A Puritan Catechism (With Proofs)
Spurgeon's "Heir of the Puritans" Puritan Catechism personally compiled from the Westminster Assembly's and Baptist Catechisms for use in his congregation.
Author: C. H. Spurgeon 1855 Introduction: by Randy Pritts
It is interesting that someone as popular and well regarded as the "Prince of Preacher's" Charles H. Spurgeon would hold so strongly to the need and utility of catechisms that he would modify one for his own ministry's use, and at such a young age: twenty-one. Modern believers shy from such catechisms, associating them with their distaste for litergy and by rout Roman Catholicism. There are both good and heavy handed implimentations of catechisms no doubt. When used correctly however, by a willing and inquisitive pupil of God's Word, a well referenced catechism can mean the difference between just the "milk" of the word and the "meat and potatoes".
C.H. makes an astute point in his introduction "a great safeguard against the increasing errors of the times". We need such a safeguard in our day and time, Lord knows we harbor many a such error. Yes, we debate doctrinal issues that have been debated many times over by many a scholar as if no one has ever tought of such things. Spinning circles it is. And that is why the need for a catechism. If these previous attempts are not good enough, well then we need to sit down as a group, determine where they might have gone wrong and try to agree upon one of our own. Future generations might well depend upon this.
Introduction: C. H. Spurgeon
I am persuaded that the use of a good Catechism in all our families will be a great safeguard against the increasing errors of the times, and therefore I have compiled this little manual from the Westminster Assembly's and Baptist Catechisms, for the use of my own church and congregation. Those who use it in their families or classes must labour to explain the sense; but the words should be carefully learned by heart, for they will be understood better as years pass.May the Lord bless my dear friends and their families evermore, is the prayer of their loving Pastor.
C. H. Spurgeon
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth ( kjv@2Timothy:2:15)
- Questions
- What is the chief end of man?
- What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?
- What do the Scriptures principally teach?
- What is God?
- Are there more Gods than one?
- How many persons are there in the Godhead?
- What are the decrees of God?
- How does God execute his decrees?
- What is the work of creation?
- How did God create man?
- What are God's works of providence?
- What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state wherein he was created?
- Did our parents continue in the state wherein they were created?
- What is sin?
- Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
- Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
- Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell?
- What is the misery of that state whereinto man fell?
- Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?
- Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
- How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
- What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
- How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
- How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
- How does Christ execute the office of a king?
- Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?
- Wherein consists Christ's exaltation?
- How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
- How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
- What is effectual calling?
- What benefits do they who are effectually called, partake of in this life?
- What is justification?
- What is adoption?
- What is sanctification?
- What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
- What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?
- What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
- What shall be done to the wicked at their death?
- What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
- What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
- What is the sum of the ten commandments?
- Which is the first commandment?
- What is required in the first commandment?
- Which is the second commandment?
- What is required in the second commandment?
- What is forbidden in the second commandment?
- Which is the third commandment?
- What is required in the third commandment?
- Which is the fourth commandment?
- What is required in the fourth commandment?
- How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?
- Which is the fifth commandment?
- What is required in the fifth commandment?
- What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
- Which is the sixth commandment?
- What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
- Which is the seventh commandment?
- What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
- Which is the eighth commandment?
- What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
- Which is the ninth commandment?
- What is required in the ninth commandment?
- Which is the tenth commandment?
- What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
- Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
- Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
- What does every sin deserve?
- How may we escape his wrath and curse due to us for sin?
- What is faith in Jesus Christ?
- What is repentance to life?
- What are the outward means whereby the Holy Spirit communicates to us the benefits of redemption?
- How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
- How is the Word to be read and heard that it may become effectual to salvation?
- How do Baptism and the Lord's Supper become spiritually helpful?
- What is baptism?
- To whom is Baptism to be administered?
- Are the infants of such as are professing believers to be baptised?
- How is baptism rightly administered?
- What is the duty of such as are rightly baptised?
- What is the Lord's Supper?
- What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's Supper?
- What is meant by the words, "until he come," which are used by the apostle Paul in reference to the the Lord's Supper?
Questions and Answers (with proofs)
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God ( kjv@1Corinthians:10:31), and to enjoy him for ever kjv@Psalms:73:25-26). Q. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify him?
