and willing to help usg, so we by faith are emboldned to plead with him that he would b, and quietly to rely upon him, that he will fulfil our requests i. And, to teftify this our defire and assurance, we fay, Amen k.

g. Eph. iii. 20. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abun dantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, v. 21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him ?

h 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehosha phat) said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? v. 11. Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to

cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

i 2 Chron. xiv. 11. And Afa cried unto the Lord his God, and faid, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude: O Lord, thou art our God, let not man prevail againft thee.

k1 Cor. xiv. 16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? Rev. xxii. 20. He which testifieth these things,faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Eevn so, come, Lord Jesus. v. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Chrift be with you all. Amen.

FINIS.

E

SHORTER CATECHISM,

AGREED UPON BY THE

ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES

AT

WESTMINSTER,

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

сомMISSIONER

FROM THE

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

AS A

Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion betwixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.

AND

Approved Anno 1648, by the General Assembly of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, to be a Directory for Catechising such as are of weaker Capacity.

WITH THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

Afssembly at Edinburgh, July 28. 1648, Seff. 19.

ACT approving the SHORTER CATECHISM.

THE

HE General Afsembly having seriously confidered the Shorter Catechism agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines fitting at Westminster, with assistance of Commiffioners from this kirk; do find, upon due examination there. of, that the faid Catechism is agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, difcipline, and government of this kirk: And therefore approve the faid Shorter Catechism, as a part of the intended uniformity, to be a directory for catechising such as are of weaker capacity.

BODLE

A. KER.

THE

SHORTER CATECHISM.

Question 1.

THAT is the chief end of man?

WHAT is

Answer. Man's chief end is, to glorify

God a, and to enjoy him for ever b.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The word of God, which is contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New Teftaments c, is the only rule to direct us how we inay glorify and enjoy him d.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach? A. The fcriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man e.

a 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

b Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee. v. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. v. 27. For lo, they that are far from thee, shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a-whoring from thee. v. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my truft in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

2. £ 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scrip

4.

ture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness. Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.

di John i. 3. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Chrift. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

V. 4.

3. e 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of found words, which thou haft heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. iii. 16. (See in letter 6.)

John

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit f, infinite g, eternal b, and unchangeable i, in his being k, wisdoml, power m, holiness n, justice, goodness, and truth 0.

Q. 5. Are there more gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God p. Q. 6. How many persons are there in the God-head? A. There are three perfons in the God-head; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the fame in substance, equal in power and glory q.

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God, are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his

4. John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in spirit and in truth.

g Job xi. 7. Canft thou by fearching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft thou know? v. 9. The meafure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea..

bPfal. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world: even from everlasting to everlafting thou art God.

i 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 variablenefs, neither shadow of turning.

k Exod. iii, 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM: and he faid, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me unto you.

/ Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

m Rev. iv. 8. And the four beafts had each of them fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes

own

within; and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

n 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 manifeft.

o Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord paffed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. v. 7. Keeping mercy for thou sands, forgiving iniquity, and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

5. p Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. Jer. X. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an ever lafting King: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations thall not be able to abide his indignation. 6. q. 1. John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the

i