Q. What is the import of the name, Jesus Christ? A. The name Jesus signifies Saviour, and was given to him (Mat. i. 21.) because he should save his people from their sins. Christ signifies anointed, and presents him to us as Prophet, Priest, and King of human nature. (Ex. xxx. 22-33. xxviii. 41. 1 Kings xix. 15, 16. Acts iv. 27. x. 38.)

Q. What advantages have we from this character of Jesus Christ?

A. As Jesus, we know him to be Saviour; and as Christ, we see the way of salvation for as a Prophet, he instructs us, and tells us that he came to give him. self for the life of the world; (John vi. 33. 51.;) as the High Priest of our profession, he offered himself on the cross; and when we behold this sacrifice, we are constrained to acknowledge him Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. (Rev. xvii. 14.)

Q. What proof have you that Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of a Virgin?

A. The angel Gabriel was sent from God (Luke i. 26.) to the Virgin Mary; (v. 27. ;) he pronounced her blessed (v. 28.) with the favour of God; (v. 30. ;) and informed her, that she should conceive a son, whom she should call Jesus; that his kingdom should have no end. And in answer to the difficulty of a virgin being a mother, was instructed that it should be by the power of the Holy Ghost, and that, therefore, the holy thing which should be born of her should be called the Son of God.

Q. What proof have you, that Christ rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven?

A. The Apostles continually asserted this fact as the ground of their hope in him. After his death and burial, being risen from the dead, he conversed with them, and was seen of five hundred brethren at once. (Acts i. 1-11.) It was in the presence of the Apostles that he ascended.

Q. What do you mean by Christ sitting at the right hand of God?

A. We do not, strictly speaking, or as man would speak of his fellow man, attribute to God, personality, parts, or passions; but this mode of expression is necessary to make us familiar with the character of God, and his government of his creatures; and being thus understood, we speak of the hand of God, as expressive of his power; and the right hand of God, as descriptive both of power and of honour. (Acts vii. 55. iii. 1.)

Col.

Q. Will Christ indeed come to judge the quick and the dead?

A. God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained. (Acts xvii. 31. Rom. ii. 16.)

Q. What do you believe of the Holy Ghost?

A. Ghost is synonymous with spirit. God is a Spi. rit, to be worshipped in spirit and in truth; (John iv. 24. ;) and they who come to him, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb. xi. 6.)

Q. What is the Holy Catholic Church, and why is it called so?

A. It is the company of true believers in all ages: and is Holy, because it is of God; Catholic, because it is universal; and Church, because the term signifies

the many assembled in one, or for one purpose; and believers, though many, are one body in Christ. (Rom. xii. 5. Col. i. 24.)

Q. What do you mean by the communion of Saints? A. It is the common enjoyment which all the sanctified have with God in the sense of his presence, (Gen. v. 22. vi. 9.,) and which, individually, each has with every other. (Prov. xxvii. 17. Eph. iv. 5.)

Q. What do you believe respecting the forgiveness of sins?

A. I believe that the forgiveness of sin was one of the objects God had in view in the exaltation of Christ; (Acts v. 31. ;) which Christ had in view in the commis. sion he gave to Paul; (Acts xxvi. 18. ;) and Paul, faithful to his commission, teaches redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, (Eph. i. 7.,) that God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven us. (Eph. iv. 32. Col. i. 14.) God is said to be faithful and just to forgive us our sins, (1 John i. 9.,) and hath forgiven them for Christ's sake. (1 John ii. 12.)

Q. What do you believe of the resurrection of the body?

A. I believe, that in the resurrection, the natural body shall be raised in a state of improvement as much superior to its present state, as all our ideas of spirit, or mind, are superior to those of mere matter; for though the body is consigned to the earth as a natural body, in corruption, dishonour, and weakness; yet it shall be raised in incorruption, glory, and power, a spiritual body. (1 Cor. xv. 42-44.)

Q. What do you mean by life everlasting?

A. I mean a conscious sense of being and of bliss, without alloy, and without end. (1 John iii. 2.

John v. 26. xiv. 19.)

Q. Why do you say, amen?

v. 11.

A. Used at the close of a creed, it means, "so it is ;" and may be considered as a repetition of the sentiments expressed in that creed.

Q. What are the attributes of God?

A. Wisdom, love, and power; each infinite.

Q. What proof have you of this?

A. In his word, and in his works.

Q. Do these constitute all the essential attributes of God?

A. They do.

Q. What proof have you of this?

A. Their union constitutes a perfect character. You cannot take from any of these attributes in the smallest degree, without destroying that perfection; nor can any thing be attributed to God, but what may be found in one of these attributes, or flowing from their union. Q. Is not justice an attribute of God?

A. Justice in Deity, is that unerring wisdom which discerns between guilt and innocence, united with the power which executes a just sentence.

Q. Do any of these attributes appear in Jesus?

A. They are all manifest in the Redeemer, who, by wisdom, spake as never man spake; by the love of God, offered himself a sacrifice for sin; and by the omnipotence of his power, rose from the dead, the triumphant conqueror of death and the grave.

Q. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Q. 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 Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Q. What is God?

A. God is a spirit; self existent, unchangeable, infinite in wisdom, power, and goodness.

Q. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God. Q. Under what manifestations hath God made himself known to men?

A. He hath manifested himself under the several, but not contradictory characters of Father, Word, and Spirit.

Q. How doth he manifest himself as Father?

A. This, being a name given to whatever is the author of being, is most appropriately given to God, the creator of all; and is especially due to him as discharging all the duties which belong to a father's character: by providing for all, instructing all, correcting all, and never ceasing to love all.

Q. What hope do we derive from this knowledge of the attributes of God?

A. Infinite love must desire our happiness; infinite wisdom must know the means which will effect this