A. The Word of God which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments kjv@Ephesians:2:20; kjv@2Timothy:3:16) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify God and enjoy him ( kjv@1John:1:3). Q. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man ( kjv@2Timothy:1:13; kjv@Ecclesiastes:12:13). Q. What is God?
A. God is Spirit kjv@John:4:24), infinite kjv@Job:11:7), eternal kjv@Psalms:90:2; kjv@1Timothy:1:17), and unchangeable kjv@James:1:17) in his being kjv@Exodus:3:14), wisdom, power kjv@Psalms:147:5), holiness kjv@Revelation:4:8), justice, goodness and truth kjv@Exodus:34:6-7). Q. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only kjv@Deuteronomy:6:4), the living and true God kjv@Jeremiah:10:10). Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory ( kjv@1John:5:7; kjv@Matthew:28:19). Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose according to the counsel of his own will, whereby for his own glory he has foreordained whatever comes to pass kjv@Ephesians:1:11-12). Q. How does God execute his decrees?
A. God executes his decrees in the works of creation kjv@Revelation:4:11), and providence kjv@Daniel:4:35). Q. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is God's making all things kjv@Genesis:1:1) of nothing, by the Word of his power kjv@Hebrews:11:3), in six normal consecutive days kjv@Exodus:20:11), and all very good kjv@Genesis:1:31). Q. How did God create man?
A. God created man, male and female, after his own image kjv@Genesis:1:27), in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness kjv@Colossians:3:10; kjv@Ephesians:4:24) with dominion over the creatures kjv@Genesis:1:28). Q. What are God's works of providence?
A. God's works of providence are his most holy kjv@Psalms:145:17), wise, kjv@Isaiah:28:29) and powerful kjv@Hebrews:1:3), preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions kjv@Psalms:103:19; kjv@Matthew:10:29). Q. What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the state wherein he was created?
A. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; kjv@Galatians:3:12) forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death. kjv@Genesis:2:17) Q. Did our first parents continue in the state wherein they were created?
A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the state wherein they were created, by sinning against God, kjv@Ecclesiastes:7:29) by eating the forbidden fruit kjv@Genesis:3:6-8). Q. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity to, or transgression of the law of God ( kjv@1John:3:4). Q. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?
A. 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 ( kjv@1Corinthians:15:22; kjv@Romans:5:12). Q. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
A. The fall brought mankind into a state of sin and misery kjv@Romans:5:18). Q. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell?
A. The sinfulness of that state whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin kjv@Romans:5:19), the want of original righteousness, kjv@Romans:3:10) and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin kjv@Ephesians:2:1; kjv@Psalms:51:5), together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it kjv@Matthew:15:19). Q. What is the misery of that state whereinto man fell?
A. All mankind, by their fall, lost communion with God kjv@Genesis:3:8 kjv@Genesis:3:24), are under his wrath and curse kjv@Ephesians:2:3; kjv@Galatians:3:10), and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell for ever kjv@Romans:6:23; kjv@Matthew:25:41). Q. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the state of sin and misery?
A. God having, out of his good pleasure from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life ( kjv@2Thessalonians:2:13), did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the state of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer kjv@Romans:5:21). Q. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?
A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ ( kjv@1Timothy:2:5), who being the eternal Son of God, became man kjv@John:1:14), and so was and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person for ever ( kjv@1Timothy:3:16; kjv@Colossians:2:9). Q. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ, the son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body kjv@Hebrews:2:14), and a reasonable soul kjv@Matthew:26:38; kjv@Hebrews:4:15), being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary, and born of her kjv@Luke:1:31-35), yet without sin kjv@Hebrews:7:26). Q. What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ as our Redeemer executes the offices of a prophet kjv@Acts:3:22), of a priest kjv@Hebrews:5:6), and of a king kjv@Psalms:2:6), both in his state of humiliation and exaltation. Q. How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us kjv@John:1:18), by his Word kjv@John:20:31), and Spirit kjv@John:14:26), the will of God for our salvation. Q. How does Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice kjv@Hebrews:9:28), and to reconcile us to God kjv@Hebrews:2:17), and in making continual intercession for us kjv@Hebrews:7:25). Q. How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, kjv@Psalms:110:3) in ruling and defending us kjv@Matthew:2:6; kjv@1Corinthians:15:25), and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Q. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?
