John Owen, Two Short Catechisms
(... continued from file 1)


     
The Greater Catechism. 
     
     
 
 
Chap. 1 - Of The Scripture. 
 
 
Ques. 1. What is Christian religion? 
Ans. 
The only way                   John 14: 5, 6, 17: 3; Acts  4: 
                               12. 
                               Every  one  out  of  this  way 
                               everlastingly damned. 
of knowing God aright,         The  life  of religion  is  in 
                               the Life. 
and living unto him.           Col.  1:  10;  2 Cor.  5:  15; 
                               Gal. 2: 19, 20. 
 
 
Q. 2. Whence is it to be learned? 
A. 
From the holy Scripture only.  Isa. 8: 20; John 5: 39. 
                               Popish  traditions  are  false 
                               lights, leading from God. 
 
 
Q. 3. What is the Scripture? 
A. 
The books of the Old           Isa. 8: 20; Rom. 3: 2. 
and New Testament,             Rev. 22: 19, 20. 
                               The     authority    of    the 
                               Scripture  dependeth  not   on 
                               the  authority of the  church, 
                               as the Papists blaspheme. 
                               All      human      inventions 
                               unnecessary   helps   in   the 
                               worship of God. 
                               The  word thereof is the  sole 
                               directory for faith,  worship, 
                               and life. 
given  by  inspiration   from  2  Tim. 3: 16, 17; Ps. 19:  7, 
God,  containing  all  things  8; Jer. 7: 13; John 20: 31. 
necessary to be believed  and 
done,   that   God   may   be 
worshipped  and   our   souls 
saved. 
 
 
Q. 4. How know you them to be the word of God? 
A. 
By  the  testimony  of  God's  Matt.  16: 17; John 16: 13;  1 
Spirit,                        Thess.  2: 13; 1 John  2:  20, 
                               5: 6. 
                               This   alone  persuadeth   and 
                               inwardly convinceth the  heart 
                               of  the  divine verity of  the 
                               Scripture;   other    motives, 
                               also,  there are from without, 
                               and unanswerable arguments  to 
                               prove  the truth of them,  as, 
                               -   1.  Their  antiquity;   2. 
                               Preservation  from  fury;   3. 
                               Prophecies  in  them;  4.  The 
                               holiness and majesty of  their 
                               doctrine  agreeable   to   the 
                               nature  of  God; 5.  Miracles; 
                               6.   The   testimony  of   the 
                               church  of  all ages;  7.  The 
                               blood  of innumerable martyrs, 
                               &c. 
working faith in my heart  to  Luke  24:  32; 1 Cor.  2:  14; 
close   with  that   heavenly  Heb. 4: 12; 2 Pet. 1: 19. 
majesty,  and  clear   divine 
truth, that shineth in them. 
 
 
 
 
Chap. 2 - Of God. 
 
 
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning God? 
A. 
First,  what he  is,  or  his  Exod. 3: 14; Isa. 45: 6;  Heb. 
nature;  secondly,  what   he  1: 1-3, 11: 6. 
does, or his works. 
 
 
Q. 2. What is God in himself? 
A. 
An Eternal,                    Deut. 33:27; Isa. 57:15;  Rev. 
                               1:8. 
infinite,                      1  Kings 8: 27; Ps. 139:  2-5, 
                               &c. 
                               The  perfection of God's being 
                               is  known  of  us  chiefly  by 
                               removing all imperfections. 
                               Hence  the  abominable  vanity 
                               of   idolaters,  and  of   the 
                               blasphemous   Papists,    that 
                               picture God. 
incomprehensible               Exod. 33: 20; 1 Tim. 6: 16. 
                               Let us prostrate ourselves  in 
                               holy  adoration of that  which 
                               we cannot comprehend. 
Spirit,                        John 4:24. 
giving  being to all  things,  Gen.  1:  1; Ps. 115: 3,  135: 
and     doing    with    them  6;  Isa. 46: 10; John  5:  17; 
whatsoever he pleaseth.        Heb. 1: 2. 
 
 
Q. 3. Do we here know God as he is? 
A. 
No, his glorious being is not  Exod. 33: 23; 1 Cor. 13: 12. 
of  us, in this life,  to  be 
comprehended. 
 
