Q1. Why does our Catechism make mention of REASONS ANNEXED to this and the three following commandments?

A. Because God himself has been pleased to subjoin to each of these precepts, the reasons, arguments, or motives, that should influence our obedience to them.

Q2. How many reasons are annexed to this Second Commandment?

A. THREE; contained in these words, "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."

Q3. Which is the first of these reasons?

A. It is God's sovereignty over us, in these words I THE LORD; or, I JEHOVAH.

Q4. What do you understand by God's sovereignty over us?

A. It is his absolute supreme power, or right of dominion over us, as his creatures, Rom. 9:20, 21, by which he can dispose of, ver. 22, 23, and prescribe to us as seems to him good, Deut 6:17.

Q5. In what lies the strength of this first reason for worshipping God by means of his own appointment?

A. It lies in this, that being our sovereign Lord, it must be his sole prerogative to prescribe to us the means of his own worship; and, consequently, that it must be our duty to make his pleasure in this, both the rule and reason of our punctual observance of what he enjoins, Psalm 95:2, 3.

Q6. What is the SECOND reason annexed to this commandment?

A. It is his propriety in us, in these words, THY God.

Q7. What other propriety has God in us than by right of creation.

A. He has a propriety likewise by right of redemption, intimated in the preface to the commands, "I am the Lord THY God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage," Ex. 20:2.

Q8. Is it his propriety by right of creation, or by right of redemption, that constitutes the federal relation between him and us?

A. It is his propriety by right of redemption, Isaiah 43:1 - "I have REDEEMED thee; I have called thee by thy name: thou art MINE."

Q9. What influence should his propriety in us, as his people, have upon our receiving and observing the ordinances of his worship?

A. If we are his people: we are ransomed by the blood of his only begotten Son, and so under the strongest ties of duty and gratitude, to cleave to the precise manner of worship prescribed in his word, rejecting all other modes and forms whatever, Josh. 24:24.

Q10. What is the THIRD reason annexed to this commandment?

A. It is the zeal he hath to his own worship, in these words, - I AM A JEALOUS GOD.

Q11. In what sense is God said to be a jealous God?

A. Jealousy is ascribed to him (after the manner of men,) to denote that he puts no confidence in his creatures, Deut. 5:29 that he has his eye upon them; and is highly offended when they slight him and bestow that love upon any other, which is due to him alone, chap. 32:15-26.

Q12. What is it for God to have zeal for his own worship?

A. It is to have Such a regard for the ordinances of his own institution, as highly to resent or revenge any addition to, or alteration of them; of which there is an awful instance in Nadab and Abihu, who offered strange fire before the Lord, Lev. 10:1-4.

Q13. In what does God manifest his zeal for his worship?

A. Both by way of threatening, and by way of promise.

Q14. What does God threaten as a testimony of his zeal for his worship?

A. To visit "the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation of them that hate" him.

Q15. What is it to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children?

A. It is to inflict punishment upon the children for the faults and offences of their fathers.

Q16. Are there any scripture examples of God's doing so?

A. As to temporal punishments there are: Seven of Saul's sons were hanged before the Lord, for his offence in slaying the Gibeonites, 2 Sam. 21:8, 9; and for the sins of Jeroboam, his whole house was utterly extinguished, 1 Kings 15:29, 30.

Q17. Is this thought just and equal among men?

A. Yes; as appears by the common practice of disinheriting the children of traitors and rebels for the treasonable practices of their fathers, in order to create a greater detestation of these crimes in others.

Q18. Whether are temporal judgments only, or spiritual and eternal plagues also, intended in this threatening?

A. Spiritual and eternal plagues are also intended, Matt. 25:41.

Q19. How does it appear that spiritual and eternal judgments are included in this threatening?

A. It appears from this, that the punishment threatened should bear some proportion to the mercy promised; so that if the mercy promised be of a spiritual and eternal nature, the judgments threatened must be of the same kind.

Q20. How does the scripture illustrate this?

A. By the issue of the final sentence at the great day, which is, that the wicked "go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal," Matt. 25:46.

Q21. How does it consist with the justice of God, to inflict spiritual and eternal judgments upon children for the sins of their parents?

A. It is entirely consistent with it; because the children punished with spiritual and eternal judgments, are only such as have shown themselves heirs to their fathers' sins, either by copying them, Jer. 31:29, 30, or not disapproving of and mourning for them; by which means their fathers' sins become their own, Psalm 49:13.

