Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q1. Why are most part of the commands of the law delivered in negative terms?
A. Because negative precepts are of the strictest obligation, binding always, and at all times.
Q2. Why is the First Commandment, in particular, so expressed?
A. Bec:use of the perpetual propensity of our nature, since the fall, to depart from the living God, "through an evil heart of unbelief," Heb. 3:12.
Q3. Why is this commandment set in front of all the rest?
A. To teach us, that the having JEHOVAH to be our God, is the leading and fundamental duty of the law, Ex. 15:2, which sweetly and powerfully influences obedience to all the other commands of it, Psalm 118:28.
Q4. What influence has obedience to the first, upon obedience to the other precepts of the law?
A. As obedience to the First Commandment, is to believe that God is our God, upon the gift of himself to us, in these words, I am the Lord thy God; so, without believing this it is impossible we can do any thing else that will please him, Heb. 11:6; for "whatsoever is not of faith is sin," Rom. 14:23.
Q5. Why do this, and other commands, run in the second person singular, THOU, and not in the plural, YOU, or YE?
A. To signify, that God would have us to take his commandments, as spoken to each of us in particular, as if we were mentioned by name.
Q6. What is the connexion between the preface and the First Commandment?
A. The preface reveals and exhibits the object of faith, and the First Commandment enjoins the duty of believing on that object: the one makes a grant of grace, and the other warrants us to lay hold on it.
Q7. Are the preface and First Commandment of equal extent?
A. Yes; every one to whom the promise in the preface is revealed, is obliged, by the command, to believe it, with application, John 3:18.
Q8. Can the obligation of the law be in the least weakened by the grace of the gospel, published in the preface?
A. So far from it, that it is impossible for any man to share of the grace of the gospel, published in the preface, but in a way of believing, enjoined in the first command of the law, Rom. 3:31 - "Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid."
Q9. What are the chief duties required in the First Commandment, as thus connected with the preface
A. To know and acknowledge God, to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q10. What KNOWLEDGE of God does the First Commandment require?
A. It requires us to know that God is; and that he is such a God as he has manifested himself to be in his word, Heb. 11:6.
Q11. What has God manifested himself to be in his word?
A. He has manifested himself to be, "The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;" namely, without a satisfaction, Ex. 34:6, 7; or, he has manifested himself to be in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, 2 Cor. 5:19.
Q12. What is it to know God as he is in Christ?
A. It is to know that he is well pleased for Christ's righteousness' sake, because he has magnified the law, and made it honourable, Isaiah 42:21.
Q13. How is the knowledge of God usually distinguished?
A. Into speculative or common, and practical or saving knowledge.
Q14. What is the speculative or common knowledge of God?
A. It is only a floating knowledge of him in the head, without any saving influence or efficacy upon the heart and practice; as is to be found in ungodly persons or hypocrites, who may "profess that they know God, but in works they deny him," Titus 1:16.
Q15. What is it to have a saving and practical knowledge of God?
A. It is to have such a lively apprehension of his relation to us as our God in Christ, as is accompanied with an habitual conformity to his will, in heart and life, 1 John 2:3, 4.
Q16. What are the evidences of true saving knowledge?
A. It is an experimental, Col. 1:6, interesting, Psalm 41:11, sanctifying, 2 Pet. 1:8, and humbling knowledge, Job 40:4, 5.
Q17. What is it to acknowledge God?
A. It is to own, avouch, and confess him, both in secret, and before the world, Rom. 10:10, - "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
Q18. Why are the knowing and acknowledging of God joined together?
A. Because wherever the saving knowledge of God is implanted in the heart, there will be always some evidences of it, either to ourselves, or others, discovered in the life, Dan. 11:32 - "The people that do know their God, shall be strong, and do exploits."
Q19. What should we know and acknowledge God to be?
A. We should know and acknowledge him to be the only true God, and our God.
Q20. What is it to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God?