 
Q. 4. Whereby is God chiefly made known unto us in the Word? 
A. 
First, by his names;           Exod.  3:  14, 6: 3;  Ps.  83: 
                               18. 
secondly,  by his  attributes  Exod. 34: 6,7; Matt. 5: 48. 
or properties. 
 
 
Q. 5. What are the names of God? 
A. 
Glorious titles, which he has  Exod. 3: 14, 15, 6: 3, 34:  6, 
given  himself, to hold forth  7; Gen. 17: 1. 
his   excellencies  unto  us,  The   divers  names   of   God 
with some perfections whereby  signify   one  and  the   same 
he will reveal himself.        thing,   but   under   diverse 
                               notions  in  respect  of   our 
                               conception. 
 
 
Q. 6. What are the attributes of God? 
A. 
His  infinite perfections  in  Rev. 4: 8-11. 
being and working. 
 
 
Q. 7. What are the chief attributes of his being? 
A. 
Eternity,                      Deut. 33: 27; Ps. 93: 2;  Isa. 
                               57: 15; Rev. 1: 11. 
infiniteness,                  l  Kings 8: 27; Ps. 139:  1-4, 
                               8-10. 
Simplicity or purity,          Exod. 3: 14. 
                               Some   of   these   attributes 
                               belong  so unto God,  as  that 
                               they  are  in no  sort  to  be 
                               ascribed  to any  else,  -  as 
                               infiniteness,  eternity,   &c. 
                               Others   are  after   a   sort 
                               attributed  to  some  of   his 
                               creatures,    in    that    he 
                               communicates  unto  them  some 
                               of  the  effects  of  them  in 
                               himself;  - as life, goodness, 
                               &c. 
                               The   first   of   these   are 
                               motives  to  humble adoration, 
                               fear,   self-abhorrency;   the 
                               other,  to faith, hope,  love, 
                               and  confidence, through Jesus 
                               Christ. 
all-sufficiency,               Gen. 17: l; Ps. 135: 4-6. 
Perfectness,                   Job 11: 7-9; Rom. 11: 33-36. 
immutability,                  Mal. 3: 6; James 1: 17. 
life,                          Judges  viii 19;  1  Sam.  25: 
                               34;  2 Kings iii 14; Ezek. 14: 
                               16,  16:  48;  Matt.  16:  16; 
                               Acts 14: 15; 1 Thess. 1: 9. 
will,                          Dan.  4: 35; Isa. 46: 10; Eph. 
                               1: 5, 11; James 1: 18. 
and understanding.             Ps.  7:  8,  139: 2,  147:  4; 
                               Jer. 11: 20; Heb. 4: 13. 
 
 
Q.  8. What are the attributes which usually are ascribed to him  in 
his works, or the acts of his will? 
A. 
Goodness,                      Ps. 119: 68; Matt. 19: 17. 
power,                         Exod.  15:  11;  Ps.  62:  11; 
                               Rev. 19: 1. 
                               Nothing   is  to  be  ascribed 
                               unto  God,  nor  imagined   of 
                               him,   but  what  is   exactly 
                               agreeable    to   those    his 
                               glorious properties 
                               These   last   are   no   less 
                               essential  unto God  than  the 
                               former   -   only   we    thus 
                               distinguish   them,    because 
                               these are chiefly seen in  his 
                               works. 
justice,                       Zeph.  3: 5; Ps. 11:  7;  Jer. 
                               12: l; Rom. 1: 32. 
mercy,                         Ps.  130: 7; Rom. 9: 15;  Eph. 
                               2: 4. 
holiness,                      Exod. 15: 11; Josh. 24: 19. 
wisdom,                        Hab. 1: 13; Rev. 4: 8. 
and   the   like;  which   he  Rom. 11: 33, 16: 27. 
delighteth    to     exercise 
towards  his  creatures,  for 
the praise of his glory. 
 
 
 
Chap. 3 - Of the Holy Trinity. 
 
