Westminster Shorter Catechism

Man’s chief end is to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31, Rom 11:36), and to enjoy him for ever (Ps 73:25–28).

The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments (2 Tim 3:16, Eph 2:20), is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him (1 John 1:3–4).

The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man (2 Tim 1:13, 2 Tim 3:16).

God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

John 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:2; Jas 1:17; Ex 3:14; Ps 147:5; Rev 4:8; 15:4; Ex 34:6-7

There is but one only, the living and true God.

Deut 6:4; Jer 10:10

There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

1 John 5:7; Matt 28:19

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Eph 1:4,11; Rom 9:22-23

God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Ps 148:8; Isa 40:26; Dan 4:35; Acts 4:24-28, Rev 4:11

The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Gen 1; Heb 11:3

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Gen 1:26-28; Col 3:10; Eph 4:24

God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

Ps 145:17; Ps 104:24; Isa 28:29; Heb 1:3; Ps 103:19; Matt 10:29-31

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.

Gal 3:12; Gen 2:17

Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.

Gen 3:6-8, 13; Ecc 7:29

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

1 John 3:4

The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.

Gen 3:6, 12

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first transgression.

Gen 2:16-17; Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:21-22

The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Rom 5:12

The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

Rom 5:12, 19; Rom 5:10-20; Eph 2:1-3; Jas 1:14-15; Matt 15:19

All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever.

Gen 3:8, 10, 24; Eph 2:2-3; Gal 3:10; Lam 3:39; Rom 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46

God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.

Eph 1:4; Rom 3:20-22; Gal 3:21-22

The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.

1 Tim 2:5-6; John 1:14; Gal 4:4; Rom 9:5; Luke 1:35; Col 2:9; Heb 7:24-25

Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.

Heb 2:14, 16; Heb 10:5; Matt 26:38; Luke 1:27, 31, 35, 42; Gal 4:4; Heb 4:15; Heb 7:26

Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Acts 3:21-22; Heb 12:25 with 2 Cor 13:3; Heb 5:5-7; Heb 7:25; Ps 2:6; Isa 9:6-7; Matt 21:5; Ps 2:8-11

Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

John 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:10-12; John 15:15; John 20:31

Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.

Heb 9:14, 28; Heb 2:17; Heb 7:24-25

Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Acts 15:14-16; Isa 33:22; Isa 32:1-2; 1 Cor 15:25

Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

Luke 2:7; Gal 4:4; Heb 12:2-3; Isa 53:2-3; Luke 22:44; Matt 27:46; Phil 2:8; 1 Cor 15:3-4; Acts 2:24-27, 31

Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

1 Cor 15:4; Mark 16:19; Eph 1:20; Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31

We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

John 1:11-12; Titus 3:5-6

The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

Eph 1:13-14; John 6:37, 39; Eph 2:8; Eph 3:17; 1 Cor 1:9

Effectual calling is the work of God’ s Spirit (2 Tim 1:9, 2 Thess 2:13–14), whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery (Acts 2:37), enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ (Acts 26:18), and renewing our wills (Ezek 36:26–27), he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel (John 6:44–45, Phil 2:13).

They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification (Rom 8:30), adoption (Eph 1:5), and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them (1 Cor. 1:26,30).

Justification is an act of God’ s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins (Rom 3:24–25, Rom 4:6–8), and accepteth us as righteous in his sight (2 Cor 5:19,21), only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Rom 5:17–19), and received by faith alone (Gal 2:16, Phil 3:9).

Adoption is an act of God’ s free grace (1 John 3:1), whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (John 1:12, Rom 8:17).

Sanctification is the work of God’ s free grace (2 Thess 2:13), whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God (Eph 4:23–24), and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness (Rom 6:4,6, Rom 8:1).

The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’ s love, peace of conscience (Rom 5:1–2,5), joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17), increase of grace (Prov 4:18), and perseverance therein to the end (1 John 5:13, 1 Pet 1:5).

The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Heb 12:23), and do immediately pass into glory (2 Cor 5:1,6,8, Phil 1:23, Luke 23:43); and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thess 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isa 57:2), till the resurrection (Job 19:26–27).

At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory (1 Cor 15:43), shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment (Matt 25:23, Matt 10:32), and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor 13:12), to all eternity (1 Thess 4:17–18).

