Christian Classics
‹ Two Short Catechisms
Contents
Two Short Catechisms wherein the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ are Unfolded and ExplainedPrefatory NoteThe Epistle DedicatoryThe Lesser CatechismChapter I — Of the ScriptureChapter II — Of GodChapter III — Of the Holy TrinityChapter IV — Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are Internal and ImmanentChapter V — Of the Works of God that outwardly are of HimChapter VI — Of God’s actual ProvidenceChapter VII — Of the Law of GodChapter VIII — Of the State of Corrupted NatureChapter IX — Of the Incarnation of ChristChapter X — Of the Person of Jesus ChristChapter XI — Of the Offices of Christ; and, First, of His KinglyChapter XII — Of Christ’s Priestly OfficeChapter XIII — Of Christ’s Prophetical OfficeChapter XIV — Of the Two-fold Estate of ChristChapter XV — Of the Persons to whom the Benefits of Christ’s Offices do belongChapter XVI — Of the ChurchChapter XVII — Of FaithChapter XVIII — Of our Vocation, or God’s Calling usChapter XIX — Of JustificationChapter XX — Of SanctificationChapter XXI — Of the Privileges of BelieversChapter XXII — Of the Sacraments of the New Covenant in particulalr, — a holy right whereunto is the Fourth Privilege of BelieversChapter XXIII — Of BaptismChapter XXIV — Of the Lord’s SupperChapter XXV — Of the Communion of Saints, — the Fifth Privilege of BelieversChapter XXVI — Of Particular ChurchesChapter XXVII — Of the Last Privilege of Believers, — being the Door of Entrance into Glory

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Chapter III — Of the Holy Trinity

Chap. III. — Of the Holy .

Q. 1. Is there but one God to whom these properties do belong?

A. aOne only, in respect of his essence and being, but one bin three distinct persons, of Father, Son, and . aDeut. vi. 4; Matt. xix. 17; Eph. iv. 5, 6. bGen. i. 26; 1 John v. 7; Matt. xxviii. 19.

Q. 2. What mean you by person?

A. A distinct manner of subsistence or being, distinguished from the other persons by its own properties. John v. 17; Heb. i. 3.

Q. 3. What is the distinguishing property of the person of the Father?

A. To be of himself only the fountain of the Godhead. John v. 26, 27; Eph. i. 3.

Q. 4. What is the property of the Son?

A. To be begotten of his Father from eternity. Ps. ii. 7; John i. 14, iii. 16.

Q. 5. What of the ?

A. To proceed from the Father and the Son. John xiv. 17, xvi. 14, xv. 26, xx. 22.

Q. 6. Are these three one?

A. One aevery way, in nature, will, and essential properties, bdistinguished only in their personal manner of subsistence. aJohn x. 30; Rom. iii. 30. bJohn xv. 26; 1 John v. 7.

Q. 7. Can we conceive these things as they are in themselves?

A. Neither awe nor yet the bangels of heaven are at all able to dive into these secrets, as they are internally in God; cbut in respect of the outward dispensation of themselves to us by creation, , and , a knowledge may be attained of these things, saving and heavenly. a1 Tim. vi. 16. bIsa. vi. 2, 3. cCol. i. 11–14.