THE COMMENTARY OF DR ZACHARIAS URSINUS ON THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

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THE

COMMENTARY

DR. ZACHARIAS URSINUS,

ON THE

HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN,

BY THE REV. G. W. WILLIARD, A. M.

Reproduction of the

SECOND AMERICAN EDITION,

WM. B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COM.

Grand Rapids 1956 Michigan

This hypertext version of the
The Commentary of

Dr. Zacharias Ursinus,

on the

Heidelberg Catechism
was prepared by
Tim Naab
(tim@seeking4truth.com)
October, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Translators Preface

Introduction

GENERAL PROLEGOMENA.

What the doctrine of the church is	1
What the parts of this doctrine are, with their differences	2
In what the doctrine of the church differs from that of other systems of religion, philosophy, &c.	3
By what testimonies the truth of the Christian religion, or the doctrine of the church is confirmed	6
How manifold the method of teaching and learning the doctrine of the church is	9

SPECIAL PROLEGOMENA.

What Catechizing is	10
Of the origin of Catechization	11
Of the parts or principal heads of the doctrine of the Catechism	13
Of the necessity of Catechization	14
What the design of Catechism and the doctrine of the church is	16

OF TRUE CHRISTIAN COMFORT.

Question 1: What is thy only comfort in life and death? What Comfort is	17
The parts of which it consists	18
Why this comfort alone is solid	19
Why it is necessary	20
How this comfort may be obtained	20

OF THE MISERY OF MAN.

What it is, and whence it may be known Question 2: What is thy only comfort in life and death? Question 3: How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happy?	23
What the law of God requires Question 4: What doth the law of God require of us? Question 5: Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?	23

OF THE CREATION OF MAN.

Question 6: Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
The state in which man was originally created	27
The end for which God created man	28

OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.

What it is, and what the parts thereof	30
To what extent it is lost, and what remains	31
How it may be restored in us	32

OF THE FALL AND FIRST SIN OF MAN.

Question 7: Whence, then, proceeds this depravity of human nature? What the sin of our first parents was	33
What the causes of it were	34
What the effects thereof	35
Why God permitted it	35

OF SIN IN GENERAL.

The proofs of our sinfulness	36
What sin is	37
Original sin, and what it is	39
The proofs of original sin	39
Objections against original sin refuted	40
Actual sin	41
Reigning sin and sin not reigning	44
Mortal and venial sin	44
Sin against the conscience, &c.	45
The sin against the Holy Ghost	47
Rules to be observed in reference to the sin against the Holy Ghost	47
Sin per se, and sin by accident	47
The causes of sin	49
The effects of sin	54

THE FREEDOM OF THE WILL.

Question 8: Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness? The principal question to be considered in reference to this subject	56
What the freedom of the will is	57
In what the Liberty which is in God differs from that which is in his creatures, angels and men	58
Whether there be any Freedom of the human will	61
What Liberty belongs to man according to his four-fold state	62
Question 9: The question, whether God does any injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law what he cannot perform, considered	66
Question 10: Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished? The punishment of sin	67
Question 11: But is not God also merciful? How this comports with the mercy of God	69

CONCERNING AFFLICTIONS.

How many kinds of affliction there are	70
A table of the afflictions of man	72
The causes of afflictions	72
Comforts under afflictions	74

THE DELIVERANCE OF MAN.

Question 12: Since, then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?

In how many ways satisfaction may be made

What the deliverance of man is

Whether such a deliverance be possible

Whether deliverance be necessary and certain

Whether perfect deliverance may be expected

How this deliverance is accomplished

Question 13: Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?

The question whether we ourselves can make this satisfaction, considered

Question 14: Can there be found anywhere one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?

The question whether any mere creature can make satisfaction for us, considered

Question 15: What sort of a mediator and deliverer, then, must we seek for?

What sort of a mediator we must seek for

Question 16: Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

Why he must be very man and perfectly righteous

Question 17: Why must he in one person be also very God?

Why he must be very God

THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEDIATOR.

