Answer: That both in soul and body, whether I live or die, I am not my own, but belong wholly unto my most faithful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By His most precious blood fully satisfying for all my sins, He has delivered me from all the power of the devil, and so preserves me, that without the will of my heavenly Father not so much as a hair may fall from my head. Yes, all things must serve for my safety and by His Spirit, also He assures me of everlasting life, and makes me ready and prepared, that from now on I may live to Him.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:19; 1 Thess. 5:10; Rom. 14:8; 1 Cor. 3:23; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14-15; John 6:39-40; Matt. 10:30; Luke 21:18; Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 1:12; 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:24-25

Answer: Three. The first, what is the greatness of my sin and misery. The second, how I am delivered from all sin and misery. The third, what thanks I owe to God for this delivery.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 24:47; Rom. 3:23; Rom. 8:15; 1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:3-38; Matt. 5:16; Rom. 6:11-13; Eph. 5:10; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 3:10-12

Answer: From the law of God.

Scripture Proofs: Romans 3:20; Romans 5:20; Romans 7:5, 13 Timothy 3:15,16

Answer: That which Christ summarily teaches us, Matthew 22:37-40. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and the great commandment; and the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 10:27

Answer: No. By nature I am prone to the hatred of God and of my neighbors.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 3:10, 23; 1 John 1:8; Rom. 8:7; Eph. 2:3; Titus 3:3

Answer: Not so. He made him good, and in His own image, endowing him with true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, and heartily love Him, and live with Him blessed forever, and that to laud and magnify Him.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 1:31; Gen. 1:26-27; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; 2 Cor. 3:18

Answer: From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Even. For this reason our nature is so corrupt and we are all conceived and born in sin.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 5:12; Rom. 5:18-19; Gen. 5:3; Psalms 51:5

Answer: Indeed we are, except we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 6:5; Job 14:4; Job 15:16; Isa. 53:6; John 3:5

Answer: No. God made man such a one as he might perform it, but man, by the impulsion of the devil and his own stubbornness bereaved himself and all his posterity of those diving graces.

Scripture Proofs: Ecc. 7:29; Gen. 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12-21

Answer: No. He is angry in a most dreadful manner, for the sins wherein we are born and wich we ourselves commit. In a most just judgement, He punishes them with present and everlasting punishments as He pronounces: “Cursed is he that does not confirm all the words of this law to do them”.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 5:12; Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10

Answer: Yes, very much so! He is merciful, but He is also just, wherefore His justice requires that the same which is committed against the divine majesty of God should also be recomensed with extreme, that is, everlasting punishment both in body and soul.

Scripture Proofs: Exodus 34:6; Psalm 5:4-6; Exodus 20:5

Answer: God will have His justice satisfied. Therefore, it is necessary that we satisfy it either by ourselves or by another.

Scripture Proofs: Exd. 20:5; Exd. 23:7; Rom. 8:3

Answer: Not one bit. Instead, we increase our debt every day.

Scripture Proofs: Job 9:2-3; Job 15:15; Matt. 6:12

Answer: None. For first, God will not punish that sin which man has committed in any other creature; and second, neither can that which is nothing but a creature sustain the wrath of God against sin and deliver others from it.

Scripture Proofs: Job 4:18; Job 25:5; Psalm 130:3; Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 10:5-10

Answer: Such a one as is very man and perfectly just, and yet in power above all creatures, that is, one who also is very God.

Scripture Proofs: Isa. 7:14; Isa. 53:11; Jer. 23:6; Rom. 8:3; 1 Cor. 15:25; 2 Cor. 5:14; Heb. 7:16

Answer: Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned do itself likewise make recompense for sin; but he that is himself a sinner, cannot make recompense for others.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 5:12, 17; 1 Pet 3:18; Heb. 7:26

Answer: That He might by the power of His Godhead sustain in His flesh the burden of God’s wrath and might recover and restore to us that righteousness and life which we lost.

Scripture Proofs: Isa. 55:3; Acts 2:24; 1 Pet. 3:18; John 3:16; Acts 20:28; 1 John 1:2; 1 John 4:9-10

Answer: Even our Lord Jesus Christ who is made to us of God’s wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 1:23; Luke 2:11; John 14:16; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 Cor. 1:30

Answer: Out of the gospel which God first made known in paradise, and afterwards did spread it abroad by the patriarchs and prophets, shadowed it by sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law, and lastly accomplished it by His only begotten Son, Christ our Lord.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 3:15; Gen. 22:18; Gen. 49:10-11; Acts 3:22; Acts 10:43; Rom. 1:2; Heb. 1:1; John 5:46; Heb. 10:7ff; Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:24; Gal. 4:4; Heb. 13:8

Answer: No. Only those are saved who by true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his blessings.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 7:14; John 3:16,18,36; Rom. 11:16-21

Answer: It is not only a knowledge, whereby I surely assent to all things which God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured trust kindled in my heart by the Holy Spirit, through the gospel, whereby I make my repose in God being assuredly resolved that remission of sins, everlasting righteousness, and life is given not to others only, but to me also and that freely through the mercy of God for the merits of Christ alone.

Scripture Proofs: Heb. 11:1-3; Gal. 2:20; James 2:19; Rom. 4:16; Rom. 5:1; Rom. 10:10; Matthew 16:17; John 3:5; Acts 10:45; Gal. 5:22; Phil. 1:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 16:14; Rom. 1:16; Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21; Acts 10:42-43; Rom. 3:24-25

Answer: All things which are promised us in the gospel. The sum of this is briefly comprised in the articles of the catholic and undoubted faith of all true Christians, commonly called the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, He descended into *hell, the third day He rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, from where He shall come to judge both the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy +catholic Church, the communion of sains, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 

*Not that He, (that is, Christ), went into the place of the damned, but that He went absolutely into the state of the dead. See Dr. Usher of Christ, in his Body of Divinity, page 174. and Mr. Perkins on the Creed.

+Not that we are to believe in, but that there is a catholic Church, and by catholic, we mean no more than the universal Church, which is a company chosen out of the whole of mankind to everlasting life, by the Word and Spirit of God.

Answer: Into three: the first of the eternal Father, and our creation; the second of the Son, and our redemption; and the third of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification.