Q22. How can the visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children be reconciled with Ezek. 18:20 - "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.

A. This passage in Ezekiel is to be understood of the son who does not tread in the steps of his wicked father; as is evident from ver. 14, 17 - "If he beget a son that seeth all his father's sins, and doth not such like, he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live;" whereas the threatening in this commandment respects wicked children, who copy after the example of their graceless parents, as Nadab the son of Jeroboam did, who "walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to Sin" I Kings 15:26.

Q23. How does it appear from the threatening itself, that this is the meaning?

A. Because the children on whom God visits the iniquity of their fathers are expressly said to be "the third and fourth generation of them that HATE him."

Q24. Why does God threaten to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation only, of them that hate him; and not to all succeeding generations of such children?

A. Not but that the haters of God to all generations shall meet with deserved punishment; but the threatening is limited to the third and fourth generation, for a greater judgment upon wicked parents, some of whom may live to see their posterity of these generations, and to read their own sin in the punishment of their offspring whom they have seduced; as Zedekiah, for his wickedness, saw his sons, and the princes of Judah, slain before his eyes, Jer. 52:3, 10.

Q25. What if such wicked parents should die, before they see their third and fourth generations?

A. In that case, if their consciences are not quite seared, they will die under the dread and fear of the judgments here threatened, befalling their children, Hos. 2:4; as well as of the fiery indignation which shall devour themselves, Heb. 10:27.

Q26. May not God sometimes visit the iniquities of the breakers of this commandment upon their godly children?

A. He will never visit the iniquities of the fathers upon their godly children with spiritual and eternal judgments, though sometimes he may do it with temporal calamities: as no doubt many pious Israelites were carried captive to Babylon for the sins of their fathers, Lam. 5:7; which, nevertheless, was for their real good, Jer. 24:5.

Q27. What may we learn from this threatening to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children?

A. That as nothing can be more cruel than for parents to set a bad example before their children, Jer. 9:14, 15; so the example of forefathers will not vindicate their posterity in the way of sin, particularly in the practice of any corrupt or false worship, Ezek. 20:18, 21.

Q28. What is it, on the other hand, that God promises as an evidence of his zeal for his worship?

A. To show mercy to thousands of them that love him, and keep his commandments.

Q29. Who are they that truly love God?

A. They who, from a faith of his own operation, have complacency and delight in him as their own God and portion, Psalm 5:11.

Q30. What is it to keep his commandments?

A. It is to essay a uniform and self-denied obedience to the law as a rule, because Christ has fulfilled it as a covenant, Rom. 7:4.

Q31. What mercy does God show to them that love him, and keep his commandments?

A. He shows strengthening, Psalm 94:18, comforting, Psalm 31:7, directing, Ex. 15:13, and persevering mercy to them, 2 Sam. 7:15.

Q32. Does God show mercy to children because they are the offspring of godly parents?

A. No; but merely because so it pleases him, Rom, 9:15 - "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy."

Q33. What benefit then have the children of godly parents beyond others?

A. They have the privilege of a religious education, Gen. 18:19; are the children of many prayers, Job 1:5; and may plead the promise, "I WILL be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee," Gen. 17:7.

Q34. Why does the threatening run only to the third and fourth generation of them that hate him, and yet the promise to thousands of them that love him?

A. To show that God has far greater pleasure in the exercise of mercy, than in the venting of wrath, Ezek. 33:11; and likewise for an encouragement, both to parents and children, to aim at "walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless," Luke 1:6.

Q1. What is the sin especially forbidden in the second commandment?

A. The sin here forbidden, is the corruption of God's worship, by making any similitude of any person in the Godhead, and performing divine worship before it, or to it; Exodus 32:8. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: They have made them a molten calf, and have worshiped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, these be your gods O Israel, which have brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 4:15, 16. Take you therefore good heed unto yourselves (for you saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spoke unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire) lest you corrupt yourselves and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female.

Q2. What is the second sin forbidden in this commandment?

A. The second sin against this commandment is will-worship, consisting in the addition of man's inventions to the worship of God, as a part thereof; Matthew 15:9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Colossians 2:20, 21, 22, 23. Whereof if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances. (Touch not, taste not, handle not, which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Q3. But if those additions be for the more decent worshiping of God, is it not allowed by 1 Corinthians 14:40. Let all things be done decently, and in order?

A. No; that scripture commands that God's institutions be regularly and decently performed, but not that we invent ceremonies that are symbolical, to make them more decent than Christ left them.

