TH FIRST EDITION, THE Shorter Catechifm, compofed by the Affembly of divines at Westminster, with affiftance of commillioners from the church of Scotland, being approved by the General Affembly of the faid church 1648.; and ratified by the Estates of Parliament in the year following, is above any recommendation of ours, having its praises already in all churches of CHRIST, abroad and at home, among whom it has been justly admired as a mafter-piece of its kind, both for the fulness of its matter, and the compendious and perfpicuous manner in which it is expreffed. Altho' it is only a human compofure, yet being a form of found words, agreeable unto, and founded on the word of God, it ought to be held faft, and earnestly con tended for, by all the lovers of truth, in oppofition to the contrary errors that are revived and raging in our day; and in order hereto, it ought to be confidered, that a divine faith is due to the words of the HOLY GHOST fupporting it, as the evident proofs thereof. Nothing tends more to the advantage and well-being of the church, than found ftandards of doctrine,worship, and government, established by ecclefiaftic and civil authority, as ours are; because, as they are a strong bulwark against contrary errors and opinions, fo they tend to preserve truth in its purity, and the profeffors of it in unity and harmony among themfelves. On the other hand, there is nothing more galling to the adverfaries of truth, than fuch public ftandards, because they are a very fevere check and curb upon their unbounded and licentious liberty, being levelled against their erroneous schemes, and plainly discovering the harmonious chain of fcripture-truth, in oppofition unto them. The divine warrant for fuch compofures, is abunda: clear from 2 Tim i. 13. where we read of the for 1 found words, wherein Paul inftructed Timothy; Heb. v. 12. of the first principles of the oracles of G and chap. vi. 1. of the principles of the doctrine of Chr -Befides, there are feveral fummaries, or compendi fyftems of divine truth, recorded in fcripture; fuch Exod. xx. 2-18. Matth. vi. 9-14. 1 Tim. iii. and Tit. ii 11-15. with many others, which are the emplars, or patterns, upon which the Chriftian church both in ancient and latter times, have deduced, from t pure fountain of the word, the principal articles of the holy religion, as a test and ftandard of orthodo amongst them. The Shorter Catechifm fets forth the principles Christianity in the moft excellent method and order. would be tedious to give a particular analyfis, or divific of the feveral heads of divinity, according to the orde of the Catechism: But, in general, the method thered may be taken up under these four comprehenfive ar icles, namely, The chief end, the only rule, the gloriou object, and the great fubject of the Chriftian religion. I. The chief end of the Chriftian religion, which i the glorifying of GOD, and the enjoying him fo Q. I. ever. II. We have the only rule of the Christian religion defcribed, 1. In its matter; which is the word of GOD, contained in the fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament. Quest. 2. 2. In its principal parts; which are firft, what man is to believe concerning Gop; and then the duty which GOD requires of man. Queft. 3. III. The glorious Object of the Chriftian religion; which is GOD; confidered, 1. Effentially, in his fpiritual nature, infinite perfections, and in his moft perfect unity and fimplicity.Q 4, 5. 2. Relatively or perjonally, in the three diftinct perfons of the Godhead; and in the confubftantiality, and abfolute equality of thefe perfons. Queft. 6. Of the Mediator of the Of the benefits of the cam Of the duties, where we e Of the aggravation and de Of the means wherebr perfected at death; te tance; the external prayer. 0.83 to th The first part cita A. 23. What benefits ass He rejurrection? cortil ve concerning Go The time per reipulus the which God, requires of ma The materials of the following Cares? by feveral minilters; at of their number, to revile mhat foss be cone or T ed ir e so many hands, that there might be an uniformity o ftyle and method, and that repetitions might be prevent ed as much as poffible. It has pleased the LORD, to tak home to himself one of thefe three, who affifted in com pofing and revifing of this firft part; but though he b dead, he yet fpeaketh, and will be fpoken of, for his ex cellent works (which have already, or may hereafte fee the light) by all these who fhall have any relifh o tafte for found doctrine and experimental godlinefs.Whatever lofs the fcond part of this Catechifm may fuf tain, by the removal of fuch an able and skilful hand the other two make not the leaft doubt, but the LORI would carry on this work, with as great, or greater ad vantage, though they were laid in the grave likewife. Mean time, that what is here prefented to the publi view, may be bleffed of Gon, for the edification of fouls is, in the name of our brethren, the earnest prayer of February, 4753 EBEN. ERSKINE *The Rev. Mr. Ralph Erfkine of Dunfermline |