Q1. What is it to believe what the scriptures teach?

A. It is to assent and give credit to the truths thereof, because of the authority of God, whose word the scriptures are, John 3:33 - "He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true."

Q2. Are we to believe nothing in point of faith, and do nothing in point of duty, but what we are taught in the scripture?

A. No; because the scripture is the only book in the world of divine authority; and the revealed will and command of God therein, being so exceeding broad, nothing is incumbent on us to believe and do, but what is either directly, or consequentially prescribed in it, Isaiah 8:20.

Q3. Why are the scriptures said principally to teach matters of faith and practice?

A. Because though all things revealed in the scripture be equally true, yet every thing in it is not equally necessary to salvation, 1 Cor. 7:12, 13.

Q4. What is the order of doctrine laid down in this question?

A. Faith or believing is made the foundation of duty, or obedience; and not our obedience, or duty, the foundation of our faith, Titus 3:8.

Q5. Why are the things to be believed, set before the things to be practised?

A. To distinguish between the order of things in the covenant of grace, from what they were in innocency, in the covenant of works, Gal. 3:12.

Q6. What was the order of things in the covenant of works?

A. Doing, or perfect obedience to the law, was the foundation of the promised privilege of life: "The man which doeth these things, shall live by them," Rom. 10:5.

Q7. Is this order inverted in the covenant of grace, or gospel revelation?

A. Yes; the promise is to be believed, and the promised privilege, namely, life, must be freely received; and upon this follows our obedience to the law, from gratitude and love, Jer. 31:18, 19.

Q8. How does it appear that this is the order of gospel doctrine?

A. Because this is the order that God laid, in delivering the law at Mount Sinai; the foundation of faith is first laid in these words of the preface, "I am the Lord thy God," &c., which is the sum and substance of the covenant of grace; and then follow the Ten Commandments, which are, as it were, grafted upon this grant of sovereign grace and love, Ex. 20:2-17.

Q9. Is this the order of doctrine laid down in the standards of the church of Scotland?

A. Yes; as appears from this answer to that question in the Shorter Catechism, "What doth the preface to the Ten Commandments teach us?" The Answer is, "That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer; therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments."11

Q10. Are we then to keep the commandments, that God may become our God?

A. No; for this were to slide into a covenant of works; but we are to keep them, because "he is our God," according to the tenor of the covenant of grace; Psalm 45:11, in metre, - "Because he is thy Lord, do thou him worship reverently."

Q11. Why do men naturally think, that upon their doing certain acts, God will be their God?

A. Because of the natural bias of the heart of man, to the order in the covenant of works, "Do, and live," Rom. 9:32, and chap. 10:3

Q12. Does not this order make void the law, or weaken our obligation to the duties of it?

A. By no means; but rather establishes the law, and settles our obligation to duty upon its proper foundation, Rom. 3:31. "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Q13. How is this order of doctrine further evinced?

A. From the method of doctrine observed by the apostle Paul, who tells us, that all true gospel obedience is the obedience of faith, Rom. 16:26. And accordingly in his epistles, he first lays down the doctrine of faith to be believed; and, upon that foundation, proceeds to inculcate the duties that are to be practised.

Q14. Does gospel obedience interest us in God, as our God?

A. No; but it is a fruit and evidence of our interest in him, 1 John 2:3, 5.

Q15. Is there any danger of inverting this order, and of making duty done by us, the foundation of believing the Lord to be our God?

A. There is exceedingly great danger; for it is the very soul of Popery. By inverting this order, they were led back to a covenant of works, and the doctrine of the merit of good works, which is the foundation of the whole Antichristian superstructure.

Q16. Do not we find frequently in scripture, a reward promised to good works, Psalm 19:11 - "In keeping of thy commandments there is a great reward:" Psalm 58:11 - "Verily there is a reward to the righteous?"

A. True; but this is a reward of grace, not of debt: the man that is rewarded, must be a believer in Christ, whose person is first accepted, through his union to Christ by faith, and the imputation of his righteousness, before any of his works or duties can be accepted, Eph. 1:6; Gen. 4:4.

Q17. What may be said of the works of a man that has no faith?

A. They are dead works, and so cannot please a living God. An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit, Matt. 7:18; and without Christ, and union with him, we can do nothing, John 15:4, 5.

