THE LARGER CATECHISM, AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A Part of the Covenanted Uniformity in Religion be twixt the Churches of CHRIST in the Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland. AND Approved Anno 1648 by the General Affembly 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. EDINBURGH: Printed by MARK and CHARLES KERR, His Majefty's Printers. Act approving the LARGER CATECHISM. HE General Affembly, having exactly examined and upon by the Affembly of Divines fitting at Weftminster, with affiftance of Commiffioners from this Kirk, copies thereof being printed, and fent to prefbyteries, for the more exact trial thereof; and publick intimation being frequently made in this Affembly, that every one that had any doubts or ob jections upon it might put them in, do find, upon due examination thereof, That the faid Catechifin is agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doc. trine, 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 profi ciency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion, 032 D WHAT is the chief and highest end of Man 3 and fully to enjoy him for ever." 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, : Q.2 How or whatfoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. bPfal. lxxiii. 24. Thon fhalt guide me with thy counfel, and afterwards receive me to glory. H.5 V. 2 Q. 2 Hew doth it appear that there is a God? 4. The very light of nature in man, and the works of Gcd, declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do fufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their falvation 4. Q.3. What is the word of God? A. The holy fcriptures of the old and new teftament V. 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 failth: but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. V. 27. For, lo, they that are far from thee fhall perish: thou haft deftroyed 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. 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 gaveft 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 theu haft fent me, and haft loved them as thou haft loved me. are ment. fheweth his handy-work. V. 2. Dayunto day uttereth 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'1 Cor. ii. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, 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. ii. 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 gi ven by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteousness: V. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughlyfurnished unto all good works. Ifa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My fpirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart cut of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor cut of the mouth of thy feed's feed, faith the Lord, from hencefortli and for ever. 3.2 Tim. are the word of God, the only rule of faith and obe dience'. Q. 4. How doth it appear that the fcriptures are the word of God? A. The fcriptures manifeft themselves to be the word of God by their majesty and purity; by the confent of all 3.2 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 thineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts: 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 Ghoft. f Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himlf being the chief corner-ftone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words ofthe prophecy ofthis book, Ifany man fhal add unto thefe things, God fhalladdunto him the plagues that are written in this book; V. 19. And it any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Ged 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. Te the law, and to the teftimony: if they fpeak not according to this wor, it is because there is no light in them. Luke xvi:29. They have Mofes and the prophets; let them hear them. V. 1. If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfua led though one role from the dead. the 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 accursed. V. 9. As we faid before, fo fay 1 now again, If any man preach any other go. fpel unto you than that we have received, let him be accurfed. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. [See in let terd.} 4. Hof. viii. 12. I have wait. ten to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a ftrange thing. 1 Cor. ii. 6. Howbeit, we fpeak wildom 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 myftery, even the hidden wisdom, 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 oly Gheft teacheth; comparing fpiritual things with fpiritua.. Pfal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things cut of thy law. V. 129 Thy teftimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my foul keep them. h Pfal. xii 6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as filver tried in a furnace oʻ eart", purified feven times. Pl. CX X. 140. Thy word is very pure; therefore thy fervant loveth it. H 6 Ad |