Answer: Because God has manifested Himself in His Word that these three distinct persons are that one true everlasting God.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 6:4; Isa. 44:6; 1 Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; Psalm 110:1; Isa. 61:1; Matt. 3:16-17; Matt. 28:19; Luke 4:18; John 14:26; John 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 2:18; Titus 3:5-6; 1 John 5:7

Answer: I believe in the everlasting Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who made of nothing heaven and earth, with all that are in them, who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence. This God I believe to be my God and Father for Christ’s sake, and therefore to trust in Him, and rely on Him, that I do not doubt that He will provide all things necessary both for my soul and body. But also, whatever evils He sends on me in this troublesome life, He will turn out to my safety, because both He is able to do it, being God almighty, and willing to do it, being a bountiful Father.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 1:1-12; Job 33:4; Psa. 33:6; Isa. 45:7; Acts 4:24; Acts 14:15; Psalm 104:3 Psalm 115:3; Matt. 10:29; Rom. 11:36; Heb. 1:3; John 1:12; Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:5-6; Eph. 1:5; Psalm 55:23; Matt. 6:26; Luke 12:22; Rom. 8:28; Isa. 46:4 Rom. 8:38-39; Rom. 10:12

Answer: The almighty power of God, everywhere present whereby He does, as it were, by His hand uphold and govern heaven and earth, with all creatures therein, so that those things which grow in the earth, as likewise rain and drought, fruitfulness and barrenness, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, in a word, all things come not rashly and by chance, but by His fatherly counsel and will.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 94:9; Isa. 29:15; Ezek. 8:12; Acts 17:25; Heb. 1:2-3; Prov. 22:2; Jer. 5:24; John 9:3; Acts 14:17

Answer: That in adversity we may be patient, and thankful in prosperity, and have hereafter our chief hope reposed in God our most faithful Father. We can be sure that there is nothing which may withdraw us from His love, forasmuch as all creatures are so in His power, that without His will they are not able not only to do anything, but not so much as once to move.

Scripture Proofs: Job 1:21; Rom. 5:3; Deut. 8:10; 1 Thess. 5:18; Rom. 5:4-5; Rom. 8:19,38; Job 1:12; Job 2:6; Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:27

Answer: Because He saves us from our sins; neither ought any safety to be sought from any other, nor can it be found elsewhere.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 1:21; Acts 4:12; Heb. 7:25

Answer: No. For although in word they boast themselves of Him as their only Savior, yet indeed they deny the only Savior Jesus. For either Jesus is not a perfect Savior, or that those who embrace Him as their Savior with a true faith, possess all things in Him which are required unto salvation.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 1:13, 30; Isa. 9:6; Isa. 43:11, 25

Answer: Because He was ordained of the Father and anointed of the Holy Spirit the chief Prophet and Teacher, who has opened unto us the secret counsel and all the will of His Father concerning our redemption. He was ordained and anointed the high Priest, who with that one only sacrifice of His body has redeemed us and continually makes intercession to His Father for us. He was also ordained and anointed a King, who rules us by His Word and Spirit, and defends and maintains that salvation which He has purchased for us.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 45:7; Heb. 1:9; Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22; Matt. 11:27; John 1:18; John 15:15; Heb. 7:21; Rom. 3:24; Rom. 5:9-10; Heb. 10:12; Heb. 7:25; Psalm 2:6; Luke 1:33; Matt. 28:18

Answer: Because through faith I am a member of Jesus Christ, and partaker of His anointing, that both I may confess His name, and present myself unto Him a living sacrifice of thankfulness, and also may in this life fight against sin and Satan with a free and good conscience, and afterwards enjoy an everlasting kingdom with Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Acts 11:26; 1 Cor. 6:15; 1 John 2:27; Matt. 10:32; Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15; 1 Pet. 2:5; Rev. 5:8; Rom. 6:12-13; 1 Tim. 1:18-19; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 1:6

Answer: Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of the eternal Father, and we are but sons adopted of the Father by grace for His sake.

Scripture Proofs: John 3:16; Rom. 8:3; Heb. 1:2-3; John 1:12; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:6; 1 John 1:3

Answer: Because He, redeeming and ransoming both our body and soul from sin, not with gold or silver, but with His precious blood, and delivering us from all the power of the devil, has set us free to serve Him.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 14:9; 1 Cor. 6:20; Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; 1 Peter 1:18

Answer: That the Son of God, who is and continues true and everlasting God, took the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, through the working of the Holy Spirit, that He might be the true Seed of David, like unto His brethren in all things, sin excepted.

Scripture Proofs: John 20:28; Rom. 9:5; 1 John 5:20; Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6; John 1:14; Gal. 4:4; Matt. 1:20; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 4:15; Heb. 7:26

Answer: That He is our Mediator, and does cover with His innocence and perfect holiness my sins, in which I was conceived, that they may not come in the sight of God.

Scripture Proofs: Heb. 2:16-17; Heb. 4:15; Psalm 32:1; Rom. 8:3-4; 1 Cor. 1:30; Rom. 8:3-4

Answer: That He all the time of His life which He led on earth, but especially at the end of it, sustained the wrath of God both in body and soul, against the sin of all mankind. He might by His passion, as the only propitiatory sacrifice, deliver our body and soul from everlasting damnation and purchase for us the favor of God, righteousness, and eternal life.

Scripture Proofs: Isa. 53:12; 1 Pet. 2:4; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10

Answer: That He being innocent and condemned before a civil judge, might deliver us from the severe judgement of God which remained for all men.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 23:14; John 19:4; Psalm 69:4; John 15:25; Isa. 53:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13

Answer: There is more. By this I am assured that He took upon Himself the curse which did lie on me, for the death of the cross was cursed of God.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13

Answer: Because the justice and truth of God could by no other means be satisfied for our sins, but by the very death of the Son of God.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 2:17; Phil. 2:8; Heb. 2:9, 14-18

Answer: That by it He might manifest that He was dead indeed.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 27:59-60; Luke 23:53; John 19:38; Acts 13:29

Answer: Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but the abolishing of sin and our passage into everlasting life.

Scripture Proofs: John 5:24; Rom. 7:24; Phil. 1:23

Answer: That by virtue of His death our old man is crucified, slain, and buried together with Him, figured out in holy baptism, that henceforth evil lusts and desires may not reign in us, but we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 6:6; Rom. 6:12; Rom. 12:1

Answer: That in my greatest pains and most grievous temptations I may support myself with this comfort, that my Lord Jesus Christ has delivered me (by the unspeakable distresses, torments, and terrors of His soul, into which He was plunged both before and then especially when He hung on the cross) from the the straits and torments of hell. (Not that He (that is, Christ) went into the place of the damned, but that He went absolutely into the place of the dead. See Dr. Usher in his “Body of Divinity” (page 174) and Mr. Perkins on the Creed.)

