Q1. What is the chief end of
man?
A.
Man’s chief end is to glorify God [a], and to enjoy
him for ever [b].
Q2. What rule hath God given to
direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
A. The Word
of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and
New Testaments [c], is the only rule to
direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him [d].
Q3. 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 [e].
Q4. What is God?
A. God is a
Spirit [f], infinite [g], eternal [h], and
unchangeable [i], in his being [k],
wisdom [l], power [m],
holiness [n], justice, goodness, and
truth [o].
Q5. Are there more Gods than
one?
A. There is
but one only, the living and true God [p].
Q6. How many persons are there in
the Godhead?
A. There are
three persons in the Godhead; the father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in
substance, equal in power and glory [q].
Q7. What are the decrees of
God?
A. The
decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the
counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath
foreordained whatsoever comes to pass [r].
Q9. What is the work of
creation?
A. The work
of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing,
by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all
very good [s].
Q10. How did God create
man?
A. God
created man male and female, after his own image, in
knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over
the creatures [t].
Q11. What are God’s works of
providence?
A.
God’s works of providence are, his most holy [v],
wise [w], and powerful
preserving [x] and governing all his
creatures, and all their actions [y].
Q12. What special act of providence
did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was
created?
A. When God
had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with
him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to
eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the
pain of death [z].