The shorter catechism agreed upon by the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster.

The Shorter Catechism Agreed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES At Westminster,

Quest. WHat is the chief end of Man?

Answ. Mans chief end is to glori|fie God a 1.1, and fully to enjoy him for ever b 1.2.

Q What Rule hath God given to di|rect us how we may glorifie & enjoy him?

Answ. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament c 1.3, is the only Rule to direct us how we may glorifie and enjoy him d 1.4.

Qu. What do the Scriptures princi|pally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man e 1.5.

Qu. What is God?

A. God is a spirit f 1.6, 〈…〉〈…〉 h 1.7, and Unchangeable i 1.8, in his Being k 1.9, Wisdome l 1.10, Power m 1.11, Holiness n 1.12, Justice, Goodness and Truth o 1.13.

Q. Are there more Gods then one?

A. There is but one only the living and the true God p 1.14.

Q. How many persons are there in the God-head?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one God; the same in substance, equal in power and glory q 1.15▪

Q. What are the Decrees of God,

A. The Decrees of God are his eter|nal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he hath fore ordained whatsoever comes to pass r 1.16,

Q. How doth God execute his Decrees

A. God executeth his Decrees in the works of Creation and providence.

Q What is the work of Creation?

A. The work of Creation is Gods makeing all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six dayes, and all very good * 1.17.

10 Q. How did God create man?

A. God created man male and fe|male after his own Image in knowledg righteousness and holiness, with domi|nion over the creatures t 1.18,

Q What are Gods works of Provi|dence?

A. Gods works of Providence are his most holy u 1.19, wise w 1.20, and powerful, preserving x 1.21, and governing all ••his Creatures, and all their actions y 1.22,

Q. what special act of Providence did God exercise toward man in the Estate wherin he was created?

A. When God had created man he entred into a Covenant of life with him upon condition of perfect obedience▪ forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of Death z 1.23,

Q. Did our first Parents continue in the Estate wherin they were created?

A. Our first parents being left to the freedome of their own will fell from the Estate wherein they were created by sinning against God a 1.24,

Q. What i•• sin,

A. Sin is any want of conformity

unto, or transgression of the Law of God b 1.25.

15 Qu What was the Sin whereby our first Parent•• fell from the estate wherein they were created?

A. That Sin whereby our first Pa|rents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the for|bidden fruit. c 1.26

Q. Did all Mankind fall in Adams first Transgression?

A The Covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his Posteri••y, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first trans|gression d 1.27.

Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery e 1.28.

Q. wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adams first sin, the want of origi|nal righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is common|ly

called original Sin, together with all actual Transgressions which proceed from it f 1.29.

Q. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. All mankind by their fall lost Communion with God g 1.30, are under his wrath and curse h 1.31, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, and death it self and to the pains of hell for ever i 1.32

20 Q. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

A. God haveing out of his meer good pleasure from all eternity elected some to everlasting life k 1.33, did enter in|to a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer l 1.34.

Quest. Who is the Redeemer of Gods Elect?

A. The only Redeemer of Gods Elect is the Lord Jesus Christ m 1.35, who being the eternal Son of God, became man n 1.36, and so was, and continueth to be God and man in two distinct natures,o 1.37 and one Person forever,

Q. 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 p 1.38, and a reasonable Soul q 1.39▪ being con|ceived by the power of the holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her r, and yet without sin s 1.40,

Qu. What Offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?

A. Christ as our Redeemer execut|eth the Offices of a Prophet, o•• a Priest, and of •• King, both in his es••ate of Humiliation and Exaltation t 1.41, Psal: 2.6. Isai. 9.6.7. Mark. 2.•••• Psal. 2.8.11

Q How doth Christ execute the Of|fice of a Prophet?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a Prophet, in revealing to us by his word and Spirit the will of God for our Salvation u 1.42.