 
Q. 1. Is there but one God to whom these properties do belong? 
A. 
One  only, in respect of  his  Deut. 6: 4; Matt. 19: 17;  Eph 
essence and being,             4: 5, 6. 
but  one  in  three  distinct  Gen.  1:  26;  1  John  5:  7; 
persons, of Father, Son,  and  Matt. 28: 19. 
Holy Ghost. 
 
 
Q. 2. What mean you by person? 
A. 
A    distinct    manner    of  John 5: 17; Heb. 1: 3. 
subsistence     or     being,  This  is  that mysterious  ark 
distinguished from the  other  that  must not be pried  into, 
persons     by    its     own  nor  the  least tittle  spoken 
properties.                    about    it,   wherein   plain 
                               Scripture goes not before. 
                               To  deny the Deity of any  one 
                               person,  is in effect to  deny 
                               the    whole    Godhead    for 
                               whosoever  has  not  the  Son, 
                               has not the Father. 
                               This  only  doctrine  remained 
                               undefiled in the Papacy. 
 
 
Q.  3.  What  is  the distinguishing property of the person  of  the 
Father? 
A. 
To  be  of  himself only  the  John 5: 26, 27; Eph. 1: 3. 
fountain of the Godhead.        
 
 
Q. 4. What is the property of the Son? 
A. 
To  be begotten of his Father  Ps. 2: 7; John 1: 14, 3: 16. 
from eternity. 
 
 
Q. 5. What of the Holy ghost? 
A. 
To  proceed  from the  Father  John  14: 17, 16: 14, 15:  26, 
and the Son.                   20: 22. 
 
 
Q. 6. Are these three one? 
A. 
One  every  way,  in  nature,  John 10: 30; Rom. 3: 30. 
will,      and      essential 
properties, 
distinguished only  in  their  John 15: 26; 1 John 5: 7. 
personal      manner       of 
subsistence. 
 
 
Q. 7. Can we conceive these things as they are in themselves? 
A. 
Neither we                     1 Tim. 6: 16. 
nor  yet the angels of heaven  Isa. 6: 2, 3. 
are  at all able to dive into  We  must  labour to  make  out 
these  secrets, as  they  are  comfort  from the proper  work 
internally God;                of every person towards us. 
but in respect of the outward  Col. 1: 11-14. 
dispensation of themselves to   
us  by  creation, redemption, 
and     sanctification,     a 
knowledge may be attained  of 
these   things,  saving   and 
heavenly. 
 
 
 
 
Chap.  4.  -  Of  the Works of God; and, First, of  those  that  are 
Internal and Immanent. 
 
 
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning the works of God? 
A. 
That  they are of two  sorts;  Acts 15: 18; Prov. 16: 4. 
first,   internal,   in   his  The  purposes and  decrees  of 
counsel,     decrees,     and  God,   so   far  as   by   him 
purposes,     towards     his  revealed, are objects  of  our 
creatures;          secondly,  faith, and full of comfort. 
external,  in his works  over   
and about them, to the praise   
of his own glory. 
 
 
Q. 2. What are the decrees of God? 
A. 
Eternal,                       Mic.  5: 2; Eph. 3: 9-11; Acts 
                               15: 18. 
unchangeable                   Isa.  14: 24, 46: 10; Rom.  9: 
                               11; 2 Tim. 2: 19. 
purposes    of   his    will,  Farther   reasons   of    Gods 
concerning  the   being   and  decrees  than  his  own  will, 
well-being of his creatures.   not to be inquired after. 
                               The  changes in the  scripture 
                               ascribed unto God are only  in 
                               the  outward dispensations and 
                               works,  variously  tending  to 
                               one  infallible event, by  him 
                               proposed. 
                               The  Armenians' blasphemy,  in 
                               saying God sometimes fails  of 
                               his purposes. 
 
 
Q.  3. Concerning which of his creatures chiefly are his decrees  to 
be considered? 
A. 
Angels  and  men,  for   whom  1 Tim. 5: 21; Jude 6. 
other things were ordained. 
 
