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SPIRITUAL APHORISMS.

is to worship and love the Lord, and to keep his commandments. See A. C. 5997, and A. R. 903.

9. Scientific truths of the Church (being the Word in the sense of the letter) are not genuine truths themselves, but the vessels of good and truth.-See A. C. 6832, 1469, 1496, 7770.

10. Doctrinals are, nevertheless, founded on scientific truths, for otherwise, no idea of doctrinals can be had; and by scientifics, the internal man is opened.-See A. C. 3310, 9922.

11. The conjunction of the truths of the Church with its scientifics, is effected by the following way, viz: The doctrinals of the Church are first to be learnt; and next, exploration is to be made from the Word, whether they be true. When this is done from the affection of truth, then man is enlightened by the Lord, so as to apperceive without knowing whence, what is true, and he is confirmed therein according to the good in which he is principled.— A. C. 6047.

12. They who are in the love or affection of truth for truth's sake, when they arrive at mature age and ripeness of judgment, do not blindly rest in the doctrinals of their own particular church, but examine the truth thereof, by the Word, for themselves.-See A. C. 5402, 6047.

CATECHISM.

OF MAN.

Quest. 1. What are you?

Ans. A human creature.

Quest. 2. What is a human creature?

Ans. A being formed with a capacity to become an image and likeness of Almighty God. (1)

Proof 1. And God said let us make man in our image after our likeness-So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.-Gen. i, 26, 27.

As for me I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.-Ps. xvii. 15. • And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.-Col. iii. 10See Rom. viii. 29, below.

Quest. 3. How are you to become an image of God? Ans. By understanding and acknowledging that which is true. (1)

1. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.-Rom. viii. 29.

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him.-Col. iii. 10; Ps. xvii. 15, above.

Quest. 4. How are you to become a likeness of God? Ans. By loving and doing that which is good. (1) See Note A.*

1. As for me I will behold the face in righteousness: I shall shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.—Ps. xvii. 15.

* See Appendix.

OF GOD.

Quest. 5. What is God?

Ans. God is a Being of infinite love(1) and wisdom;(2) the creator and preserver of all things;(3) and our Father in the Heavens.(4) Note B.

1. God is love. 1 John, iv. 8, 16.

2. Great is our Lord, and of great power; His understanding is infinite.-Ps. cxlvii. 5.

3. Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us?-Mal. ii. 10.

4. Our Father who art in the Heavens: Hallowed be thy name.-Matth. vi. 9.

Quest. 6. What do the Sacred Scriptures teach concerning God, and the mode of his existence?

Ans. They teach that God, in essence and in person is one;(1) in whom is a Divine Trinity of Father, Son and Holy spirit; (2) and that the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is that God.(3)

1. Hear, O Israel-the Lord our God, is one Lord.-Deut. vi. 4. In that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.-Zech. xiv. 9.

2. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. -Luke i. 35. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.-Matth. xxviii, 19.

3. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called wonderful, counsellor, the mighty God, The everlasting Father, the prince of Peace.-Is. ix. 6-lxiii. 1 to 6. I and my Father are one.-John x. 30. He that seeth me, seeth Him that sent me.—xii. 45. If ye had known me ye should have known my Father also; and from henceforth ye know him and have seen him. He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me.-xiv. 7, 9, 11. blessed forever.-Rom. ix. 5. even in his son Jesus Christ. nal life.-1 John v. 20.

Christ, who is over all, God And we are in him that is true, This is the true God and eter

Quest. 7. How can this Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be comprehended to exist in one person?

Ans. As there is a human trinity of soul, body and operation, or action, in every man, so there is a Divine Trini. ty of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.(1)

1. For in Him (Christ) dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.-Col. ii. 9. And I will pray the Father that He shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the spirit of truth. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.-John xiv. 16, 17, 18. Howbeit when the spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth. He shall glorify me: For He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine; therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.-John xvi. 13, 14, 15. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying All power is given unto me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.-Matth. xxviii. 18, 19, 20.

Quest. 8. What is meant by the Father?

Ans. The Divine Love,(1) or the all-begetting and hidden Divinity(2) which dwelleth in the Divine Humanity, or glorified body of our Lord Jesus Christ;(3) answering to the soul of man which dwelleth in his body.

1. God is Love.-1 John iv. 8, 16. For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good; and sendeth his rain on the just and on the unjust.-Matthew v. 45.

2. And the Lord said, thou canst not see my face; for there shall no man see me and live.-Exod. xxxiii. 20. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.-John i. 18. -1 John iv. 12.

3. Jesus saith unto him, he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.-John xiv. 9, 10. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.-Col. i. 19. For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.—Col. ii. 9.

Quest. 9. What is meant by the Son?

Ans. The Divine Wisdom, or the Divine Humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which the Father dwelleth; answering to the body of man in which the soul dwelleth.(1)

1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us-full of grace and truth.-John i. 1, 3, 4, 14. I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.—John viii. 12. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.-John xiv. 6, 10.

Quest. 10. And what is meant by the Holy Spirit?

Ans. The Divine operation or virtue which proceedeth from the Divine Humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; answering to the operations or actions of man's soul and body together.(1) Note C.

I will It is ex

the com

1. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.-John xiv. 13, 14. not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.-18. pedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, forter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine.-xvi. 7, 14, 15. And he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost.-xx. 22. See also John vii. 39; For the Holy Spirit was not yet, because that Jesus was not yet Glorified.

Quest. 11. Is it important to have a just idea of God? Ans. Yes, it is very important;(1) for God being universally and particularly in all things of Religion and Worship, unless there be a just idea of him, no direct communication can be given with the Heavens,(2) and no conjunc tion with the Lord.(3)