Question 18: Who, then, is that Mediator, who is, in one person, both very God, and a real righteous man? What a mediator is	92
Whether we need a mediator	92
What the office of the mediator is	94
What kind of a mediator is necessary	95
Who this mediator is	95
Whether there can be more than one mediator	96

THE COVENANT OF GOD.

What this covenant is	97
Whether it be one or more	98
In what the old and new Covenants agree and differ	99

OF THE GOSPEL.

Question 19: Whence knowest thou this? What the Gospel is	101
The question, Whether the gospel has always been known, considered	102
In what the Gospel differs from the Law	104
What the effects of the Gospel are	105
From what the truth of the Gospel appears	105
Question 20: Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ? The, question, Whether all men as they perished in Adam, are saved in Christ, considered	106

THE SUBJECT OF FAITH.

Question 21: What is true faith? What faith is	108
How many kinds of faith there are	108
In what faith and hope differ	112
What the causes of faith are	112
What the effects of faith	113
To whom faith is given	113
The assurance of faith, with a refutation of certain objections	114
Question 22: What is then necessary for a Christian to believe? The objects or contents of faith	116

THE APOSTLES CREED.

Question 23: What are these articles? Why it is called apostolic	117
Why other creeds were introduced	117
Why the greatest authority should be attached to the Apostles Creed	118
Question 24: How are these articles divided? The division of the Creed	119

CONCERNING THE ONE TRUE GOD.

Question 25: Since there is but one divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? The evidences of the existence of God	121
Who, and what God is	123
The unity of God	128
What the terms Essence, Person, and Trinity signify, and in what they differ	129
Whether the church should retain these terms	132
The number of persons in the Godhead	133
How these persons are distinguished	135
Why the church should retain the doctrine of the Trinity	137
Objections against the doctrine of the Trinity refuted	138

OF GOD THE FATHER.

Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, ? I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth??

What it is to believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker, &c.

139

OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.

Whether God created the world	141
How God created the world	143
The end for which God created the world	145

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God? Whether there be any providence of God	148
Arguments from the works of God	148
Arguments from the nature and attributes of God	150
What the Providence of God is	151
A table of those things which fall under the providence of God	155
Objections to this doctrine refuted	157
Question 28. What dost thou mean by the providence of God? The benefit and use of this doctrine	163

OF GOD THE SON, AND THE NAMES WHICH ARE APPLIED TO HIM.

CONCERNING THE NAME JESUS.

Question 29. Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, a Saviour? What it imports	164
The difference between this Jesus and other saviours	166
What it is to believe in Jesus	168
Question 30. Do such then believe in Jesus the only Saviour, who seek their salvation and happiness of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else? The question, Whether such as seek their salvation out of Jesus really believe in him, considered.	168

CONCERNING THE NAME, CHRIST.

Question 31. Why is he called Christ, that is, anointed? What the anointing of Christ signifies	170
What the prophetical office of Christ is	172
What the priestly office of Christ is	174
What the kingly office of Christ is	176
Question 32. But why art thou called a Christian? What the term Christian imports	176
What the prophetical, priestly, and regal dignity of Christians consists in	170

OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

Question 33. Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?

In what sense Christ is the only begotten Son of God

181

A table of the Sons of God

183

THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

Whether Christ was a subsistent or person before he assumed our nature	185
Whether he is a person distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost	192
Whether he is equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost	193
Whether he is consubstantial	196
General rules according to which an answer may be given to the sophisms of heretics	197
Special rules serving the same ends	198
A refutation of the sophisms against the Divinity of the Son	200

CONCERNING THE NAME, LORD.

Question 34. Wherefore callest thou him our Lord?

In what sense Christ is called Lord

202

In how many ways, and why he is called our Lord

203

What it is to believe in Christ, our Lord

204

OF THE CONCEPTION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST.

Question 35. What is the meaning of these words, ?He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary?? What Christ's conception by the Holy Ghost means	205
Why he was born of the Virgin Mary	206
Question 36. What profit dost thou receive by Christ's holy conception and nativity? The profit of Christ's holy conception and nativity	207
What it is, to believe in the conception and nativity of Christ	207

OF THE TWO NATURES IN CHRIST.

