THE SHORTER CATECHISM.

1. What is the chief end of man?

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him

for ever.

What is meant by the chief end of man?

The great purposes for which he was made

For what purposes was man made?-To glorify and enjoy God. 1 Cor. x. 31, Whether, therefore, ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Psalm 1xxiii. 25, 26, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Can we make God more glorious than he is?-No.1

Job xxii. 2, Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?

What, then, is it to glorify God?-It is to honour God, by acknowledging, praising, and obeying him.

Rom. i. 21, Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Psalm 1. 23, Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

1 Cor. vi. 20, For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. What is it to enjoy God?-It is to be delighted with his favour, and made happy in his service.

Psalm xvi. 5, 6, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

Psalm xliii. 5, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm lxiii. 3, Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Where is God enjoyed?

On earth now, but fully in heaven hereafter. Psalm xvi. 11, Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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1 The glory of God is two-fold-essential and declarative. By his essential glory, we understand what he is absolutely in himself, THAT I AM. To this glory neither angels nor men can add. His declarative glory consists in his showing, or making known, what he is, by means of his creatures; and, to this glory, we are said to add, by acknowledging, praising, and obeying him.

What do you mean by the Godhead? The divine nature. What are the three persons in the Godhead declared to be? One God. 1 John v. 7, For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.

In what are they the same?

In substance, or in the perfection of their being.

In what are they equal?-In power and glory.

What does equal mean?-That one is not greater than another. What may we learn from this doctrine of three persons in the Godhead? That the divine nature is beyond our comprehension. Job xi. 7, Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 1

7. What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass. What do you understand by the decrees of God?

His purposes or intentions.

Why are his decrees called eternal?

Because they were formed before time began. Acts xv. 18, Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world. What are the decrees of God according to?

The counsel of his own will.

Eph. i. 11, In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

What is meant by the counsel of his own will?
That no one advised him what he should do.
What has he fore-ordained by his decrees?

Whatsoever comes to pass.2 Acts iv. 28, For to do whatsoever thy hand and counsel determined before to be done.

What is it to fore-ordain? To determine beforehand.

1 The doctrine of three persons in the Godhead is commonly called the Trinity. Like every perfection of God, it surpasses our comprehension; but is nevertheless a fundamental article, upon the belief of which our salvation depends. God has revealed himself as a Three-One God, and it is highly reasonable to believe what he has said concerning himself.

2 The most remarkable branch of the divine decree is the predestina. tion of a certain number, called the elect, to eternal glory. This, however, does not limit the general call of the Gospel. All that hear this call have an equal warrant to believe, ought to be diligent in using all the means of grace, and no more to regard the decree concerning election than they regard it concerning the common events of life.

For what purpose has he fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass? For his own glory.

Prov. xvi, 4, The Lord hath made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

What do you understand by his glory?-His honour.

Seeing that God has fore-ordained all things, does any event happen to individuals which is not fore-ordained?-No.

Job, xxiii, 14, For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

8. How doth God execute his decrees?

God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence

What does executeth here mean?-Performs or brings to pass. In what works does God execute his decrees?

In the works of creation and providence.1

Rev. iv, 11, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Psalm cxxxv, 6, 7, Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven and in earth, in the seas and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. What may we learn from God executing his decrees?

That he will fulfil all his promises. Mark, xiii, 31, Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 9. What is the work of creation?

The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

What is the work of creation here said to be?

God's making all things of nothing. Neh. ix. 6, Thou, even thou, art Lord alone: thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Psalm cxlviii, 5, Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

By what did he make all things?-By the word of his power. Heb. xi, 3, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God; so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear,

The work of creation was executed entirely without means; but the work of providence is executed generally by means,

In what time did he make all things?-In the space of six days. Exod. xx, 11, 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.

In what state did he make them all?

He made them all very good. Gen. i, 31, And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

What may we learn from the work of creation? That he who created all things can create us anew in Jesus Christ.

2 Cor. v, 17, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

10. How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

What is meant by man?-Mankind.

What do you understand by male and female?

Man and woman.

In whose image were they created?-In God's image.

Gen. i, 27, So God created man in his own image: in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. What is meant by image?-Likeness.

Whether was the soul or the body of man made in God's image? The soul. Gen. ii, 7, And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

In what does the image of God consist?

In knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.2

Col. iii, 10, And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

1 Had God pleased, he could have created all things in a moment; but, for the purpose of giving us an example of working six days, and resting on the seventh, and to render the order of his work of creation obvious to us, he employed six days in bringing it to perfection.

2 Man, at his creation, was endued with a perfect knowledge of the will and works of God, so far as was necessary to render him happy, and fit for perfect obedience. His righteousness consisted in the powers and faculties of his soul, having a perfect conformity to the pure nature of God, and the moral law written upon his heart; and his holiness consisted in the lustre and beauty of his perfect knowledge and righteousness. shining both in his heart and conduct.

Eph. iv, 24, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

What is meant by God giving man dominion?

That he gave him power over the inferior animals.

Gen. i. 26, And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Seeing that man was so happy when created, what is the cause of all his misery now?-Sin is the only cause.

Micah, vi. 13, Therefore, also, will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

11. What are God's works of providence?

God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

What is meant by providence?-God's care, or superintendence. In what do his works of providence consist? In preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. What do you mean by preserving and governing them? Keeping them in existence, and ruling or directing them. What does he preserve and govern?

All his creatures and all their actions.

Psalm cxlv. 15, 16, The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.

Thou openest thine

hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Prov. xvi. 9, 33, A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Acts, xvii, 28. See page 7.

Matth. x. 29, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. What do creatures here mean?

Mankind, the inferior animals, and all that God made. What do actions mean?-The things done by the creatures. In what manner does he preserve and govern them? In a most holy, wise, and powerful manner. Psalm cxlv. 17, The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Psalm civ. 24, O LORD, how manifold are thy works; in wisdon hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Psalm lxvi. 7, He ruleth by his power for ever: his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

What may we learn from this doctrine of providence?