,(1) and to drive them to Christ,(2) or, upon their continuance in
the estate and way of sin, to leave them inexcusable,(3) and under the curse
thereof.(4)
(1)1 Tim.
1:9,10
(2)Gal. 3:24
(3)Rom.
(4)Gal. 3:10
97
What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate? A. Although they
that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a
covenant of works,(1) so as thereby they are neither justified(2) nor
condemned;(3) yet, besides the general uses thereof common to them with all men,
it is of special use, to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his
fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead, and for their
good;(4) and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness,(5) and to express the
same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their
obedience.(6)
(1)Rom.
(2)Rom.
(3)Gal. 5:23;
(4)Rom.
(5)Luke
1:68,69,74,75; Col. 1:12,13,14
(6)Rom.
98 Where is the moral law summarily
comprehended? A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten
commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon Mount Sinai, and
written by him in two tables of stone;(1) and are recorded in the twentieth
chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and
the other six our duty to man.(2)
(1)Deut.
10:4; Exod. 34:1-4
(2)Matt. 22:37-40
99 What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of
the ten commandments? A. For the right understanding of the ten commandments,
these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth everyone
to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto
entire obedience for ever, so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty,
and to forbid the least degree of every sin.(1) 2. That it is spiritual, and so
reacheth the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul;
as well as words, works, and gestures.(2) 3. That one and the same thing, in
divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments.(3) 4. That
as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden;(4) and, where a
sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded;(5) so, where a promise is
annexed, the contrary threatening is included;(6) and where a threatening is
annexed, the contrary promise is included.(7) 5. That what God forbids, is at no
time to be done;(8) what he commands, is always our duty;(9) and yet every
particular duty is not to be done at all times.(10) 6. That under one sin or
duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded together with all the
causes, means, occasions and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto.
(11) 7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound,
according to our places, to endeavour that it may be avoided or performed by
others, according to the duty of their places.(12) 8. That in what is commanded
to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to
them;(13) and to take heed of partaking with others in what is forbidden
them.(14)
(1)Ps. 19:7;
James 2:10; Matt. 5:21,22
(2)Rom. 7:14;
Deut. 6:5 compared with Matt. 22:37,38,39; Matt.
5:21,22,27,28,33,34,37,38,39,43,44
(3)Col. 3:5;
Amos 8:5; Prov. 1:19; 1 Tim. 6:10
(4)Isa.
58:13; Deut. 6:13 compared with Matt. 4:9,10; Matt. 15:4,5,6
(5)Matt.
5:21-25; Eph. 4:28
(6)Exod.
(7)Jer.
18:7,8; Exod. 20:7; Ps. 15:1,4,5; Ps. 24:4,5
(8)Job
13:7,8; Rom. 3:8; Job 36:21; Heb. 11:25
(9)Deut.
4:8,9
(10)Matt.
12:7
(11)Matt.
5:21,22,27,28; Matt. 15:4-6; Heb. 10:24,25; 1 Thess. 5:22; Jude 23; Gal. 5:26;
Col. 3:21
(12)Exod. 20:10; Lev. 19:17; Gen. 18:19; Josh. 24:15;
Deut. 6:6,7
(13)2 Cor.
(14)1 Tim.
100 What special things are we to consider in the ten commandments? A. We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to enforce them.
101 What is the preface to the ten
commandments? A. The preface to the ten commandments is contained in these
words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage.(1) Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as
being JEHOVAH, the eternal, immutable, and almighty God;(2) having his being in
and of himself,(3) and giving being to all his words(4) and works:(5) and that
he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people;(6) who,
as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our
spiritual thraldom;(7) and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God
alone, and to keep all his commandments.(8)
(1)Exod. 20:2
(2)Isa. 44:6
(3)Exod. 3:14
(4)Exod. 6:3
(5)Acts
(6)Gen. 17:7
compared with Rom. 3:29
(7)Luke
1:74,75
(8)1 Pet.
102 What is the sum of the
four commandments which contain our duty to God? A. The sum of the four
commandments containing our duty to God, is, to love the Lord our God with all
our heart, and with all our soul and with all our strength, and with all our
mind.(1)
(1)Luke 10:27
103
Which is the first commandment? A. The first commandment is, Thou .shalt have no
other gods before
(1)Exod. 20:3
104
What are the duties required in the first commandment? A. The duties required in
the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only
true God, and our God;(1) and to worship and glorify him accordingly,(2) by
thinking,(3) meditating,(4) remembering,(5) highly esteeming,(6) honouring,(7)
adoring,(8) choosing,(9) loving,(10) desiring,(11) fearing of him;(12) believing
him;(13) trusting,(14) hoping,(15) delighting,(16) rejoicing in him;(17) being
zealous for him;(18) calling upon him, giving all praise and thanks,(19) and
yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man;(20) being
careful in all things to please him,(21) and sorrowful when in any thing he is
offended;(22) and walking humbly with him.(23)
(1)1 Chron. 28:9; Deut. 26:17; Isa. 43:10; Jer. 14:22
(2)Ps. 95:6,7; Matt. 4:10; Ps. 29:2
(3)Mal. 3:16
(4)Ps. 63:6
(5)Eccl. 12:1
(6)Ps. 71:19
(7)Mal. 1:6
(8)Isa. 45:23
(9)Josh. 24:15,22
(10)Deut. 6:5
(11)Ps. 73:25
(12)Isa. 8:13
(13)Exod.
14:31
(14)Isa. 26:4
(15)Ps. 130:7
(16)Ps. 37:4
(17)Ps. 32:11
(18)Rom.
(19)Phil. 4:6
(20)Jer.
7:23; James 4:7
(21)1 John
(22)Jer.
31:18; Ps. 119:136
(23)Micah 6:8
105
What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment? A. The sins forbidden in
the first commandment are, Atheism, in denying, or not having a God;(1)
Idolatry, in having or worshipping more gods than one, or any with or instead of
the true God;(2) the not having and avouching him for God, and our God;(3) the
omission or neglect of any thing due to him, required in this commandment;(4)
ignorance,(5) forgetfulness,(6) misapprehensions,(7) false opinions,(8) unworthy
and wicked thoughts of him;(9) bold and curious searching into his secrets;(10)
all profaneness,(11) hatred of God;(12) self-love,(13) self-seeking,(14) and all
other inordinate and immoderate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon
other things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part;(15) vain
credulity,(16) unbelief,(17) heresy,(18) misbelief,(19) distrust,(20)
despair,(21) incorrigibleness(22) and insensibleness under judgments(23),
hardness of heart,(24) pride,(25) presumption,(26) carnal security,(27) tempting
of God;(28) using unlawful means,(29) and trusting in unlawful means;(30) carnal
delights and joys;(31) corrupt, blind, and indiscreet zeal;(32) lukewarmness,(33)
and deadness in the things of God;(34) estranging ourselves, and apostatizing
from God;(35) praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, angels, or
any other creatures;(36) all compacts and consulting with the devil,(37) and
hearkening to his suggestions;(38) making men the lords of our faith and
conscience;(39) slighting and despising God and his commands;(40) resisting and
grieving of his Spirit,(41) discontent and impatience at his dispensations,
charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us;(42) and ascribing the
praise of any good we either are, have, or can do, to fortune,(43) idols,(44)
ourselves,(45) or any other creature.(46)
(1)Ps. 14:1;
Eph. 2:12
(2)Jer.
(3)Ps. 81:11
(4)Isa.
43:22,23,24
(5)Jer. 4:22;
Hos. 4:1,6
(6)Jer. 2:32
(7)Acts
(8)Isa. 40:18
(9)Ps. 50:21
(10)Deut. 29:29
(11)Tit. 1:16; Heb. 12:16
(12)
(13)2 Tim.
3:2
(14)Phil.
2:21
(15)1 John
(16)1 John
4:1
(17)Heb. 3:12
(18)Gal. 5:20
(19)Acts 26:9
(20)Ps. 78:22
(21)Gen. 4:13
(22)Jer. 5:3
(23)Isa.
42:25
(24)Rom. 2:5
(25)Jer.
13:15
(26)Ps. 19:13
(27)Zeph.
1:12
(28)Matt. 4:7
(29)Rom. 3:8
(30)Jer. 17:5
(31)2 Tim.
3:4
(32)Gal.
4:17; John 16:2;
(33)Rev. 3:16
(34)Rev. 3:1
(35)Ezek.
14:5; Isa. 1:4,5
(36)Rom.
(37)Lev.
20:6; 1 Sam. 28:7,11; 1 Chron. 10:13,14
(38)Acts 5:3
(39)2 Cor.
(40)Deut.
32:15; 2 Sam. 12:9; Prov. 13:13
(41)Acts
7:51; Eph. 4:30
(42)Ps. 73:2,3,13,14,15,22; Job 1:22
(43)1 Sam. 6:7,8,9
(44)Dan. 5:23
(45)Deut. 8:17; Dan. 4:30
(46)Hab. 1:16
106
What are we specially taught by these words [before me] in the first
commandment? A. These words [before me], or before my face, in the first
commandment, teach us that God, who seeth all things, taketh special notice of,
and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God: that so it may be
an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a most impudent
provocation:(1) as also to persuade us to do as in his sight, whatever we do in
his service.(2)
(1)Ezek.
8:5,6; Ps. 44:20,21
(2)1 Chron. 28:9
107 Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is,
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness 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, not 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
showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:4,5,6
108 What are the duties required in the second commandment? A.
The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and
keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath
instituted in his word;(1) particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of
Christ;(2) the reading, preaching, and hearing of the word;(3) the
administration and receiving of the sacraments;(4) church government and
discipline;(5) the ministry and maintenance thereof;(6) religious fasting;(7)
swearing by the name of God,(8) and vowing unto him:(9) as also the
disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship;(10) and, according to each
one's place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry.(11)
(1)Deut.
