Q. 20. Is it of importance what a man believes in religion?

A. It is of great importance. Our hearts and lives are much influenced by our faith. Besides, a man may be very sincere in a great error, perhaps a fatal one, Paul once sincerely opposed Christ and His cause, but for this very conduct, he calls himself a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. His sincerity did not make him right, nor excuse him for being wrong. He was still in the broad road to destruction. (n)

Q. 21. In what manner should the language of Scripture be used in conversation and writing?

A. It should always be used with reverence and sobriety; and should never be quoted in a profane manner; nor accommodated to trifling subjects. It is highly improper to use the words Lord, God, Christ, faith, heaven, hell, damn, damnation, vow, curse, and similar expressions, or words of like import, in a light and trivial way. It is not only unpolite and vulgar, but profane, and highly displeasing to God. (0)

and it shall be called, The way of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those, the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.-John vii. 17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.

(n) John viii. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Acts xxvi. 9. I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.-1 Tim. I. 13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.-Prov. xvi. 25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.-2 Pet. ii. 1, 2. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction: And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.-2 John 10, 11. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctring, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed; for he that biddeth him God speed is nartaker of his evil deeds. (0) Ex. xx. 7. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy

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Q. 22. How should the Bible be regarded and treated?

A. It should be valued above all price; embraced firmly, meekly, and in its purity; perused and studied with reverence and gratitude, diligence and attention, faith and prayer, and carefully reduced to practice. To estimate lightly, to neglect, and thus to abuse the Bible, is to treat the messages of Heaven with contempt, to slight offered mercy, and to trifle with the interests of the soul and the solemnities of eternity. (p)

CHAPTER III.

Character of God, natural and moral, as Revealed in the Sacred Scriptures.

Q. 1. What perfections, natural and moral, does God possess?

A. God, who is a pure spirit, that is, an immaterial being, possesses self-existence, eternity, immutability, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, independence, unity,* goodness, wisdom,† holiness, justice, mercy, and truth.

God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

the

(p) Ps. xix. 8, 10. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb.Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. John viii. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. John v. 39. Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.Matt. xxii. 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

*Unity in God seems to be a mode of existence, rather than a perfection of His nature, though it has generally been considered a perfection.

† Wisdom, when applied to God, is frequently used as a natural perfection, and then consists merely of His omniscience; or it means His devising the most effectual methods for the accomplishment of his ends.

Q. 2. What is meant by the natural and what by the moral perfections of God?

A. By His natural perfections are meant those which do not involve moral character; and by His moral perfections are meant those which give character to Him as a moral being.

3. What are the natural perfections of God?

A. They are self-existence, eternity, immutability,

omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, independence, and unity.

'Q. 4. What are the moral perfections of God? A. They are goodness, wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy, and truth.

Q. 5. What is meant by the self-existence of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His self-existence is meant, that He exists not by any extrinsic, relative, or accidental cause, but exists in and of Himself. There is no reason or ground of His existence out of Himself.-That God is self-existent is evident from the fact, that He is the Author of all things, and that He Himself could not be created by any other being, but must be uncaused and eternal; and from the fact, that in Scripture, He is styled Jehovah,' 'I Am,'' who is, who was, and who is to come.' These terms imply selfexistence. (a)

Q. 6. What is meant by the eternity of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His eternity is meant His existence without beginning or end. There never was a time when He did not exist, and there never will be a time when He will not exist.- -That God possesses this perfection, is manifest from His self-existence, and

(a) Ps. lxxxiii. 18. That man may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth. -Exod. iii. 14. And God said unto Moses, I Am that I Am. And he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. Rev. i. 4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia; Grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven spirits which are before his throne.

from the express declarations of the Holy Scrip

tures. (b)

Q. 7. What is meant by the immutability of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His immutability is meant His unchangeableness in His essence, perfections, purposes, promises, and threatenings.-This perfection of God is proved from His self-existence and eternity, from the unchanging order exhibited in the works of creation and providence, and from the Bible. (c)

Q.8. What is meant by the omnipresence of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His omnipresence is meant His being ever present in every place throughout the universe. He is confined to no part, and excluded from no part. This perfection of God may be argued from His other perfections, from His particular agency at all times in all parts of the universe, and from the Sacred Scriptures. (d)

Q. 9. What is meant by the omniscience of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His omniscience is meant His knowledge of all things without any limitation. His knowledge extends to all times, past, present, and future; and to all places, creatures, and events, distinctly, infallibly, and perpetually.- -That God is possessed of this

(b) Deut. xxxiii. 27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.-Ps. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

(c) 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 variableness, neither shadow of turning.-Ps. xxxiii. 11. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

(d) Ps. cxxxix. 7—10. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? IfI ascend up into heaven, thou art there, if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

perfection, is evident from His purposes and designs from His being the Creator, Preserver, and Governor, of all things; and from the express language of Scripture. (e)

Q. 10. What is meant by the omnipotence of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His omnipotence is meant His almighty power, His ability to do whatever, in the nature of things, is not impossible, or does not imply contradiction.- -That God is thus powerful, is manifest from his creating, preserving, and governing the universe; and from the testimony of the Scriptures. (f)

Q. 11. What is meant by the independence of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His independence is to be understood, that He does not depend for His existence, His perfections, or His blessedness, on any other being.—That He possesses this perfection, is evident from the consideration of His other perfections; and that He is above all things; and that they are entirely dependent on Him, and He, consequently, independent of them; and that the Bible also teaches this perfection of God. (g)

Q. 12. What is meant by the unity of God? and how is it proved?

A. By His unity is meant His oneness of essence or nature, in opposition to plurality of essence or na

(e) P3. xciv. 9, 10. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see? he that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know ?-Acts xv. 28. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.-1 Chron. xxviii. 9. The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts

(f) Rev. xix. 6. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.-Matt. xix. 26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

(g) Eph. iv. 6. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in you all.