1. Man's Chief End, Revelation, and Scripture (Qs 1-5)
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