32:46,47; Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 6:13,14
(2)Phil. 4:6;
Eph. 5:20
(3)Deut.
17:18,19; Acts 15:21; 2 Tim. 4:2; James 1:21,22; Acts 10:33
(4)Matt.
28:19
(5)Matt.
18:15-17; Matt. 16:19; 1 Cor. 5 throughout; 1 Cor. 12:28
(6)Eph.
4:11,12; 1 Tim. 5:17,18; 1 Cor. 9:7-15
(7)Joel
2:12,13; 1 Cor. 7:5
(8)Deut. 6:13
(9)Isa.
19:21; Ps. 76:11
(10)Acts
17:16,17; Ps. 16:4
(11)Deut. 7:5; Isa. 30:22
109 What are the sins forbidden in the second
commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all
devising,(1) counselling,(2) commanding,(3) using,(4) and any wise approving,
any religious worship not instituted by God himself;(5) tolerating a false
religion;(6) the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three
persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or
likeness of any creature whatsoever;(7) all worshipping of it,(8) or God in it
or by it;(9) the making of any representation of feigned deities,(10) and all
worship of them, or service belonging to them;(11) all superstitious
devices,(12) corrupting the worship of God,(13) adding to it, or taking from
it,(14) whether invented and taken up of ourselves,(15) or received by tradition
from others,(16) though under the title of antiquity,(17) custom,(18)
devotion,(19) good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever;(20) simony;(21)
sacrilege;(22) all neglect,(23) contempt,(24) hindering,(25) and opposing the
worship and ordinances which God hath appointed.(26)
(1)Numb.
15:39
(2)Deut.
13:6-8
(3)Hosea
5:11; Micah 6:16
(4)1 Kings
(5)Deut 12:30-32
(6)Deut 13:6-12; Zech. 13:2,3; Rev. 2:2,14,15,20; Rev.
17:12,16,17
(7)Deut.
4:15-19; Acts
(8)Dan. 3:18;
Gal. 4:8
(9)Exod. 32:5
(10)Exod.
32:8
(11)1 Kings
(12)Acts
17:22; Col. 2:21-23
(13)Mal. 1:7,8,14
(14)Deut. 4:2
(15)Ps. 106:39
(16)Matt. 15:9
(17)1 Pet. 1:18
(18)Jer.
44:17
(19)Isa.
65:3-5; Gal. 1:13,14
(20)1 Sam.
(21)Acts
(22)Rom. 2:22; Mal. 3:8
(23)Exod. 4:24-26
(24)Matt. 22:5; Mal. 1:7,13
(25)Matt.
23:13
(26)Acts 13:44,45; 1 Thess. 2:15,16
110 What are the reasons annexed to the
second commandment, the more to enforce it? A. The reasons annexed to the second
commandment. the more to enforce it, contained in these words, 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 showing mercy
unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments;(1) are, besides
God's sovereignty over us, and propriety in us,(2) his fervent zeal for his own
worship,(3) and his revengeful indignation against all false worship as being a
spiritual whoredom;(4) accounting the breakers of this commandment such as hate
him, and threatening to punish them unto divers generations;(5) and esteeming
the observers of it such as love him and keep his commandments, and promising
mercy to them unto many generations.(6)
(1)Exod.
20:5,6
(2)Ps. 45:11;
Rev. 15:3,4
(3)Exod.
34:13,14
(4)1 Cor.
(5)Hosea
2:2-4
(6)Deut. 5:29
111
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 vain.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:7
112
What is required in the third commandment? A. The third commandment requires,
That the name of God, his titles, attributes,(1) ordinances,(2) the word,(3)
sacraments,(4) prayer,(5) oaths,(6) vows,(7) lots,(8) his works,(9) and
whatsoever else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily and
reverently used in thought,(10) meditation,(11) word,(12) and writing;(13) by an
holy profession,(14) and answerable conversation,(15) to the glory of God,(16)
and the good of ourselves,(17) and others.(18)
(1)Matt. 6:9; Deut. 28:58; Ps. 29:2; Ps. 68:4; Rev. 15:3,4
(2)Mal. 1:14;
Eccl. 5:1
(3)Ps. 138:2
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Tim. 2:8
(6)Jer. 4:2
(7)Eccl.
5:2,4,5,6
(8)Acts
(9)Job 36:24
(10)Mal. 3:16
(11)Ps.
8:1,3,4,9
(12)Col.
3:17; Ps. 105:2,5
(13)Ps.
102:18
(14)1 Pet.
(15)Phil.
1:27
(16)1 Cor.
(17)Jer.
32:39
(18)1 Pet. 2:12
113 What are the sins forbidden in the third commandment? A. The
sins forbidden in the third commandments are, the not using of God's name as is
required;(1) and the abuse of it in an ignorant,(2) vain,(3) irreverent,
profane,(4) superstitious,(5) or wicked mentioning, or otherwise using his
titles, attributes,(6) ordinances,(7) or works,(8) by blasphemy,(9) perjury;(10)
all sinful cursings,(11) oaths,(12) vows,(13) and lots;(14) violating of our
oaths and vows, if lawful;(15) and fulfilling them, if of things unlawful;(16)
murmuring and quarrelling at,(17) curious prying into,(18) and misapplying of
God's decrees(19) and providences,(20) misinterpreting,(21) misapplying,(22) or
any way perverting the word, or any part of it,(23) to profane jests,(24)
curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or the maintaining of false
doctrines;(25) abusing it, the creatures, or any thing contained under the name
of God, to charms,(26) or sinful lusts and practices;(27) the maligning,(28)
scorning,(29) reviling,(30) or any wise opposing of God's truth, grace, and
ways;(31) making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends;(32)
being ashamed of it,(33) or a shame to it, by unconformable,(34) unwise,(35)
unfruitful,(36) and offensive walking,(37)or backsliding from it.(38)
(1)Mal. 2:2
(2)Acts 17:23
(3)Prov. 30:9
(4)Mal. 1:6,7,12; Mal. 3:14
(5)1 Sam.
4:3,4,5; Jer. 7:4,9,10,14,31; Col. 2:20-22
(6)2 Kings
(7)Ps.
50:16,17
(8)Isa. 5:12
(9)2 Kings
(10)Zech.
5:4; Zech 8:17
(11)1 Sam.
(12)Jer. 5:7;
Jer. 23:10
(13)Deut.
23:18; Acts 23:12,14
(14)Esth.
3:7; Esth.
(15)Ps. 24:4;
Ezek. 17:16,18,19
(16)Mark
6:26; 1 Sam. 25:22,32,33,34
(17)
(18)Deut.
29:29
(19)
(20)Eccl.
8:11; Eccl. 9:3; Ps. 39 throughout
(21)Matt.
(22)Ezek.
13:22
(23)2 Pet.
(24)Isa. 32:13; Jer. 33:34,36,38
(25)1 Tim. 1:4,6,7; 1 Tim. 6:4,5,20; 2 Tim. 2:14; Tit. 3:9
(26)Deut. 18:10-14
(27)2 Tim.
4:3,4; Rom.
(28)Acts
13:45; 1 John 3:12
(29)Ps. 1:1;
2 Pet. 3:3
(30)1 Pet.
4:4
(31)Acts
(32)2 Tim. 3:5; Matt. 23:14; Matt. 6:1,2,5,16
(33)Mark. 8:38
(34)Ps.
73:14,15
(35)1 Cor.
6:5,6; Eph.
(36)Isa. 5:4;
2 Pet. 1:8
(37)Rom.
(38)Gal. 3:1,3; Heb. 6:6
114 What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, [The Lord thy
God], and, [For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in
vain(1)], are because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his name is not to
be profaned, or any way abused by us;(2) especially because he will be so far
from acquitting and sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he
will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment,(3) albeit many such
escape the censures and punishments of men.(4)
(1)Exod. 20:7
(2)Lev. 19:12
(3)Ezek. 36:21,22,23; Deut. 28:58,59; Zech. 5:2,3,4
(4)1 Sam. 2:12,17,22,24; 1 Sam. 3:13
115 Which is the fourth commandment? A. The
fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt
thy 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 it.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:8-11
116 What is required in the fourth commandment? A. The fourth
commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set
times as he hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven; which
was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ,
and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the
world; which is the Christian sabbath,(1) and in the New Testament called The
Lord's day.(2)
(1)Deut.
5:12-14; Gen. 2:2,3; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Matt. 5:17,18; Isa. 56:2,4,6,7
(2)Rev. 1:10
117
How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be sanctified? A. The sabbath or Lord's
day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day,(1) not only from such
works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and
recreations as are on other days lawful;(2) and making it our delight to spend
the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity
and mercy(3)) in the publick and private exercises of God's worship:(4) and, to
that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and
moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may
be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.(5)
(1)Exod. 20:8,10
(2)Exod. 16:25-28; Neh. 13:15-22; Jer. 17:21,22
(3)Matt. 12:1-13
(4)Isa.
58:13; Luke
(5)Exod. 20:8; Luke 23:54,56; Exod. 16:22,25,26,29; Neh. 13:19
118 Why is the
charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families,
and other superiors? A. The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially
directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are bound
not only to keep it themselves but to see that it is observed by all those that
are under their charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder them by
employments of their own.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:10; Josh. 24:15; Neh. 13:15,17; Jer. 17:20,21,22; Exod. 23:12
119
What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in
the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required,(1) all
careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of
them;(2) all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself
sinful;(3) and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly
employments and recreations.(4)
(1)Ezek.
