THE LARGER CATECHISM, RATIFIED AND ADOPTED BY THE SYNOD OF NEW-YORK & PHILADELPHIA. Held at Philadelphia, May the 16th 1788, and continued by Adjournments until the 28th of the fame. Philadelphia, PRINTED IN THE YEAR 1806. THE Larger Catechism. Question I. WHAT is the chief and highest end of man? Answer. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him for ever. Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God? A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God declare plainly that there is a God; but his word and Spirit only do, fuffici a Rom. 11.36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. I Cor. 10. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatfoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. b Pfal. 73 24, 25, 26. Thou fhalt guide me with thy counfel, and afterwards receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee. My flesh and my them. Father I will that they c Rom. 1. 19, 20. Because that which may be known of God, is ma nifeft in them; for P ently and effectually, reveal him unto men for their falvation". Q3. What is the word of God? A. The holy fcriptures of the Old and New Teftament are the word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience. Q. 4. How doth it appear that the fcriptures are the word of God? A. The fcriptures manifeft themselves to be God hath fhewed it unto them, For the invifible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly feen, being underflood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, fo that they are without excufe, See alfo Pfal. 19, 1, 2, 3. d 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. 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. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for inftruction in righteoufnefs: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, I Cor. 2. 10. e 2 Tim. 3. 16. All fcripture is given by infpiration of God. 2 Pet. 1. 19, 20, 21. We have alfo 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. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the fcripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God ipake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoft. f Ifa. 8. 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 16. 19. 31. They have Mofes and the prophets: let them hear them. If they hear not Mofes and the prophets, neither will they be perfuaded, though one rofe from the dead. Gal. 1. 8. 9. But though we, or an angel from heaver, preach any other gofpel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accurfed. As we faid before, |