A. It is to believe and profess, that he alone, and none else, is possessed of all infinite perfection, and that the perfections of the divine nature are most eminently displayed and manifested in the person of Christ, our only Saviour and Redeemer, Hos. 13:4 - "Thou shalt know no God but me: for there is no Saviour besides me."
Q21. What is it to know and acknowledge God to be our God?
A. It is to profess our relation to him, as his people, upon the faith of the grant that he makes of himself to us as ours, in the word; Deut. 26:17, 18; Psalm 48:14.
Q22. Can we know and acknowledge God to be our God, (as required in this commandment) unless we believe in Christ?
A. No; for "no man cometh unto the Father but by me," says Christ - "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father," John 14:6, 9.
Q23. Is not faith, or believing in Christ, a gospel precept only, and not required in the law?
A. By no means; for, in the gospel, strictly and properly taken, as it is contradistinct from the law, there can be no precept; because the gospel in this strict sense, is nothing else than a PROMISE, or glad tidings of a Saviour, with grace, mercy, and salvation in him, for lost sinners of Adam's family; according to the following scriptures, Gen. 3:15; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 2:10, 11.
Q24. Since faith and repentance are duties consequently to the entrance of sin, and the revelation of the gospel, must they not therefore be new precepts, not given to Adam in innocence?
A. Though there was no occasion for the exercise of these duties in an innocent state; yet Adam being bound by the law of creation, (particularly the Ten Commandments, given him in the form of a covenant of works,) to believe whatever God should reveal, and obey whatever he should command; no sooner was the gospel revelation made, than the very same law, which bound him, while in innocence, to believe in God as his Creator, obliged him, when fallen, to believe in God as his Redeemer, now revealed and made known to him; and likewise to turn from sin to God, Rom. 3:31.
Q25. Whence is it that the obligation of the law is so extensive, as to bind to the belief of whatever God shall reveal?
A. This arises from the absolute perfection of the law, which being a complete rule of all obedience, cannot but fasten the duty, the same moment that the object is revealed, Psalm 119:96 - "Thy commandment is exceeding broad."
Q26. What is the absurdity of making faith and repentance new gospel precepts?
A. The absurdity is, that by this another righteousness is introduced in our own persons, than the righteousness of Christ, as the immediate ground of our pardon and acceptance before God.
Q27. How does this absurdity necessarily follow from the aforesaid doctrine?
A. If Christ, as our surety, has fulfilled the precept, and endured the penalty of the moral law, according to Gal. 4:4, 5, then it cannot but follow, that this law of faith and repentance, not being fulfilled by him, must be fulfilled by ourselves, in our own persons, as our righteousness before God: and thus another ground of justification is established, besides the Surety righteousness, contrary to Gal. 2:16, and 3:21.
Q28. What is the doctrine of our Larger Catechism on this head?
A. That believing and trusting in God (which is the same with faith,) "being careful in all things to please him," and "sorrowful when in any thing he is offended," (which is the same with repentance,) are among "the duties required in the First Commandment:" and that "unbelief - distrust - incorrigibleness - and hardness of heart, or impenitency, (according to Rom. 2:5, there quoted,) are among the sins forbidden in it."62
Q29. What does God require of us in this commandment, as the evidence of our knowing and acknowledging him to be the only true God, and our God?
A. That we worship and glorify him accordingly, Matt. 4:10 - "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
Q30. What is it to worship God?
A. It is to make him the supreme object of our esteem, Psalm 71:19, desire, Psalm 73:25, and delight, Psalm 142:5, and that not only in our secret devotions, but likewise when joining with others in any religious exercise, Psalm 111:1.
Q31. What is it to glorify him?
A. It is to ascribe all possible glory and perfection to him, Ex. 15:11, and, in all our actions, to aim at the advancement of his honour and glory in the world, 1 Cor. 10:31.
Q32. What is imported in our being required to worship and glorify him accordingly?