22:26
(2)Acts
20:7,9; Ezek. 33:30-32; Amos 8:5; Mal. 1:13
(3)Ezek.
23:38
(4)Jer. 17:24,27; Isa. 58:13
120 What are the reasons annexed to the fourth
commandment, the more to enforce it? A. The reasons annexed to the fourth
commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God
allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for
himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:(1)
from God's challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the
sabbath of the Lord thy God:(2) from the example of God, who in six days made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:
and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it
to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to
use in our sanctifying it, Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and
hallowed it.(3)
(1)Exod. 20:9
(2)Exod.
20:10
(3)Exod. 20:11
121 Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth
commandment? A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth
commandment,(1) partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being
thereby helped in our preparation to keep it,(2) and, in keeping it, better to
keep all the rest of the commandments,(3) and to continue a thankful remembrance
of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short
abridgment of religion;(4) and partly, because we are very ready to forget
it,(5) for that there is less light of nature for it,(6) and yet it restraineth
our natural liberty in things at other times lawful;(7) that it cometh but once
in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off
our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it;(8)
and that Satan with his instruments much labour to blot out the glory, and even
the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.(9)
(1)Exod. 20:8
(2)Exod.
16:23; Luke 23:54,56 with Mark 15:42; Neh. 13:19
(3)Ps.
92:(title) compared with Ps. 92:13,14; Ezek. 20:12,19,20
(4)Gen.
2:2,3; Ps. 118:22,24; Acts 4:10,11; Rev. 1:10
(5)Ezek.
22:26
(6)Neh. 9:14
(7)Exod.
34:21
(8)Deut.
5:14,15; Amos 8:5
(9)Lam. 1:7;
Jer.
122
What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man? A. The
sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our
neighbour as ourselves,(1) and to do to others what we would have them to do to
us.(2)
(1)Matt.
22:39
(2)Matt. 7:12
123
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 thee.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:12
124 Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?
A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural
parents,(1) but all superiors in age,(2) and gifts;(3) and especially such as,
by God's ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family,(4)
church,(5) or commonwealth.(6)
(1)Prov. 23:22,25; Eph. 6:1,2
(2)1 Tim. 5:1,2
(3)Gen. 4:20-22; Gen. 45:8
(4)2 Kings
(5)2 Kings
(6)Isa. 49:23
125
Why are superiors stiled Father and Mother? A. Superiors are stiled Father and
Mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural
parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several
relations;(1) and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in
performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents.(2)
(1)Eph. 6:4;
2 Cor. 12:14; 1 Thess. 2:7,8,11; Numb. 11:11,12
(2)1 Cor. 4:14,15,16; 2 Kings 5:13
126 What is the general scope of the fifth
commandment? A. The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the performance
of those duties which we mutually owe in our several relations, as inferiors,
superiors, or equals.(1)
(1)Eph. 5:21;
1 Pet. 2:17;
127
What is the honour that inferiors owe to their superiors? A. The honour which
inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart,(1) word,(2) and
behaviour;(3) prayer and thanksgiving for them;(4) imitation of their virtues
and graces;(5) willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels,(6) due
submission to their corrections;(7) fidelity to,(8) defence,(9) and maintenance
of their persons and authority according to their several ranks, and the nature
of their places;(10) bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in
love,(11) that so they may be an honour to them and to their government.(12)
(1)Mal. 1:6;
Lev. 19:3
(2)Prov.
31:28; 1 Pet. 3:6
(3)Lev.
19:32; 1 Kings 2:19
(4)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(5)Heb. 13:7;
Phil. 3:17
(6)Eph.
6:1,2,5,6,7; 1 Pet. 2:13,14;
(7)Heb. 12:9;
1 Pet. 2:18,19,20
(8)Tit.
2:9,10
(9)I Sam.
26:15,16; 2 Sam. 18:3; Esther 6:2
(10)Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:6,7; 1 Tim. 5:17,18; Gal. 6:6;
Gen. 45:11; Gen. 47:12
(11)1 Pet.
(12)Ps. 127:3-5; Prov. 31:23
128 What are the sins of inferiors against their
superiors? A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of
the duties required toward them;(1) envying at,(2) contempt of,(3) and
rebellion(4) against, their persons(5) and places,(6) in their lawful
counsels,(7) commands, and corrections;(8) cursing, mocking,(9) and all such
refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and
their government.(10)
(1)Matt.
15:4-6
(2)Numb.
11:28,29
(3)1 Sam.
8:7; Isa. 3:5
(4)2 Sam.
15:1-12
(5)Exod.
21:15
(6)1 Sam.
(7)1 Sam.
(8)Deut.
21:18-21
(9)Prov.
30:11,17
(10)Prov. 19:26
129 What is required of superiors towards their inferiors? A. It
is required of superiors according to that power they receive from God, and that
relation wherein they stand, to love,(1) pray for,(2) and bless their
inferiors,(3) to instruct,(4) counsel, and admonish them;(5) countenancing,(6)
commending,(7) and rewarding such as do well;(8) and discountenancing,(9)
reproving, and chastising such as do ill;(10) protecting,(11) and providing for
them all things necessary for soul(12) and body:(13) and by grave, wise, holy,
and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God,(14) honour to themselves,(15)
and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.(16)
(1)Col. 3:19;
Tit. 2:4
(2)1 Sam.
(3)1 Kings
(4)Deut.
6:6,7
(5)Eph. 6:4
(6)1 Pet. 3:7
(7)1 Pet.
(8)Esth. 6:3
(9)
(10)Prov.
29:15; 1 Pet. 2:14
(11)Job
29:12-17; Isa. 1:10,17
(12)Eph. 6:4
(13)1 Tim.
5:8
(14)1 Tim.
(15)1 Kings
(16)Tit. 2:15
130
What are the sins of superiors? A. The sins of superiors are, besides the
neglect of the duties required of them,(1) an inordinate seeking of
themselves,(2) their own glory,(3) ease, profit, or pleasure,(4) commanding
things unlawful,(5) or not in the power of inferiors to perform;(6) counselling,(7)
encouraging,(8) or favouring them in that which is evil;(9) dissuading,
discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good;(10) correcting
them unduly;(11) careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and
danger;(12) provoking them to wrath;(13) or any way dishonouring themselves, or
lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss
behaviour.(14)
(1)Ezek.
34:2-4
(2)Phil. 2:21
(3)John 5:44;
John 7:18
(4)Isa.
56:10,11; Deut. 17:17
(5)Dan.
3:4-6; Acts 4:17,18
(6)Exod.
5:10-18; Matt. 23:2,4
(7)Matt. 14:8
compared with Mark 6:24
(8)2 Sam.
(9)1 Sam.
(10)John
7:46-49; Col. 3:21; Exod. 5:17
(11)1 Pet. 2:18-20; Heb. 12:10; Deut. 25:3
(12)Gen. 38:11,26; Acts 18:17
(13)Eph. 6:4
(14)Gen. 9:21; 1 Kings 12:13-16; 1 Kings 1:6; 1 Sam. 2:29-31
131 What are the
duties of equals? A. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth
of each other,(1) in giving honour to go one before another;(2) and to rejoice
in each others gifts and advancement, as their own.(3)
(1)1 Pet.
(2)Rom.
(3)Rom.
132 What are the sins of equals? A. The sins of
equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required,(1) the undervaluing of
the worth,(2) envying the gifts,(3) grieving at the advancement of prosperity
one of another;(4) and usurping pre-eminence one over another.(5)
(1)Rom. 13:8
(2)2 Tim. 3:3
(3)Acts 7:9;
Gal. 5:26
(4)Numb.
12:2; Esth. 6:12,13
(5)3 John 9; Luke 22:24
133 What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the
more to enforce it? A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these
words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth
thee,(1) is an express 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
commandment.(2)
(1)Exod.
20:12
(2)Deut. 5:16; 1 Kings 8:25; Eph. 6:2,3
134 Which is the sixth commandment? A.
The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:13
135 What are the duties required in the sixth commandment? A. The
duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful
endeavours, to preserve the life of ourselves(1) and others(2) by resisting all
thoughts and purposes,(3) subduing all passions,(4) and avoiding all
occasions,(5) temptations,(6) and practices, which tend to the unjust taking
away the life of any;(7) by just defence thereof against violence,(8) patient
bearing of the hand of God,(9) quietness of mind,(10) cheerfulness of
spirit;(11) a sober use of meat,(12) drink,(13) physick,(14) sleep,(15) labour,(16)
and recreations;(17) by charitable thoughts,(18) love,(19) compassion,(20)
meekness, gentleness,(21) kindness; peaceable,(22) mild and courteous speeches
and behaviour;(23) forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and
forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil;(24) comforting and
succouring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.(25)
(1)Eph.
5:28,29
(2)1 Kings
18:4
(3)Jer.
26:15,16; Acts 23:12,16,17,21,27
(4)Eph.
4:26,27
(5)2 Sam. 2:22; Deut 22:8
(6)Matt. 4:6,7; Prov. 1:10,11,15,16
(7)1 Sam. 24:12; 1 Sam. 26:9-11; Gen. 37:21,22
(8)Ps. 82:4;
Prov. 24:11,12; 1 Sam. 14:45
(9)James
5:7-11; Heb. 12:9
(10)1 Thess.
(11)Prov.
17:22
(12)Prov.
25:16,27
(13)1 Tim.
(14)Isa.
38:21
(15)Ps. 127:2
(16)Eccl.
5:12; 2 Thess. 3:10,12; Prov. 16:26
(17)Eccl.
3:4,11
(18)1 Sam.
19:4,5; 1 Sam.
(19)Rom.
(20)Luke
10:33,34
(21)Col.
3:12,13
(22)James
3:17
(23)1 Pet.
