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Q. 3. What is the word

of God?

A. The holy fcriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God e, the only rule of faith and obe dience f.

Q. 4. How doth it appear that the fcriptures are the word of God?

A. The fcriptures manifeft themselves to be the word of

neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. v. 10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child thou haft known the holy fcriptures, which are able to make thee wife unto falvation, through faith which is in Chrift Jefus.

v. 16. All feripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs: v. 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. If lix, 21. As for me, this is my covenant with them, faith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, fhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy feed, nor out of the mouth of thy feeds feed, faith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever.

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3. e 2 Tim. iii. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God. 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more fure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that fhineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-ftar arife in your hearts: v. 20. Knowing this firft, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will

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of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft.

fEph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the apoftles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone. Rev. xxii. 18. For I teftify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God fhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: V. 19. And if any man fhall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. If. vii. 20. To the law and to the tellimony: if they fpeak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Luke xvi. 2. They have Mofes and the prophets; let them hear them. v. 31. If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, tho' one rofe from the dead. Ga. 8. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gofpel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. v. 9. As we faid before, fo fay I now again, If any man preach any other gofpel unto you, than that ye have received, let him be accurfed. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. (See in letter d.)

of God, by their majefty g, and purity h; by the confent of all the parts i, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to Godk; by their light and power to convince and convert finners, to comfort and build up believers unto falvation : but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the fcriptures in the heart of man,

4. g Hof. viii. 12. I have written to him the great things, of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. 1 Cor. ii. 6. Howbeit, we fpeak wifdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wifdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought. v. 7. But we fpeak the wifdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wifdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. v. 13. Which things alfo we fpeak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghoft teacheth; comparing fpiritual things with fpiritual. Pfal. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 129. Thy teftimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my foul keep

them.

V.

b Pfal. xii. 6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as filver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Pfal. cxix. 140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy fervant loveth it.

i Acts x. 43. To him give all the prophets witnefs, that through his name, whofoever believeth in him, fhall receive remiffion of fins. Acts

xxvi. 22. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witneffing both to fmall and great, faying none other things than thofe which the prophets and Mofes did fay fhould come.

k Rom. iii. 19. Now we know that what things foever the law faith, it faith to them who are under the

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law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. v. 27. Where is boafting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.

Ácts xviii. 28. For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, fhewing by the fcriptures, that Jefus was Christ. Heb. iv. 12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged fword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of foul and fpirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a difcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. James i. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firft-fruits of his creatures. Pfal. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the foul: the teftimony of the Lord is fure, making wife the fimple. v. 8. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. v. 9. The fear of the Lord is clean,enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. Rom. xv.

4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are fanctified.

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is alone able fully to perfuade it that they are the very word of God m.

Q.5. What do the fcriptures principally teach?

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

man n.

What man ought to believe concerning God.

Q. 6. What do the fcriptures make known of God?

A. The fcriptures make known what God is 0, the perfons in the Godhead p, his decrees q, and the execution of his decrees r.

Q.7. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being t

m John xvi. 13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he fhall not fpeak of himself; but whatfoever he fhall hear, that shall he speak: and he will fhew you things to come..v. 14. He fhall glorify me: for he fhall receive of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you. 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction from the holy One, and ye know all things. v. 27. But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any man teach you: but, as the fame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. John xx. 31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through

s name.

5. n 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of found words, which thou haft heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jefus.

6. o Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to please him: for he that cometh to God muft believe that he is,and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him.

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p1 John v. 7 there are three that bear record heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and thefe three are one.

q Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. V. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written. v. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

r Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Ifrael were gathered together, v. 28. For to do whatfoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

7./John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.

t Exod. iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM: And he faid, Thus fhalt thou fay unto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me unto you. Job xi 7. Canft thou by fearching find out God? canft thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft

thou

glory v, bleffednefs w, and perfection x; all-fufficient y, eternal z, unchangeable a, incomprehenfible b, every where prefent c, Almighty d, knowing all things e, moft wife f, moft holy g, moft juft b, moft merciful and gracious, longfuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth i.

thou know? v. 9. The meafure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea.

Acts vii. 2. The God of glory appeared unto our Father Abraham, when he was in Mefopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.

w 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he shall fhew, who is the bleffed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. x Matth. v. perfect, even as is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore r Father which

y Gen. xvii. 1. And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham, and faid unto him, I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect.

z Pfal. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world: even from everlasting to everlafting, thou art God.

e Mal. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not confumed. James i. 17. Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither fhadow of turning.

b 1 Kings viii. 27, But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much lefs this houfe that I have builded?

C Pfal. cxxxix. 1.-13. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me: thou knoweft my down-fitting,

Q. 8. Are

and mine up-rifing, thou understandeft my thoughts afar off, &c. Whither fhall i go from thy Spirit? or whither fhall I flee from thy prefence? &c.

d Reviv. 8. And the four beafts had each of them fix wings about him and they were full of eyes within; and they reft not day and night, faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was,and is, and is to come.

e Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeft in his fight; but all things are naked, and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

f Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wife, be glory through Jefus Christ for ever. Amen.

g If. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and faid, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hofts, the whole earth is full of his glory. Rev. xv. 4. Who fhall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations fhall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifeft.

b Deut. xxxii. 4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity, juft and right is he.

i Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord paffed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering,and abundant in goodness and truth.

8. Deut.

Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but One only, the living and true God k.
Q.9. How many perfons are there in the Godhead?

A. There be three perfons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoft; and these three are one true, eternal God, the fame in fubftance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties /.

Q.10. What are the perfonal properties of the three perfons

in the Godhead?

A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son m, and to the Son to be begotten of the Father n, and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity o. Q. 11. How therefore and teach all nations, bap tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. John x. 30. I and my Father are one.

8. k Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, The Lord our God is one Lord. I Cor. viii. 4. As concerning therefore the eating of thofe things that are offered in facrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. v. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom are all things, and we by him. Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlafting King at his wrath the earth fhall tremble, and the nations fhall not be able to abide his indignation.

9. 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft; and these three are one. Matth. iii. 16. And Jefus, when he was baptized, went up ftraightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit of God defcending like a dove, and lighting upon him. v. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matth. xxviii. 19. Go ye

10. m Heb. i. 5. For unto which of the angels faid he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son. v. 6. And again, when he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he faith, And let all the angels of God worship. him. v. 8. But unto the Son he faith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righteoufnefs is the fceptre of thy kingdom.

"John i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Fa ther), full of grace and truth. v. 18. No man hath feen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the Father, he hath declared him.

• John xv. 26.

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