Q. How doth Christ execute the Of|f••••e of a Priest?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a Priest in his once offering up of him|self a sacrifice to satisfie divine justice w 1.43,

and reconcile us to God x 1.44, and in ma|king continual intercession for us y 1.45,

Q. How doth Christ execute the Of|fice of a King?

A. Christ executeth the Office of a King in subduing of us to himself z 1.46, in ruling a 1.47, and defending us b 1.48, and in re|straining and conquering, all his and our Enemies c 1.49,

Q. Wherein did Christs Humiliation consist?

A. Christs Humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low con|dition d 1.50, made under the law e 1.51, under|going the miseries of this life f 1.52, the wrath of God g 1.53, and the cursed death of the Cross h 1.54, in being buried i 1.55, and continuing under the power of death for a time k 1.56.

Q. Wherein consists Christ Exalta|ion?

A. Christs Exaltation consisteth in ••is rising again, from the dead on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 third day l 1.57, and in ascending up into ••eaven m 1.58, in sitting at the right hand 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God the Father n 1.59, and in coming to ••••dge the world at the last day o 1.60,

Q, How are we made partakers

of the Redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the Redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us p 1.61, by his holy Spirit q 1.62.

30 Q. How doth the holy Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchased by Christ

A: The Spirit applyeth to us the Re|demption purchased by Christ, by work|ing faith in us r 1.63, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our Effectual calling s 1.64.

Q. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of Gods Spirit t 1.65, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery u 1.66, inlightning our minds in the knowledge of Christ w 1.67, and renewing our wills x 1.68, he doth per|swade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the Gos|pel y 1.69.

Qu. What benefits do they that are Effectually called partake of in this life?

Answ. They that are Effectually called, do in this life partake of Justi|fication z 1.70, Adoption a 1.71, Sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from there b 1.72.

Q. What is Iustification?

A Justification is an act of Gods free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins c 1.73, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight d 1.74, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us e 1.75, and received by Faith alone f 1.76.

Q: What is Adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of Gods free grace g 1.77, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the priviledges of the Sons of God h 1.78.

Q: What is Sanctification?

Answ: Sanctification is the work of Gods free grace i 1.79, wherby we are re|newed in the whole man after the Image of God k 1.80,l 1.81 and are enabled more and more to dy unto sin, and live unto righ|tousness.

Q. What are the benefits that in this life do accompany or flow from justifica|tion, A••option and Sanctification?

A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justificati|on, Adoption, and sanctification, are assureance of Gods love, precept Con|science m 1.82, joy in the holy Ghost n 1.83, in|crease of grace o 1.84, and perseverance ther|in to the end p 1.85,

Q. what benefits do belivers receive from Christ at death,

A. The Soules of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness q 1.86, and do immediatly pass into glory r 1.87, and their bodies being still united to Christ s 1.88, do rest in their graves, till the Resurrection t 1.89,

u 1.90Q. What benefits do belivers receive from Christ at the Resurrection.

A. At the Resurrection believers being raised in glory w 1.91, shall be open|ly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of Judgment x 1.92, and made per|fectly blessed in full enjoying of God y 1.93 to all Eternity z 1.94,

Q what is the duty which God re|quireth of man,

A. The duty w•••••••• God requireth of Man, is obedie••ce to his revealed will a 1.95,

Q What did God at first reveal to man as the Rule of his obedience?

A. The Rule which God at first re|vealed to man for his obedience, was the Moral law b 1.96,

Q. Where is the Moral Law summa|rily comprehended?

A. The Moral Law is summarily com|prehended in the ten Commandments c 1.97,

Q What is the sum of the ten Com|mandments?

A. The sum of the ten Command|ments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our Neghbour as our selves d 1.98,

Q. What is the Preface to the ten Commandments?

A. The Preface to the ten Command|ments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.e 1.99

Q. What doth the Preface to the ten Commandments teach us?

A. The Preface to the ten Com|mandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord, and our God and Re|deemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his Commandments f 1.100,

45 qu. which is the first Commandment,

A. The first Commandment is, Thou shalt have no other Gods before me g 1.101,

qu. What is required in the first Com|mandment?