3:8-11; Prov. 15:1; Judges 8:1-3
(24)Matt.
5:24; Eph. 4:2,32; Rom.
(25)1 Thess. 5:14; Job 31:19,20; Matt. 25:35,36; Prov. 31:8,9
136 What are the sins
forbidden in the sixth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the sixth
commandment are, all taking away the life of ourselves,(1) or of others,(2)
except in case of publick justice,(3) lawful war,(4) or necessary defence;(5)
the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of
life;(6) sinful anger,(7) hatred,(8) envy,(9) desire of revenge;(10) all
excessive passions,(11) distracting cares;(12) immoderate use of meat,
drink,(13) labour,(14) and recreations;(15) provoking words,(16) oppression,(17)
quarrelling,(18) striking, wounding ,(19) and whatsoever else tends to the
destruction of the life of any.(20)
(1)Acts
(2)Gen. 9:6
(3)Numb.
35:31,33
(4)Jer.
48:10; Deut. 20 throughout;
(5)Exod.
22:2,3
(6)Matt.
25:42,43; James 2:15,16; Eccl. 6:1,2
(7)Matt. 5:22
(8)1 John
(9)Prov.
14:30
(10)Rom.
(11)Eph. 4:31
(12)Matt.
6:31,34
(13)Luke
(14)Eccl.
12:12; Eccl. 2:22,23
(15)Isa. 5:12
(16)Prov.
15:1; Prov. 12:18
(17)Ezek.
18:18; Exod. 1:14
(18)Gal.
5:15; Prov. 23:29
(19)Numb.
35:16,17,18,21
(20)Exod.
137 Which is the seventh commandment ? A. The seventh
commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:14
138 What are the duties required in the seventh commandment? A.
The duties required in the seventh commandment are, chastity in body, mind,
affections,(1) words,(2) and behaviour;(3) and the preservation of it in
ourselves and others;(4) watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses;(5)
temperance,(6) keeping of chaste company,(7) modesty in apparel;(8) marriage by
those that have not the gift of continency;(9) conjugal love,(10) and
cohabitation;(11) diligent labour in our callings;(12) shunning all occasions of
uncleanness, and resisting temptations thereunto.(13)
(1)1 Thess.
4:4; Job. 31:1; 1 Cor. 7:34
(2)Col. 4:6
(3)1 Pet. 2:3
(4)1 Cor.
7:2,35,36
(5)Job. 31:1
(6)Acts
24:24,25
(7)Prov.
2:16-20
(8)1 Tim. 2:9
(9)1 Cor.
7:2,9
(10)Prov.
5:19,20
(11)1 Pet.
3:7
(12)Prov.
31:11,27,28
(13)Prov. 5:8; Gen. 39:8-10
139 What are the sins forbidden in the seventh
commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the
neglect of the duties required,(1) are adultery, fornication,(2) rape,
incest,(3) sodomy, and all unnatural lusts;(4) all unclean imaginations,
thoughts, purposes, and affections;(5) all corrupt or filthy communications, or
listening thereunto;(6) wanton looks,(7) impudent or light behaviour, immodest
apparel;(8) prohibiting of lawful,(9) and dispensing with unlawful
marriages;(10) allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to
them;(11) entangling vows of single life,(12) undue delay of marriage;(13)
having more wives or husbands than one at the same time;(14) unjust divorce,(15)
or desertion;(16) idleness, gluttony, drunkenness,(17) unchaste company,(18)
lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays;(19) and all other
provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.(20)
(1)Prov. 5:7
(2)Heb. 13:4;
Gal. 5:19
(3)2 Sam.
(4)Rom.
(5)Matt.
5:28; Matt. 15:19; Col. 3:5
(6)Eph.
5:3,4; Prov. 7:5,21,22
(7)Isa. 3:16;
2 Pet. 2:14
(8)Prov.
7:10,13
(9)1 Tim. 4:3
(10)Lev. 18:1-21; Mal. 2:11,12
(11)1 Kings 15:12; 2 Kings 23:7; Deut. 23:17,18; Lev.
19:29; Jer. 5:7; Prov. 7:24-27
(12)Matt. 19:10,11
(13)1 Cor. 7:7-9; Gen. 38:26
(14)Mal. 2:14,15; Matt. 19:5
(15)Mal. 2:16; Matt. 5:32
(16)1 Cor. 7:12,13
(17)Ezek. 16:49; Prov. 23:30-33
(18)Gen. 39:10
(19)Eph. 5:4;
Ezek. 23:14-16; Isa. 23:15-17; Isa. 3:16; Mark
(20)2 Kings
140 Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:15
141 What are the duties required in the eighth commandment? A. The
duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice
in contracts and commerce between man and man,(1) rendering to every one his
due;(2) restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners
thereof;(3) giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the
necessities of others;(4) moderation of our judgments, wills and affections
concerning worldly goods;(5) a provident care and study to get,(6) keep, use,
and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation
of our nature, and suitable to our condition;(7) a lawful calling,(8) and
diligence in it;(9) frugality,(10) avoiding unnecessary law-suits,(11) and
suretiship, or other like engagements;(12) and an endeavour, by all just and
lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of
others, as well as our own.(13)
(1)Ps.
15:2,4; Zech. 7:4,10; Zech. 8:16,17
(2)Rom. 13:7
(3)Lev. 6:2-5
with Luke 19:8
(4)Luke
6:30,38; 1 John 3:17; Eph. 4:28; Gal. 6:10
(5)1 Tim.
6:6,7,9; Gal.
(6)1 Tim. 5:8
(7)Prov.
27:23 to end; Eccl. 2:24; Eccl. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:17,18; Isa. 38:1; Matt. 11:8
(8)1 Cor. 7:20; Gen. 2:15; Gen. 3:19
(9)Eph. 4:28; Prov. 10:4
(10)John
6:12; Prov. 21:20
(11)I Cor.
6:1-9
(12)Prov.
6:1-6; Prov. 11:15
(13)Lev. 25:35; Deut. 22:1-4; Exod. 23:4,5; Gen. 47:14,20; Phil. 2:4; Matt. 22:39
142
What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in
the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required,(1) are,
theft,(2) robbery,(3) manstealing,(4) and receiving any thing that is stolen;(5)
fraudulent dealing,(6) false weights and measures,(7) removing land-marks,(8)
injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and man,(9) or in matters
of trust;(10) oppression,(11) extortion,(12) usury,(13) bribery,(14) vexatious
lawsuits,(15) unjust inclosures and depopulations;(16) ingrossing commodities to
enhance the price;(17) unlawful callings,(18) and all other unjust or sinful
ways of taking or withholding from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of
enriching ourselves;(19) covetousness;(20) inordinate prizing and affecting
worldly goods;(21) distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting,
keeping, and using them;(22) envying at the prosperity of others;(23) as
likewise idleness,(24) prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby
we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate,(25) and defrauding ourselves of
the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us.(26)
(1)James
2:15,16; 1 John 3:17
(2)Eph. 4:28
(3)Ps. 62:10
(4)1 Tim.
(5)Prov.
29:24; Ps. 1:18
(6)1 Thess.
4:6
(7)Prov.
11:1; Prov. 20:10
(8)Deut.
19:14; Prov. 23:10
(9)Amos 8:5;
Ps. 37:21
(10)Luke
16:10-12
(11)Ezek.
22:29; Lev. 25:17
(12)Matt.
23:25; Ezek. 22:12
(13)Ps. 15:5
(14)Job
(15)1 Cor.
6:6-8; Prov.
(16)Isa. 5:8;
Micah 2:2
(17)Prov.
11:26
(18)Acts
(19)Job
20:19; James 5:4; Prov. 21:6
(20)Luke
12:15
(21)1 Tim.
6:5; Col. 3:2; Prov. 23:5; Ps. 62:10
(22)Matt.
6:25,31,34; Eccl. 5:12
(23)Ps. 73:3;
Ps. 37:1,7
(24)2 Thess.
(25)Prov.
21:17,21; Prov. 28:19
(26)Eccl. 4:8; Eccl. 6:2; 1 Tim. 5:8
143 Which is the ninth commandment? A. The
ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:16
144 What are the duties required in the ninth commandment? A. The
duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of
truth between man and man,(1) and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our
own;(2) appearing and standing for the truth;(3) and from the heart,(4)
sincerely,(5) freely,(6) clearly,(7) and fully,(8) speaking the truth, and only
the truth, in matters of judgment and justice,(9) and in all other things
whatsoever;(10) a charitable esteem of our neighbours;(11) loving, desiring, and
rejoicing in their good name;(12) sorrowing for,(13) and covering of their
infirmities;(14) freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces,(15) defending
their innocency;(16) a ready receiving of a good report,(17) and unwillingness
to admit of an evil report,(18) concerning them; discouraging tale-bearers,(19)
flatterers,(20) and slanderers;(21) love and care of our own good name, and
defending it when need requireth;(22) keeping of lawful promises;(23) studying
and practising of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good
report.(24)
(1)Zech. 8:16
(2)3 John 12
(3)Prov.
31:8,9
(4)Ps. 15:2
(5)2 Chron.
19:9
(6)1 Sam.
19:4,5
(7)Josh. 7:19
(8)2 Sam.
(9)Lev.
19:15; Prov. 14:5,25
(10)2 Cor.
(11)Heb. 6:9;
1 Cor. 13:7
(12)Rom. 1:8;
2 John 4; 3 John 3,4
(13)2 Cor.
2:4; 2 Cor.
(14)Prov.
17:9; 1 Pet. 4:8
(15)1 Cor.
1:4,5,7; 2 Tim. 1:4,5
(16)1 Sam.
(17)1 Cor.
13:6,7
(18)Ps. 15:3
(19)Prov.
