John Owen, Two Short Catechisms
(... continued from file 1)
The Greater Catechism.
Chap. 1 - Of The Scripture.
Ques. 1. What is Christian religion?
Ans.
The only way John 14: 5, 6, 17: 3; Acts 4:
12.
Every one out of this way
everlastingly damned.
of knowing God aright, The life of religion is in
the Life.
and living unto him. Col. 1: 10; 2 Cor. 5: 15;
Gal. 2: 19, 20.
Q. 2. Whence is it to be learned?
A.
From the holy Scripture only. Isa. 8: 20; John 5: 39.
Popish traditions are false
lights, leading from God.
Q. 3. What is the Scripture?
A.
The books of the Old Isa. 8: 20; Rom. 3: 2.
and New Testament, Rev. 22: 19, 20.
The authority of the
Scripture dependeth not on
the authority of the church,
as the Papists blaspheme.
All human inventions
unnecessary helps in the
worship of God.
The word thereof is the sole
directory for faith, worship,
and life.
given by inspiration from 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17; Ps. 19: 7,
God, containing all things 8; Jer. 7: 13; John 20: 31.
necessary to be believed and
done, that God may be
worshipped and our souls
saved.
Q. 4. How know you them to be the word of God?
A.
By the testimony of God's Matt. 16: 17; John 16: 13; 1
Spirit, Thess. 2: 13; 1 John 2: 20,
5: 6.
This alone persuadeth and
inwardly convinceth the heart
of the divine verity of the
Scripture; other motives,
also, there are from without,
and unanswerable arguments to
prove the truth of them, as,
- 1. Their antiquity; 2.
Preservation from fury; 3.
Prophecies in them; 4. The
holiness and majesty of their
doctrine agreeable to the
nature of God; 5. Miracles;
6. The testimony of the
church of all ages; 7. The
blood of innumerable martyrs,
&c.
working faith in my heart to Luke 24: 32; 1 Cor. 2: 14;
close with that heavenly Heb. 4: 12; 2 Pet. 1: 19.
majesty, and clear divine
truth, that shineth in them.
Chap. 2 - Of God.
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning God?
A.
First, what he is, or his Exod. 3: 14; Isa. 45: 6; Heb.
nature; secondly, what he 1: 1-3, 11: 6.
does, or his works.
Q. 2. What is God in himself?
A.
An Eternal, Deut. 33:27; Isa. 57:15; Rev.
1:8.
infinite, 1 Kings 8: 27; Ps. 139: 2-5,
&c.
The perfection of God's being
is known of us chiefly by
removing all imperfections.
Hence the abominable vanity
of idolaters, and of the
blasphemous Papists, that
picture God.
incomprehensible Exod. 33: 20; 1 Tim. 6: 16.
Let us prostrate ourselves in
holy adoration of that which
we cannot comprehend.
Spirit, John 4:24.
giving being to all things, Gen. 1: 1; Ps. 115: 3, 135:
and doing with them 6; Isa. 46: 10; John 5: 17;
whatsoever he pleaseth. Heb. 1: 2.
Q. 3. Do we here know God as he is?
A.
No, his glorious being is not Exod. 33: 23; 1 Cor. 13: 12.
of us, in this life, to be
comprehended.
Q. 4. Whereby is God chiefly made known unto us in the Word?
A.
First, by his names; Exod. 3: 14, 6: 3; Ps. 83:
18.
secondly, by his attributes Exod. 34: 6,7; Matt. 5: 48.
or properties.
Q. 5. What are the names of God?
A.
Glorious titles, which he has Exod. 3: 14, 15, 6: 3, 34: 6,
given himself, to hold forth 7; Gen. 17: 1.
his excellencies unto us, The divers names of God
with some perfections whereby signify one and the same
he will reveal himself. thing, but under diverse
notions in respect of our
conception.
Q. 6. What are the attributes of God?
A.
His infinite perfections in Rev. 4: 8-11.
being and working.
Q. 7. What are the chief attributes of his being?
A.
Eternity, Deut. 33: 27; Ps. 93: 2; Isa.