Scripture Proofs: Isa. 53:10; Matt. 27:46

Answer: First, by His resurrection, He vanquished death, that He might make us partakers of that righteousness which He had gotten us by His death. Second, we are now also stirred up by His power to a new life. Lastly, the resurrection of our head, Christ, is a pledge to us of our glorious resurrection.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 1:3-4,21; Rom. 6:4; Col. 3:1; Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:22-23

Answer: That Christ, His disciples looking on, was taken up from the earth into heaven, and yet still is there for our sakes, and will be until He comes again to judge the living and the dead.

Scripture Proofs: Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 4:10; Col. 3:1; Heb. 4:14; Heb. 7:25; Heb. 9:11; Matt. 24:30; Acts 1:11

Answer: Christ is true God, and true man, and so according to His manhood is not now on earth, but according to His Godhead, His majesty, His grace and Spirit is at no time apart from us.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:11; John 16:18; 17:11; Acts 3:21; Matt. 28:20; John 14:17; John 16:13; Eph. 4:8

Answer: No. Seeing His divinity is incomprehensible, and everywhere present, it follows necessarily that the same is without the bounds of His human nature which He took to Himself, and yet is nevertheless in it, and abides personally united to it.

Scripture Proofs: Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49; Acts 17:27; Matt. 28:6; Col. 2:9

Answer: First, that He makes intercession to His Father in heaven for us. Second, that we have our flesh in heaven, that we may be confirmed thereby, as by a sure pledge, that He who is our head will lift us up, His members, unto Him. Third, that He sends us His Spirit as a pledge between Him and us, by whose power we seek after not earthly but heavenly things, where He Himself is sitting at the right hand of God.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2; John 14:2; John 20:17; Eph. 2:6; John 14:16; John 16:7; 2 Cor. 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14; Phil. 3:14; Col. 3:1; Eph. 1:20; Phil. 3:20

Answer: Because Christ is ascended into heaven, to show there that He is the head of His Church, by whom the Father governs all things.

Scripture Proofs: Eph. 1:20-23; Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18; John 5:22

Answer: First, that through His Holy Spirit, He pours upon us, His members, heavenly graces, and that He shields and defends us by His power against all our enemies.

Scripture Proofs: Eph. 4:16; Psalm 2:9; Psalm 110:2; John 10:28; Eph. 4:8

Answer: That in all my miseries and persecutions, I look with my head lifted up, for the very same who before yielded Himself to the judgment of God for me, and took away all malediction from me, will come as judge from heaven to throw all His and my enemies into everlasting pains. He will also translate me with all His chosen to Himself, into celestial joys, and everlasting glory.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23; Phil. 3:20; Titus 2:13; Matt. 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Matt. 25:34; 1 Thess. 4:16-18; Jude 24-25

Answer: First, that He is true and co-eternal God, with the eternal Father and the Son. Second, that He is also given unto me, to make me partaker of Christ and all His benefits through a true faith, to comfort me, and to abide with me forever.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 1:2; Isa. 48:16; Matt. 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Cor. 6:19; John 14:16; 1 Cor. 6:17; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 Peter 4:1-19; Acts 9:31; John 14:16; 1 Peter 4:14

Answer: I believe that the Son of God does, from the beginning to the end of the world, gather, defend, and preserve for Himself, by His Spirit and Word, out of the whole of mankind, a company chosen to everlasting life and agreeing in true faith; and that I am a lively member of that company, and so shall remain forever.

Scripture Proofs: Eph. 1:10-13; John 10:10; Rom. 3:25; Isa. 59:21; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 1:16; Rom. 10:14-17; Eph. 5:26; Gen. 26:4; Rom. 8:29-30; Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 4:3-6; 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John 3:21; 1 John 5:20

Answer: First, that all and everyone who believes are in common partakers of Christ and all His graces, as being His members, and then that everyone ought readily and cheerfully to bestow the gifts and graces which they have received to the common commodity and safety of all.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 1:2; 1 Cor. 6:17; 1 Cor. 12:21; 1 John 1:3; 1 Cor. 12:21; Phil. 2:4-6

Answer: That God, for the satisfaction made by Christ, has put out all the remembrance of my sins, and also of that corruption within me which I must fight all my lifetime, and does freely endow me the righteousness of Christ, that I come not at any time into judgment.

Scripture Proofs: 2 Cor. 5:19, 21; 1 John 2:2; Psalm 103:3-4; Psalm 10-12; Jer. 31:34; Rom. 7:24-25; John 3:18; Rom. 8:1-3

Answer: That not only my soul, after it shall depart out of my body, shall presently be taken up to Christ, but that this my flesh also, being raised up by the power of Christ, shall again be united to my soul, and made like the glorious body of Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:23; Job 19:25-26; 1 Cor. 15:53; Phil. 3:21; 1 John 3:2

Answer: That forasmuch as I feel already in my heart the beginning of everlasting life, it shall at length come to pass that after this life I shall enjoy full and perfect bliss, wherein I may magnify God forever, which blessedness surely neither eye has seen, nor ear heard, neither has any man in thought conceived it.

Scripture Proofs: 2 Cor. 5:1-3; John 17:3; Jude 24-25; 1 Cor. 2:9

Answer: That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.

Scripture Proofs: John 3:36; Rom. 1:17; Rom. 3:22, 24, 25, 28; Rom. 5:1; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9

Answer: Only by faith in Christ Jesus. Although my conscience accuse me that I have grievously trespassed against all the commandments of God, and have not kept one of them, and further am as yet prone to all evil, yet nevertheless, if I embrace these benefits of Christ with a true confidence and persuasion of mind, the full and perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, without any merit of mine, of the mere mercy of God is imputed and given to me, and that so, as if neither I had committed any sin, neither any corruption did stick to me, yes as if I myself had perfectly accomplished that obedience which Christ accomplished for me.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 3:9; Rom. 7:23; John 3:18; Rom. 3:22; 1 John 2:1; Rom. 3:24; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 John 2:2; Titus 3:5; Rom. 4:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21

Answer: Not because I please God through the worthiness of mere faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God, and I cannot take hold of it, or apply it to myself any other way than by faith.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 1:30-31; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 John 5:10

Answer: Because the righteousness which must stand fast before the judgment of God, must be in all points perfect and agreeable to the law of God. Now our works, even the best of them, are imperfect in this life, and defiled with sin.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10; Isa. 64:6

Answer: That reward is not given of merit, but of grace.

