THE
WESTMINSTER
LARGER
CATECHISM ;
AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE
OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED
UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS OF
SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND.
AND
APPROVED ANNO 1648, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, TO
BE A DIRECTORY FOR CATECHISING SUCH AS HAVE MADE SOME PROFICIENCY IN THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS OF RELIGION,
WITH
THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE .
, Assembly at EDINBURGH, July 2, 1648. Sess. 10.
Act approving the LARGER CATECHISM.
THE General Assembly having exactly examined and seriously considered the
LARGER CATECHISM, agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at
Westminister, with assistance of Commissioners from this Kirk, copies
thereof being printed, and sent to Presbyteries, for the more exact trial
thereof; and publick intimation being frequently made in this Assembly, that
every one that had any doubts or objections upon it might put them in; do
find, upon due examination thereof, That the said Catechism is agreeable to
the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government of this Kirk; a necessary part of the intended
uniformity in religion, and a rich treasure for increasing knowledge among
the people of God: and therefore the Assembly, as they bless the Lord that
so excellent a Catechism is prepared, so they approve the same, as a part of
uniformity; agreeing, for their part, that it be a common Catechism for the
three kingdoms, and a Directory for catechising such as have made some
proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion.
, WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM
WITH PROOF TEXTS
Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God,1 and fully to enjoy him forever.2
Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God?
A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God;3
but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their
salvation.4
Q. 3. What is the Word of God?
A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God,5 the only rule of
faith and obedience.6
Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are of the Word of God?
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty7 and purity;8
by the consent of all the parts,9 and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to
God;10 by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up
believers unto salvation:11 but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in
the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.12
Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty
God requires of man.13
WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD.
Q. 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God?
A. The Scriptures make known what God is,14 the persons in the Godhead,15 his decrees,16
and the execution of his decrees.17
1
, Q. 7. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit,18 in and of himself infinite in being,19 glory,20 blessedness,21 and
perfection;22 all-sufficient,23 eternal,24 unchangeable,25 incomprehensible,26 every where
present,27 almighty,28 knowing all things,29 most wise,30 most holy,31 most just,32 most
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.33
Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.34
Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these
three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although
distinguished by their personal properties.35
Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son,36 and to the Son to be begotten of the Father,37
and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity.38
Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the
Father?
A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father,
ascribing unto them such names,39 attributes,40 works,41 and worship,42 as are proper to God
only.
Q. 12. What are the decrees of God?
A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will,43 whereby, from
all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass
in time,44 especially concerning angels and men.
Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men?
A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his
glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory;45 and in
Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof:46 and also, according to
his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or
withholdeth favor as he pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and
wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.47
2
WESTMINSTER
LARGER
CATECHISM ;
AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE ASSISTANCE
OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED
UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS OF
SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND.
AND
APPROVED ANNO 1648, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, TO
BE A DIRECTORY FOR CATECHISING SUCH AS HAVE MADE SOME PROFICIENCY IN THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS OF RELIGION,
WITH
THE PROOFS FROM THE SCRIPTURE .
, Assembly at EDINBURGH, July 2, 1648. Sess. 10.
Act approving the LARGER CATECHISM.
THE General Assembly having exactly examined and seriously considered the
LARGER CATECHISM, agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at
Westminister, with assistance of Commissioners from this Kirk, copies
thereof being printed, and sent to Presbyteries, for the more exact trial
thereof; and publick intimation being frequently made in this Assembly, that
every one that had any doubts or objections upon it might put them in; do
find, upon due examination thereof, That the said Catechism is agreeable to
the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship,
discipline, and government of this Kirk; a necessary part of the intended
uniformity in religion, and a rich treasure for increasing knowledge among
the people of God: and therefore the Assembly, as they bless the Lord that
so excellent a Catechism is prepared, so they approve the same, as a part of
uniformity; agreeing, for their part, that it be a common Catechism for the
three kingdoms, and a Directory for catechising such as have made some
proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion.
, WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM
WITH PROOF TEXTS
Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?
A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God,1 and fully to enjoy him forever.2
Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God?
A. The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God;3
but his word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their
salvation.4
Q. 3. What is the Word of God?
A. The holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the Word of God,5 the only rule of
faith and obedience.6
Q. 4. How doth it appear that the Scriptures are of the Word of God?
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the Word of God, by their majesty7 and purity;8
by the consent of all the parts,9 and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to
God;10 by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up
believers unto salvation:11 but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the Scriptures in
the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.12
Q. 5. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty
God requires of man.13
WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD.
Q. 6. What do the Scriptures make known of God?
A. The Scriptures make known what God is,14 the persons in the Godhead,15 his decrees,16
and the execution of his decrees.17
1
, Q. 7. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit,18 in and of himself infinite in being,19 glory,20 blessedness,21 and
perfection;22 all-sufficient,23 eternal,24 unchangeable,25 incomprehensible,26 every where
present,27 almighty,28 knowing all things,29 most wise,30 most holy,31 most just,32 most
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.33
Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.34
Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these
three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although
distinguished by their personal properties.35
Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son,36 and to the Son to be begotten of the Father,37
and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity.38
Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the
Father?
A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father,
ascribing unto them such names,39 attributes,40 works,41 and worship,42 as are proper to God
only.
Q. 12. What are the decrees of God?
A. God's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will,43 whereby, from
all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass
in time,44 especially concerning angels and men.
Q. 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men?
A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his
glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory;45 and in
Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof:46 and also, according to
his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or
withholdeth favor as he pleaseth,) hath passed by and foreordained the rest to dishonor and
wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.47
2