Q18. What is to be thought of those who inculcate moral duties, without discovering the necessity of the new birth and union with Christ by faith, as the spring of all acceptable obedience?

A. They are foolish builders, laying their foundation on the sand, perverting the gospel of Christ; against whom the apostle denounces an awful doom, Gal. 1:9 - "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. "

Q1. Why is faith conjoined with obedience, and put before it?

A. Because faith is the principle from whence all obedience flows; and no man can perform any duty aright in the estate of unbelief; Hebrews 11:6. But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to God, must believe that he is.

Q2. Can there be no saving faith where the scriptures are not known and preached?

A. No; for the apostle says, Romans 10:14, 15. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent? And verse 17. So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Q3. Are not we bound to believe what learned men teach us, as points of faith, though the things they teach be not contained in the word of God?

A. No; if the things they teach be not contained expressly, or by necessary consequence in the word of God, we are not obliged to believe them as points of faith; Isaiah 8:20. To the law, and to the testimony, if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them: Galatians 1:8. 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. And Christ has charged us, Matthew 23:10. To call no man master, for one is your master, even Christ.

Q4. Are there some things in scripture more excellent than others; because it is said, the scriptures principally teach matters of faith and duty?

A. Every part of scripture is alike pure; Proverbs 30:5. Every word of God is pure, and of equal authority, but not of equal weight; as several pieces of gold are alike pure, and of the same stamp, but not of equal value.

Q5. What may be inferred hence for use?

A. FIRST, Hence it is our duty to examine what we hear, by the word; and not receive any doctrine because men confidently affirm it, but because the scriptures require it; Acts 17:11. These were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so. SECONDLY, That the Christian religion is not notional, but practical; and that impractical faith saves no man; James 2:20. Faith without works is dead. God is a Spirit

Q1. Is it necessary that we have a faith concerning God?

A. Yes: For he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him, Hebrews 11:6.

Q2. Can we have that faith without being taught?

A. No: For how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? Romans 10:14.

Q3. And have they not heard?

A. Yes: Verily their sound went into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world, Romans 10:18.

Q4. Is not the knowledge of God a great privilege?

A. Yes: For this is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, John 17:3.

Q5. Is it not the best knowledge?

A. Yes: For the knowledge of the holy is understanding, Proverbs 9:10.

Q6. Does the Scripture teach us that knowledge?

A. Yes: For if we receive those words, and hide those commandments with us, then shall we understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God, Proverbs 2:1, 5.

Q7. Do not the works of creation prove that there is a God?

A. Yes: For we understand by the things that are made his eternal power and godhead, Romans 1:20.

Q8. And do not the works of providence prove it?

A. Yes: For verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth, Psalm 58:11

Q9. But do not the Scriptures tell us best what God is?

A. Yes: For no man hath seen God at any time, the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him, John 1:18.

Q10. Are we all concerned to get the knowledge of God?

A. Yes: We should all know him, from the least even to the greatest, Hebrews 8:11.

Q11. Must children get that knowledge?

A. Yes: I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father, 1 John 2:13.

Q12. And must we all grow in that knowledge?

A. Yes: We must follow on to know the Lord, Hosea 6:3.

Q13. Are we to believe what the Scripture reveals concerning God?

A. Yes: For these things are written that we may believe, John 20:31.

Q14. And must we believe all that the Scripture reveals?

A. Yes: Believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets, Acts 24:14.

Q15. Must we believe that which is not revealed?

A. No: For the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2:11.

Q16. Does God require duty of man?

A. Yes: For unto man He said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, that is understanding, Job 28:28.

Q17. Is it enough to believe the truth revealed, if we do not the duty that is required?

A. No: For faith without works is dead, James 2:26.

Q18. Is it enough to do the duty required, though we do not believe the truth revealed?

A. No: For he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, 1 John 5:10.

Q19. Does the Scripture teach us what duty God requires?

A. Yes: He has showed thee what the Lord thy God requires of thee, Mic. 6:8.

Q20. And must we do the duty that the Scripture teaches?

A. Yes: We must observe to do according to all that is written therein, and not turn from it to the right hand, or to the left, Josh. 1:7.

Q21. Must this obedience always accompany faith?

A. Yes: For they which have believed in God must be careful to maintain good works, Tit. 3:8.