 
Q. 4. What are the decrees of God concerning men? 
A. 
Election and reprobation.      Rom. 9: 11-13. 
 
 
Q. 5. What is the decree of election? 
A. 
The eternal,                   Eph.  1: 4; Acts 13: 48;  Rom. 
                               8: 29, 30. 
free,                          Matt. 11: 26. 
immutable purpose of God,      2 Tim. 2: 19. 
                               The  decree of election is the 
                               fountain   of  all   spiritual 
                               graces,  for they are bestowed 
                               only on the elect. 
                               In    nothing   does   natural 
                               corruption  more exalt  itself 
                               against  God, than in opposing 
                               the  freedom of his  grace  in 
                               his eternal decrees. 
whereby  in Jesus  Christ  he  Eph 1: 4, 5; Matt. 22: 14. 
chooseth unto himself whom he 
pleaseth 
out of whole mankind,          Rom. 9: 18-21. 
determining  to  bestow  upon  John 6: 37, 17: 6, 9, 11, 24. 
them,  for  his  sake,  grace  From  the execration of  these 
here,     and     everlasting  decrees   flows  that  variety 
happiness hereafter, for  the  and  difference we see in  the 
praise  of his glory, by  the  dispensation of the  means  Of 
way of mercy.                  grace,   -  God  sending   the 
                               Gospel  where he has a remnant 
                               according to election. 
 
 
Q.  6.  Doth  any thing in us move the Lord thus to choose  us  from 
amongst others? 
A. 
No, in no wise; we are in the  Rom. 9: 11, 12; Matt. 11:  25; 
same    lump   with    others  1 Cor. 4: 7; 2 Tim. 1: 9. 
rejected  when  separated  by 
his undeserved grace. 
 
 
Q. 7. What is the decree of reprobation? 
A. 
The eternal purpose of God to  Rom.  9: 11, 12, 21, 22; Prov. 
suffer  many  to  sin,  leave  16:  4;  Matt. 11: 25,  26;  2 
them  in  their sin, and  not  Pet. 2: 12; Jude 4. 
giving  them  to  Christ,  to 
punish them for their sin. 
 
 
 
Chap. 5. - Of the Works of God that outwardly are of Him. 
 
 
Q.  1.  What  are  the  works  of God  that  outwardly  respect  his 
creatures? 
A. 
First, of creation; secondly,  Ps. 33: 9; Heb. 1: 2, 3. 
of actual providence.          The  very outward works of God 
                               are   sufficient  to  convince 
                               men  of his eternal power  and 
                               Godhead,  and  to  leave  them 
                               inexcusable,  if  they   serve 
                               him not. 
 
 
Q. 2. What is the work of creation? 
A. 
An   act  or  work  of  God's  Gen.  1:  l;  Exod.  20:   11; 
almighty  power,  whereby  of  Prov. 16: 4. 
nothing,  in  six  days,   he 
created  heaven,  earth,  and 
the  sea, with all things  in 
them contained. 
 
 
Q. 3. Wherefore did God make man? 
A. 
For  his  own  glory  in  his  Gen.  1:  26, 27, 2:  16,  17; 
service and obedience.         Rom. 9: 23. 
                               The  glory  of God  is  to  be 
                               preferred   above   our    own 
                               either  being  or  well-being, 
                               as the supreme end of then. 
                               The  approaching unto  God  in 
                               his   service  is  the   chief 
                               exaltation   of   one   nature 
                               above the beasts that perish. 
 
 
Q.  4.  Was  man  able  to yield the service and  worship  that  God 
required of him? 
A. 
Yea,  to the uttermost, being  Gen.  1:  26; Eccles.  7:  29; 
created upright in the  image  Eph. 4: 24; Col. 3: 10. 
of God, in purity, innocence, 
righteousness, and holiness. 
 
 
Q.  5. What was the rule whereby man was at first to be directed  in 
his obedience? 
A. 
The  moral or eternal law  of  Gen.  2:  15-17; Rom.  2:  14, 
God,  implanted in his nature  15; Eph. 4: 24. 
and  written in his heart  by  God  never allowed,  from  the 
creation, being the tenor  of  beginning,  that the  will  of 
the  covenant between God and  the  creature  should  be  the 
him,  sacramentally  typified  measure  of  his  worship  nod 
by  the tree of knowledge  of  honour. 
good and evil. 
 