A. It imports, that since God commands us to know and acknowledge him, not only to be the true God, but our own God, in virtue of the covenant grant he makes of himself in the word; it becomes us, in all our actions, religious and civil to behave towards him, as standing in such a near and intimate relation to us, Psalm 45:11; 1 Cor. 6:20.
Q33. Can we glorify God aright, unless we acknowledge him to be our God in Christ?
A. No; for, unless we acknowledge a God in Christ, as our God, we make him a liar, in saying, I am the Lord thy God, and rebel against his authority in the First Commandment, which is, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Q34. Is believing the promise, then, the foundation of all acceptable worship and obedience?
A. Yes; for all true obedience, is "the obedience of faith," Rom. 16:26, and "without faith it is impossible to please God," Heb. 11:6.
Q35. In what manner are we required to worship and glorify God?
A. Both inwardly in our hearts, John 4:24, and outwardly in our lives, Matt. 5:16.
Q36. How are we to worship God inwardly in our hearts?
A. By trusting, Isaiah 26:4; hoping, Psalm 130:5, and delighting in him, Psalm 37:4; by thinking and meditating upon him, Mal. 3:16, Psalm 63; devoting ourselves to him, Isaiah 44:5; and by being filled with grief, when he is offended by ourselves or others, Psalm 38:18, and 119:136.
Q37. How are we to worship and glorify him outwardly in our lives?
A. By praying to him, and praising him with our lips, Psalm 142:1, and 145:21; by being zealous for his glory, Psalm 69:9; careful to please him, Col. 1:10; and by walking humbly before him, Micah. 6:8.
Q38. What improvement ought we to make of the covenant grant in the preface, I am the Lord thy God; and the precept enjoining the belief of this, Thou shalt have no other gods before me?
A. That it is the duty of every one of us, without waiting till we find gracious qualifications wrought in us, instantly to lay claim to a God in Christ, as our God, Psalm 95:7; this being what he requires in the first place, as the foundation of all other acts of obedience, 2 Chron. 20:20.
Q39. If it is an external federal relation to the visible church, which God asserts in the preface, when he says, I am the Lord thy God, how can the First Commandment warrant the faith of a special relation?
A. As the command always warrants a particular application of every general promise, so the external federal relation which God bears to the visible church, becomes a special one, the moment that the promise is believed with a particular applicatory faith, Jer. 3:22.
Q1. Does that which forbids us to have any other gods, require us to have the true God?
A. Yes: Put away the strange gods, and serve the Lord only, 1 Sam. 7:3, 4.
Q2. Is it our duty to acknowledge God?
A. Yes: The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God, 1 Kings 18:39.
Q3. And must we acknowledge him to be the only true God?
A. Yes: Thou art the God, even thou alone, 2 Kings 19:15.
Q4. Is it our duty to acquaint ourselves with him?
A. Yes: Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace, Job 22:21.
Q5. Must we grow in that acquaintance?
A. Yes: Increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. 1:10.
Q6. And may we attain to it?
A. Yes: Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6:3.
Q7. Must we accept of God for our God?
A. Yes: Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, Deut. 26:17, 18.
Q8. And must we join ourselves to him?
A. Yes: Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant, Jer. 50:5.
Q9. And consent to be his?
A. Yes: O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, Ps. 116:16.
Q10. Must we take God the Father to be our chief good and highest end?
A. Yes: O God, thou art my God, Ps. 63:1.
Q11. And God the Son to be our Prince and Saviour?
A. Yes: My Lord and my God, John 20:28.
Q12. And God the Holy Ghost to be our sanctifier, teacher, guide, and comforter?
A. Yes: For they that are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God, Rom. 8:14.
Q13. Must we renounce all others?
A. Yes: For by thee only will we make mention of thy name, Isa. 26:13.
Q14. Must we do this deliberately?
A. Yes: Choose ye this day whom ye will serve, Josh. 24:15.
Q15. Must we do it solemnly?
A. Yes: One shall say, I am the Lord's and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, Isa. 44:5.
Q16. Must we do it resolutely?