25:23
(20)Prov.
26:24,25
(21)Ps. 101:5
(22)Prov.
22:1; John 8:49
(23)Ps. 15:4
(24)Phil. 4:8
145
What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in
the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our
neighbours, as well as our own,(1) especially in public judicature;(2) giving
false evidence,(3) suborning false witnesses,(4) wittingly appearing and
pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and overbearing the truth;(5) passing
unjust sentence,(6) calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked
according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work
of the wicked;(7) forgery,(8) concealing the truth, undue silence in a just
cause,(9) and holding our peace when iniquity calleth for either a reproof from
ourselves,(10) or complaint to others;(11) speaking the truth unseasonably,(12)
or maliciously to a wrong end,(13) or perverting it to a wrong meaning,(14) or
in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;(15)
speaking untruth,(16) lying,(17) slandering,(18) backbiting,(19) detracting,(20)
tale-bearing,(21) whispering,(22) scoffing,(23) reviling,(24) rash,(25)
harsh,(26) and partial censuring;(27)misconstructing intentions, words, and
actions;(28) flattering,(29) vain-glorious boasting,(30) thinking or speaking
too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others;(31) denying the gifts and
graces of God;(32) aggravating smaller faults;(33) hiding, excusing, or
extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;(34) unnecessary
discovering of infirmities;(35) raising false rumours,(36) receiving and
countenancing evil reports,(37) and stopping our ears against just defence;(38)
evil suspicion;(39) envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any,(40)
endeavouring or desiring to impair it,(41) rejoicing in their disgrace and
infamy;(42) scornful contempt,(43) fond admiration;(44) breach of lawful
promises;(45) neglecting such things as are of good report,(46) and practising,
or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, such things
as procure an ill name.(47)
(1)1 Sam. 17:28; 2 Sam. 16:3; 2 Sam. 1:9,10,15,16
(2)Lev. 19:15; Hab. 1:4
(3)Prov.
19:5; Prov. 6:16,19
(4)Acts
(5)Jer.
9:3,5; Acts 24:2,5; Ps. 12:3,4; Ps. 52:1-4
(6)Prov.
17:15; 1 Kings 21:9-14
(7)Isa. 5:23
(8)Ps.
119:69; Luke 19:8; Luke 16:5,6,7
(9)Lev. 5:1;
Deut. 13:8; Acts 5:3,8,9; 2 Tim. 4:6
(10)1 Kings
1:6; Lev.
(11)Isa. 59:4
(12)Prov.
29:11
(13)1 Sam.
22:9,10 compared with Ps. 52:1-5
(14)Ps. 56:5;
John 2:19 compared with Matt. 26:60,61
(15)Gen. 3:5;
Gen. 26:7,9
(16)Isa.
59:13
(17)Lev.
19:11; Col. 3:9
(18)Ps. 50:20
(19)Ps. 15:3
(20)James
4:11; Jer. 38:4
(21)Lev.
19:16
(22)
(23)Gen. 21:9
compared with Gal. 4:29
(24)1 Cor.
(25)Matt. 7:1
(26)Acts 28:4
(27)Gen.
38:24;
(28)Neh.
6:6-8; Rom. 3:8; Ps. 69:10; 1 Sam. 1:13-15; 2 Sam. 10:3
(29)Ps.
12:2,3
(30)2 Tim.
3:2
(31)Luke
18:9,11; Rom.
(32)Job
27:5,6; Job 4:6
(33)Matt.
7:3-5
(34)Prov.
28:13; Prov. 30:20; Gen. 3:12,13; Jer. 2:35; 2 Kings 5:25; Gen. 4:9
(35)Gen.
9:22; Prov. 25:9,10
(36)Exod.
23:1
(37)Prov.
29:12
(38)Acts
7:56,57; Job 31:13,14
(39)1 Cor.
13:5; 1 Tim. 6:4
(40)Numb.
11:29; Matt. 21:15
(41)Ezra
4:12,13
(42)Jer.
48:27
(43)Ps.
35:15,16,21; Matt. 27:28,29
(44)Jude 16;
Acts 12:22
(45)
(46)1 Sam.
(47)2 Sam. 13:12,13; Prov. 5:8,9; Prov. 6:33
146 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's.(1)
(1)Exod. 20:17
147 What are the duties required in the tenth commandment? A. The
duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our
own condition,(1) and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our
neighbour, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend
unto, and further all that good which is his.(2)
(1)Heb. 13:5;
1 Tim. 6:6
(2)Job 31:29; Rom. 12:15; Ps. 122:7-9; 1 Tim. 1:5; Esth. 10:3; 1 Cor. 13:4-7
148 What
are the sins forbidden in the tenth commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the
tenth commandment are, discontentment with our own estate;(1) envying(2) and
grieving at the good of our neighbour,(3) together with all inordinate motions
and affections to any thing that is his.(4)
(1)1 Kings
21:4; Esth.
(2)Gal. 5:26;
James 3:14,16
(3)Ps.
112:9,10; Neh. 2:10
(4)
149 Is any man able perfectly to keep the
commandments of God? A. No man is able, either of himself,(1) or by any grace
received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God;(2) but doth
daily break them in thought,(3) word, and deed.(4)
(1)James 3:2;
John 15:5;
(2)Eccl.
7:20; 1 John 1:8,10; Gal.
(3)Gen. 6:5;
Gen. 8:21
(4)
150 Are all transgressions of the law of God equally heinous in
themselves, and in the sight of God? A. All transgressions of the law of God are
not equally heinous, but some sins in themselves, and by reason of several
aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.(1)
(1)John 19:11; Ezek. 8:6,13,15; 1 John 5:16; Ps. 78:17,32,56
151 What are those
aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others? A. Sins receive their
aggravations 1. From the persons offending:(1) if they be of riper age,(2)
greater experience or grace,(3) eminent for profession,(4) gifts,(5) place,(6)
office,(7) guides to others,(8) and whose example is likely to be followed by
others.(9) 2. From the parties offended:(10) if immediately against God,(11) his
attributes,(12) and worship;(13) against Christ, and his grace;(14) the Holy
Spirit,(15) his witness,(16) and workings;(17) against superiors, men of
eminency,(18) and such as we stand especially related and engaged unto;(19)
against any of the saints,(20) particularly weak brethren,(21) the souls of
them, or any other,(22) and the common good of all or many.(23) 3. From the
nature and quality of the offence:(24) if it be against the express letter of
the law,(25) break many commandments, contain in it many sins:(26) if not only
conceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions,(27) scandalize
others,(28) and admit of no reparation:(29) if against means,(30) mercies,(31)
judgments,(32) light of nature,(33) conviction of consciousness,(34) publick or
private admonition,(35) censures of the church,(36) civil punishments;(37) and
our prayers, purposes, promises,(38) vows,(39) covenants,(40) and engagements to
God or men:(41) if done deliberately,(42) wilfully,(43) presumptuously,(44)
impudently,(45) boastingly,(46) maliciously,(47) frequently,(48)
obstinately,(49) with delight,(50) continuance,(51) or relapsing after
repentance.(52) 4. From circumstances of time(53) and place:(54) if on the
Lord's day,(55) or other times of divine worship;(56) or immediately before(57)
or after these,(58) or other helps to prevent or remedy such miscarriages:(59)
if in publick, or in the presence of others, who are thereby likely to be
provoked or defiled.(60)
(1)Jer. 2:8
(2)Job.
32:7,9; Eccl. 4:13
(3)1 Kings
11:4,9
(4)2 Sam.
(5)James
4:17; Luke 12:47,48
(6)Jer. 5:4,5
(7)2 Sam.
12:7-9; Ezek.
(8)
(9)Gal.
2:11-14
(10)Matt.
21:38,39
(11)1 Sam.
(12)Rom. 2:4
(13)Mal. 1:8,14
(14)Heb. 2:2,3; Heb. 12:25
(15)Heb. 10:29; Matt. 12:31,32
(16)Eph. 4:30
(17)Heb.
6:4-6
(18)Jude 8;
Numb. 12:8,9; Isa. 3:5
(19)Prov.
30:17; 2 Cor. 12:15; Ps. 55:12-15
(20)Zeph.
2:8,10,11; Matt. 18:6; 1 Cor. 6:8; Rev. 17:6
(21)1 Cor.
(22)Ezek.
13:19; 1 Cor. 8:12; Rev. 18:12,13; Matt. 23:15
(23)1 Thess.
(24)Prov.
6:30-33
(25)Ezra
9:10-12; 1 Kings 11:9,10
(26)Col. 3:5;
1 Tim. 6:10; Prov. 5:8-12; Prov. 6:32,33; Josh. 7:21
(27)James
1:14,15; Matt. 5:22; Micah 2:1
(28)Matt.
18:7;
(29)Deut.
22:22,28,29; Prov. 6:32-35
(30)Matt.
11:21-24; John 15:22
(31)Isa. 1:3;
Deut. 32:6
(32)Amos
4:8-11; Jer. 5:3
(33)
(34)Rom.
(35)Prov.
29:1
(36)Tit.
3:10; Matt. 18:17
(37)Prov.
27:22; Prov. 23:35
(38)Ps.
78:34-37; Jer. 2:20; Jer. 42:5,6,20,21
(39)Eccl.
5:4-6; Prov. 20:25
(40)Lev.
26:25
(41)Prov.
2:17; Ezek. 17:18,19
(42)Ps. 36:4
(43)Jer. 6:16
(44)Numb.
15:30; Exod. 21:14
(45)Jer. 3:3;
Prov. 7:13
(46)Ps. 52:1
(47)3 John 10
(48)Numb
(49)Zech.
7:11,12
(50)Prov.
2:14
(51)Isa.
