Q. A. The duties required in the tenth commandment are, such a full contentment with our own condition, and such a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbor, as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, tend unto, and further all that good which is his. A. Q. 39. Q. A. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment? Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. Why was it requisite that the mediator should be God? Q. A. 29. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshiping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his word. It was requisite that the mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as the works of the whole person. A. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured? Q. 64. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them. Q. 35. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment? A. A. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? 57. 192. Q. Q. 79. A. A. A. A. Q. What is the work of creation? How is baptism to be improved by us? How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper feed upon the body and blood of Christ therein? Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord. A. Q. What is required in the sixth commandment? The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Q. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world? 74. 129. In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, we pray that God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. A. What are the parts of a sacrament? How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? Q. A. Q. By whom is the Word of God to be preached? The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) is an American church body holding to presbyterian governance and Reformed theology, expressed in an orthodox, egalitarian vein.. What are the duties required in the second commandment? 44. 100. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts; all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections; all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent or light behavior, immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages; allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; entangling vows of single life, undue delay of marriage; having more wives or husbands than one at the same time; unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company; lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays; and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, theft, robbery, man-stealing, and receiving anything that is stolen; fraudulent dealing, false weights and measures, removing landmarks, injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and man, or in matters of trust; oppression, extortion, usury, bribery, vexatious lawsuits, unjust enclosures and depredation; engrossing commodities to enhance the price; unlawful callings, and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves; covetousness; inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods; distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them; envying at the prosperity of others; as likewise idleness, prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate, and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us. Q. A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men. What are we specially taught by these words, before me, in the first commandment? A. Q. Q. 30. 99. Q. 68. There is but one only, the living and true God. Although all are not to be permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation, yet all sorts of people are bound to read it apart by themselves, and with their families: to which end, the holy Scriptures are to be translated out of the original into vulgar languages. 3. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? 56. A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, scorned and rejected by the world, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God's wrath, he laid down his life an offering for sin, enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross. We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ hath procured, by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost. Deuteronomy 6:4. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. A. Q. 26. 85. What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of prayer? What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men? A. Q. Q. Indeed, when the imagined romanticism of the assembly is stripped away and we see these divines for who they were—greatly gifted, but struggling against their own sin and finitude—we are reminded that God used sinners to advance His kingdom. 11:36; Ps. Q. Q. A. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? What is the work of creation? Are there more Gods than one? Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? Q. Q. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 127. What is the chief end of man? A. 46. 27. Which is the tenth commandment? A. Q. The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath, and in the New Testament called The Lord's Day. What is required in the ninth commandment? 161. Q. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment? A. A. A. A. 76. A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried, and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day; which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell. 93. Of what use is the moral law to all men? Q. 154. Q. Q. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ. 2. What are the special privileges of the visible church? 1. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? A. Q. A. Q. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 35. 1. Q. A. A. Q. 131. 6. Are the elect only effectually called? A. A. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 60. Q. Which is the eighth commandment? Q. 51. A. 188. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? A. Q. Q. What do we pray for in the first petition? Q. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low condition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his conception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his resurrection. A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the general and final judgment of angels and men; the day and hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord. 103. Q. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the essence of faith, true believers may wait long before they obtain it; and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, sins, temptations, and desertions; yet are they never left without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as keeps them from sinking into utter despair. What is the preface to the Ten Commandments? What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man? Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day. 165. How doth Christ make intercession? What are the sins forbidden in the seventh commandment? Q. A. A. Q. What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God? What benefits hath Christ procured by his mediation? What is required in the second commandment? 86. What is adoption? What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. Q. Unto whom is baptism to be administered? Q. A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. What are those aggravations that make some sins more heinous than others? A. 83. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Q. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q. Q. 18. 71. A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever. 95. A. A. 21. Q. A. Q. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden; and, where a sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded: so, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included; and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included. 7. 164. Q. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. 1. Q. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Q. How is the word made effectual to salvation? Q. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection. What is the communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ? A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words and actions. A. Amen.) What is the chief end of man? A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth; for magistrates, and ministers; for ourselves, our brethren, yea, our enemies; and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ? What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? 168. Q. What is the chief end of man? 55. 40. Q. A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. 22. 3. 4. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created? God only being able to search the hearts, hear the requests, pardon the sins, and fulfill the desires of all; and only to be believed in, and worshiped with religious worship; prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to him alone, and to none other. With whom was the covenant of grace made? 107. I will answer this question with a wonderful quotation from John Murray: Now everyone of you children should know The Shorter Catechism from the beginning to the end without a mistake by this age. 138. 143. A. Q. Q. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it; so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love, to free them perfectly from sin and misery, and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon. Q. A. Q. A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. Q. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consisteth in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; which is commonly called original sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression? Q. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone; and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus; the four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. A. The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God's worship: and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day. A. A. The Lord's prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer. 8. Q. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? 58. 2. 25. A. We are to believe that at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust: when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls forever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth. Q. Q. 153. Q. The only mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fullness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever. A. A. A. Q. 51. Are we to pray unto God only? A. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? A. Q. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption? God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a redeemer. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? Q. 105. 50. What are the sins of equals? It was requisite that the mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow-feeling of our infirmities; that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment. 1. Q. The members of the invisible church have communicated to them in this life the firstfruits of glory with Christ, as they are members of him their head, and so in him are interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of; and, as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory; as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall endure after death. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. Death being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ? 96. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we are to pray in no other name but his only. A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation. A. 148. And in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence. God's works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. 113. 30. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression? A. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation? What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. A. 157. 120. A. A. Q. What is prayer? There is but one only, the living and true God. 135. Shorter Catechism. A. 20. A. A. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Now that Easter is over, this is a good opportunity to reflect on what just happened yesterday and to share some thoughts on the origin of the church calendar. Q. A. 14. How is the Word of God to be read? What do we pray for in the third petition? 9. Q. Was the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner? A. 94. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it? What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it? Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. 68. A. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? 10:31; Rom. It was requisite that the mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death; give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession; and to satisfy God's justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation. A. 65. What is effectual calling? A. How doth the Spirit help us to pray? A. 20. A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our nature continually before the Father in heaven, in the merit of his obedience and sacrifice on earth, declaring his will to have it applied to all believers; answering all accusations against them, and procuring for them quiet of conscience, notwithstanding daily failings, access with boldness to the throne of grace, and acceptance of their persons and services. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day. Q. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification, are, assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors or equals. A. In the fifth petition (which is, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors), acknowledging that we and all others are guilty both of original and actual sin, and thereby become debtors to the justice of God; and that neither we, nor any other creature, can make the least satisfaction for that debt: we pray for ourselves and others, that God of his free grace would, through the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, apprehended and applied by faith, acquit us both from the guilt and punishment of sin, accept us in his Beloved; continue his favor and grace to us, pardon our daily failings, and fill us with peace and joy, in giving us daily more and more assurance of forgiveness; which we are the rather emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart forgive others their offenses.