Scripture Proofs: Luke 17:10

Answer: No. Those who are incorporated into Christ through faith, necessarily bring forth the fruits of thankfulness.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 7:18; John 15:5

Answer: From the Holy Spirit, who kindles it in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and other ordinances, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments

Scripture Proofs: John 3:5; Eph. 2:8; Eph. 3:16-17; Phil. 1:29; Rom. 10:17; Eph. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:16; 1 Cor. 10:16; 1 Peter 3:21

Answer: They are sacred signs and seals set before our eyes and ordained of God for this purpose, that He may declare and confirm by them the promise of His gospel unto us, to this, that He gives freely remission of sins and life everlasting to everyone in particular who believes in the sacrifice of Christ which He accomplished once for all upon the cross.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16; Rom. 6:3-6; Heb. 10:10

Answer: It is even so. The Holy Spirit teaches us by the gospel, and assures us by the sacraments that the salvation of all of us stands in the once for all sacrifice of Christ offered for us upon the cross.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Gal. 3:27

Answer: Two. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Answer: Immersion or dipping of the person in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by such who are duly qualified by Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 3:16; Matt. 28:19; John 3:23; Acts 8:38, 39; Rom. 6:4

Answer: Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, and faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Acts 2:38; Acts 8:36, 37

Answer: None by no means, for we have neither precept nor example for that practice in all the book of God.

Answer: It is sufficient that the divine oracle commands the baptizing of believers, unless we will make ourselves wiser than what is written. Nadab and Abihu were not forbidden to offer strange fire, yet for so doing they incurred God’s wrath, because they were commanded to take fire from the altar.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 28:18-19; Mark 16:16; Lev. 9:24; Lev. 10:1-3

Answer: No. Abraham had a command then from God to circumcise his infant seed, but believers have no command to baptize their infant seed under the gospel.

Scripture Proofs: Gen. 17:9-12

Answer: By asserting that the infants of believers are in the covenant of grace, they must either mean of the covenant of grace absolutely considered, and if so, then there is no total and final apostasy of any infant seed of believers from the covenant, but all must be saved then. Or, they must mean conditionally, that when they come to years of maturity, they by true faith, love, and holiness of life, taking hold of God’s covenant of grace, shall have the privileges of it. If this is their meaning, then what spiritual privilege does the infant seed of believers have more than the infant seed of unbelievers, if they live also to years of maturity, and by true faith and love take hold God’s covenant? Furthermore, would not the seal of the covenant belong as much to the children of unbelievers as to the children of believers? Yes, since the infant seed of the unbeliever sometimes comes to embrace God’s covenant, and the infant seed of the believer does not; as often this is seen to the sorrow of many godly parents. Suppose all the infant seed of believers are absolutely in the covenant of grace; yet believers under the gospel ought no more to baptize their infant seed than Lot to circumcise himself or his infant seed, if he had males as well as females, although he was related to Abraham, a believer, and in the covenant of grace, since circumcision was limited to Abraham and his immediate family. If the infant seed of believers are absolutely in the covenant of grace, we may bring infants to the Lord’s Table because the same qualifications are required to the due performance of baptism as for the Lord’s Supper. The covenant made with Abraham had two parts:

First, a spiritual component, which consisted in God’s promising to be a God to Abraham and all his spiritual seed in a peculiar manner, whether they were circumcised or uncircumcised, who believed as Abraham the father of the faithful did. And this was signified in God’s accepting such as His people which were not of Abraham’s seed, but bought with his money, and this promise was sealed to Abraham by circumcision, that through Jesus Christ (whom Isaac typified) the Gentiles, the uncircumcision which believed, should have their faith counted for righteousness, as Abraham’s was before he was circumcised.

Second, this promise consisted of a temporal component. Thus, God promised Abraham’s seed should enjoy the land of Canaan, and have plenty of outward blessings, so He sealed this promise by circumcision. Circumcision also distinguished the Jews as being God’s people from all the nations of the Gentiles, which as yet were not the seed of Abraham. But when the Gentiles came to believe and by faith became the people of God as well as the Jews, then circumcision, that distinguishing mark, ceased. The distinguishing mark of being the children of God now is faith in Christ and circumcision of the heart. Therefore, whatever pretence there may be to baptize the infants of believers avails nothing, whether their being the seed of believers, their being in the covenant, or that the infant seed of Abraham, a believer, was circumcised. Circumcision was limited also to the family of Abraham, all others, though believers, being excluded. Circumcision was limited also to the eighth day, and whatever pretence might be made, it was not to be done before nor after. It was limited to males, which if baptism came in the room of circumcision and is the seal of the covenant under the gospel, as circumcision was under the law, none but males must be baptized. Just as under the law circumcision had peculiar regulations, so it is under the gospel concerning baptism. These regulations concerning baptism depend purely upon the will of the Lawgiver, that Prophet to whom we would do well to listen. He determines upon whom, when, and how baptism is to be administered.

Scripture Proofs: Jer. 32:38-40; John 10:28; Isa. 56:3-8; John 3:16; Acts 10:34-35; Acts 2:41-42; Gen. 17:19, 21; Gen. 21:10; Gal. 4:30; Acts 2:39; Rom. 9:7-8; Gal. 3:16, 28-29; Rom. 4:9-14; Gen. 12:6-7; Gen. 13:15-17; Genesis 15:16, 18; Gen. 17:8-11; John 1:12; Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 3:26-28; Phil. 3:3; Acts 3:22

Answer: Because Christ commanded the outward washing of water, joining this promise to it, that I am no less assuredly washed by His blood and Spirit from an uncleanness of my soul, that is, from all my sins, than I am washed outwardly from the filthiness of the body with water.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:4; Mark 16:16; Luke 3:3; Rom. 6:3

Answer: It is to receive of God forgiveness of sins freely, for the blood of Christ which He shed for us in His sacrifice upon the cross and also to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, and through His sanctifying of us to become members of Christ, that we may more and more die to sin, and live holy and without blame.

Scripture Proofs: Ezek. 36:25; Zech. 13:1; Heb. 12:24; 1 Peter 1:2; Rev. 1:5; John 1:33; John 3:5; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12

Answer: In the institution of baptism, the words of which are these, go, teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; he that shall believe, and be baptized, shall be saved, but he that will not believe shall be damned. This promise is repeated again when the Scripture calls baptism the washing of the new birth, and forgiveness of sins.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16

Answer: It is not. The blood of Christ alone cleanses us from all sin.

