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and willing to help us g, fo 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 testify this our defire and affurance, 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 workéth in us, v. 21. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jefus, 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 fhall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that afk him?

h 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehosha phat) faid, 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, fo that none is able to withftand thee? v. 11. Behold, I fay, how they reward us, to come to

caft us out of thy poffeffion, which thou haft 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 against thee.

k 1 Cor. xiv. 16. Elfe when thou fhalt bless with the spirit, how fhall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned, fay Amen at thy giving of thanks, feeing he understandeth not what thou fayeft? Rev. xxii. 20. He which teftifieth these things,faith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Eevn fo, come, Lord Jefus. v. 21 The grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift be with you all.

Amen.

FINIS.

SHORTER CATECHISM,

AGREED UPON BY THE

ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES

A T

WESTMINSTER,

WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF

COMMISSIONERS

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 Affembly of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND, to be a Directory for Catechifing fuch as are of weaker Capacity.

WITH THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

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

TH

ACT approving the SHORTER CATECHISM.

'HE General Affembly having seriously confidered the Shorter Catechifm agreed upon by the Affembly of Divines fitting at Westminster, with affiftance of Commiffioners from this kirk; 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: And therefore approve the faid Shorter Catechifm, as a part of the intended uniformity, to be a directory for catechifing fuch as are of weaker capacity.

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T HE

SHORTER CATECHISM.

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God a,

WHAT is the chief end of man?

Anfwer. Man's chief end is, to glorify

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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 may 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. Q. 4•

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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 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 perish thou haft 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 trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.

2. £ 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcrip

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Q: 4. What is God?

holinefs n,

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

Q. 5. Are there more gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God p.
Q.6. How many perfons 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 fubftance, 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 counfel of his will, whereby, for his

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

g Job xi. 7. Canft thou by fearching find out God? canft thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what can't thou know? v. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea..

b Pfal. 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.

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 fhadow of turning.

k Exod. ii, 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM; and he faid, Thus fhalt thou fay anto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me unto you.

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

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

Own

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

:

n Rev. xv. 4. Who fhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy for all nations fhall 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 fands, forgiving iniquity, and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting 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 fhall tremble, and the nations thaЛl not be able to abide his indignation.

6. q. 1. John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven,

the

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