A N EXPLICATION Of the First Part of the ASSEMBLY's SHORTER CATECHISM, In continued Difcourfes on each Queftion. To which is fubjoined, The peculiar Advantage and Bufinefs of Never before printed. By the late Reverend and Learned ENTERED IN STATIONERS HALL. EDINBURGH: Printed by William Gray, and fold at his Printing-house, 1 The following Explication of the Shorter Catechifm, and the Sermons annexed, are printed from the Author's original Manufcripts, without the smallest Variation. B Anf. Man's chief End is, to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. EXPLICATION. By Man's chief End is meant, the End which Man was chiefly made for, and which he should chiefly feek to reach unto. It confifts of two Parts; his chief Duty, and his chief Happiness. Man's chief Duty is, to glorify God: 1 Cor. x. 31. 'Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoe ver ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Man glorifies God, by thinking, fpeaking, and living, to his Glory. And this is Man's chief, and laft or farthest End. Man's chief Happiness is, to enjoy God as his God: Pfal. Ixxiii. 25. 26. 27. 28. 'Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I defire befides thee, My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the ftrength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For lo, they that are far from thee, shall perish < A thou 1 6 thou haft destroyed all them that go a-whoring 'from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my truft in the Lord God.' And this is Man's chief fubordinate End. A Sinner can never glorify God, until firft he enjoy him as his God: Eph. ii. 12. At that time ye were ⚫ without Chrift, being aliens from the common'wealth of Ifrael, and ftrangers from the covenants of promife, having no hope, and without God in the world.' Gen. xvii. 1. The Lord appeared to Abram, and faid unto him, I am "the almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.' Exod. xx. 2. 3. ' I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the houfe of bondage. Thou fhalt have no other gods before me. Now, the Sinner can attain to the Enjoyment of God, only through Jefus Chrift: John xiv. 6. Jefus faith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' And one may get a saving Interest in Chrift, by Faith. Moreover, they who en joy God as their God, are enabled to glorify him, by the Spirit of Chrift dwelling in them as Members of Chrift: Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us with gronings which cannot be uttered.' Wherefore, none that are out of Chrift, reach the chief End of Man: But they make themselves their chief End. Howbeit, Believers do reach it: and they reach it, in fo far as they fhall, from the firft Moment of their believing, for ever enjoy and glorify ८ 6 God; God; imperfectly indeed here, but perfectly in Heaven. Queft. 2. What Rule hath God given to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him? Anf The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, is the only Rule to direct us, how we may glorify and enjoy him. EXPLICATION. The End for which the Scriptures are given, is, to be a Rule to direct us, how we may glorify God, and come to the Enjoyment of him as our God. And they are the only Rule to direct us in theTe Matters. Withal, they are a certain and infallible Rule; and that, because they are the Word of God. It appears, that they are the Word of God, by the Holinets and Efficacy of their Doctrine, and the Miracles wrought to confirm it: And this, although for the moft Part they were written by Men, becaufe all fcripture is given by infp ration of God, 2 Tim. iii. 16. The Word Scriptures fignifies Writings: But the Church had not always the written Word, till about Mofes's Time. Hovbeit, they were fupplied, while they wanted it, by extraordinary Revelations: And it is the fam: Doctrine that was then fo revealed, which we have now in the Scripture. Neverthelefs, the Scripture is altogether neceffary for the A 2 Church |