whereby you may be helped to open up to them at large the precious truths of our holy religion, al so prepare them the better for the public catechising, which gould take the work of ministers pleasant and delightful to them.

And, because the answers in the following Catechism are generally short, it will not be a very hard task for young per sons of good memories to get the most of them by heart, and to repeat them. And for those whose memories are weaker, it would be very instructing to them frequently to read over this book; for thereby they might soon be capable to answer satisfyingly most of the questions in it, though in other words than these in the book. It would also make children better, acquainted with the scriptures, if their teachers would require them to give an account of some of the texts cited therein, which have not the words set down. *ng

If heads of families would convene their children and ser vants every Sabbath evening, and make use of this book, or the like explication, going over at one time two question of the Shorter Catechism, or thereby, with the explanatory catechising thereupon, you would go over the whole book thus once every year: and the following method may be observed. Let the master or mistress of the family ask the question of the Shorter Catechism, and let the answer be returned without book by one of the family; and then let that person take the book, and ask the first explanatory question upon it at his next neighbour, who may read the answer from the book if he can't repeat it; and then let him who answered ask the second explanatory question at his neighbour, who is to answer it as before; and then ask the next question at his neighbour, and so on; the rest in the mean time attending and g ing along with the person reading or repeating, with their several books if they have them, or else making use of their neighbour's, by which their thoughts, which are apt to wander, will be the more fixed and intent upon what they are about.

1-go

And to conclude, let me likewise humbly intreat young persons diligently to improve all such helps and means of instruction in the season of youth, and carefully to prepare for and attend all diets of catechising whether in private or public, and hearken with delight to parents, masters, or ministers, who would teach them the things which concern their everlasting peace. O consider, how many young people are hurried into eternity before they know and lay these things to heart! Believe it, dear Sirs, there is no heaven without Christ, no interest in Christ without faith, and no faith without knowledge. May therefore the earth be filled with the knowledge of Christ as the waters cover the sea! Amen. Dundee, 12th April, 1737.-"

AN

EXAMPLE

OF

PLAIN CATECHISING, &c,

Quest. 1. WHAT is the chief end of man? Ans. Man's chief end is, to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.

Q. What do you mean by man's chief end?

A. The main thing which man should intend and aim at in his living in the world, and look upon as the great design of his creation.

Q. What is that great and chief end?

A. In the answer it is branched out into two parts; the principal end being to glorify God, and the less principal to enjoy him for ever.

Q. Can man add any thing to God's essential glory?

A. No; for, that being infinite, no addition can be made to it. Q. How can we glorify God?

A. By declaring and shewing forth his glory before he world.

Q. How may we do that?

A. By acknowledging God's perfections; by adoring and trusting him by praising him with our lips, and ordering our conversation according to his word, Psalm 1. 23.

Q. How are we said to give glory to God by confessing our sins, as in Josh. vii. 19.?

A. Because, by so doing, we own God to be infinite in knowledge, from whom no secrets can be hid, and in justice, though he should proceed to punish us for our sins.

Q. Wherefore should we make it our chief end to glorify God?

A. Because of the infinite obligations we are under to God, as being our almighty Creator, our gracicus Preserver, and n.crciful Redeemer.

B

Q. When is it that we eat and drink for the glory of God, as the apostle directs, 1 Cor. x. 31. ? * a

A. When we do it in obedience to God's command, for preserving life and health, that we may be capable to honour and serve God here below

Q. May not other creatures declare the glory of God, as well as man?

A. Yes; the heavens do it, Psalm xix. 1. as they shew forth the glory of God's wisdom and power in an objective and passive manner; but none can do it actively, but rational

Q. Do all men make it their chief end to glorify God?

A. No; for many men, instead of glorifying God, do wofully dishonour him.

Q. Who are these?

4. They who forget God, or disobey his laws.

Q. Who are they that forget God?

A. They who do not pray to God, nor praise him for his mercies; and they who are formal in his worship, and do not remember his word.

Q. What will become of those who forget God?

A. It is said, Psal. ix. 17. They shall be turned into hell." Q Did God make all things for his own glory? A. Yes. Q. If men do not make this their end, will God lose his end of making them?

A. No; for, if God be not glorified by them, he will glorify himself upon them, even his justice, in their destruction, Prov. xvi 4.