57: 15; Rev. 1: 11.
infiniteness, l Kings 8: 27; Ps. 139: 1-4,
8-10.
Simplicity or purity, Exod. 3: 14.
Some of these attributes
belong so unto God, as that
they are in no sort to be
ascribed to any else, - as
infiniteness, eternity, &c.
Others are after a sort
attributed to some of his
creatures, in that he
communicates unto them some
of the effects of them in
himself; - as life, goodness,
&c.
The first of these are
motives to humble adoration,
fear, self-abhorrency; the
other, to faith, hope, love,
and confidence, through Jesus
Christ.
all-sufficiency, Gen. 17: l; Ps. 135: 4-6.
Perfectness, Job 11: 7-9; Rom. 11: 33-36.
immutability, Mal. 3: 6; James 1: 17.
life, Judges viii 19; 1 Sam. 25:
34; 2 Kings iii 14; Ezek. 14:
16, 16: 48; Matt. 16: 16;
Acts 14: 15; 1 Thess. 1: 9.
will, Dan. 4: 35; Isa. 46: 10; Eph.
1: 5, 11; James 1: 18.
and understanding. Ps. 7: 8, 139: 2, 147: 4;
Jer. 11: 20; Heb. 4: 13.
Q. 8. What are the attributes which usually are ascribed to him in
his works, or the acts of his will?
A.
Goodness, Ps. 119: 68; Matt. 19: 17.
power, Exod. 15: 11; Ps. 62: 11;
Rev. 19: 1.
Nothing is to be ascribed
unto God, nor imagined of
him, but what is exactly
agreeable to those his
glorious properties
These last are no less
essential unto God than the
former - only we thus
distinguish them, because
these are chiefly seen in his
works.
justice, Zeph. 3: 5; Ps. 11: 7; Jer.
12: l; Rom. 1: 32.
mercy, Ps. 130: 7; Rom. 9: 15; Eph.
2: 4.
holiness, Exod. 15: 11; Josh. 24: 19.
wisdom, Hab. 1: 13; Rev. 4: 8.
and the like; which he Rom. 11: 33, 16: 27.
delighteth to exercise
towards his creatures, for
the praise of his glory.
Chap. 3 - Of the Holy Trinity.
Q. 1. Is there but one God to whom these properties do belong?
A.
One only, in respect of his Deut. 6: 4; Matt. 19: 17; Eph
essence and being, 4: 5, 6.
but one in three distinct Gen. 1: 26; 1 John 5: 7;
persons, of Father, Son, and Matt. 28: 19.
Holy Ghost.
Q. 2. What mean you by person?
A.
A distinct manner of John 5: 17; Heb. 1: 3.
subsistence or being, This is that mysterious ark
distinguished from the other that must not be pried into,
persons by its own nor the least tittle spoken
properties. about it, wherein plain
Scripture goes not before.
To deny the Deity of any one
person, is in effect to deny
the whole Godhead for
whosoever has not the Son,
has not the Father.
This only doctrine remained
undefiled in the Papacy.
Q. 3. What is the distinguishing property of the person of the
Father?
A.
To be of himself only the John 5: 26, 27; Eph. 1: 3.
fountain of the Godhead.
Q. 4. What is the property of the Son?
A.
To be begotten of his Father Ps. 2: 7; John 1: 14, 3: 16.
from eternity.
Q. 5. What of the Holy ghost?
A.
To proceed from the Father John 14: 17, 16: 14, 15: 26,
and the Son. 20: 22.
Q. 6. Are these three one?
A.
One every way, in nature, John 10: 30; Rom. 3: 30.
will, and essential
properties,
distinguished only in their John 15: 26; 1 John 5: 7.
personal manner of
subsistence.
Q. 7. Can we conceive these things as they are in themselves?
A.
Neither we 1 Tim. 6: 16.
nor yet the angels of heaven Isa. 6: 2, 3.
are at all able to dive into We must labour to make out
these secrets, as they are comfort from the proper work
internally God; of every person towards us.
but in respect of the outward Col. 1: 11-14.
dispensation of themselves to
us by creation, redemption,
and sanctification, a
knowledge may be attained of
these things, saving and
heavenly.