57:17
(52)Jer.
34:8-11; 2 Pet. 2:20-22
(53)2 Kings
(54)Jer.
7:10; Isa. 26:10
(55)Ezek.
23:37-39
(56)Isa.
58:3-5; Numb. 25:6,7
(57)1 Cor.
(58)Jer.
7:8-10; Prov. 7:14,15; John 13:27,30
(59)Ezra
9:13,14
(60)2 Sam.
152 What doth every sin deserve at the
hands of God? A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty,(1)
goodness,(2) and holiness of God,(3) and against his righteous law,(4) deserveth
his wrath and curse,(5) both in this life,(6) and that which is to come;(7) and
cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.(8)
(1)James
2:10,11
(2)Exod.
20:1,2
(3)Hab. 1:13
(4)1 John
3:4; Rom.
(5)Eph. 5:6;
Gal. 3:10
(6)Lam. 3:39;
Deut. 28:15 to end.
(7)Matt.
25:41
(8)Heb. 9:22; 1 Pet. 1:18,19
153 What doth God require of us, that we may escape his
wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of the law? A. That we
may escape the wrath and curse of God due to us by reason of the transgression
of the law, he requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord
Jesus Christ,(1) and the diligent use of the outward means whereby Christ
communicates to us the benefits of his mediation.(2)
(1)Acts
(2)Prov. 2:1-5; Prov. 8:33-36
154 What are the outward means whereby Christ
communicates to us the benefits of his mediation? A. The outward and ordinary
means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation,
are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; all which
are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.(1)
(1)Matt. 28:19,20; Acts 2:42,46,47
155 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 enlightening,(1) convincing, and
humbling sinners;(2) of driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto
Christ;(3) of conforming them to his image,(4) and subduing them to his will;(5)
of strengthening them against temptations and corruptions;(6) of building them
up in grace,(7) and establishing their hearts in holiness and comfort through
faith unto salvation.(8)
(1)Neh. 8:8;
Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8
(2)1 Cor.
(3)Acts
(4)2 Cor.
(5)2 Cor.
10:4-6; Rom.
(6)Matt.
4:4,7,10; Eph.
(7)Acts
20:32; 2 Tim. 3:15-17
(8)Rom.
156 Is
the word of God to be read by all? A. Although all are not to be permitted to
read the word publickly to the congregation,(1) yet all sorts of people are
bound to read it apart by themselves,(2) and with their families:(3) to which
end, the holy scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar
languages.(4)
(1)Deut. 31:9,11,12,13; Neh. 8:2,3; Neh. 9:3-5
(2)Deut. 17:19; Rev. 1:3; John 5:39; Isa. 34:16
(3)Deut.
6:6-9; Gen. 18:17,19; Ps. 78:5-7
(4)1 Cor. 14:6,9,11,12,15,16,24,27,28
157 How is the word of God to be read? A.
The holy scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them;(1)
with a firm persuasion that they are the very word of God,(2) and that he only
can enable us to understand them;(3) with desire to know, believe, and obey the
will of God revealed in them;(4) with diligence,(5) and attention to the matter
and scope of them;(6) with meditation,(7) application,(8) self-denial,(9) and
prayer.(10)
(1)Ps. 19:10;
Neh. 8:3-10; Exod. 24:7; 2 Chron. 34:27; Isa. 66:2
(2)2 Pet.
(3)Luke
24:45; 2 Cor. 3:13-16
(4)Deut.
17:10,20
(5)Acts
(6)Acts
8:30,34; Luke 10:26-28
(7)Ps. 1:2;
Ps. 119:97
(8)2 Chron.
34:21
(9)Prov. 3:5;
Deut. 33:3
(10)Prov. 2:1-6; Ps. 119:18; Neh. 7:6,8
158 By whom is the word of God to be
preached? A. The word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently
gifted,(1) and also duly approved and called to that office.(2)
(1)1 Tim.
3:2,6; Eph. 4:8-11; Hosea 4:6; Mal. 2:7; 2 Cor. 3:6
(2)Jer.
159 How is the word of God to be preached by those
that are called thereunto? A. They that are called to labour in the ministry of
the word, are to preach sound doctrine,(1) diligently,(2) in season and out of
season;(3) plainly,(4) not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in
demonstration of the Spirit, and of power;(5) faithfully,(6) making known the
whole counsel of God;(7) wisely,(8) applying themselves to the necessities and
capacities of the hearers;(9) zealously,(10) with fervent love to God(11) and
the souls of his people;(12) sincerely,(13) aiming at his glory,(14) and their
conversion,(15) edification,(16) and salvation.(17)
(1)Tit. 2:1,8
(2)Acts
(3)2 Tim. 4:2
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor. 2:4
(6)Jer.
23:28; 1 Cor. 4:1,2
(7)Acts
(8)Col. 1:28;
2 Tim. 2:15
(9)1 Cor.
3:2; Heb.
(10)Acts
(11)2 Cor.
(12)Col.
4:12; 2 Cor. 12:15
(13)2 Cor.
(14)1 Thess.
2:4-6; John
(15)1 Cor.
(16)2 Cor.
(17)1 Tim.
160 What is required of those that hear the word preached? A. It
is required of those that hear the word preached, that they attend upon it with
diligence,(1) preparation,(2) and prayer;(3) examine what they hear by the
scriptures;(4) receive the truth with faith,(5) love,(6) meekness,(7) and
readiness of mind,(8) as the word of God;(9) meditate,(10) and confer of it;(11)
hide it in their hearts,(12) and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives.(13)
(1)Prov. 8:34
(2)1 Pet.
2:1,2; Luke
(3)Ps.
119:18; Eph. 6:18,19
(4)Acts
(5)Heb. 4:2
(6)2 Thess.
(7)James 1:21
(8)Acts
(9)1 Thess.
(10)Luke
9:44; Heb. 2:1
(11)Luke
24:14; Deut. 6:6,7
(12)Prov.
2:1; Ps. 119:11
(13)Luke 8:15; James 1:25
161 How do the sacraments become effectual means of
.salvation? A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not by any
power in themselves, or any virtue derived from the piety or intention of him by
whom they are administered, but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, and the
blessing of Christ, by whom they are instituted.(1)
(1)1 Pet.
162 What is a sacrament?
A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church,(1) to
signify, seal, and exhibit(2) unto those that are within the covenant of
grace,(3) the benefits of his mediation,(4) to strengthen and increase their
faith, and all other graces;(5) to oblige them to obedience;(6) to testify and
cherish their love and communion one with another;(7) and to distinguish them
from those that are without.(8)
(1)Gen.
17:7,10; Exod. 12; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 26:26-28
(2)Rom.
(3)Rom. 15:8;
Exod. 12:48
(4)Acts 2:38;
1 Cor. 10:16
(5)Rom.
(6)
(7)Eph.
4:2-5; 1 Cor. 12:13
(8)Eph. 2:11,12; Gen. 34:14
163 What are the parts of a sacrament? A. The parts
of a sacrament are two; the one an outward and sensible sign, used according to
Christ's own appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace thereby
signified.(1)
(1)Matt. 3:11; 1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 2:28,29
164 How many sacraments hath Christ
instituted in his church under the New Testament? A. Under the New Testament
Christ hath instituted in his church only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's
supper.(1)
(1)Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:20,23; Matt. 26:26-28
165 What is Baptism? A. Baptism
is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing
with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,(1)
to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself,(2) of remission of sins by his
blood,(3) and regeneration by his Spirit;(4) of adoption,(5) and resurrection
unto everlasting life;(6) and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted
into the visible church,(7) and enter into an open and professed engagement to
be wholly and only the Lord's.(8)
(1)Matt.
28:19
(2)Gal. 3:27
(3)Mark 1:4;
Rev. 1:5
(4)Tit. 3:5;
Eph. 5:26
(5)Gal.
3:26,27
(6)1 Cor.
(7)1 Cor.
(8)Rom. 6:4
166
Unto whom is baptism to be administered? A. Baptism is not to be administered to
any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of
promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him,(1) but
infants descended from parents, either both or but one of them professing faith
in Christ, and obedience to him, are, in that respect, within the covenant, and
to be baptized.(2)
(1)Acts
(2)Gen. 17:7,9 compared with Gal. 3:9,14 and Col. 2:11,12 and Acts 2:38,39 and Rom. 4:11,12; 1 Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Luke 18:15,16; Rom. 11:16
167 How is
our baptism to be improved by us? A. The needful but much neglected duty of
improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in
the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to
others;(1) by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the
ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and
sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein;(2) by being humbled for our
sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of
baptism, and our engagements;(3) by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin,
and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament;(4) by drawing
strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized,
for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace;(5) and by endeavouring to
live by faith,(6) to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness,(7) as
those that have therein given up their names to Christ;(8) and to walk in
brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.(9)
(1)Col.
2:11,12;
(2)
(3)1 Cor.
(4)Rom.
(5)
(6)Gal.
3:26,27
(7)Rom.
(8)Acts
(9)1 Cor.
168 What is the Lord's supper? A. The Lord's supper is a
sacrament of the New Testament,(1) wherein, by giving and receiving bread and
wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth and
they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual
nourishment and growth in grace,(2) have their union and communion with him
confirmed;(3) testify and renew their thankfulness,(4) and engagement to God,(5)
and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same
mystical body.(6)
(1)Luke 22:20
(2)Matt.
26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor.