 
Q.  6. Do we stand in the same covenant still, and have we the  same 
power to yield obedience unto God? 
A. 
No;  the covenant was  broken  Gen.  3: 16-18; Gal. 3: 10,11, 
by the sin of Adam, with whom  21; Heb. 7: 19, 8: 13. 
it was made,                   Though  we have all  lost  our 
                               right unto the promise of  the 
                               first  covenant, yet  all  not 
                               restored  by Christ are  under 
                               the   commination  and   curse 
                               thereof. 
our nature corrupted,          Job 14: 4; Ps. 51: 5. 
and  all  power  to  do  good  Gen. 6: 5; Jer. 13: 23. 
utterly lost. 
 
 
 
 
Chap. 6. - Of God's actual Providence. 
 
 
Q. 1. What is God's actual providence? 
A. 
The  effectual working of his  Exod. 4: 11; Job 5: 10-12,  9: 
power,  and almighty  act  of  5,  6;  Ps. 147: 4; Prov.  15: 
his    will,    whereby    he  3;  Isa. 45: 6, 7; John 5: 17; 
sustaineth,  governeth,   and  Acts 17: 28; Heb. 1: 3. 
disposeth of all things,  men  To  this providence is  to  be 
and  their  actions,  to  the  ascribed  all the good  we  do 
ends  which  he has  ordained  enjoy,     and     all     the 
for them.                      afflictions we undergo. 
                               Fortune,   chance,   and   the 
                               like,    are   names   without 
                               things, scarce fit to be  used 
                               among    Christians,    seeing 
                               Providence  certainly   ruleth 
                               all to appointed ends. 
                               No  free-will in man  exempted 
                               either    from   the   eternal 
                               decree   or   the   overruling 
                               providence of God. 
 
 
Q.2. How is this providence exercised towards mankind? 
A. 
Two  ways;  first, peculiarly  Deut.  32:  10;  Ps.  17:   8; 
towards his church, or elect,  Zech. 2: 8; Matt. 16: 18,  19: 
in   their  generations,  for  2, 29; 1 Pet. 5: 7. 
whom are all things; 
secondly, towards  all  in  a  Gen.  9: 5; Ps. 75: 6, 7; Isa. 
general   manner,  yet   with  45: 6, 7; Matt. 5: 45. 
various      and       divers 
dispensations. 
 
 
Q. 3. Wherein chiefly consists the outward providence of God towards 
his church? 
A. 
In  three things; - first, in  Matt. 6: 31-33; Rom. 8: 28;  1 
causing  and things  to  work  Tim. 6: 17; 2 Pet. 1: 3. 
together for their good;       Though  the  dispensations  of 
                               God's  providence towards  his 
                               people  be various, yet  every 
                               issue  and act of it tends  to 
                               one  certain end, - their good 
                               in his glory. 
secondly,   in   ruling   and  Ps.  105: 14,15; Isa. 44:  28; 
disposing     of    kingdoms,  Dan. 2: 44; Rom. 9: 17. 
nations,  and  persons,   for 
their benefit; 
thirdly, in avenging them  of  Isa.  60:  12; Zech. 12:  2-5; 
their adversaries.             Luke 17: 7; Rev. 17: 14. 
 
 
Q.  4.  Does God rule also in and over the sinful actions of  wicked 
men? 
A. 
Yea,  he willingly (according  2  Sam.  12:  11,  16:  10;  1 
to  his  determinate counsel)  Kings  11: 31, 22: 22; Job  1: 
suffereth them to be, for the  21; Prov. 22: 14; Isa. 10:  6, 
manifestation of  his  glory,  7;  Ezek. 21: 19-21;  Amos  7: 
and by them effecteth his own  17;  Acts 4: 27, 28;  Rom.  1: 
righteous ends.                24,  9: 22; 1 Pet. 2: 8;  Rev. 
                               17: 17. 
                               Almighty  God  allows  how  in 
                               bring  light out of  darkness, 
                               good   out   of   evil,    the 
                               salvation of his elect out  of 
                               Judas's  treachery, the  Jews' 
                               cruelty,      and     Pilate's 
                               injustice. 
 



John Owen, Two Short Catechisms
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