Scripture Proofs: Eph. 5:25-26; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 John 1:7

Answer: God speaks so not without great cause, to this, not only to teach us that as the filth of our body is purged by water, so our sins also are purged by the blood and Spirit of Christ, but much more to assure us by this divine token and pledge that we are as surely washed from our sins with the inward washing as we are washed by the outward and visible water.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:11; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 7:14; Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:27

Answer: Because Christ has commanded me and all the faithful to eat of this bread broken and to drink of this cup distributed in remembrance of Him. With this He has joined the promise that His body was as certainly broken and offered for me upon the cross and His blood shed for me as I behold with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken to me and the cup communicated to me. Further, my soul is no less assuredly fed to everlasting life with His body, which was crucified for me, and His blood, which was shed for me, than I receive and taste by the mouth of my body the bread and wine, the signs of the body and blood of the Lord, received at the hand of the minister.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:27-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:16, 20; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-25; 1 Cor. 12:13

Answer: It is not only to embrace, by an assured confidence of mind, the whole passion and death of Christ and thereby to obtain forgiveness of sins and everlasting life, but also by the Holy Spirit, who dwells both in Christ and us, so more and more to be united to His sacred body, that though He be in heaven and we on earth, yet nevertheless we are flesh of His flesh and bone of His bones. As all the members of the body are quickened by one soul, so are we also quickened and guided by one and the same Spirit.

Scripture Proofs: John 6:35, 40, 47, 48, 50, 51, 53, 54; John 6:56; Acts 1:9; Acts 3:21; 1 Cor. 11:26; John 14:23; 1 Cor. 6:15, 17, 19; Eph. 5:29, 30, 32; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13; John 6:56-58; John 15:1-6; Eph. 4:15-16

Answer: In the institution of the Supper, the words of which are these: Our Lord Jesus Christ in the night that He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me. Likewise also He took the cup, when He had eaten, and said, this cup is the New Covenant in My blood. This do as often as you shall drink it in remembrance of Me. For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink this cup you show the Lord’s death until He comes. This promise is repeated by St. Paul, where he says, the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we that are many are one bread and one body, because we are all partakers of one bread.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:26ff; Mark 14:22ff; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23ff; 1 Cor. 10:16-17

Answer: No. As the water of baptism is not turned into the blood of Christ, but is only a sign and pledge of those things that are sealed to us in baptism, so neither is the bread of the Lord’s Supper the very body of Christ, although according to the manner of sacraments and that form of speaking of them which is usual to the Holy Spirit, the bread is called the body of Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; 1 Cor. 10:16-17

Answer: Christ not without great consideration speaks in this manner, not only to teach us that as the bread and wine sustain the life of the body, so also His crucified body and shed blood are indeed the meat and drink of our souls, whereby they are nourished to eternal life. But more than that, by this visible sign and pledge, He may assure us that we are as surely partakers of His body and blood, through the working of the Holy Spirit as we do perceive by the mouth of our body these holy signs in remembrance of Him, and further also, that His sufferings and obedience is so certainly ours, as though we ourselves had suffered punishments for our sins, and had satisfied God.

Scripture Proofs: John 6:51,55,56; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Answer: The Supper of the Lord testifies to us that we have perfect forgiveness of all our sins, on account of the only sacrifice of Christ, which He once fully wrought on the cross. It also testifies that we, by faith, are grafted into Christ, who now according to His human nature is only in heaven at the right hand of His Father, and there will be worshipped by us. But in the mass it is denied that the living and the dead have remission of sins by the only passion of Christ, except He also be daily offered for them by their sacrifices. Further, it is taught that Christ is bodily under the forms of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshipped in them and so the very foundation of the mass is nothing else but an utter denial of that only sacrifice and passion of Christ Jesus, and an accursed idolatry.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:28; Luke 22:19-20; John 19:30; Heb. 7:27; Heb. 9:12, 26, 28; Heb. 10:10, 12, 14; 1 Cor. 6:17; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 1 Cor. 12:13; Luke 24:5; John 20:17; Acts 7:55-56; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:1; 1 Thess. 1:9-10; Heb. 1:3; John 4:21-24; Heb. 1:6, 8

Answer: They only who are truly sorrowful they have offended God by their sins, and yet trust that those sins are pardoned them for Christ’s sake, and what other infirmities they have, that those are covered by His passion and death, who also desire more and more to go forward in faith and integrity of life. But hypocrites, and those who do not truly repent, do eat and drink damnation to themselves.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 10:21-22; 1 Cor. 11:27ff

Answer: No. By that means the ordinance of God is profaned and the wrath of God is stirred up against the whole assembly, wherefore the church by the commandment of Christ and His Apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, using the keys of the kingdom of heaven, ought to drive them from this Supper til they shall repent and change their manners.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 34; Cf. Psalm 50:1ff; Isa. 1:11ff; Isa. 66:3; Jer. 7:21ff

Answer: In singing praises to God vocally and audibly for His great benefits and blessings to His Church in the shedding of the most precious blood of His Son to take away their sin, which blessings are pointed out in this sacrament. Also, we find our Lord and His disciples concluded this ordinance in singing a hymn or psalm. If Christ sang, who was going to die, how much more cause to sing have we for whom He died. He died that we might not eternally die, but live a spiritual and eternal life with Father, Son, and Spirit in inexpressible glory.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 26:30

Answer: The preaching of the gospel and ecclesiastical discipline, by which heaven is opened to the believers, and is shut against the unbelievers.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:18

Answer: The kingdom of heaven is opened when, by the commandment of Christ, it is publicly declared to everyone who believes that all their sins are pardoned by God due to the merit of Christ, as they embrace by a lively faith the promise of the gospel. But to the contrary, the kingdom of heaven is shut when it is announced to all infidels and hypocrites that as long as the wrath of God abides upon them, they perish in their wickedness, according to which testimony of the gospel God will judge them in this life and also in the life to come.

