What is a spirit?—A living, thinking, but unseen being. Luke xxiv. 39, Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Are there any other spirits besides God? Yes; angels and souls of men. In what respects do they differ from God?- They are his creatures, and are finite and changeable. What kind of spirit is God? He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. What does infinite mean?-Without bounds or limits. Job xi. 7, 8, 9, Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. What does eternal mean?-Without beginning or ending. Psalm xc. 2, Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm cii. 12, 27, But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. What is it to be unchangeable?-To be always the same. James i. 17, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. In what is God infinite, eternal, and unchangeable?-In his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. What is meant by his being?-His real nature or Godhead. Exod. iii. 14, And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. What is meant by his wisdom and power? That he judges rightly, knows, and can do all things. Psalm cxlvii. 5, Great is our Lord, and of great power; his understanding is infinite. Mark x. 27, And Jesus, looking upon them, saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. What is meant by his holiness? That he is free from sin, and hates it. Rev. iv. 8, And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. Rev. xv. 4, Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name; for thou only art holy; for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. What is meant by his justice? That he is righteous, and gives every one his due. Deut. xxxii. 4, He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judg ment: a God of truth, and without iniquity: just and right is he. What is meant by his goodness? That he is kind to his creatures. Psalm cxix. 68, Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. What is meant by his truth? That he fulfils whatever he has spoken, Num. xxiii. 19, God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken and shall he not make it good? Seeing, then, that God is such a great and glorious being, how ought we to worship him? We ought to worship him in spirit and in truth. John iv. 24, God is a Spirit; and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. 5. Are there more Gods than one? There is but one only, the living and true God. Why is God called the living God?-Because he has life in himself, and gives life to every living creature. John v. 26, For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. Acts xvii. 28, For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Why is he called the true God?-In opposition to false Gods. Jer. x. 10, 11, But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. Seeing that God is the only living and true God, ought we not to trust in him alone?-Yes. Psalm xx. 7, Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM, IN THE FORM OF QUESTION AND ANSWER; WITH SCRIPTURE PROOFS AND SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. For the Use of Schools and Private Families. BY N. LEITCH, F.E.I.S. Author of A History of Scotland,' 'The Instructive Reader,' FIFTEENTH THOUSAND BIBL GLASGOW: JOHN BURNET, WILLIAM COLLINS, F. ORR & SONS, J. LUMSDEN & SON, D. CHAMBERS: OLIVER & BOYD, [Entered at Stationers' Hall.] PRICE SIXPENCE. 11857. 110. d. 172. RECOMMENDATION. WE, whose names are subscribed, have examined Mr. Leitch's Brief Analysis of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism,' and we have great pleasure in recommending it to Parents, Teachers, Young People, and others, as a valuable Manual of Christian instruction. Its statements are clear, correct, and Scriptural,Its proofs are judiciously chosen,-Its explanations are concise and comprehensive, and its language is remarkably simple and perspicuous. ROBERT BURNS, D.D. Minister of St. George's Church, Paisley. JOHN M'NAUGHTAN, A.M. Minister of High Church, Paisley. ROBERT MACNAIR, Minister of Abbey Parish, Paisley. WILLIAM BLACK, D.D. Minister of Barony Parish, Glasgow. ALEXANDER GIBSON, Minister of Balmaghie. THOMAS BROWN, DD. Minister of St. John's Parish, Glasgow. JOHN EDWARDS, Minister of Relief Church, Bridgeton. WILLIAM KIDSTON, D.D. Minister, Campbell Street, Glasgow. JOHN JAS. BONAR, Minister, St. Andrew's Parish, Greenock. DAVID STOW, Esq. Glasgow. |