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

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Act approving the LARGER CATECHISM.

HE General Affembly, having exactly examined and fe riously confidered the Larger Catechifm, agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines fitting at Westminster, with the affiftance of Commiffioners from this Kirk, copies thereof being printed, and fent to presbyteries, for the more exact trial thereof, and public intimation being frequently made in this af fembly, 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, worfip, 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; So 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

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Agreed 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.

WH

THAT is the chief and highest end of man? Anfwer. 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 only

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

b Pfal. lxxiii. 24. Thou shalt guide me with thy couafel, 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 krength of my heart, and my portion for ever. v. 27. For lo they that are far from thee, fhall perish thou shalt deftroy all them that go a whoring from thee. v. 28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: 1 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; 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 manifeft 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 with out excufe. Pfal. xix. 1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament fheweth his handywork. v. 2. Day unto day uttereth L4

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 Testament are the word of God e, the only rule of faith and obedience f Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are the word of God?

A. The fcriptures manifeft themselves to be the 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.

di 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 to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou haft 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 inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteoufnefs: 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.

3.2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Pet. i,

by

19. We have alío a more fure word that ye take heed, as unto a light of prophecy; whereunto ye do well the day dawn, and the day-ftar athat shineth in a dark place, until ing this first, that no prophecy of rife in your hearts: v, 20. Know the fcripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy man: but holy men of God fpake as came not in old time by the will of they were moved by the Holy Chost.

the foundation of the apoftles and f Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon prophets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner ftone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I teftify unto every man, that heareth the words of the prophecy unto thefe things, God fhall add of this book, if any man thall add unto him the plagues that are writman fhall take away from the words. ten in this book: v. 19. And if any 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, If they speak not according to this To the law and to the teftimony: word, it is becaufe there is no light in them. Luke xvi. 29. They have Mofes and the prophets; let him hear them: v. 31. If they hear not they be perfuaded, though one rose Mofes and the prophets, neither will from the dead. Gal. i. 8. But tho'

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by their majefty g, and purity h; by the confent of all parts i, and the fcope of the whole, which is to give glory to God k; by their light and power to convince and convert finners, to comfort and build up believers unto falvation /: but the Spirit of God bearing witnefs by and with the fcriptures in the heart of

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, fe fay I now again, if any preach any other gospel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. 2. Tim, iii. 15, 16. (See letter d.)

4g Hofea viii, 12. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a ftrange thing. 1 Cor. ii. 6. Howbeit, we fpeak wifdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wifdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought, v. 7. But we fpeak the wifdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wifdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. v. 13. Which things alfo we speak, not in the words which man's wifdom teacheth, but which the holy Ghost teach eth; comparing fpiritual things with fpiritual. Pfal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. v. 129. Thy teftimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my fouf keep them. b Pfal. xii. 6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as filver tried in a furnace of earth, purified feven times. Pfal. cxix, 140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy fervant loveth it.

i Acts x. 43. To him give all the prophets witnefs, that through his name whofoever believeth in bim, fhall receive remiflion of fins. Acts xxvi. 22. Having therefore obtained

man,

help of God, I continue unto this day, witneffing both to fmall and great, faying none other things than thofe which the prophets and Mofes did fay fhould come.

k Rom. iii. 19. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be ftopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

v. 27. Where is boafting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Acts xviii. 28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, fhewing by the fcriptures, that Jefus was Chrift. Heb. ix. 12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharperthan any twoedged fword. piercing even to the dividing afunder of foul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. James i. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we fhould be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Pfal. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the foul; the teftimony of the Lord is fure, mak ing wife the fimple. v. 8. The ftatutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. v. 9. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the judg ments of the Lord are true and righ teous altogether. Rom xv. 4. For whatfoever things were written afore time, were written for our

learn

man, is alone able fully to perfuade it that they are the very word of God m.

Q5. What do the fcriptures principally teach?

A. The fcriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man n.

What man ought to believe concerning God.

Q. 6. What do the scriptures make known of God?

A. The fcriptures make known what God is o,the perfons in the Godhead p, his decrees q, and the execution of his decrees r. Q7. What is God?

learning; that we through patience and comfort of the feriptures might have hope. Acts xx. 32. and now, brethres, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them who are fanctified.

John xvi. 13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he fhall not fpeak of himself; but whatfoever he fhall hear, that fhall he Speak; and lie will fhew you things to come. v. 14. He fhall glorify me for he fhall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you. 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. But the anointing, which ye have received of him, abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you: But, as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie: and even as it hath taught you, ye fhall abide in him. John xx. 31. But thefe are written, that ye might be lieve that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing ye might

have life through his name.

A. God

7.2 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of found words, which thou haft heard of me, in faith and love which is in Chrift Jefus.

6, Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to please him for he that cometh to God, nuft believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him.

p1 John v. 7. For there are thrée that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghoft: and thefe three are one.

9 Acts xv. 14. Simon hath declared how God at the first did vilie the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. v. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written. v. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

r Acts iv. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together. v. 28. For to do whatfosver thy hand and thy counfel determined before to be done.

7. John

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