Scripture Proofs: Job 20:21-23; Matt. 16:19; John 12:48

Answer: The kingdom of heaven is shut when, according to the commandments of Christ, those who profess to be Christians, but who, in their doctrine and life, show themselves aliens from Christ, and after being admonished, will not depart from their error, heresies, or wickedness, are made known to the church. If they do not obey the church’s admonition, they are by the same church to be kept from the sacrament and shut out of the congregation by authority received from Christ, and by God Himself shut out of the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is opened if such persons as above profess and declare an amendment of life, nothing to the contrary being able to be proved upon strict scrutiny and search. These are to be received again in love and tenderness as members of Christ and His church.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:3-5; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 2 Cor. 2:6-7, 10, 11

Answer: Because, after Christ has redeemed us with His blood, He renews us also by His Spirit to the image of Himself, that we, receiving so great benefits, should show ourselves all our lifetime thankful to God, and honor Him; secondly that every one of us be assured of his faith by his fruit; and lastly, that by our good conversation we may win others to Christ.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 6:1-4; Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:120; 1 Peter 2:5, 9, 12; Matt. 7:17-18; Gal. 5:22; 2 Peter 1:10; Matt. 5:16; 1 Peter 3:1-2

Answer: By no means; for as the Scripture bears witness, neither unchaste persons, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor robbers, shall enter into the kingdom of God.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5-6; 1 John 3:14-15

Answer: It consists of the dying or mortifying of the old man and the renewing or quickening of the new man.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 6:4-6; 1 Cor. 5:7; 2 Cor. 7:11; Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:5-10

Answer: To be truly and heartily sorry that you have offended God by your sins and daily more and more hate and avoid them.

Scripture Proofs: Joel 2:13; Rom. 8:13

Answer: True joy in God through Christ, and an earnest desire to order your life according to God’s will and to do all good works.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 5:1; Rom. 14:17; Rom. 6:10-11; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 2:20

Answer: Those only which are done by a true faith, according to God’s law, and are referred only to His glory, and not those which are imagined by us as seeming to be right and good, or which are delivered and commanded by men.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 14:23; 1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 2:10; Deut. 11:32; Isa. 29:13; Ezk. 20:18-19; Matt. 15:9

Answer: The Decalogue or Ten Commandments.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 20:1-26; Deut. 5:1-33

Answer: Into two tables, whereof the former, delivered in four commandments, tells us how we ought to behave ourselves towards God; the latter, delivered in six commandments, tells us what duties we owe to our neighbors.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 34:28; Deut. 4:13; Deut. 10:3-4; Matt. 22:37-39

Answer: I am Jehovah, the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Answer: Three things: first, He shows to whom the right of all rule belongs, that is, to God Himself, for I am (says He) Jehovah; secondly, He says, He is the God of His people, that through the promise of His bountifulness He might allure them to obey Him; and thirdly, He says, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, as if He should say, I am He who has manifested Myself to you and bestowed all those blessings upon you, therefore you are bound to show thankfulness and obedience to Me.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 20:2

Answer: They do, because they figuratively comprehend and imply all the deliverances of the Church; and further, this was a type of our wonderful deliverance achieved by Christ.

Answer: You shall have no other Gods before me.

Answer: That as dearly as I render the salvation of my own soul, so earnestly should I shun and flee all idolatry, sorcery, enchantments, superstitions, praying to saints, or any other creatures, and should rightly acknowledge the only and true God, trust in Him alone, submit and subject myself to Him with all humility and patience, look for all good things from Him alone, and lastly with the entire affection of my heart love, reverence, and worship Him, so that I am ready to renounce and forsake all creatures rather than to commit the least thing that may be against His will.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:9-10; 1 Cor. 10:7, 14; Lev. 19:31; Deut. 18:11; Matt. 4:10; Rev. 19:10; Rev. 22:8-9; John 17:3; Jer. 17:5; 1 Peter 5:5-6; Rom. 5:3-4; 1 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:14; Col. 1:11; Heb. 10:36; Isa. 45:7; James 1:17; Deut. 6:5; Psalm 10:4; Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:2; Psalm 111:10; Matt. 4:20; Matt. 5:29; Matt. 10:37-38

Answer: It is in place of that one God, or besides that one true God who has manifested Himself in His word and works, to make or imagine, and account any other thing in which I rest my hope and confidence.

Scripture Proofs: John 5:23; Gal. 4:8; Phil. 3:19; Eph. 2:12; Eph. 5:5; 1 John 2:23

Answer: You shall not make any graven image, nor the likeness of anything which is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, nor in the waters under the earth: you shall not bow down to them, nor worship them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and show mercy to thousands of them who love Me, and keep My commandments.

Answer: That we should not express or represent God by any image or shape and figure, or worship Him any other way than He has commanded in His word to be worshipped.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 4:15ff; Isa. 40:18ff; Acts 17:29; Rom. 1:23ff; Deut. 12:30ff; 1 Sam. 15:23; Matt. 15:9

Answer: God neither ought, nor can be represented by any means. As for things created, although it is lawful to depict them, God nevertheless forbids their images to be made or possessed in order to worship or honor either them or God by them.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 23:24; Ex. 34:13-14,17; Num. 33:52; Deut. 7:5; Deut. 12:13; Deut. 16:22; 2 Kings 18:4

Answer: No, for that would make us wiser than God, who will have His church to be taught by the lively preaching of His word, and not with speechless images.

Scripture Proofs: 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:19; Jer. 10:8ff; Hab. 2:18-19

Answer: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain.

Answer: We must not use His name despitefully or irreverently, not only by cursing or false swearing, but also by unnecessary oaths. We must not be partakers of these horrible sins in others either by silence or consent. We must always use the sacred and holy name of God with great devotion and reverence, that He may be worshipped and honored by us with a true and steadfast confession and invocation of His name. This should be the case in all our words and actions.

Scripture Proofs: Lev. 19:12; Lev. 24:11ff; Matt. 5:37; James 5:12; 1 Tim. 2:8; Matt. 10:32; Rom. 2:24; Col. 3:17; 1 Tim. 6:1

Answer: Surely it is most grievous. There is no sin greater or more offending to God than the despising of His sacred name, wherefore He even commanded this sin to be punished with death.

Scripture Proofs: Lev. 5:1; Lev. 24:15-16

Answer: Yes, he may when lawful magistrates or necessity require it. By this means the faith and truth of any man, or thing to be ratified and established, both the glory of God may be advanced and the safety of others procured. This kind of swearing is ordained by God’s word, and therefore was well-used by the fathers both in the Old and New Testament.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 6:13; Deut. 10:20; Isa. 48:1; Heb. 6:16; Gen. 21:24; Gen. 31:1-55; Josh. 9:15,19; 2 Sam. 3:35; 1 Kings 1:29; Rom. 1:9

Answer: No. A lawful oath is an invocation of God, whereby we desire that He, as the only searcher of hearts, bear witness to the truth and punish the swearer if he knowingly swears falsely. No creature deserves this honor.