A. The first Commandment requireth

us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God h 1.102, and to wo••ship and glorifie him accor|dingly i 1.103,

Q. What is forbidden in the first Commandment?

A. The first Commandment forbid|deth the denying k 1.104, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God l 1.105, and our God m 1.106, and the giving that wo••ship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone n 1.107,

Q. What are we especially taught by these wor••s (before me) in the first Commandment?

A. These words (before me) in the first Commandment teach us, that God who seeth all things, taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of haveing any other God o 1.108,

Q. Wh••ch is the second Command|ment?

A. The second Commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven Image, or the 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 thy self

to them nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the Children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy un|to thousands of them that ••ove me & keep my Commandments p 1.109.

50 Q. What is required in the second Commandment?

A. The second Commandment re|quireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire all such reli|gious Worship and Ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word q 1.110,

Q. What is forbiden in the second Commandment?

A, The second Commandment for|biddeth the Worship of God by Ima|ges r 1.111, or any other way not appointed in his Word s 1.112,

Q. What are the Reasons annexed to the second Commandment?

A. The Reasons annexed to the se|cond Commandment are Gods Sove|reignty over us t 1.113, his propriety in us u 1.114, and the zeal he hath to his own Wor|ship w 1.115

Q, 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 x 1.116,

Q. What is required in the third Commandment?

A, The third Commandment requi|reth the holy and reverent use of Gods Name y 1.117, Titles z 1.118, Attributes a 1.119, Ordi|nances b 1.120, Words c 1.121, and Works d 1.122,

55 Q. What is forbidden in the third Commandment?

A: The third Commandment for|biddeth all profaining or abusing of a|ny thing whereby God makes himself known e 1.123,

Q What is the Reason annexed to the third Commandment?

A. The Reason annexed to the third Commandment is that however the breakers of this Commandment may escape punishment from men,f 1.124 yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgement,

Qu. Which is the fourth Command|ment?

A. The fourth Commadment is,

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy Six dayes shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sab|bath of the Lord thy God: i•• it thou shalt not do any work, Thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, nor thy Man-serva••t, nor thy Mai••-servant, nor thy Cattle, nor the Stranger that is within thy ga••es: for in six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the S••a, and all that in them i••, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and, ••al|low••d it g 1.125.

Q What is required in the fourth Com|mandment?

A▪ The fourth Commandment requi|reth the keeping holy to God such ••et times as he hath appointed in his Word, expresly one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to himself h 1.126.

Q. Which day of the seven hath God ap|pointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

A. From the Beginning of the world to the Resurrection of Christ, God ap|pointed the seventh day of the Week ••o be the weekly Sabbath, and the first ••ay of the Week ever since to co••

to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath i 1.127,* 1.128

Q. How is the Sabbath to be sancti|fied;

A. The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day k, even from such worldly imployments and recrea|tions as are lawfull on other dayes l 1.129, and spending the whole time in the publick and private exercises of Gods worship m 1.130, ex••cept so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy n 1.131▪

Q. What is forbidden in the fourth Commandment?

A. The fourth Commandment for|biddeth the omission, or eareless per|formance of the duties re••uired o 1.132, and profaning the day by idleness p 1.133, or doing that which is in it self sinfull q 1.134, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about worldly imployments or Recrea|tions r 1.135,

Qu What are the Reasons annexed t•• the fourth Commandment;

A. The Reasons annexed to the fourth Commandment, are Gods al|lowing us six dayes of the week for o•••• own imployments s 1.136, his challenging 〈◊〉〈◊〉