Q4. Why is the second commandment left out in all the public offices of the popish church?

A. Because it expressly condemns their idolatrous images, kneeling at the sacrament, prayers to saints, and all their superstitious crosses, surplices, and chrisme, as sinful.

Q5. Do they not clear themselves from idolatry, by telling us they only worship God before, or by them, but not the images themselves?

A. No, they do not; for the use of images in God's worship is expressly condemned in this commandment; as if this would excuse the papists, it had also excused the Israelite in worshiping the calf, Exodus 32:4.-And they said, These be your gods, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Q6. What is the first reason annexed to the second commandment?

A. The first reason annexed is God's sovereignty, I the Lord; which shows that it belongs to God only to institute his own worship, and make it effectual; and therefore to do that in his worship which he never commanded, is sinful and dangerous; Jeremiah 7:31. And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.

Q7. What is the second reason annexed to the second commandment?

A. The second reason is God's propriety in us: He is our God, and we belong to him; and therefore to corrupt his worship, greatly aggravates our sins; Hosea 9:1. Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people; for you have gone a whoring from your God, etc.

Q8. What is the third reason annexed to the second commandment?

A. The jealousy of God over his worship and worshipers; so that this sin of corrupting his worship will dreadfully incense his wrath, as it did, Leviticus 10:1, 2. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire thereon, and offered strange fire, before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

Q9. What is the first instruction from the second commandment?

A. That it is an heinous sin to neglect the worship of God in that manner he has appointed us to worship him, as in prayer; Jeremiah 10:25. Pour out your fury upon the heathen that don't you know, and upon the families that call not on your name. Hearing the word; Proverbs 28:9. He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

Q10. What is the second instruction from the second commandment.

A. That those who suffer for endeavoring to preserve the purity of God's ordinances, and nonconformity to the contrary injunctions of men, have a good warrant to bear them out in all such sufferings; Deuteronomy 4:2. You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.

Q11. What is the third instruction from the second commandment?

A. That it is highly sinful and dangerous to innovate and prescribe by human authority such symbolical rites in the worship of God, as he never appointed or allowed in his word; Matthew 15:9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Q12. What is the fourth instruction hence?

A. Hence we learn how much parents and children are obliged to worship God constantly, spiritually, and agreeably to his will revealed in his word; otherwise the jealousy of God will visit them both in the way of judgment: For as obedience entails a blessing, so disobedience entails a curse on posterity; Exodus 34:14. For you shall worship no other God; for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Of the third Commandment

Q1. Is there good reason why we should take heed of idolatry?

A. Yes: Turn ye not to idols, neither make to yourselves molten gods, I am the Lord your God, Lev. 19:4.

Q2. Has God a sovereignty over us?

A. Yes: For he is a great God, and a great King above all gods, Ps. 95:3.

Q3. Ought we therefore to worship him, as he has appointed us?

A. Yes: O come let us worship, and bow down, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, Ps. 95:6.

Q4. And not to worship idols?

A. Yes: For they can do neither good nor evil, Isa. 41:23.

Q5. Has God a property in us?

A. Yes: For we are the people of his pasture, Ps. 95:7.

Q6. Ought we therefore to worship him?

A. Yes: He is thy Lord, and worship thou him, Ps. 45:11.

Q7. And not to worship other gods?

A. Yes: For hath a nation changed their gods? Jer. 2:11.

Q8. Is God jealous in the matters of his worship?

A. Yes: The Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God, Exod. 34:14.

Q9. Is he much displeased with those who corrupt it?

A. Yes: They provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities, 1 Kings 16:13.

Q10. Do those who do so hate him?

A. Yes: Idolaters are haters of God, Rom. 1:25, 30.

Q11. Will he visit their iniquity?

A. Yes: In the day m when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them, Exod. 32:34.

Q12. Will he visit it upon the children?

A. Yes: Our fathers sinned, and are not, and we have borne their iniquities, Lam. 5:7.

Q13. And is it just with him to do so?

A. Yes: For they are the children of whoredoms, Hos. 2:4.

Q14. But will he visit it for ever?

A. No: But to the third and fourth generation, Exod. 34:7.

Q15. Will those who love God keep his commandments?

A. Yes: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, John 15:10.

Q16. Will he show mercy to such?

A. Yes: For he hath said, I love them that love me, Prov. 8:17.

Q17. Will he show mercy to thousands of such ?

A. Yes: For the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, Ps. 103:17.