Whether there be two natures in Christ	208
Whether these two natures constitute one or more persons	210
What the hypostatical union is	211
Why it was necessary to constitute this union	211

THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.

Question 37. What dost thou understand by he words, ?he suffered?? What the term passion signifies	212
Whether Christ suffered according to both natures	215
What the moving causes of his passion were	216
What the final causes, or fruits	216
Question 38. Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate, as his judge? The question, Why Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, considered	217
Question 39. Is there any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death? Whether there is any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death	218

THE DEATH AND BURIAL Of CHRIST.

Question 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?

How Christ is said to have been dead

219

Whether the death of Christ was necessary

220

Whether Christ died for all

221

Question 41. Why was he also ?buried??

Why Christ was buried

225

Question 42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

Why believers must die

226

Question 43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

The benefits, or fruits of Christ s death

227

CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL.

Question 44. Why is there added, ?he descended into hell??

What Christ's descent into hell signifies

228

What the fruits of his descent into hell are

232

THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

Question 45. What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us? Whether Christ rose from the dead	233
How Christ rose from the dead	234
Why he rose	235
The fruits or benefits of Christ s resurrection	238

THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.

Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, ?he ascended into heaven??

Whither Christ ascended

242

How Christ ascended

243

Question 47. Is not Christ then with us, even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?

Certain objections of the Ubiquitarians refuted

247

Question 48. But if his human nature is not present wherever his God head is, are then these two natures in Christ separated from one another.

For what purpose Christ ascended

249

In what Christ's ascension differs from ours

251

Question 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?

What the fruits of Christ s ascension are

251

CHRIST'S SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.

Question 50. Why is it added, ?and sitteth at the right hand of God? What the right hand of God signifies	254
What it is to sit at the right hand of God	254
Whether Christ always sat at the right hand of God	257
Question 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us? What the fruits of Christ s sitting at the right hand of God are	259

CHRIST'S RETURN TO JUDGMENT.

Question 52. What comfort is it to thee, that ?Christ?s shall come again to judge the quick and the dead?? Whether there be a future judgment	260
What the final judgment is	262
Who the Judge will be	264
Whence and whither he will come	265
How he will come	265
Whom he will judge	266
What the process, sentence and execution of the final judgment will be	266
The objects of this judgment	267
When this judgment will take place	267
The reasons why we should look for it	268
The reasons why God has not revealed the time when it will take place	268
Why it is deferred	269
Whether it may be desired	269

OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST.

Question 53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost? What the term Spirit signifies	270
Who and what the Holy Ghost is	271
What the office of the Holy Ghost	277
What, and how manifold the gifts of the Holy Ghost are	279
By whom and why the Holy Ghost was given	280
To whom and to what extent he is given	281
When and how the Holy Ghost is given and received	281
How the Holy Ghost may be retained	283
Whether and how the Holy Ghost may be lost	283
Why the Holy Ghost is necessary	284
How we may know that the Holy Ghost is in us	285

THE CHURCH.

Question 54. What believest thou concerning the ?Holy Catholic Church? of Christ? What the church is	286
How manifold it is	286
What the marks of the true church are	288
Why the church is called one, holy and Catholic	289
In what the church differs from the state	291
The cause of the difference between the church and the rest of mankind	292
Whether there is any salvation out of the church	292

THE ETERNAL PREDESTINATION OF GOD.

Whether there be any predestination	293
What it is	297
What the causes of it are	297
What the effects of it are	300
Whether it be unchangeable	300
To what extent it may be known	301
Whether the elect are always members of the church and the reprobate never	302
Whether the elect may fall from the church and the reprobate always remain in it	303
What the use of this doctrine is	303

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

Question 55. What do you understand by ?the communion of saints??

