The Moral Law: what changed

From Westminster Larger Catechism (1648) to Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647). 8 of 9 sections differ.

Read them in parallel instead

Struck through is in WLC only; underlined is in WSC only. Punctuation and capitalisation are ignored — they were modernised freely, and would otherwise bury the substantive edits.

WLC 91 WSC 39

unchanged

What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.

WLC 92 WSC 40

1% changed

What did God at first reveal unto to man as for the rule of his obedience? The rule of obedience which God at first revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence, and to all mankind in him, besides a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man for his obedience, was the moral law.

WLC 93 WSC 41

1% changed

What Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to mankind, directing and binding everyone to personal, perfect, and perpetual conformity and obedience thereunto, summarily comprehended in the frame and disposition of the whole man, soul and body, and in performance of all those duties of holiness and righteousness which he oweth to God and man: promising life upon the fulfilling, and threatening death upon the breach of it.ten commandments.

WLC 94 WSC 42

1% changed

What is there any use the sum of the moral law ten commandments? The sum of the ten commandments is, To man since love the fall? Although no man, since the fall, can attain to righteousness Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and life by the moral law; yet there is great use thereof, with all our mind; and our neighbour as well common to all men, as peculiar either to the unregenerate, or the regenerate.ourselves.

WLC 95 WSC 43

1% changed

Of What use is the moral law preface to all men? the moral law ten commandments? The preface to the ten commandments is of use to all men, to inform them in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the holy nature and will land of God, and of their duty, binding them to walk accordingly; to convince them of their disability to keep it, and Egypt, out of the sinful pollution house of their nature, hearts, and lives; to humble them in the sense of their sin and misery, and thereby help them to a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and of the perfection of his obedience.bondage.

WLC 96 WSC 44

1% changed

What particular use doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is there of the moral law Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to unregenerate men? The moral law is of use to unregenerate men, to awaken their consciences to flee from wrath to come, and to drive them to Christ; or, upon their continuance in the estate and way of sin, to leave them inexcusable, and under the curse thereof.keep all his commandments.

WLC 97 WSC — none

1% changed

What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate? Although they that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works, so as thereby they are neither justified nor condemned; yet, besides the general uses thereof common to them with all men, it is of special use, to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead, and for their good; and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness, and to express the same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule of their obedience.

WLC 98 WSC — none

1% changed

Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone; and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man.

WLC 99 WSC — none

1% changed

What rules are to be observed for the right understanding of the ten commandments? For the right understanding of the ten commandments, these rules are to be observed: 1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth everyone to full conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, and unto entire obedience forever; so as to require the utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least degree of every sin. 2. That it is spiritual, and so reaches the understanding, will, affections, and all other powers of the soul; as well as words, works, and gestures. 3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is required or forbidden in several commandments. 4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden; and, where a sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded: so, where a promise is annexed, the contrary threatening is included; and, where a threatening is annexed, the contrary promise is included. 5. That what God forbids, is at no time to be done; What he commands, is always our duty; and yet every particular duty is not to be done at all times. 6. That under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations thereunto. 7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, we are bound, according to our places, to endeavor that it may be avoided or performed by others, according to the duty of their places. 8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them; and to take heed of partaking with others in: What is forbidden them.