Scripture Proofs: 2 Cor. 1:23; Matt. 5:34-36; Jam. 5:12

Answer: Remember that you keep holy the Sabbath Day. You shall labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you should do no manner of work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your man-servant, nor your maid-servant, nor your cattle, nor the stranger that is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day, and hallowed it.

Answer: That one day in seven be kept in the worship of God. Under the Old Testament this was the last day of the week, but under the gospel changed to the first day of the week. The Lord’s Day is to be spent in private and public devotion, hearing the word diligently, practicing the gospel-sacraments zealously, doing deeds of charity conscionably, and resting from servile works, except for cases of necessity. This was the laudable practice of the holy Apostles, who best knew the mind of Christ as to the time of worship. We do not find in all the New Testament that any gospel church in the Apostle’s time set any other day apart solemnly to worship God but the first day. This they were right to do. For if Israel, the natural seed of Abraham, was to keep the seventh day to keep up the remembrance of their deliverance out of temporal bondage, how much more are we bound to keep the first day in remembrance of Christ’s deliverance of us from eternal bondage.

Scripture Proofs: Deut. 5:15; Psalm 40:9-10; Isa. 66:23; John 20:19-20; Acts 2:42; Acts 46; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:33; 1 Cor. 14:16,19,29,31; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:1-3, 8-9; Rev. 1:10

Answer: Honor your father and mother that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

Answer: That we yield due honor, love, and faithfulness to our parents, and to all who have authority over us, and submit ourselves with such obedience as is fitting to their faithful commandments and chastisements. And that by our patience, we endure their mannerisms, thinking within ourselves that God will govern and guide us by them.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 21:17; Prov. 1:8; Prov. 4:1; Prov. 15:20; Prov. 20:20; Rom. 13:1; Eph. 5:22; Eph. 6:1-2,5; Col. 3:20,22-24; Prov. 23:22; 1 Peter 2:18; Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1; Col. 3:18-25

Answer: You shall do no Murder.

Answer: That neither in thought or in gesture, much less in deed, I reproach, or hate, or harm, or kill my neighbor, either by myself, or by another and that I cast away all desire of revenge. Furthermore, that I do not hurt myself or knowingly cast myself into any danger. God has armed the magistrate with the sword as a deterrent to murder.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 5:21-22; Matt. 18:35; Matt. 26:52; Rom. 12:19; Eph. 4:26; Matt. 4:7; Rom. 13:14; Col. 2:23; Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:14; Matt. 26:52; Rom. 13:4

Answer: No. In forbidding murder, God further teaches that He hates the root, namely, anger, envy, hatred, and desire for revenge, accounting them all as murder.

Scripture Proofs: Gal. 5:20-21; Jam. 1:20; Rom. 1:29; 1 John 2:9,11; Matt. 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15

Answer: No. When God condemns anger, envy, and hatred, He requires that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We must use tenderness, courtesy, patience, and mercy towards him. We must also protect him from whatever may be hurtful to him, as much as we are able. Indeed, we must be so affected in mind that we do not hesitate to do good even to our enemies.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 7:12; Matt. 22:39; Matt. 5:5; Luke 6:36; Rom. 12:10, 18; Gal. 6:1-2; Eph. 4:2; Ex. 23:5; Matt. 5:43-45; Rom. 12:20

Answer: You shall not commit adultery.

Answer: That God hates and abominates all sexual vileness and filthiness. Therefore, we must hate and detest the same. This also means that we must live temperately, modestly, and chastely, whether we are married or single.

Scripture Proofs: Lev. 18; Jude 22-23; 1 Cor. 7:1-5; 1 Thess. 4:3-4; Heb. 13:4

Answer: No. Since our bodies and souls are the temples of the Holy Spirit, God will have us keep both in purity and holiness. Therefore, deeds, gestures, words, thoughts, filthy lusts, and whatever entices us to these, are all forbidden.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:18-20; Matt. 5:27-28; Job 31:1; Psalm 39:1; Eph. 5:18

Answer: You shall not steal.

Answer: Not only those thefts and robberies, which the magistrate ought to punish, but whatever evil tricks and devices where we seek after the goods of others and endeavor with force or with some form of deceit to convey them to ourselves. These include false weights, false or uneven measurements, false advertisement, counterfeit money, exorbitant interest, or any other way or means of benefitting ourselves, which God has forbidden. To these we may add all covetousness and the manifold waste and abusing of God’s gifts.

Scripture Proofs: 1 Cor. 6:10; Ezk. 45:9; Psalm 15:5; Luke 6:35; Deut. 25:13-15; Prov. 11:1; Prov. 16:11; 1 Cor. 5:10-13; 1 Cor. 6:10; 1 Thess. 4:6; Prov. 5:15; Luke 3:14

Answer: That with my power, I help and further the commodities and profit of my neighbor, and that I so deal with him as I would desire to be dealt with myself. I am required to do my own work plainly and faithfully, that I may thereby help others who are distressed with any need or calamity.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 7:12; Eph. 4:28

Answer: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Answer: That I bear no false witness against any man, neither falsify any man’s words, nor backbite, nor reproach any man, nor condemn any rashly or unheard. I must avoid and shun with all carefulness all kinds of lies and deceits, as the proper works of the Devil, or I will stir up against me the most grievous wrath of God. In judgments and other affairs, I must follow the truth, and freely and constantly profess the matter as it indeed is, as well as defend and increase, as much as in me lies, the good name and estimation of others.

Scripture Proofs: Prov. 19:5, 9; 21:28; Psalm 15:3; Rom. 1:29, 30; Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:37; John 8:44; Prov. 12:22; Prov. 13:5; Eph. 4:24-25; 1 Peter 4:8

Answer: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor anything that is his.

Scripture Proofs: Ex. 20:17

Answer: That our hearts be moved by the least desire or cogitation against any commandment of God, but that we continually, from our heart, detest all sin and delight in all righteousness.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 7:7

Answer: No. Even the holiest men, as long as they live, have only small beginnings in obedience. Yet they begin with an unfeigned and earnest desire and endeavor to live not according to some, but all the commandments of God.

Scripture Proofs: Ecc. 7:20; Rom. 7:14-15; Jam. 2:10; Rom. 7:22

Answer: First, that we increasingly acknowledge the great proneness of our nature to sin and heartily desire forgiveness and righteousness in Christ. Second, that we do this always and so implore and crave from the Father the grace of His Holy Spirit. It is by this grace that we may be renewed, day by day, to the image and likeness of God. Once we depart out of this life, we will attain to that joyful perfection which is promised to us.