The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will (Deut 29:29, Mic 6:8, 1 John 5:2-3).

The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law (Rom 2:14-15, 10:5).

The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments (Deut 4:13, Matt 19:17-19).

The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves (Matt 22:37-40).

The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Ex 20:2, Deut 5:6).

The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments (Luke 1:74-75, 1 Peter 1:14-19).

The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3, Deut 5:7).

The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly (1 Chron 28:9, Isa 45:20-25, Matt 4:10).

The first commandment forbiddeth the denying (Ps 14:1), or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God (Rom 1:20-21), and our God (Ps 81:10-11); and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone (Ezek 8:16-18, Rom 1:25).

These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God (Deut 30:17-18, Ps 44:20-21, Ezek 8:12).

The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Ex 20:4-6, Deut 5:8-10).

The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word (Deut.12:32, Matt 28:20).

The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images (Deut 4:15-19, Rom 1:22-23), or any other way not appointed in his Word (Lev 10:1-2, Jer 19:4-5, Col 2:18-23).

The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’s sovereignty over us (Ps 95:2-3, 6-7, 96:9-10), his propriety in us (Ex 19:5, Ps 45:11, Isa 54:5), and the zeal he hath to his own worship (Ex 34:14, 1 Cor 10:22).

The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (Ex 20:7, Deut 5:11).

The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God’s names, titles (Deut 10:20, Ps 29:2, Matt 6:9), attributes (1 Chron 29:10-13, Rev 15:3-4), ordinances (Acts 2:42, 1 Cor 11:27-28), Word (Ps 138:2, Rev 22:18-19), and works (Ps 107:21-22, Rev 4:11).

The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known (Lev 19:12, Matt 5:33-37, Jas 5:12).

The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment (Deut 28:58-59, 1 Sam 3:13, 4:11).

The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it (Ex 20:8-11, Deut 5:12-15).

The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to himself (Deut 5:12–14).

From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath (Gen 2:2–3, 1 Cor 16:1–2, Acts 20:7).

The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day (Exod 20:8,10, Exod 16:25–28), even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days (Neh 13:15–19); and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship (Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7, Ps 92, Isa 66:23), except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy (Matt 12:1–31).

The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required (Amos 8:5, Mal 1:13), and the profaning the day by idleness (Acts 20:7, 9), or doing that which is in itself sinful (Ezek 23:38), or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations (Jer 17:24–26, Isa 58:13).

The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments (Exod 20:9), his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day (Exod 20:11).

The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee (Exod 20:12).

The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors (Eph 5:21), inferiors (1 Pet 2:17), or equals (Rom 12:10).

The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against, the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations (Matt 15:4–6, Ezek 34:2–4, Rom 13:8).

The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’ s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment (Deut 5:16, Eph 6:2–3).

The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill (Exod 20:13).

The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life (Eph 5:28–29), and the life of others (1 Kings 18:4).

The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto (Acts 16:28, Gen 9:6).

The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery (Exod 20:14).

The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour’ s chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour (1 Cor 7:2–3, 5, 34, 36, Col 4:6, 1 Pet 3:2).

The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions (Matt 15:19, Matt 5:28, Eph 5:3–4).

The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal (Exod 20:15).

The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others (Gen 30:30, 1 Tim 5:8, Lev 25:35, Deut 22:1–5, Exod 23:4–5, Gen 47:14, 20).

The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’s wealth or outward estate (Prov 21:17, Prov 23:20–21, Prov 28:19, Eph 4:28).

The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour (Exod 20:16).

The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man (Zech 8:16), and of our own and our neighbour’ s good name (3 John 12), especially in witness-bearing (Prov 14:5, 25).

The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbour’s good name (1 Sam 17:28, Lev 19:16, Ps 15:3).

The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s (Exod 20:17).

The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition (Heb 13:5, 1 Tim 6:6), with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his (Job 31:29, Rom 12:15, 1 Tim 1:5, 1 Cor 13:4–7).

The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate (1 Kings 21:4, Esther 5:13, 1 Cor 10:10), envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour (Gal 5:26, James 3:14, 16), and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his (Rom 7:7–8, Rom 13:9, Deut 5:21).