Chap. 4. - Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are
Internal and Immanent.
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning the works of God?
A.
That they are of two sorts; Acts 15: 18; Prov. 16: 4.
first, internal, in his The purposes and decrees of
counsel, decrees, and God, so far as by him
purposes, towards his revealed, are objects of our
creatures; secondly, faith, and full of comfort.
external, in his works over
and about them, to the praise
of his own glory.
Q. 2. What are the decrees of God?
A.
Eternal, Mic. 5: 2; Eph. 3: 9-11; Acts
15: 18.
unchangeable Isa. 14: 24, 46: 10; Rom. 9:
11; 2 Tim. 2: 19.
purposes of his will, Farther reasons of Gods
concerning the being and decrees than his own will,
well-being of his creatures. not to be inquired after.
The changes in the scripture
ascribed unto God are only in
the outward dispensations and
works, variously tending to
one infallible event, by him
proposed.
The Armenians' blasphemy, in
saying God sometimes fails of
his purposes.
Q. 3. Concerning which of his creatures chiefly are his decrees to
be considered?
A.
Angels and men, for whom 1 Tim. 5: 21; Jude 6.
other things were ordained.
Q. 4. What are the decrees of God concerning men?
A.
Election and reprobation. Rom. 9: 11-13.
Q. 5. What is the decree of election?
A.
The eternal, Eph. 1: 4; Acts 13: 48; Rom.
8: 29, 30.
free, Matt. 11: 26.
immutable purpose of God, 2 Tim. 2: 19.
The decree of election is the
fountain of all spiritual
graces, for they are bestowed
only on the elect.
In nothing does natural
corruption more exalt itself
against God, than in opposing
the freedom of his grace in
his eternal decrees.
whereby in Jesus Christ he Eph 1: 4, 5; Matt. 22: 14.
chooseth unto himself whom he
pleaseth
out of whole mankind, Rom. 9: 18-21.
determining to bestow upon John 6: 37, 17: 6, 9, 11, 24.
them, for his sake, grace From the execration of these
here, and everlasting decrees flows that variety
happiness hereafter, for the and difference we see in the
praise of his glory, by the dispensation of the means Of
way of mercy. grace, - God sending the
Gospel where he has a remnant
according to election.
Q. 6. Doth any thing in us move the Lord thus to choose us from
amongst others?
A.
No, in no wise; we are in the Rom. 9: 11, 12; Matt. 11: 25;
same lump with others 1 Cor. 4: 7; 2 Tim. 1: 9.
rejected when separated by
his undeserved grace.
Q. 7. What is the decree of reprobation?
A.
The eternal purpose of God to Rom. 9: 11, 12, 21, 22; Prov.
suffer many to sin, leave 16: 4; Matt. 11: 25, 26; 2
them in their sin, and not Pet. 2: 12; Jude 4.
giving them to Christ, to
punish them for their sin.
Chap. 5. - Of the Works of God that outwardly are of Him.
Q. 1. What are the works of God that outwardly respect his
creatures?
A.
First, of creation; secondly, Ps. 33: 9; Heb. 1: 2, 3.
of actual providence. The very outward works of God
are sufficient to convince
men of his eternal power and
Godhead, and to leave them
inexcusable, if they serve
him not.
Q. 2. What is the work of creation?
A.
An act or work of God's Gen. 1: l; Exod. 20: 11;
almighty power, whereby of Prov. 16: 4.
nothing, in six days, he
created heaven, earth, and
the sea, with all things in
them contained.
Q. 3. Wherefore did God make man?
A.
For his own glory in his Gen. 1: 26, 27, 2: 16, 17;
service and obedience. Rom. 9: 23.
The glory of God is to be
preferred above our own
either being or well-being,
as the supreme end of then.
The approaching unto God in
his service is the chief
exaltation of one nature
above the beasts that perish.
Q. 4. Was man able to yield the service and worship that God
required of him?
