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have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. For lo, they that are far from thee shall perish."

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

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

The Word of God.

Ps. cxix. 105: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

2 Tim. iii. 16, 17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

2 Pet. i. 20, 21: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Contained in the Old Testament.

Luke xxiv. 44: "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”

John v. 39: "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

Contained in the New Testament.

1 Thess. ii. 13: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word

of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God."

2 Pet. iii. 2: "That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour."

Eph. ii. 20: "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."

2 Pet. iii. 15, 16: "Even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction."

Gal. i. 11, 12: "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man: for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."

1 Cor. ii. 13: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth."

The rule of faith.

Acts xvii. 11: "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

Isa. viii. 20: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

The rule of life.

2 Pet. i. 19: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts."

Ps. cxix. 9, 10: "Wherewith shall a young man

cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh, let me not wander from thy commandments."

A sufficient rule.

2 Tim. iii. 15: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

A perfect rule:

Ps. xix. 7-9: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

Ps. cxix. 2, 3: "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity."

Of unchanging and eternal truth.

Ps. cxix. 142: 66

'Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth." Matt. xxiv. 35: Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

66

Suitable even for children, or for the simple, and not to be shut away from any.

2 Tim. iii. 15: "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."

Ps. cxix. 130: "The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple."

A better instructor than the most learned men, or than the Fathers.

Ps. cxix. 99, 100: "I have more understanding than

all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts."

The only rule.

Matt. xv. 6, 9: "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

Gal. i. 8, 9: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed, As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Deut. xxxi. 11-13: "When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: and that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God."

John xx. 31: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

Acts x. 43: "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

Luke xxiv. 27: "And beginning at Moses, and all

the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

Q. 4. What is God?

A. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

A Spirit.

John iv. 24: "God is a Spirit; and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Infinite.

1 Kings viii. 27: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee: how much less this house that I have builded?"

Ps. cxxxix. 8-10: "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."

Eternal.

Ps. xc. 2: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

Unchangeable.

Jas. i. 17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Mal. iii. 6: "I am the Lord; I change not."

Wisdom.

Ps. cxlvii. 5: "Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."

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