1 greater consolation of the godly in tum ob majus piorum solatium in their adversity: so will he have rebus adversis: ita sane diem ipthat day unknown to men, that they sum vult ab hominibus ignorari, quo may shake off all carnal security, securitatem omnem carnalem excutiand be always watchful, because ant, et nunquam non sint vigilantes they know not at what hour the (quum qua hora venturus sit DomiLord will come; and may be ever nus ignorant) utque semper sint prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, parati ad dicendum Veni Domine come quickly. Amen. Jesu, etiam cito veni. Amen. CHARLES HERLE, Prolocutor. HERBERT PALMER, Assessor. 2 Pet. iii. 11, 14; 2 Cor. v. 10, 11; 2 Thess. i. 5-7; Luke xxi. 27, 28; Rom. viii. 23–25. Matt. xxiv. 36, 42-44; Mark xiii. 35-37; [Fac-simile of title-page of Westminster Larger Catechism.] The Humble ADVICE Of the ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES Now by Authority of Parliament fitting at WESTMINSTER; Concerning A Larger Catechifm: Presented by them lately to both Houses Printed at LONDON; AND Re-printed at EDINBURGH by Evan Tyler, Printer to the Kings moft Excellent Majeftie. 1647. 雅氣 [Fac-simile of first page of Larger Catechism, ed. 1647.] (3) ΤΟ The Right honorable the Lords and Commons Affembled in PARLIAMENT; The humble Advice of the Affembly of Divines QUESTION. Hat is the chief and highest end of man? A. Mans chief and highest end is, to glorifie God, and fully to enjoy him for ever. Q. 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: but his Word and Spirit only do fufficiently and effectually reveale him unto men for their salvation. Q. What is the Word of God? A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament are the Word of God, the only Rule of Faith and obedience. THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM. A.D. 1647. CATECHISMUS WESTMONASTERIENSIS MINOR. [This Catechism was prepared by the Westminster Assembly in 1647, and adopted by the General A sembly of the Church of Scotland, 1648; by the Presbyterian Synod of New York and Philadelphia, May, 1788: and by nearly all the Calvinistic Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of the English toge It was translated into Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and many other languages, and appeared in innumerate editions. Although little known on the continent of Europe, it is more extensively used than any other Protestant catechism, except perhaps the Small Catechism of Luther and the Heidelberg Catechism Want of space compels us to omit the Assembly's Larger Catechism, which is easy of access. For the same reason we have omitted the Scripture proofs. The English original is conformed to the edition of the Presbyterian Board, compared with the L don edition of 1658 and other older English and Scotch editions, which present no variations of any so count. The Latin translation is from the Cambridge and Edinburgh editions, containing the Confession and both Catechisms, and reprinted in Niemeyer's Appendix.] THE SHORTER CATECHISM. Question. 1. What is the chief end of man? Answer. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Ques. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? Ans. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments,' is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. Ques. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach? Ans. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what daty God requires of man. Ques. 4. What is GOD? Ans. God is a Spirit, infinite, CATECHISMUS MINOR Quæstio. Quis hominis finis est præcipuus? Responsio. Præcipuus hominis finis est, Deum glorificare, eodemque frui in æternum. Quæs. Quam nobis regulam dedit Deus, qua nos ad ejus glorificationem ac fruitionem dirigamur? Resp. Verbum Dei (quod Scriptu ris Veteris ac Novi instrumenti comprehenditur) est unica regula, qui nos ad ejus glorificationem ac fr tionem dirigamur. Quæs. Quid est quod Scriptura præcipue docent? Resp. Duo imprimis sunt qu Quæes. Quid est Deus? eternal, and unchangeable, in his sapientia, potentia, sanctitate, just 'The London edition of 1658, Dunlop's Collection of 1719, and other editions read Testamen ɔeing, wisdom, power, holiness, jus- | tia, bonitate ac veritate infinitus, ice, goodness, and truth. Ans. There is but one only, the iving and true God. Ques. 6. How many persons are here in the Godhead? Ans. There are three persons in he Godhead: the Father, the Son, nd the Holy Ghost; and these hree are one God, the same in subtance, equal in power and glory. Ques. 7. What are the decrees of rod? Ans. The decrees of God are his ternal purpose according to the ounsel of his will, whereby, for his wn glory, he hath fore-ordained hatsoever comes to pass. Ques. 8. How doth God execute is decrees. Ans. God executeth his decrees 1 the works of creation and provi ence. Ques. 9. What is the work of *eation? Ans. The work of creation is od's making all things of nothing, y the word of his power, in the ace of six days, and all very good. Ques. 10. How did God create an? æternus, ac immutabilis. Quæs. Suntne plures uno Deo? Resp. Unus est unicusque, vivens ille verusque Deus. Quæs. Quot sunt persona in Deitate? Resp. In Deitate personæ tres sunt, Pater, Filius, ac Spiritus Sanctus; suntque hæ tres persona Deus unus, substantia eædem, potentia ac gloria coæquales. Quæs. Quid sunt decreta Dei? Resp. Decreta Dei sunt æternum ejus propositum secundum voluntatis suæ consilium, quo quicquid unquam evenit, propter suam ipsius gloriam præordinavit. Quæs. Quomodo decreta sua exequitur Deus? Resp. Deus exequitur decreta sua creationis operibus ac providentiæ. Quæs. Quid est opus creationis? Resp. Opus creationis est quo Deus per verbum potentiæ suæ omnia sex dierum spatio ex nihilo condidit, atque omnia quidem valde bona. Quæs. Qualem creavit Deus hominem? Ans. God created man, male and Resp. Deus hominem creavit maemale, after his own image, in rem ac fœminam, juxta suam ipsius nowledge, righteousness, and holi- imaginem, in cognitione, justitia ac |