An Exposition of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism by John Flavel Table of Contents The Preface To the Reader Of Man's Chief End Of the Scriptures as our Rule Of Faith and Obedience God is a Spirit Of God's Infinity Eternal Of God's Unchangeableness Of God's Wisdom Of God's Power Of God's Holiness Of God's Justice Of God's Goodness Of God's Truth Of One God Of Three Persons in the Godhead Of God's Decrees Of the Creation Of Man's Creation Of Divine Providence Of the Covenant of Works Of the Fall of Man Of Sin Of the Tree of Knowledge Of the Fall of Adam, and ours in him Of Original Sin Of Man's Misery Of the Salvation of God's Elect, and of the Covenant of Grace Of the Covenant of Grace Of the only Redeemer Of Christ's Incarnation Of the Manner of Christ's Incarnation Of Christ's Offices Of Christ's Prophetical Office Of Christ's Priesthood Of Christ's Kingly Office Of Christ's Humiliation Of Christ's Exaltation The second Part of the 28th Question of Christ's exaltation Of the Application of Christ Of our Union with Christ Of Effectual Calling Of the Concomitants of Vocation Of Justification Of Adoption Of Sanctification Of Assurance, the Fruit of Justification Of Peace of Conscience Of Joy in the Holy Ghost Of the Increase of Grace Of Perseverance Of Perfection at Death Of Immediate Glorification Of Rest in the Grave Of the Resurrection Of Christ's Acknowledging Believers Of Christ's Acquitting Believers Of the Full Enjoyment of God Of Man's Duty to God Of the Moral Law Of Love to God and Man Of the Preface to the Ten Commandments Of the First Commandment Of the Second Commandment Of the Third Commandment Of the Sabbath Of the Sabbath II Of the Fifth Commandment Of the Sixth Commandment Of the Seventh Commandment Of the Eighth Commandment Of the Ninth Commandment Of the Tenth Commandment Of Keeping the Law Of the Inequality of Sin Of the Demerit of Sin Of What God Requires of Us Of Saving Faith Of the Properties, Signs, and Means of Faith Of Saving Repentance Of Christ's Ordinances Of the Word Read and Heard Of the Manner of Hearing Of Sacraments as Means of Salvation Of the Nature of Sacraments Of the Number of Sacraments Of Baptism Of the Subjects of Baptism Of the Lord's Supper Of the Elements, Action, and Subjects of it Of the Duties of Communicants Of Prayer Of Direction in Prayer Of the Preface to the Lord's Prayer Of Sanctifying God's Name Of God's Kingdom Concerning the Doing of God's Will Concerning our Daily Bread Concerning Forgiveness of Sins Of God's Leading us into Temptation Of the Conclusion THE PREFACE THAT catechising is an ordinance of God, few will doubt, when they consider the apostles did first lay the fundamentals of religion; Heb. 6:1. And "fed babes with milk, teaching them the first principles of the oracles of God," Heb. 5:12 and questionless taught them in that manner, which was most suitable to the capacity of the learners, which may be well supposed to be by plain and short questions, and suitable answers thereunto; and therefore this hath been a constant practice in the church of God; and the primitive church had a particular person appropriated thereunto, whom they called Catechist. And so all well-governed, and wisely-managed churches, have still maintained and used it, as knowing the necessity and usefulness thereof; for the younger sort to inform them in the principles of that religion where into they were baptized; and for the establishment of the adult and more aged therein. Hence have issued those little composures of all the fundamental doctrines of faith and practice so handled (which we call Catechisms) in the churches; and particularly in ours, whereof there are many and divers, whose authors have well deserved for their endeavours to inform and edify the people thereby. But among them all, none excel this little Catechism of the Assembly for orthodoxy, fulness, and method. And because the answers therein are some of them pretty large, and treat of the most profound mysteries of our religion; therefore several persons have bestowed their good and laudable pains, some in descanting more largely, and proving by scriptural reasons the particulars: one has shown the harmony thereof with the articles and homilies of the church of England (designed, I suppose, to remove the prejudice which some have taken against it:) others have parted the questions and answers into several little ones, under each, to make them more intelligible to younger ones, and more easy to be remembered. Among whom, worthy, orthodox, and excellent Mr. John Flavel may be ranked, who among other of his many most profitable labours, applied himself to the chewing of this bread of life, or crumbling it into smaller pieces, for the covenience of children, and, indeed, of all; wherein (as in all his other works) he hath shewn himself a workman, that needs not to be ashamed. There needs no other recommendation to this posthumous piece, but the worthy author's name; he was removed before he had completely finished it; he had prepared his questions and answers upon the second petition of the Lord's Prayer; but lived not to propose them in the public congregation. God then translated him into his kingdom of glory above, while he was so industriously endeavouring to promote the kingdom of grace below. The other five remaining questions and answers (to complete the work) were done by a ruder hand; as may be easily discerned by any observant reader, who will find himself transferred from a plain, clear, and delightful stile, method, and manner, into more rough, disorderly, and unpleasant ones; for, who indeed could equal this divine labourer? Not the completer; who would account himself to have made very great attainments in divinity and usefulness, if he were left but a few furlongs behind him. Let the reader use and peruse this piece, and he wall see cause to bless God for the author. VALE. TO THE READER THE Divine Providence having unexpectedly cast my lot, for a few days, in Dartmouth, where that blessed man of God, Mr. John Flavel, did for many years honour Christ, and was honoured by him; I have been favoured with a sight of that most judicious explication of the Assembly's Catechism, which is emitted herewith. Being desired to testify my respect to the worthy author, by prefacing this excellent labour of his with a few lines; I can truly say, (as sometimes Beza of Calvin,) Now Mr. Favel is dead, life will be less sweet, and death less bitter to me. My heart bleeds to look on this desolate place, and not to see him, that, whilst living, was the glory of it. But neither the author, nor his writings, stand in need of the commendation of others, much less of mine. His works, already published, have made his name precious in both Englands; and it will be so, as long as the earth shall endure. There are some considerations which may cause the reader to expect (and he will not find himself disappointed therein) that which is extraordinary in this little manuel; for the author's heart was very much engaged in doing this service for Christ, in thus feeding his lambs. And he did himself design the publication of what is here committed to the press; and was very desirous (with an holy submission to the will of God) to have perfected this work before his decease; but had strange intimations that he should finish his course before that could be done. When he did, viva voce, deliver his meditations, there were many enlargements, and lively passages, which are not here inserted; nevertheless, here is as much as he thought needful for public view, not being willing that his book should be voluminous. In his last catechetical exercise, concerning Hallowing the name of God, he was exceedingly enlarged; but he must himself go into the kingdom of glory, when he intended to have discoursed on that petition, Thy kingdom come. He also began some meditations on the joys of heaven; but before he had an opportunity to express what had been in his heart, the Lord Jesus said unto him, "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." And thus doth it happen many times to the eminent and holy servants of God. Another consideration, recommending what comes herewith, is, that it was amongst Mr. Flavel's last works. The (εξοδια ρηματα) last sayings of wise and great men have been esteemed oraculous; and the Scripture puts an emphasis on the last words of David, the sweet singer of Israel, 2 Sam. 23:1. Not that those were the last words that ever David spake, only they were written not long before his death, when he was come near heaven. So was what is now put into the reader's hand, written by Mr. Flavel not long before his translation to the world of souls, where the spirits of just men are made perfect. There was a more than ordinary presence of God with him to his last; and in his last day, not the last sermon that he preached (which was June 21, 1691.) he did more than once surprize his hearers with an intimation, that that might be the last time he should speak to them in the name of the Lord.