A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition kjv@Luke:2:7), made under the law kjv@Galatians:4:4), undergoing the miseries of this life kjv@Isaiah:53:3), the wrath of God kjv@Matthew:27:46), and the cursed death of the cross; kjv@Philippians:2:8) in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time kjv@Matthew:12:40). Q. Wherein consists Christ's exaltation?
A. Christ's exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day ( kjv@1Corinthians:15:4), in ascending up into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of God the Father kjv@Mark:16:19), and in coming to judge the world at the last day kjv@Acts:17:31). Q. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us kjv@John:1:12) by his Holy Spirit. kjv@Titus:3:5-6) Q. How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us kjv@Ephesians:2:8), and by it uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling kjv@Ephesians:3:17). Q. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit ( kjv@2Timothy:1:9) whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery kjv@Acts:2:37), enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ kjv@Acts:26:18), and renewing our wills kjv@Ezekiel:36:26), he does persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ freely offered to us in the gospel kjv@John:6:44-45). Q. What benefits do they who are effectually called, partake of in this life?
A. They who are effectually called, do in this life partake of justification kjv@Romans:8:30), adoption kjv@Ephesians:1:5), sanctification, and the various benefits which in this life do either accompany, or flow from them ( kjv@1Corinthians:1:30). Q. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins kjv@Romans:3:24; kjv@Ephesians:1:7), and accepts us as righteous in his sight ( kjv@2Corinthians:5:21) only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us kjv@Romans:5:19), and received by faith alone kjv@Galatians:2:16; kjv@Philippians:3:9). Q. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace ( kjv@1John:3:1), whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God kjv@John:1:12; kjv@Romans:8:17). Q. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God's Spirit ( kjv@2Thessalonians:2:13), whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God kjv@Ephesians:4:24), and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live to righteousness kjv@Romans:6:11). Q. What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification kjv@Romans:5:1-2, 5), are assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit kjv@Romans:14:17), increase of grace, perseverance in it to the end kjv@Proverbs:4:18; kjv@1John:5:13; kjv@1Peter:1:5). Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness kjv@Hebrews:12:23 and do immediately pass into glory, kjv@Philippians:1:23; kjv@2Corinthians:5:8; kjv@Luke:23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ ( kjv@1Thessalonians:4:14), do rest in their graves kjv@Isaiah:57:2) till the resurrection kjv@Job:19:26). Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory ( kjv@1Corinthians:15:43), shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment kjv@Matthew:10:32), and made perfectly blessed both in soul and body in the full enjoying of God ( kjv@1John:3:2) to all eternity ( kjv@1Thessalonians:4:17). Q. What shall be done to the wicked at their death?
A. The souls of the wicked shall at their death be cast into the torments of hell kjv@Luke:16:22-24), and their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection, and judgement of the great day kjv@Psalms:49:14). Q. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment?
A. At the day of judgment the bodies of the wicked being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels for ever kjv@Daniel:12:2; kjv@John:5:28-29; kjv@2Thessalonians:1:9; kjv@Matthew:25:41). Q. What did God reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience, is the moral law kjv@Deuteronomy:10:4; kjv@Matthew:19:17), which is summarised in the ten commandments. Q. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. 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 kjv@Matthew:22:37-40). Q. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Q. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requires us to know (1 Chron. 28:9) and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God kjv@Deuteronomy:26:17), and to worship and glorify him accordingly kjv@Matthew:4:10). Q. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing 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 thyself 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 shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Q. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requires the receiving, observing kjv@Deuteronomy:32:46; kjv@Matthew:28:20), and keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances as God has appointed in his Word kjv@Deuteronomy:12:32). Q. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, kjv@Deuteronomy:4:15-16) or any other way not appointed in his Word kjv@Colossians:2:18). Q. Which is the third commandment?
A. 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 takes his name in vain." Q. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God's names kjv@Psalms:29:2), titles, attributes kjv@Revelation:15:3-4), ordinances kjv@Ecclesiastes:5:1), Word kjv@Psalms:138:2), and works kjv@Job:36:24; kjv@Deuteronomy:28:58-59). Q. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, 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 they 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."