Owen, Two Catechisms.doc
John Owen, Two short Catechisms.
Two short Catechisms: wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of
Christ, are unfolded and explained.
Proper fort all persons to learn before they de admitted to the
sacrament of the Lord's supper; and composed for the use of all
congregations in general.
"Come, ye children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the
Lord," Ps. 34: 11
Prefatory Note.
The first edition of these Catechisms issued from the press in 1645.
Dr Owen had at that time the charge of the parish of Fordham in
Essex, and laboured diligently for the instruction and benefit of
his flock, by catechising from house to house. The catechisms were
prepared in order that he might accomplish these parochial duties
with greater efficiency and success. "The Lesser Catechism" is
designed for the instruction of children; - "The Greater," for the
examination of persons more advanced in years. They are chiefly
doctrinal. It was the intention of Owen to have followed up this
little work by another Catechism on the Lord's Prayer, the Ten
Commandments, and some articles of the Creed. This intention,
however, was never fulfilled. These Catechisms on "the Principles of
the Doctrine of Christ" are included in this volume, - which
embodies all the treatises of Owen directly relating to the second
Person of the Trinity, - inasmuch as, according to a statement of
the author in the preface, they were intended to remind his people
of what he had publicly taught them, "especially concerning the
person and offices of Christ." They were among the firsts as the
other treatises in this volume are among the last, of our author's
publications; and we are thus enabled to mark the undeviating
consistency with which, during all the ministrations of his public
course, Owen held fast by the great doctrines of the Gospel, - the
unsearchable riches of Christ." - Ed.
To my Loving Neighbours and Christian Friends.
Brethren,
My heart's desire and request unto God for you is, that you may
be saved. I say the truth in Christ also, I lie not, my conscience
bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness,
and continual sorrow in my heart, for them amongst you who, as yet,
walk disorderly, and not as beseemeth the Gospel, little labouring
to acquaint themselves with the mystery of godliness; for many walk,
of whom I have told you often weeping, and now tell you again with
sorrow, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end
is destruction, whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things.
You know, brethren, how I have been amongst you, and in what
manner, for these few years past, and how I have kept back nothing
(to the utmost of the dispensation to me committed) that was
profitable unto you; but have showed you, and taught you publicly
and from house to house, testifying to all repentance towards God,
and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, with what sincerity
this has been by me performed, with what issue and success by you
received, God the righteous Judge will one day declare; for before
him must both you and I appear, to give an account of the
dispensation of the glorious Gospel amongst us; - in the meanwhile,
the desire of my heart is, to be servant to the least of you in the
work of the Lord; and that in any way which I can concede profitable
unto you, - either in your persons or your families.
Now, amongst my endeavours in this kind, after the ordinance of
public preaching the Word, there is not, I conceive, any more
needful (as all will grant that know the estate of this place, how
taught of late days, how full of grossly ignorant persons) than
catechising; which has caused me to set aside some hours for the
compiling of these following, which also I have procured to be
printed, merely because the least part of the parish are able to
read it in writing; - my intention in them being, principally, to
hold out those necessary truths wherein you have been in my
preaching more fully instructed. As they are, the use of them I
shall briefly present unto you: -
1. The Lesser Catechism may be so learned of the younger sort,
that they may be ready to answer to every question thereof.
2. The Greater will call to mind much of what has been taught
you in public, especially concerning the Person and Offices of Jesus
Christ.
3. Out of that you may have help to instruct your families in
the Lesser, being so framed, for the most part, that a chapter of
the one is spent in unfolding a question of the other.
4. The texts of Scripture quoted are diligently to be sought
out and pondered, that you may know indeed whether these things are
so.
5. In reading the Word, you may have light into the meaning of
many places, by considering what they are produced to confirm.
6. I have been sparing in the doctrine of the Sacraments,
because I have already been so frequent in examinations about them.
7. The handling of moral duties I have wholly omitted, because,
by God's assistance, I intend for you a brief explication of the
Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, with some articles of the
Creed, not unfolded in these, by themselves, by the way of question
and answer.
Now, in all this, as the pains has been mine, so I pray that
the benefit may be yours, and the praise His, to whom alone any good
that is in this or any thing else is to be ascribed. Now, the God of
heaven continue that peace, love, and amity, amongst ourselves,
which hitherto has been unshaken, in these divided times, and grant
that the sceptre and kingdom of his Son may be gloriously advanced
in your hearts, that the things which concern your peace may not be
hidden from your eyes in this your day; Which is the daily prayer of
Your servant in the work of the Lord,
J.O.
From my Study,
September the last, [1645].
The Lesser Catechism.
Ques. Whence is all truth concerning God and ourselves to be
learned?
Ans. From the holy Scripture, the Word of God. - Chapter 1 of the
Greater Catechism.
