LARGER CATECHISM,

Agreed upon by the

ASSEMBLY of DIVINES

A T

WESTMINSTER,

With the Affiftance of

COMMISSIONERS

FROM THE

CHURCH of SCOTLAND,

A S

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 Catechifing fuch as have. made fome Proficiency in the Knowledge of the GROUNDS of RELIGION,

With the Proofs from the Scripture.

GLASGOW:

Printed in the Year M, DCC, LXIII.

Affembly at Edinburgh, July 2d. 1648. Seff. 10.

Act approving the LARGER CATECHISM.

THE General Affembly, having exactly examined and feriously confidered the Larger Catechifm, agreed upon by the Affem bly of Divines fitting at Westminster, with affiftance of Commif fioners from this Kirk, copies thereof being printed, and fent to presbyteries, for the more exact trial thereof, and publick intimation being frequently made in this affembly, that every one that had any doubts or objections upon it might put them in; do find, upon due examination thereof, that the faid Catechifm is agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, difcipline and government of this kirk; a neceffary part of the intended uniformity in religion, and a rich treasure for increafing knowledge among the people of God: and therefore the affembly, as they blefs the Lord, that fo excellent a Catechifm is prepared; fo they approve the fame, as a part of uniformity; agreeing, for their part, that it be a common Catechifm for the three kingdoms, and a Directory for Catechifing fuch as have made fome proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of Religion.

THE

Ageed upon by the ASSEMBLY of DIVINES at Westminfter: Examined and approved, Anno 1648, by the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, &c.

Question 1. WHAT is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer. Man's chief and higheft end is to

glorify God a, and fully to enjoy him for ever b.

Q. 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 c: but his word and Spirit

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

b Pfal. Ixxiii. 24. Thou fhalt guide me with thy counfel, and afterwards receive me to glory. v. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I defire befides thee. v. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. v. 27. For lo they that are far from thee, fhall perifh thou shalt deftroy 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 trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. John xvii. 21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee;

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only

that they alfo may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou haft fent me. v. 22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one. v. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou haft fent me, and haft loved them, as thou haft loved me.

2. c Rom. i. 19. Becaufe that which may be known of God, is manifest in them; for God hath fhewed it unto them. v, 20. For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; fo that they are without excufe. Pfal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament fheweth his handywork. v. 2. Day unto day uttereth

fpeech,

only do fufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their falvation d.

Q3. What is the word of God?

A. The holy fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament are the word of God e, the only rule of faith and obedience f. Q.4. How doth it appear that the fcriptures are the word of God?

A. The fcriptures manifeft themselves to be word of God,

fpeech, and night unto night fheweth knowledge. v. 3. There is no fpeech nor language, where their voice is not, heard. Acts xvii. 28. For in him we live, and move, and have our being.

d I Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. v. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy fcriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, through faith which is in Chrift Jefus. v. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteouf nefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. Ifa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feeds feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

3. e 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God. 2 Pet. i. 19. We have alfo a more fure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that fhineth into a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts:

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v. 20. Knowing this firft, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the holy Ghost

f Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief corner-ftone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man fhall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: v. 19. And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Ifa. viii. 20. To the law and to the teftimony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Luke xvi. 29. They have Mofes and the prophets; let them hear them: v. 31. If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfwaded, though one rofe from the dead. Gal. i. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. v. 9. As we faid before, fo fay I now again, if any man preach any other gofpel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. (See letter d.)

4. g Hofea

by their majesty g, and purity b; by the confent of all the parts i, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God k; by their light and power to convince and convert finners, to com fort and build up believers unto falvation /: but the fpirit of God bearing witnefs by and with the fcriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to perfwade it that they are the very word of God m. Q. 5.