What the communion of saints is

304

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

Question 56. What believest thou concerning ?the forgiveness of sins?? What the forgiveness of sins is	395
By whom forgiveness of sins is granted	306
On account of what is forgiveness granted	307
Whether forgiveness of sins agrees with divine justice	307
Whether it be gratuitous	308
To whom it is granted	308
How and when it is granted	308

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.

Question. 57. What comfort doth the ?resurrection of the body? afford thee? Whether the soul be immortal	309
Where the soul is when separated from the body	311
What the resurrection is, and what the errors in reference to it	312
From what the truth of a future resurrection is inferred	313
The kind of bodies which will rise in the resurrection	315
How the resurrection will be effected	316
When it will take place	316
By whose power the dead will be raised	317
Why and to what state the dead will be raised	317

THE LIFE EVERLASTING.

Question 58. What comfort takest thou from the article of ?life everlasting?" What everlasting life is	319
By whom it is given	321
To whom it is given	321
Why it is given	322
How it is given	322
When it is given	323
Whether and whence we may be assured of it	323

THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION.

Question 59. But what doth it profit thee now, that thou believest all this? Question 60. How art thou righteous before God? What righteousness in general is	325
How manifold it is	325
In what righteousness differs from justification	326
What our righteousness before God is	327
How the satisfaction of Christ is made ours	328
Why it is made ours	330
Question. 61. Why sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only? Why we are justified by faith only	331
Question. 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God? Why our good works cannot justify us	333
Question 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and a future life? How a reward is promised to our works	334
Question 64. But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane? Whether this doctrine makes men careless	335
Other objections to this doctrine refuted	336

THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL.

Question. 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ, and all his benefits, by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed? Question 66. What are the sacraments? What sacraments are	340 341
What the designs of the sacraments	344
In what sacraments differ from sacrifices	345
In what the sacraments of the Old and New Testaments agree and differ	346
What the signs are; and what the things signified in the sacraments, and in what they differ	347
What the sacramental union is	348
What sacramental phrases are	349
What the lawful use of the sacraments consists in	350
What the ungodly receive in the sacraments	351
Question 67. Are both word and sacraments then ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the cross, as the only ground for our salvation? What the sacraments and word have in common, and in what they differ	352
Question 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant or testament? How many sacraments there are	353
Theses concerning the sacraments in general	354

HOLY BAPTISM.

Question 69. How art thou admonished and assured, by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee? What Baptism is	357
What the ends of Baptism are	358
Question 70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ? Question 71. Where has Christ promised us that he will as certainly wash us by his blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism? The institution of Baptism, and what the words of the institution signify	361 362
What the lawful use of Baptism consists in	363
Sacramental phrases in reference to Baptism Question 72. Is then the external baptism with water, the washing away of sin itself? Question 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism ?the washing of regeneration,? and ?the washing away of sins??	364 365
Question 74. Are infants also to be baptized? The question of infant Baptism considered	366
The objections of the Anabaptists refuted	368
Theses concerning Baptism	371

OF CIRCUMCISION.

What circumcision is	374
Why circumcision was instituted	374
Why it was abolished	375
What there is in the place of circumcision	375
In what circumcision and baptism agree and differ	375
Why Christ was circumcised	376

THE LORD'S SUPPER.

Question 75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord?s supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits? What the Lord's Supper is	377
What the design of it is	379
In what the Lord s Supper differs from Baptism	380
Question 76. What is it then to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ? The institution of the Supper and the true sense of the words of the institution	381 382
Question 77. Where has Christ promised, that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup? Question 78. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ? The controversy respecting the words of the institution of the holy Supper	382 390
Four classes of arguments in favor of the orthodox interpretation of the words of Christ	391
The testimony of the Fathers	403
Of transubstantiation	406
Of consubstantiation	407
The schism of the Consubstantialists	410
Objections in favor of consubstantiation refuted	412
Question 79. Why then doth Christ call the bread his body, and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood; and Paul the ?communion of the body and blood of Christ?? Question 80. What difference is there between the Lord?s supper and the Popish mass? The difference between the Lord s Supper and the Popish Mass	415 416
Question 81. For whom is the Lord?s supper instituted? For whom the Lord's Supper was instituted	424
What the wicked receive in the use of the Supper	426
What the lawful use of the Supper consists in	428
Question 82. Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves infidels and ungodly? Whom the church should admit to the Supper	429
Certain arguments of the Consubstantialists noticed	435
The general points in which the churches professing the gospel agree and differ in the controversy respecting the Lord s Supper	435

THE PASSOVER.