Scripture Proofs: Rom 7:24; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 22:5; Luke 11:13; Eph. 3:16; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Ephesians 4:17-24; Phil. 3:12-14; Col. 3:5-14; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 John 3:2; Jude 24-25

Answer: Because it is the chief part of thankfulness which God requires of us, and also because God gives His grace and Holy Spirit to those who with sincere groanings ask them continually of Him, and give Him thanks for them.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 50:15; Matt. 7:7-8; Luke 11:9-13

Answer: That we ask of the only true God, who has manifested Himself in His word, all things which He has commanded to be asked of Him. This is to be done with a true affection and desire of our heart. As well, we are, through an inward feeling of our need and misery, to cast ourselves prostrate in the presence of His divine majesty and build ourselves on the sure foundation that we, though unworthy, yet for Christ’s sake, are certainly are certainly heard by God, even as He has promised us in His word.

Scripture Proofs: John 4:22-24; Rom. 8:26; 1 John 5:14-15; Psalm 145:18; Psalm 2:11; Psalm 34:19; Isa. 66:2; Psalm 143:1; Rom. 8:15-16; Rom. 10:13-17; Jam. 1:6ff; Dan. 9:17-19; John 14:13; John 15:16; John 16:23

Answer: All things necessary both for soul and body, which our Lord Jesus Christ has comprised in the prayer He taught us.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 6:9-13; Jam. 1:17

Answer: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Answer: We are not. Our Lord here delivers to his Church a brief summary of those things which we are to ask of God. Christ will have us also to ask for special things or particular benefits. The form prescribed is nothing else but a set of headings or general categories, wherein all benefits both bodily and spiritual are implied. But all particulars of prayer must agree and correspond with this general form. We are not tied to this form, as appears from James 1:5, where the Apostle exhorts the saints, if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask of God who gives to all liberally. Though these words are not in the form of prayer particularly expressed in the Lord’s prayer, they are implied. Besides, we have examples of prayer both in the Old and New Testament, which are not in the form here expressed, though all they asked was comprehended in this prayer. Therefore, the form of prayer delivered to us by Christ is a thing indifferent.

Answer: That He might stir up in us such a reverence and confidence in God as is proper for the sons of God. This must be the ground and foundation of our prayer; that is, that God through Christ is made our Father and will much less deny us these things which we ask of Him with a true faith than our earthly parents deny us earthly things.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 7:9-11; Luke 11:11-13

Answer: That we conceive not basely nor mundanely of God’s heavenly majesty, and also that we look for and expect from His omnipotence whatever things are necessary for our soul and body.

Scripture Proofs: Jer. 23:24; Acts 17:24-27; Rom. 10:12

Answer: Hallowed be Your name. In this we are asking that You would grant us, first to know You rightly and worship, praise, and magnify Your almighty goodness, justice, mercy, and truth, which shine in all Your works. Also, we are asking You to direct our whole life, thoughts, words, and works to the end that Your most holy name be not reproached by us, but rather renowned with honor and praises.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 119:105; Jer. 9:23-24; Jer. 31:33-34; Matt. 16:17; John 17:3; James 1:5; Ex. 34:5-7; Psalm 119:137-138; Psalm 143:1-2, 5, 10-12; Psalm 145:8-9:17; Jer. 31:3; Jer. 32:18-19, 40-41; Jer. 33:11, 20-21; Matt. 19:17; Luke 1:45-55, 68-79; Rom. 3:3-4; Rom. 11:22-23; 2 Tim. 2:9; Psalm 115:1; Psalm 71:8

Answer: Your kingdom come. In this we are asking that You would rule us by Your word and Spirit, that we may humble and submit ourselves more and more to You. Also, we ask that You would preserve and increase Your Church, destroy the works of the Devil, and all power that lifts up itself against Your majesty. Make all those councils frustrated and void which are taken against Your word, until finally You reign fully and perfectly, when You shall be all in all.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 119:5; Psalm 143:10; Matt. 6:33; Psalm 51:18; Psalm 122:6-7; Rom. 16:20; 1 John 3:8; Rom. 8:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:28

Answer: Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. We are asking that You grant that we, and all men, renouncing and forsaking our own will, may readily and without any grudging, obey Your most holy will. This we pray that every one of us may faithfully perform that duty and charge which You have committed to us, even as the blessed angels do in heaven.

Scripture Proofs: Matt. 16:24; Tit. 2:12; Luke 22:42; 1 Cor. 7:24; Psalm 103:20-21

Answer: Give us this day our daily bread. We ask that You give to us everything which is needful for this life, that by these things we may acknowledge and confess You to be the only fountain from where all good things flow. We also confess that all our care and industry, and even Your gifts are unfavorable and harmful to us unless You bless them. Grant that, turning our trust away from all creatures, we place and rest it in You alone.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 10:4; Psalm 145:15-16; Matt. 6:25-34; Acts 14:16-17; Deut. 8:3; Psalm 27:13; Psalm 62:11

Answer: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. On the basis of the blood of Christ, do not impute unto us, most miserable and wretched sinners, any of our offences or the corruption which still cleaves to us. By Your grace in our hearts, we sincerely purpose to pardon and forgive all those who have offended us.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 143:2; Matt. 6:14

Answer: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. We are feeble and weak by nature and cannot stand one moment without our most deadly enemies, Satan, the world, and our own flesh, increasingly attacking and assaulting us. Therefore, we uphold, establish, and strengthen us by the might of Your Spirit that we may not in this spiritual combat yield as conquered, but withstand our enemies both stoutly and consistently, until we get the full and perfect victory.

Scripture Proofs: Psalm 103:14; John 15:5; Eph. 6:12; 1 Peter. 5:8; John 15:19; Rom. 7:23; Gal. 5:17; Matt. 26:41; Mark 13:33; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:23

Answer: For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. We ask and crave all these things of You because You are our King and almighty and are, therefore, both willing and able to give them to us. We ask these things that Your holy name alone may receive glory.

Scripture Proofs: Rom. 10:11-13; 2 Pet. 2:9; Psalm 115:1; John 14:13

Answer: That the thing is sure and not to be doubted. This is so because my prayer is much more certainly heard by God than I feel in my heart that I desire things from Him.

Scripture Proofs: 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:13