(6)1 Cor. 10:17
169 How hath Christ appointed bread and wine to be given and
received in the sacrament of the Lord's supper? A. Christ hath appointed the
ministers of his word, in the administration of this sacrament of the Lord's
supper, to set apart the bread and wine from common use, by the word of
institution, thanksgiving, and prayer; to take and break the bread, and to give
both the bread and the wine to the communicants: who are, by the same
appointment, to take and eat the bread, and to drink the wine, in thankful
remembrance that the body of Christ was broken and given, and his blood shed,
for them.(1)
(1)1 Cor. 11:23,24; Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19,20
170 How do they
that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper feed upon the body and blood of
Christ therein? A. As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or
carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord's supper,(1)
and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and
really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses;(2) so they that
worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, do therein feed upon
the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a
spiritual manner, yet truly and really,(3) while by faith they receive and apply
unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death.(4)
(1)Acts
(2)Matt.
26:26,28
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor. 10:16
171 How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper
to prepare themselves before they come unto it? A. They that receive the
sacrament of the Lord's supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves
thereunto, by examining themselves(1) of their being in Christ,(2) of their sins
and wants;(3) of the truth and measure of their knowledge,(4) faith,(5)
repentance;(6) love to God and the brethren,(7) charity to all men,(8) forgiving
those that have done them wrong;(9) of their desires after Christ,(10) and of
their new obedience,(11) and by renewing the exercise of these graces,(12) by
serious meditation,(13) and fervent prayer.(14)
(1)1 Cor.
(2)2 Cor.
13:5
(3)1 Cor. 5:7
compared with Exod. 12:15
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor.
13:5; Matt. 26:28
(6)Zech.
12:10; 1 Cor. 11:31
(7)1 Cor.
(8)1 Cor.
5:8; 1 Cor.
(9)Matt.
5:23,24
(10)Isa.
55:1; John 7:37
(11)1 Cor.
5:7,8
(12)1 Cor.
(13)1 Cor.
(14)2 Chron. 30:18,19; Matt. 26:26
172 May one who doubteth of his being in Christ,
or of his due preparation, come to the Lord's supper? A. One who doubteth of his
being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's
supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured
thereof;(1) and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the
apprehension of the want of it,(2) and unfeignedly desires to be found in
Christ,(3) and to depart from iniquity:(4) in which case (because promises are
made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting
Christians(5)) he is to bewail his unbelief,(6) and labour to have his doubts
resolved;(7) and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's supper, that
he may be further strengthened.(8)
(1)Isa.
50:10; 1 John 5:13; Ps. 88 throughout; Ps. 77:1-12; Jonah 2:4,7
(2)Isa.
54:7-10; Matt. 5:3,4; Ps. 31:22; Ps. 73:13,22,23
(3)Phil.
3:8,9; Ps.
(4)2 Tim.
(5)Isa. 40:11,29,31; Matt. 11:28; Matt. 12:20; Matt. 26:28
(6)Mark 9:24
(7)Acts
(8)Rom.
173 May any who profess his faith, and desire to come
to the Lord's supper, be kept from it? A. Such as are found to be ignorant or
scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to
the Lord's supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power
which Christ hath left in his church,(1) until they receive instruction and
manifest their reformation.(2)
(1)1 Cor.
11:27-31 compared with Matt. 7:6 and 1 Cor. 5 and Jude 23 and 1 Tim. 5:22
(2)2 Cor. 2:7
174
What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper in the
time of the administration of it? A. It is required of them that receive the
sacrament of the Lord's supper, that, during the time of the administration of
it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that
ordinance,(1) diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions,(2)
heedfully discern the Lord's body,(3) and affectionately meditate on his death
and sufferings,(4) and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of
their graces;(5) in judging themselves,(6) and sorrowing for sin;(7) in earnest
hungering and thirsting after Christ,(8) feeding on him by faith,(9) receiving
of his fulness,(10) trusting in his merits,(11) rejoicing in his love,(12)
giving thanks for his grace;(13) in renewing of their covenant with God,(14) and
love to all the saints.(15)
(1)Lev. 10:3;
Heb. 12:28; Ps. 5:7; 1 Cor. 11:17,26,27
(2)Exod. 24:8
compared with Matt. 26:28
(3)1 Cor.
(4)Luke 22:19
(5)1 Cor.
(6)1 Cor.
(7)Zech.
12:10
(8)Rev. 22:17
(9)John 6:35
(10)John 1:16
(11)Phil.
1:16
(12)Ps.
63:4,5; 2 Chron. 30:21
(13)Ps. 22:26
(14)Jer. 1:5;
Ps. 1:5
(15)Acts 2:42
175
What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the
Lord's supper? A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament
of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves
therein, and with what success;(1) if they find quickening and comfort, to bless
God for it,(2) beg the continuance of it,(3) watch against relapses,(4) fulfill
their vows,(5) and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that
ordinance:(6) but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their
preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament;(7) in both which, if they can
approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the
fruit of it in due time:(8) but, if they see they have failed in either, they
are to be humbled,(9) and to attend upon it afterward with more care and
diligence.(10)
(1)Ps. 28:7;
Ps. 85:8; 1 Cor. 11:17,30,31
(2)2 Chron.
30:21,22,23,25,26; Acts
(3)Ps. 36:10;
Cant. 3:4; 1 Chron. 29:18
(4)1 Cor.
10:3,4,5,12
(5)Ps. 50:14
(6)1 Cor.
(7)Cant.
5:1-6; Eccles. 5:1-6
(8)Ps.
123:1,2; Ps. 42:5,8; Ps. 43:3-5
(9)2 Chron.
30:18,19; Isa.
(10)2 Cor.
176 Wherein do the sacraments of
baptism and the Lord's supper agree? A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's
supper agree, in that the author of both is God;(1) the spiritual part of both
is Christ and his benefits,(2) both are seals of the same covenant,(3) are to be
dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other,(4) and to be continued
in the church of Christ until his second coming.(5)
(1)Matt.
28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23
(2)
(3)Rom.
(4)John 1:38;
Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23; 1 Cor. 4:1; Heb. 5:4
(5)Matt. 28:19,20; 1 Cor. 11:26
177 Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the
Lord's supper differ? A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ,
in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and
seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ,(1) and that even to
infants;(2) whereas the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the
elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual
nourishment to the soul,(3) and to confirm our continuance and growth in him,(4)
and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.(5)
(1)Matt.
3:11; Tit. 3:5; Gal. 3:27
(2)Gen.
17:7,9; Acts 2:38,39; 1 Cor. 7:14
(3)1 Cor.
(4)1 Cor.
(5)1 Cor. 11:28,29
178 What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires
unto God,(1) in the name of Christ,(2) by the help of his Spirit;(3) with
confession of our sins,(4) and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.(5)
(1)Ps. 62:8
(2)John 16:23
(3)Rom.
(4)Ps.
32:5,6; Dan. 9:4
(5)Phil. 4:6
179
Are we to pray unto God only? A. God only being able to search the hearts,(1)
hear the requests,(2) pardon the sins,(3) and fulfil the desire of all;(4) and
only to be believed in,(5) and worshipped with religious worship;(6) prayer,
which is a special part thereof,(7) is to be made by all to him alone,(8) and to
none other.(9)
(1)1 Kings
(2)Ps. 65:2
(3)Micah 7:18
(4)Ps.
145:18,19
(5)Rom.
(6)Matt. 4:10
(7)1 Cor. 1:2
(8)Ps. 50:15
(9)
180
What is it to pray in the name of Christ? A. To pray in the name of Christ is,
in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for
his sake;(1) not by bare mentioning of his name,(2) but by drawing our
encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in
prayer, from Christ and his mediation.(3)
(1)John
14:13,14; John 16:24; Dan. 9:17
(2)Matt. 7:21
(3)Heb.
4:14-16; 1 John
181 Why are we to pray in the name of
Christ? A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof,
being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a
mediator;(1) and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for,
that glorious work but Christ alone,(2) we are to pray in no other name but his
only.(3)
(1)John 14:6;
Isa. 59:2; Eph. 3:12
(2)John 6:27;
Heb. 7:25-27; 1 Tim. 2:5
(3)Col. 3:17; Heb. 13:15
182 How doth the Spirit help us to pray? A. We not knowing
what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us
to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by
working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all
times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which
are requisite for the right performance of that duty.(1)
(1)Rom.
183 For whom are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth;(1) for
magistrates,(2) and ministers;(3) for ourselves,(4) our brethren,(5) yea, our
enemies;(6) and for all sorts of men living,(7) or that shall live hereafter,(8)
but not for the dead,(9) nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin
unto death.(10)
(1)Eph. 6:18;
Ps. 28:19
(2)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(3)Col. 4:3
(4)Gen 32:11
(5)James 5:16
(6)Matt. 5:44
(7)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(8)John
17:20; 2 Sam. 7:29
(9)2 Sam.
(10)1 John 5:16
184 For what things are we to pray? A. We are to pray for all
things tending to the glory of God,(1) the welfare of the church,(2) our own(3)
or others good;(4) but not for any thing that is unlawful.(5)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)Ps. 51:18;
Ps. 122:6
(3)Matt. 7:11
(4)Ps. 125:4
(5)1 John 5:14
185 How are we to pray? A. We are to pray with an awful
apprehension of the majesty of God,(1) and deep sense of our own
unworthiness,(2) necessities,(3) and sins;(4) with penitent,(5) thankful,(6) and
enlarged hearts;(7) with understanding,(8) faith,(9) sincerity,(10)
fervency,(11) love,(12) and perseverance,(13) waiting upon him,(14) with humble
submission to his will.(15)
(1)Eccl. 5:1
(2)Gen. 18:27; Gen. 32:10
(3)Luke 15:17-19
(4)Luke 18:13,14
(5)Ps. 51:17
(6)Phil. 4:6
(7)1 Sam.
(8)1 Cor.
(9)Mark
11:24; James 1:6
(10)Ps.
145:18; Ps. 17:1
(11)James
5:16
(12)1 Tim.