What the Passover was	437
What the design of the Passover was	438
The points of resemblance between Christ and the Paschal Lamb	439
Whether the Passover be abolished	440

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OP HEAVEN.

Question 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? What the power of the keys given to the church is	441
Whether ecclesiastical discipline be necessary	442
How it is to be exercised	446
What the design of it is, and what abuses are to be avoided	448
In what the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven differs from civil power	450
A disputation respecting excommunication	453

OF THANKFULNESS.

What thankfulness is

464

Question 86. Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?

Why it is necessary

465

MAN'S CONVERSION TO GOD.

Question 87. Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God? Question 88. In how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist? Question 89. What is the mortification of the old man? Question 90. What is the quickening of the new man? Whether conversion be necessary	466 467 467 468
What conversion to God is	468
What the parts of man s conversion are	470
What the causes of it	472
What the fruits of it	474
Whether it be perfect in this life	474
In what the repentance of the godly differs from that of the ungodly	475

CONCERNING GOOD WORKS.

Question 91. But what are good works? What good works are	476
A table of good works	479
How they may be performed	479
Whether the works of the regenerate are perfectly good	481
How they please God	482
Why they should be done	482
Whether they merit any thing in the sight of God	485

THE LAW OF GOD.

Question 92. What is the law of God? What the law of God is	489
What the parts of the law and their differences	490
To what extent the law has been abrogated	492
In what the law differs from the gospel	497
Question 93. How are these ten commandments divided? The division of the law	498
A table of the division of the Decalogue	502
General rules for the understanding of the Decalogue	502
Theses concerning the Decalogue	505

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.

Question 94. What doth God enjoin in the first command?

The preface to the Decalogue considered

507

The design of this commandment

507

The virtues of the first commandment

Question 95: What is idolatry (this question is not in Ursinus commentary)

508

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.

Question 96. What does God require in the second command? The design of this commandment	517
What it prohibits and sanctions	517
Of human precepts and the authority of tradition	519
Question 97. Are images then not at all to be made? Whether all statues and images are here forbidden	525
Whether all worshipping of images is forbidden	528
Question 98. But may not images be tolerated in the churches, as books to the laity? Why images are not to be tolerated in our churches	530
How and by whom they are to be removed	531
Objections against the removal of images refuted	532
The exhortation added to this commandment considered	534

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.

Question 99. What is required in the third command? Question 100. Is then the profaning of God s name by swearing and cursing, so heinous a sin, that his wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavour, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing? What the name of God signifies	536 536 536
What this commandment forbids, and enjoins, with the design thereof	536
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto	537
The arguments of the Papists in favor of the invocation of the saints considered and refuted	542

THE DOCTRINE OF THE OATH.

Question 102. May we also swear by saints, or any other creatures? What an oath is	549
By whom we are to swear	550
Whether it is lawful for Christians to take an oath	551
What oaths are lawful and what unlawful	554
Whether all oaths should be kept	554

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 103. What doth God require in the fourth command? The design of this commandment	557
An explanation of the words of the commandment	558
What and how manifold the sabbath is	561
How far the sabbath pertains to us	564
The design of the sabbath	566
How it is sanctified and how profaned	566
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto	567

THE ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY.

What the ministry of the church is	571
Why it was instituted	571
What the grades of ministers are	572
What the duties of ministers	572
To whom the ministry should be committed	573

CONCERNING CEREMONIES.