A. Yes: Nay, but we will serve the Lord, Josh. 24:21.
Q17. May we be at liberty to change our Master?
A. No: But with purpose of heart must cleave to the Lord, Acts 11:23.
Q18. When we have avouched the Lord for our God, must we apply ourselves to him?
A. Yes: If the Lord be God, then follow him, 1 Kings 18:21.
Q19. Must we glorify him accordingly?
A. Yes: Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name, Ps. 39:2.
Q20. Must we worship him?
A. Yes: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, Matt. 4:10.
Q21. Must we worship him with inward worship?
A. Yes: We must serve him with our spirits, Rom. 1:9.
Q22. Is that the worship he requires?
A. Yes: For such the Father seeks to worship him, John 4:28.
Q23. Must we remember God?
A. Yes: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, Eccl. 12:1.
Q24. And think of him with delight?
A. Yes: My meditation of him shall be sweet, Ps. 104:34.
Q25. Must we adore and admire him?
A. Yes: Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Exod. 15:11.
Q26. Must we fear him above all?
A. Yes: Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread, Isa. 8:13.
Q27. And reverence him?
A. Yes: He is to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. Ps. 89:7.
Q28. Must we submit to his word?
A. Yes: Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears, 1 Sam. 3:9.
Q29. And submit to his will?
A. Yes: It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good, 1 Sam. 3:18.
Q30. Must we love God above all?
A. Yes: O love the Lord all ye his saints, Ps. 31:23.
Q31. Must our desire be towards him?
A. Yes: So panteth my soul after thee O God, Ps. 43:1.
Q32. Must our delight be in him?
A. Yes: Delight thyself always in the Lord, Ps. 37:4.
Q33. Must our dependence be upon him?
A. Yes: In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust, Ps. 31:1.
Q34. Must we live a life of communion with God?
A. Yes: Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord, Ps. 25:15.
Q35. And a life of complacency in him?
A. Yes: Rejoice in the Lord always, Phil. 4:4.
Q36. And a life of conformity to him?
A. Yes: Be ye holy, for I am holy, 1 Pet. 1:16.
Q37. And a life of confidence in him?
A. Yes: Commit thy way unto the Lord, Ps. 37:5.
Q38. And a life of regard to him?
A. Yes: In all thy ways acknowledge him, Prov. 3:6.
Q39. Must our hearts go out towards him?
A. Yes: Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, Ps. 25:1.
Q40. And must we have him always in our eye?
A. Yes; I have set the Lord always before me, Ps. 16:8.
Q41. And must we walk with him in the whole course of our conversation?
A. Yes: As Enoch walked with God, Gen. 5:24.
Q42. And is this inward worship the life of religion?
A. Yes: It is better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, Mark 12:33.
Log in to save personal notes on this question.
The Ten Commandments
The moral law and what God requires of man
Q39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
Q40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.
Q41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Q42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves.
Q43. What is the preface to the ten commandments?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Q44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
Q45. Which is the first commandment?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Q46. What is required in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly.
Q47. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone.
Q48. What are we specially taught by these words, 'before me', in the first commandment?
A. These words, before me, in the first commandment teach us, that God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God.
Q49. Which is the second commandment?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thy self to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Q50. What is required in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word.
Q51. What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word.
Q52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.
Q53. Which is the third commandment?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Q54. What is required in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverend use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works.
Q55. What is forbidden in the third commandment?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known.
Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
Q57. Which is the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Q58. What is required in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself.
Q59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath?
A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian sabbath.
Q60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.
Q61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations.
Q62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath day.
Q63. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Q64. What is required in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.
Q65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations.
Q66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.
Q67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour, unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Q70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Q71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior.
Q72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.
Q74. What is required in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
Q75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's, wealth or outward estate.
Q76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Q77. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness bearing.
Q78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own, or our neighbour's, good name.
Q79. Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's.
Q80. What is required in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his.
Q81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.
Q82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.
Q83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?
A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.
Q84. What doth every sin deserve?
A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.