And now my soul bleeds to look on the dear flock of God, which are as sheep without a shepherd. The Lord Jesus, the great Shep- herd of the sheep, have compassion on them, and give them a shep- herd like to his blessed servant Flavel, who did for many years feed them with knowledge, and with understanding. Dartmouth, March ^\st.
1692. I IiNCREASE MATHER.
ASSElNlBLY's SHORTER CATECHISM,
Question I. Of Man^s chief End.
Vr HAT is the chief end of man ?
A. Marts chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever,
Q. 1. Seeing a chief supposeth an inferior end ; what is that in- ferior end for which man was made ?
A. It is prudently, soberly, and mercifully, to govern, use, and dispose of other creatures in the earth, sea, and air, over wliich God gave man the dominion ; Gen. i. 26. And God said let us make man in our own image, after our likeness : and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So Psal. viii. 6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands ; thou hast put all things under his feet.
Q. S. What then is to be thought of those men, who being wholly intent upon inferior things, forget and neglect their principal end?
A. They are dead whilst they live; 1 Tim. v. 6. But she that liveth in pleasure, is dead whilst she liveth : They have their portion in this life; Psal. xvii. 14. From men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and their end is destruction, Phil. iii. 19. Whose end is destruction.
Q. 3. How can a man glorify God, seeing he is perfectly glorious in himself.?
A, Man cannot glorify God by adding any new degree of glory to liim ; Job xxxv. 7. If thou be righteous, what givest thou him, but by manifesting his glory with the lips .? Psal. 1. 23. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me; or with the life ; Matth.v. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorily your Father which is in heaven.
Q. 4. Wherein consists the enjoyment of God .?
A. It consists, ^r^^, in the facial vision of him in heaven. Second- ly, in full conformity to him ; 1 John iii. 2. But we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall sec him as he is. Thirdly, in that full satisfaction which results from both the former; Psal. xvii. 15. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.
142 AX EXPOSITION OF TIIF- ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM.
Q. 5. Can none enjoy him in lieaven, who do not glorify him on earth ?
A. No adult person can scripturally expect happiness in heaven -without hohness on earth ; Heb. xii. 14. And hohness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Rom. viii. 30. Whom he justifiedy them he also glorified.
Q. 6. How comes the glory and enjoyment of God our chief end ?
A. He is our Master, and rightful Owner and Benefactor ; we re- ceive our being and preservation from him, of him, and through him, and therefore to him be all things, Rom. xi. 36.
Q. 7. Do all men make God their chief end ?
A. No, they do not ; some make their sensual pleasure their chief end : Phil. iii. 19. Whose God is their belly : and some the worlds Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Q. 8. What are the signs of a man's making liimself his chief end.f^
A. Those make themselves their chief end, who ascribe the glory of what they have, or do, to themselves, and not to God ; Dan. iv. 30. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon which I have built ? Isa. X. 18. For he saith, by the strength of my hand have I done it ; and by my wisdom, for I am prudent ; therefore they sacri- fice to their own net, and burn incense unto their drag, Hab. i. 16.
Q. 9. Why are the glorifying and enjoying of God put together, as making up our chief end ?
A. Because no man can glorify God, that takes him not for his God ; and none takes him for his God, that takes him not for his supreme good ; and both these being essentially included in this notion of the chief end, are therefore justly put together.
Q. 10. What is the first truth inferred hence ?
A. That God hath dignified man above all other creatures on earth, in giving him a capacity of glorifying God here, and of enjoying him hcreaiter.
Q 11. What is the second truth inferred hence .^
A. That the soul of man is not annihilated by death, but advanc- ed by it; Phil. i. 21. To die is gain. V. S3. Having a desire ta depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better.
Q. 12. What is the third truth inferred hence ?
A. That it is the duty and wisdom of every Christian to renounce, deny, and forsake all inferior interests and enjoyments, when they come in competition with the glory of God, and our enjoyment of him : Luke xiv. 33. So likewise whosoever he be of you, that for- saketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Q. 13. What is the fourth inference hence ?
A. That we are to abhor and renoimce all those doctrines and practices, that debase the glory of God, and exalt and magnify the creature.
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY'S CATECHISM. 14)S
Of the Scrijjtures as our Rule.
Quest. 2. W HAT 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 erf the Old and new Testament, is the only rule to direct us how we mat/ glorify and enjoy him.
Q. 1. How can the Scriptures be called the word of God, seeing the things contained there were spoken and written by men ?
A. They are truly and properly called the word of God, because they came not by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. i. 21.
Q. 2. What are the principal arguments to persuade us that the scriptures are of Divine authority and inspiration ?
A. Three things especially convince us : First, The holiness of the doctrine therein contained. Secondly, The awful efficacy thereof on the soul. Thirdly, The uncontrollable miracles by which they are sealed, put it beyond all rational doubt that they are the very words of God.
Q. 3. AVhat is the holiness of the scriptures ; and how doth that prove them to be God's word ?
A. The holiness of the scriptures doth appear in two things : First, In commanding and encouraging whatsoever is pure, and holy ; Phil. iv. 8. Whatsoever things are pure. Secondly, In for- bidding all unholiness, under pain of damnation ; 2 Cor. vL 9- Know ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, c5'C. This shews that they came not from Satan, being cross to his design ; nor from man, it being against his corrupt nature ; and therefore from God only.
Q. 4. What is their authority and efficacy on the soul ? and how doth that prove them divine ?