2:8
(13)Eph. 6:18
(14)Micah 7:7
(15)Matt. 26:39
186 What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of
prayer? A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of
prayer,(1) but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our
Saviour Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer.(2)
(1)1 John
(2)Matt. 6:9-13
187 How is the Lord's prayer to be used? A. The Lord's prayer is
not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other
prayers, but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with
understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right
performance of the duty of prayer.(1)
(1)Matt. 6:9 compared with Luke 11:2
188 Of how many parts doth the Lord's prayer consist? A. The Lord's prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.
189 What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord's prayer (contained in these words, Our Father, which
art in heaven,(1)) teacheth us, when we pray, to draw near to God with
confidence of his fatherly goodness, and our interest therein;(2) with
reverence, and all other child-like dispositions,(3) heavenly affections,(4) and
due apprehensions of his sovereign power, majesty, and gracious
condescension:(5) as also, to pray with and for others.(6)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)Luke
(3)Isa. 64:9
(4)Ps. 123:1;
Lam. 3:41
(5)Isa.
63:15,16; Neh. 1:4-6
(6)Acts 12:5
190
What do we pray for in the first petition ? A. In the first petition (which is,
Hallowed be thy name,(1)) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition
that is in ourselves and all men to honour God aright,(2) we pray, that God
would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and
highly to esteem him,(3) his titles,(4) attributes,(5) ordinances, word,(6)
works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by;(7) and to glorify
him in thought, word,(8) and deed:(9) that he would prevent and remove
atheism,(10) ignorance,(11) idolatry,(12) profaneness,(13) and whatsoever is
dishonourable to him;(14) and, by his overruling providence, direct and dispose
of all things to his own glory.(15)
(1)Matt. 6:9
(2)2 Cor.
3:5; Ps.
(3)Ps. 67:2
(4)Ps. 83:18
(5)Ps.
86:10-15
(6)2 Thess.
3:1; Ps. 147:19,20; Ps. 138:1-3; 2 Cor.
(7)Ps. 145
throughout; Ps. 8 throughout
(8)Ps. 103:1;
Ps. 19:14
(9)Phil.
1:9,11
(10)Ps.
67:1-4
(11)Eph.
1:17,18
(12)Ps. 97:7
(13)Ps.
74:18,22,23
(14)2 Kings
(15)2 Chron. 20:6,10,11,12; Ps. 140:4,8
191 What do we pray for in the second
petition? A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come,(1))
acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of
sin and Satan,(2) we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be
destroyed,(3) the gospel propagated throughout the world,(4) the Jews called,(5)
the fulness of the Gentiles brought in;(6) the church furnished with all
gospel-officers and ordinances,(7) purged from corruption,(8) countenanced and
maintained by the civil magistrate:(9) that the ordinances of Christ may be
purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in
their sins, and the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are
already converted:(10) that Christ would rule in our hearts here,(11) and hasten
the time of his second coming, and our reigning with him for ever:(12) and that
he would be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all the world, as
may best conduce to these ends.(13)
(1)Matt. 6:10
(2)Eph. 2:2,3
(3)Ps.
67:1,18; Rev. 12:10,11
(4)2 Thess.
3:1
(5)Rom. 10:1
(6)John
17:9,20; Rom.
(7)Matt.
9:38; 2 Thess. 3:1
(8)Mal. 1:11;
Zeph. 3:9
(9)1 Tim.
2:1,2
(10)Acts
(11)Eph.
3:14-20
(12)Rev.
22:20
(13)Isa. 64:1,2; Rev. 4:8-11
192 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 heaven,(1))
acknowledging, that by nature we and all men are not only utterly unable and
unwilling to know and do the will of God,(2) but prone to rebel against his
word,(3) to repine and murmur against his providence,(4) and wholly inclined to
do the will of the flesh, and of the devil:(5) we pray, that God would by his
Spirit take away from ourselves and others all blindness,(6) weakness,(7)
indisposedness,(8) and perverseness of heart;(9) and by his grace make us able
and willing to know, do, and submit to his will in all things,(10) with the like
humility,(11) cheerfulness,(12) faithfulness,(13) diligence,(14) zeal,(15)
sincerity,(16) and constancy,(17) as the angels do in heaven.(18)
(1)Matt. 6:10
(2)Rom.
(3)Rom. 8:7
(4)Exod. 7:7;
Numb. 14:2
(5)Eph. 2:2
(6)Eph.
1:17,18
(7)Eph. 3:16
(8)Matt.
26:40,41
(9)Jer.
31:18,19
(10)Ps.
119:1,8,35,36; Acts 21:14
(11)Micah 6:8
(12)Ps.
100:2; Job 1:21; 2 Sam. 15:25,26
(13)Isa. 38:3
(14)Ps. 119:4
(15)Rom.
(16)Ps.
119:80
(19)Ps.
119:112
(20)Isa. 6:2,3; Ps. 103:20,21; Matt. 18:10
193 What do we pray for in the fourth
petition ? A. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily
bread,(1)) acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our own sin, we have forfeited
our right to all the outward blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly
deprived of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the use of them;(2)
and that neither they of themselves are able to sustain us,(3) nor we to
merit,(4) or by our own industry to procure them;(5) but prone to desire,(6)
get,(7) and use them unlawfully:(8) we pray for ourselves and others, that both
they and we, waiting upon the providence of God from day to day in the use of
lawful means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom shall seem
best, enjoy a competent portion of them;(9) and have the same continued and
blessed unto us in our holy and comfortable use of them,(10) and contentment in
them;(11) and be kept from all things that are contrary to our temporal support
and comfort.(12)
(1)Matt. 6:11
(2)Gen. 2:17; Gen. 3:17; Rom. 8:20,21,22; Jer. 5:25; Deut.
28:15 to end
(3)Deut. 8:3
(4)Gen. 32:10
(5)Deut. 8:17,18
(6)Jer. 6:13; Mark 7:21,22
(7)Hos. 12:7
(8)James 4:3
(9)Gen.
43:12-14; Gen. 28:20; Eph. 4:28; 2 Thess. 3:11,12; Phil. 4:6
(10)1 Tim.
4:3-5
(11)1 Tim.
6:6-8
(12)Prov. 30:8
194 What do we pray for in the fifth petition ? A. In the fifth
petition (which is, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,(1))
acknowledging, that we and all others are guilty both of original and actual
sin, and thereby become debtors to the justice of God; and that neither we, nor
any other creature, can make the least satisfaction for that debt:(2) we pray
for ourselves and others that God of his free grace would, through the obedience
and satisfaction of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, acquit us both
from the guilt and punishment of sin,(3) accept us in his Beloved;(4) continue
his favour and grace to us,(5) pardon our daily failings,(6) and fill us with
peace and joy, in giving us daily more and more assurance of forgiveness;(7)
which we are the rather emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we
have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart forgive others their
offences.(8)
(1)Matt. 6:12
(2)
(3)Rom.
(4)Eph. 1:6,7
(5)2 Pet. 1:2
(6)Hosea
14:2; Jer. 14:7
(7)Rom.
(8)Luke 11:4; Matt. 6:14,15; Matt. 18:35
195 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 evil,(1)) acknowledging, that the most wise, righteous, and
gracious God, for divers holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be
assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by temptations;(2) that Satan,(3)
the world,(4) and the flesh, are ready powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare
us;(5) and that we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our
corruption,(6) weakness, and want of watchfulness,(7) are not only subject to be
tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations,(8) but also of
ourselves unable and unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to
improve them;(9) and worthy to be left under the power of them:(10) we pray,
that God would so overrule the world and all in it,(11) subdue the flesh,(12)
and restrain Satan,(13) order all things,(14) bestow and bless all means of
grace,(15) and quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we and all
his people may by his providence be kept from being tempted to sin;(16) or, if
tempted, that by his Spirit we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand
in the hour of temptation:(17) or when fallen, raised again and recovered out of
it,(18) and have a sanctified use and improvement thereof:(19) that our
sanctification and salvation may be perfected,(20) Satan trodden under our
feet,(21) and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, for ever.(22)
(1)Matt. 6:13
(2)2 Chron.
32:31
(3)1 Chron.
21:1
(4)Luke
21:34; Mark
(5)James 1:14
(6)Gal. 5:17
(7)Matt.
26:41
(8)Matt.
26:69-72; Gal. 2:11-14; 2 Chron. 18:3 with 2 Chron. 19:2
(9)Rom.
(10)Ps.
81:11,12
(11)John
17:15
(12)Ps.
51:10; Ps. 119:133
(13)2 Cor.
12:7,8
(14)1 Cor.
(15)Heb.
13:20,21
(16)Matt.
26:41; Ps. 19:13
(17)Eph.
3:14-17; 1 Thess. 3:13; Jude 24
(18)Ps. 51:12
(19)1 Pet.
5:8-10
(20)2 Cor.
13:7,9
(21)Rom.
(22)John 17:15; 1 Thess. 5:23
196 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. Amen,(1)) teacheth us to
enforce our petitions with arguments,(2) which are to be taken, not from any
worthiness in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God;(3) and with our
prayers to join praises,(4) ascribing to God alone eternal sovereignty,
omnipotency, and glorious excellency;(5) in regard whereof, as he is able and
willing to help us,(6) so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him that he
would,(7) and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests.(8)
And, to testify this our desire and assurance, we say, Amen.(9)
(1)Matt. 6:13
(2)Rom.
(3)Dan.
9:4,7,8,9,16,17,18,19
(4)Phil. 4:6
(5)1 Chron.
29:10-13
(6)Eph.
3:20,21; Luke 11:13
(7)2 Chron.
20:6,11
(8)2 Chron.
(9)1 Cor.