What ceremonies are	573
In what they differ from moral works	573
How many kinds of ceremonies there are	574
Whether the church may institute ceremonies	574

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 104. What doth God require in the fifth command? Why obedience to the second table is necessary	575
The design of this commandment	575
The commandment itself	575
The promise annexed thereto	576
The virtues peculiar to superiors	577
The virtues peculiar to inferiors	579
The virtues common to both	580

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 105. What doth God require in the sixth command? Question 106. But this command seems only to speak of murder. Question 107. But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above? The design of this commandment	584
The virtues which do not injure the safety of men	585
The virtues which contribute to the safety of men	586
A table of the sixth commandment	587

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.

The design of this commandment

589

The virtues of this commandment

588

Three classes of lusts

589

OF MARRIAGE.

What marriage is	592
Why it was instituted	592
What marriages are lawful	596
Whether it be a thing indifferent	594
What the duties of married persons are	594
What things are contrary to marriage	595

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 111. But what doth God require in this command? The design of this commandment	595
The virtues of the eighth commandment	596
Ten kinds of contracts	596
Objections against the division of property	599

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 112. What is required in the ninth command?

The design of this commandment

600

The virtues of this commandment with the vices opposed thereto

601

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.

Question 113. What doth the tenth commandment require of us?

The commandment respecting concupiscence one and not two

605

The design of this commandment

605

The principal arguments of the Pelagians

606

THE POSSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW.

Question 114. But can those who are converted to God, perfectly keep these commands?

How the law was possible before the fall, and how since the fall

608

Objections against the imperfection of the works of the regenerate

609

THE USE OF THE LAW.

Question 115. Why will God then have the ten commands so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them? The use of the ceremonial law	612
The use of the judicial law	612
The use of the moral law in nature as pure and holy	612
In nature fallen and depraved	613
In nature restored by Christ	613
In nature perfectly glorified	615
Principal arguments of the Antinomians against the use of the law	615

OF PRAYER.

Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians? What prayer is	619
Why it is necessary	620
Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear? Question 118. What hath God commanded us to ask of him? What the conditions of acceptable prayer are	621
Question 119. What are the words of that prayer? The Lord's Prayer	624
Question 120. Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus, ?OUR FATHER?? The preface to the Lord s Prayer Question 121. Why is here added, ?WHICH ART IN HEAVEN??	626

THE FIRST PETITION.

Question 122. Which is the first petition?

What the name of God signifies

630

What it is to hallow the name of God

630

THE SECOND PETITION.

Question 123. Which is the second petition? What the kingdom of God is	632
How manifold it is	633
Who the Head and King is	634
Who the subjects are	634
What the laws are	634
What benefits pertain to the subjects of this kingdom	635
Who the enemies of this kingdom are	635
Where it is administered	635
How long it will continue	635
How it comes to us	636
Why we should pray for the coming of this kingdom	636

THE THIRD PETITION.

Question 124. Which is the third petition? What the Will of God is	637
What we desire in this petition, and in what it differs from the second	637
Why it is necessary	636
Why it is added, As in heaven	640

THE FOURTH PETITION.

Question 125. Which is the fourth petition? Why temporal blessings should be prayed for	642
How they should be prayed for	643
Why Christ comprehends temporal blessings under the term bread	643
Why Christ calls it our bread	644
Why Christ calls it daily bread	645
Why Christ adds, This day	645
Whether it be lawful to pray for riches	645
Whether it be lawful to lay any thing by for the time to come	646

THE FIFTH PETITION.

Question 126. What is the fifth petition? What Christ means by debts	648
What it is to forgive debts	649
Why we should desire the forgiveness of sins	650
How our sins are remitted unto us	650

THE SIXTH PETITION.

Question 127. Which is the sixth petition? What temptation is	653
What it is to lead into temptation	654
What is implied in delivering us from evil	655
Why this petition is necessary	655
What is the benefit of this petition	656
The order and connection of these petitions	657
Question 128. How dost thou conclude thy prayer? The conclusion of this prayer.	658
Question 129. What doth the word ?AMEN? signify? The meaning of the word, Amen	659

Question 81. For whom is the Lord?s supper instituted?