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Notes

• a 1.1

  1 Cor: 1 31. Rom 11.36.
• b 1.2

  Psal 73 24. to end▪
• c 1.3

  2 Tim. 3 16. Ephe. 2.••••.
• d 1.4

  1 Jo••. 1, 3, 4
• e 1.5

  2 Tim. 1.3. and 10.
• f 1.6

  John 4.••4. Jo•• 11 7, 8, 9.
• h 1.7

  Psa. 90.2
• i 1.8

  Ja••. 1.7
• k 1.9

  Exod. 3.14.
• l 1.10

  Psa ••7.••5.
• m 1.11

  Rev. 4.8.
• n 1.12

  Rev. 15.4.
• o 1.13

  Ex 34 6, 7.
• p 1.14

  Deut. 6.4. Jer. 10.10.
• q 1.15

  John 5 〈…〉〈…〉
• r 1.16

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.17

  Gen ••.••. 〈…〉〈…〉 1••.3
• t 1.18

  Gen. ••.26 27, 28. C••••. 3.10
• u 1.19

  Psal. 145.17.
• w 1.20

  Psal. 10 1••.
• x 1.21

  Heb. 1 3
• y 1.22

  Psal. 102 19.
• z 1.23

  Gal. 3▪1.
• a 1.24

  Gen. ••.••.••, 8.
• b 1.25

  1 John 8.4.••
• c 1.26

  Gen. 36.1••.
• d 1.27

  Gen 1.16 17. Rom. 1 12. 1 Cor 15.2••, ••••.
• e 1.28

  Rom. 5.12.
• f 1.29

  Rom. 5.12, 1••. & •• ••0 ••••.••. Heb. 2.1, 2 3. Matth. 25 13.
• g 1.30

  Gen. 3.8 10.14.
• h 1.31

  Ephe. ••.2.3. Gal. 3 1••.
• i 1.32

  Lam. 3.39. Rom. 5.23. Ma•• 25.41, 46.
• k 1.33

  Eph. 2.4.
• l 1.34

  Rom. 3•• 20, 21▪ 22. Gal. 3.21.22
• m 1.35

  1 Tim. ••.56.
• n 1.36

  Jo•• 11 4. Gal. ••4.
• o 1.37

  Rom. 9.5. Luke 1.35. Col. 1.9. Heb. 7.••4
• p 1.38

  Heb. 1.••4, 26. & 10.5.
• q 1.39

  Luke 1.27, 31, 35.4•• Gal. 4.4.
• s 1.40

  Heb 3.••5.
• t 1.41

  Acts 3.21, ••2. Heb 12.25 with 2 Cor 133. Heb. 5.5, 6, 7. & 7.25.
• u 1.42

  Job. 1.18 1 Pet. 1.11, 12. Job 15.••9.
• w 1.43

  Heb 9.14, 9.
• x 1.44

  Heb. 2.••.
• y 1.45

  Heb. 7.24, 25.
• z 1.46

  Act. 15.14, 15, 16.
• a 1.47

  Isaia. ••2.22.
• b 1.48

  Io. 32.1.2.
• c 1.49

  1 Cor. 15.25 Psal 10 3.
• d 1.50

  Luk. 2.7
• e 1.51

  Gal. 4.••.
• f 1.52

  Heb. 1 2•• 3. Isai. 53.2, ••.
• g 1.53

  Luk 22.44. Mat 17 19
• h 1.54

  Psal. 2.8
• i 1.55

  1 Cor. 15 3, 4
• k 1.56

  Act 2.24, 31.
• l 1.57

  1 Cor. 1•• 4.
• m 1.58

  Mark 16.19
• n 1.59

  Eph 1.22
• o 1.60

  Acts 1.11. & 17.••1.
• p 1.61

  John 1.11.••2.
• q 1.62

  Tit. 3.5, 6
• r 1.63

  Eph 1 13 14. John 6 2••, 39. John ••.8.
• s 1.64

  Eph 3.17 •• Cor 1.9.
• t 1.65

  2 T••m 1 9. 2 Thes. 2 13.14.
• u 1.66

  Act •• 37
• w 1.67

  Acts 2•• 1••
• x 1.68

  Ezek 36 26 27
• y 1.69

  Joh. 6 44 45
• z 1.70