Q. Is it not lawful to aim at lower ends than God's glory; as for a man to be diligent in his calling, for the end that he may provide for himself and family?

A. Yes; but these lower ends must be intended in subordination to man's chief and ultimate end, the glory of God. Q. Do we not promote our own happiness, by making God's glory our chief end?

A. Yes; and therefore glorifying God, and enjoying him for ever, are connected in the answer.

Q. Must we study to glorify God on earth, if we would enjoy him in heaven ? A. Yes.

Q. Are we able of ourselves to glorify God?

A. No, the fall hath disabled us; but by Christ and his grace we may be strengthened to do it in some measure. Q. What is it to enjoy God? .

A. It is to possess God's love and favour, or to be blessed with his gracious presence.

Q. And doth man's true happiness lie in this ?
Q. May not a man thus enjoy God upon earth?

A. Yes.

A. Yes; the saints have God's gracious presence in some measure in his ordinances here below, but they will enjoy God in another manner in heaven.

Q. What is the difference betwixt our enjoying God here, and hereafter?

A. Our enjoyment of God here is very short and imperfect; but in heaven it will be everlasting, full and immediate. It is there the saints shall see him as he is, and be like him, and be ever with the Lord, 1 John ii. 2. 1 Thess. iv. 17.

Q. Why doth our chief happiness lie in the enjoying of God? A. Because God, being the chiefest good, and infinite in his perfections, can only satisfy the boundless desires of our immortal souls. He is a portion that suits both their spiritual nature, and perpetual duration, Psalm lxxiii. 25, 26.

Q. How shall we attain to the enjoyment of God?

A. We must receive Christ the Mediator, live the life of faith and self-denial, study purity of heart and life, and be much in the exercise of prayer and praise.

Q. What is the chief end or design of wicked men ?

A. To gratify their sensual appetites, and to enjoy the best things this world affords.

Q. Can the enjoyment of the world's good things muke us happy?

A. No; for, as they suit not the soul's demands, so they are too short and uncertain to afford us any solid satisfaction. Q. Can wicked men expect to enjoy God hereafter?

A. No; for they who shall enjoy God above, must be made meet for it here below.

Q. Who are meet to enjoy God?

A. Those who are sanctified.

Q. What will become of those who miss the enjoyment of God in heaven?

A. Their portion will be in hell with hypocrites and unbelievers.

Q. When should a man begin to think seriously of his chief end?

A. In the days of youth, Eccl. xii. 1.

Q. May we not delay it until some convenient time per wards?

A. No; for there is no time so convenient; and the time which we propose may never come, seeing death surprisethr very many, Luke xii. 20.

Q. When must we have done glorifying God ? A. Never.

1

Q. Will that ever be thought, a tedious task?

A. No; for it is the delight of gracious souls to do the will of God; and therefore, in the most happy place, it is said, There his servants shall serve him, Psalm xl. 8. Rev. xxii. S.

Quest. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

Ans. The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is the only rule to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. How is this question connected with the preceding ?

A. As the former shews the end of our creation, so this points out the rule or means of attaining to that end, viz. the scriptures.

Q. Why do we call the word of God the Scriptures ?

A. We call God's word the Scriptures, that is, Writings, by way of eminence; because they are the most valuable and useful writings in the world.

Q. Why are these writings called the Word of God?

A. Because God either spake them himself, or ordered men to write them.

Q. Is not Christ called the Word likewise?

A. Yes; but Christ is the essential Word of God, and the Bible is only the written word of God.

Q. Why is Christ called the Word of God?.

.1. Because he is the express image of his Father, as our words are the image or picture of our hearts

Q. Seeing the Bible is mostly spoken and written by men, is it not more properly the words of men, than of God?

4. No; for though it be spoken and written by holy men, yet they did it, not according to their own will or wisdom, but as they were inspired and moved thereto by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. i. 21.

Q. Who was the first penman of the koly scriptures?
A. Moses.

Q. What part of them did he write?

A. The first five books, to wit, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,. Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Q. What remarkable things doth his first book contain?

A. The history of the creation of the world, of man's fall, of the world's destruction by the flood, and many signal transactions with respect to the church for above two thousand years before Moses was born,