A.
Yea, to the uttermost, being Gen. 1: 26; Eccles. 7: 29;
created upright in the image Eph. 4: 24; Col. 3: 10.
of God, in purity, innocence,
righteousness, and holiness.
Q. 5. What was the rule whereby man was at first to be directed in
his obedience?
A.
The moral or eternal law of Gen. 2: 15-17; Rom. 2: 14,
God, implanted in his nature 15; Eph. 4: 24.
and written in his heart by God never allowed, from the
creation, being the tenor of beginning, that the will of
the covenant between God and the creature should be the
him, sacramentally typified measure of his worship nod
by the tree of knowledge of honour.
good and evil.
Q. 6. Do we stand in the same covenant still, and have we the same
power to yield obedience unto God?
A.
No; the covenant was broken Gen. 3: 16-18; Gal. 3: 10,11,
by the sin of Adam, with whom 21; Heb. 7: 19, 8: 13.
it was made, Though we have all lost our
right unto the promise of the
first covenant, yet all not
restored by Christ are under
the commination and curse
thereof.
our nature corrupted, Job 14: 4; Ps. 51: 5.
and all power to do good Gen. 6: 5; Jer. 13: 23.
utterly lost.
Chap. 6. - Of God's actual Providence.
Q. 1. What is God's actual providence?
A.
The effectual working of his Exod. 4: 11; Job 5: 10-12, 9:
power, and almighty act of 5, 6; Ps. 147: 4; Prov. 15:
his will, whereby he 3; Isa. 45: 6, 7; John 5: 17;
sustaineth, governeth, and Acts 17: 28; Heb. 1: 3.
disposeth of all things, men To this providence is to be
and their actions, to the ascribed all the good we do
ends which he has ordained enjoy, and all the
for them. afflictions we undergo.
Fortune, chance, and the
like, are names without
things, scarce fit to be used
among Christians, seeing
Providence certainly ruleth
all to appointed ends.
No free-will in man exempted
either from the eternal
decree or the overruling
providence of God.
Q.2. How is this providence exercised towards mankind?
A.
Two ways; first, peculiarly Deut. 32: 10; Ps. 17: 8;
towards his church, or elect, Zech. 2: 8; Matt. 16: 18, 19:
in their generations, for 2, 29; 1 Pet. 5: 7.
whom are all things;
secondly, towards all in a Gen. 9: 5; Ps. 75: 6, 7; Isa.
general manner, yet with 45: 6, 7; Matt. 5: 45.
various and divers
dispensations.
Q. 3. Wherein chiefly consists the outward providence of God towards
his church?
A.
In three things; - first, in Matt. 6: 31-33; Rom. 8: 28; 1
causing and things to work Tim. 6: 17; 2 Pet. 1: 3.
together for their good; Though the dispensations of
God's providence towards his
people be various, yet every
issue and act of it tends to
one certain end, - their good
in his glory.
secondly, in ruling and Ps. 105: 14,15; Isa. 44: 28;
disposing of kingdoms, Dan. 2: 44; Rom. 9: 17.
nations, and persons, for
their benefit;
thirdly, in avenging them of Isa. 60: 12; Zech. 12: 2-5;
their adversaries. Luke 17: 7; Rev. 17: 14.
Q. 4. Does God rule also in and over the sinful actions of wicked
men?
A.
Yea, he willingly (according 2 Sam. 12: 11, 16: 10; 1
to his determinate counsel) Kings 11: 31, 22: 22; Job 1:
suffereth them to be, for the 21; Prov. 22: 14; Isa. 10: 6,
manifestation of his glory, 7; Ezek. 21: 19-21; Amos 7:
and by them effecteth his own 17; Acts 4: 27, 28; Rom. 1:
righteous ends. 24, 9: 22; 1 Pet. 2: 8; Rev.
17: 17.
Almighty God allows how in
bring light out of darkness,
good out of evil, the
salvation of his elect out of
Judas's treachery, the Jews'
cruelty, and Pilate's
injustice.
John Owen, Two Short Catechisms
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