Q. What do the Scriptures teach that God is?
A. An eternal, infinite, most holy Spirit, giving being to all
things, and doing with them whatsoever he pleaseth. - Chap. 2.
Q. Is there but one God?
A. One only, in respect of his essence and being, but one in three
distinct persons, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. - Chap. 3.
Q. What else is held forth in the Word concerning God, that we ought
to know.?
A. His decrees, and his works. - Chap. 4.
Q. What are the decrees of God concerning us?
A. His eternal purposes, of saving some by Jesus Christ, for the
praise of his glory, and of condemning others for their sins. -
Chap. 5.
Q. What are the works of God?
A. Acts or doings of his power, whereby he createth, sustaineth, and
governeth all things. - Chap. 6.
Q. What is required from us towards Almighty God?
A. Holy and spiritual obedience, according to his law given unto us
- Chap. 7.
Q. Are we able to do this of ourselves?
A. No, in no wise, being by nature unto every good work reprobate. -
Chap. 7.
Q. How came we into this estate, being at the first created in the
image of God, in righteousness and innocency?
A. By the fall of our first parents, breaking the covenant of God,
losing his grace, and deserving his curse. - Chap. 8.
Q. By what way may we be delivered from this miserable estate?
A. Only by Jesus Christ. - Chap. 9.
Q. What is Jesus Christ?
A. God and man united in one person, to be a mediator between God
and man. - Chap 10.
Q. What is he unto us?
A. A King, a Priest, and a Prophet. - Chap. 11.
Q. Wherein does he exercise his kingly power towards us?
A. In converting us unto God by his Spirit, subduing us unto his
obedience, and ruling in us by his grace. - Chap. 12.
Q. In what does the exercise of his priestly office for us chiefly
consist?
A. In offering up himself an acceptable sacrifice on the cross, so
satisfying the justice of God for our sins, removing his curse from
our persons, and bringing us unto him. - Chap. 13.
Q. Wherein does Christ exercise his prophetical office towards us?
A. In revealing to our hearts, from the bosom of his Father, the way
and truth whereby we must come unto him. - Chap. 13.
Q. In what condition does Jesus Christ exercise these offices?
A. He did in a low estate of humiliation on earth, but now in a
glorious estate of exaltation in heaven. - Chap. 14.
Q. For whose sake does Christ perform all these?
A. Only for his elect. - Chap. 15.
Q. What is the church of Christ?
A. The universal company of God's elect, called to the adoption of
children. - Chap. 16.
Q. How come we to be members of this church?
A. By a lively faith. - Chap. 17.
Q. What is a lively faith?
A. An assured resting of the soul upon God's promises of mercy in
Jesus Christ, for pardon of sins here and glory hereafter. - Chap.
18.
Q. How come we to have this faith?
A. By the effectual working of the Spirit of God in our hearts,
freely calling us from the state of nature to the state of grace. -
Chap. 18.
Q. Are we accounted righteous for our faith?
A. No, but only for the righteousness of Christ, freely imputed unto
us, and laid hold of by faith. - Chap. 19.
Q. 1. Is there no more required of us but faith only?
A. Yes; repentance also, and holiness. - Chap. 20.
Q. 2. What is repentance?
A. A forsaking of all sin, with godly sorrow for what we have
committed. - Chap. 20.
Q. 3. What is that holiness which is required of us?
A. Universal obedience to the will of God revealed unto us. - Chap.
20.
Q. What are the privileges of believers?
A. First, union with Christ; secondly, adoption of children;
thirdly, communion of saints; fourthly, right to the seals of the
new covenant; fifthly, Christian liberty; sixthly, resurrection of
the body to life eternal. - Chap. 21.
Q. 1. What are the sacraments, or seals, of the new covenant?
A. Visible seals of God's spiritual promises, made unto us in the
blood of Jesus Christ. - Chap. 22.
Q. 2. Which be they?
A. Baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q. What is baptism?
A. A holy ordinance, whereby, being sprinkled with water according
to Christ's institution, we are by his grace made children of God,
and have the promises of the covenant sealed unto us. - Chap. 23.
Q. What is the Lord's supper?
A. A holy ordinance of Christ, appointed to communicate unto
believers his body and blood spiritually, being represented by bread
and wine, blessed, broken, poured out, and received of them. - Chap.
24.
Q. Who have a right unto this sacrament?
A. They only who have an interest in Jesus Christ by faith. - Chap.
24.
Q. What is the communion of saints?
A. A holy conjunction between all God's people, partakers of the
same Spirit, and members of the same mystical body. - Chap. 25.
Q. What is the end of all this dispensation?
A. The glory of God in our salvation.
Glory be to God on high!
John Owen, Two Short Catechisms
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