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• a 1.71

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• b 1.72

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• c 1.73

  Rom. 3.24, 25. & 4.6, 7, 8.
• d 1.74

  2 Cor. 5.19, 21.
• e 1.75

  Rom. 5.17, 18, 19.
• f 1.76

  Gal. 2.1 Phil. 3.9.
• g 1.77

  1 Joh. 3.1.
• h 1.78

  John 8 11. Rom· 8.17.
• i 1.79

  2 Thes. 2.3
• k 1.80

  Eph. 4 23 24.
• l 1.81

  Rom 6.3, 6.
• m 1.82

  Rom. 5••••.5.
• n 1.83

  Ro•• 1.4.17.
• o 1.84

  1 Joh. 3·1••
• p 1.85

  1 Pet. 1.5. 1 Pet. 4.18.
• q 1.86

  Heb 12.23.
• r 1.87

  2 Cor 5.1.6.8. Phi••. 1.23 Luke 23.43.
• s 1.88

  1 Thes. 4.14.
• t 1.89

  Isai. 57.2.
• u 1.90

  John 19 27, 27.
• w 1.91

  1 Cor 15 43.
• x 1.92

  Mat 25.23. & 1••.31.
• y 1.93

  1 John 3 2. 1 Thes 13.12.
• z 1.94

  1 Cor. 4.17, 18.
• a 1.95

  Mic ••.8 1 Sam ••5.2••.
• b 1.96

  Rom 2 ••.14, 15. & 10.5.
• c 1.97

  De••. 10.4▪
• d 1.98

  Ma••. 21.37. to 40.
• e 1.99

  Exod. 2 2.
• f 1.100

  Luke 1.74, 75. 1 Pet. 1.1•• ••0▪
• g 1.101

  Exod. 20 ••
• h 1.102

  1 Chron. 8.9. Deu. 26.17
• i 1.103

  Mat. 4.10 Psal. ••9.1.
• k 1.104

  Ps••l. 14 1.
• l 1.105

  Rom. 1.21.
• m 1.106

  Psal. 81 10, 1••.
• n 1.107

  Rom. 1.••5, 16.
• o 1.108

  Ezek ••.••. to end.
• p 1.109

  Exod. 20. 4, 5, ••.
• q 1.110

  Deut. •••• 4, 6. Mat 28.20 Acts ••.4••
• r 1.111

  Deut. •••• 15, 19. Exod. 32.9 8.
• s 1.112

  Deut. 1••.31, 3••
• t 1.113

  Psal. 6•• 2, 3, 6.
• u 1.114

  Psal. 4•• 11.
• w 1.115

  Ex. ••4.13, 14
• x 1.116

  Exod. 10
• y 1.117

  Mat. 9.2 Deut. 2••.••••.
• z 1.118

  Psal 68.4.
• a 1.119

  Rev 1••.13, 14.
• b 1.120

  Mal. 1.11 4.
• c 1.121

  Psal 1•• 38.1, 2.
• d 1.122

  Jo•• 36.24.
• e 1.123

  Mat. 1.6 7, 1••▪
• f 1.124

  •• Sa••. •• 1••.
• g 1.125

  Exod. 20.8, 9, 10, 11.
• h 1.126

  Deut. ••▪ 12, 13, 14.
• i 1.127

  A••t•• 20.7. Exo. 20 8 10.
• * 1.128

  Gen. 2.23 1 Cor. 6.1
• l 1.129

  Ex 1••.••5▪ 39. Neh 19 15 21
• m 1.130

  L••••▪ 4 19. Act•• 20 7. Psal. 92▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Isa•• 6••.23
• n 1.131

  Mat. ••1.1, 13.
• o 1.132

  Ezek. 2•• 18. Amos 8.5. Mal 1 15
• p 1.133

  Acts 10 7, 9.
• q 1.134

  Ezek. 23 38.
• r 1.135

  Jer. ••••▪ ••4. 〈…〉〈…〉i 58.13
• s 1.136

  Exod. 20 ••