No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God (Eccles 7:20, 1 John 1:8,10, Gal 5:17), but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed (Gen 6:5, Gen 8:21, Rom 3:9–21, James 3:2–13).

Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others (Ezek 8:6, 13, 15, 1 John 5:16, Ps 78:17, 32, 56).

Every sin deserveth God’s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come (Eph 5:6, Gal 3:10, Lam 3:39, Matt 25:41).

To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life (Acts 20:21), with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption (Prov 2:1–5, Prov 8:33–36, Isa 55:3).

Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace (Heb 10:39), whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel (John 1:12, Isa 26:3–4, Phil 3:9, Gal 2:16).

Repentance unto life is a saving grace (Acts 11:18), whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin (Acts 2:37–38), and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ (Joel 2:12, Jer 3:22), doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God (Jer 31:18–19, Ezek 36:31), with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience (2 Cor 7:11, Isa 1:16–17).

The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation (Matt 28:19–20, Acts 2:42, 46–47).

The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation (Neh 8:8, 1 Cor 14:24–25, Acts 26:18, Ps 19:8, Acts 20:32, Rom 15:4, 2 Tim 3:15–17, Rom 10:13–17, Rom 1:16).

That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence (Prov 8:34), preparation (1 Pet 2:1–2), and prayer (Ps 119:18); receive it with faith and love (Heb 4:2, 2 Thess 2:10), lay it up in our hearts (Ps 119:11), and practice it in our lives (Luke 8:15, James 1:25).

The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ (1 Pet 3:21, Matt 3:11, 1 Cor 3:6–7), and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them (1 Cor 12:13).

A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers (Gen 17:7, 10, Exod 12, 1 Cor 11:23, 26).

The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism (Matt 28:19), and the Lord’s supper (Matt 26:26–28).

Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt 28:19), doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s (Rom 6:4, Gal 3:27).

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him (Acts 8:36–38, Acts 2:38); but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized (Acts 2:38–39, Gen 17:10, Col 2:11–12, 1 Cor 7:14).

The Lord’s supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace (1 Cor 11:23–26).

It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body (1 Cor 11:28–29), of their faith to feed upon him (2 Cor 13:5), of their repentance (1 Cor 11:31), love (1 Cor 10:16–17), and new obedience (1 Cor 5:7–8); lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves (1 Cor 11:28–29).

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God (Ps 62:8), for things agreeable to his will (1 John 5:14), in the name of Christ (John 16:23), with confession of our sins (Ps 32:5–6, Dan 9:4), and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies (Phil 4:6).

The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer (1 John 5:14); but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:9–13, Luke 11:2–4).

The preface of the Lord’s prayer, (which is, Our Father which art in heaven, (Matt. 6:9)) teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us (Rom 8:15, Luke 11:13); and that we should pray with and for others (Acts 12:5, 1 Tim 2:1–2).

In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name, (Matt 6:9)) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known (Ps 67:2–3); and that he would dispose all things to his own glory (Ps 83).

In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come, (Matt 6:10)) we pray, That Satan’ s kingdom may be destroyed (Ps 68:1, 18); and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced (Rev 12:10–11), ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it (2 Thess 3:1, Rom 10:1, John 17:9, 20); and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened (Rev 22:20).

In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, (Matt 6:10)) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, (Ps 67, Ps 119:36, Matt 26:39, 2 Sam 15:25, Job 1:21) as the angels do in heaven (Ps 103:20–21).

In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matt 6:11)) we pray, That of God’ s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them (Prov 30:8–9, Gen 28:20, 1 Tim 4:4–5).

In the fifth petition, (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, (Matt 6:12)) we pray, That God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins (Ps 51:1–2, 7, 9, Dan 9:17–19); which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others (Luke 11:4, Matt 18:35).

In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (Matt 6:13)) we pray, That god would either keep us from being tempted to sin (Matt 26:41), or support and deliver us when we are tempted (2 Cor 12:7–8).

The conclusion of the Lord’s prayer, (which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen. (Matt. 6:13)) teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only (Dan. 9:4, 7–9, 16–19), and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him (1 Chron. 29:10–13). And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen (1 Cor 14:16, Rev 22:20–21).