Question 57

Is that a reason why we should worship him?

Yes. Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker,^b

And is idolatry therefore an act of rebellion against him?

Yes. We have rebelled by departing from thee,^c

Is he our God?

Yes. I am the Lord your God,^d

Is that also a reason why we should worship him?

Yes. We will serve the Lord, for he is our God,^e

And cleave unto him?

Yes. For hath a nation changed their gods,^f

And is it a breach of covenant if we do not?

Yes. They will turn unto other gods, and serve them, and break my covenant,^g

Doth jealousy imply the height of anger and indignation?

Yes. God is jealous, the Lord revengeth, and is furious,ⁱ

And doth nothing stir up the jealousy of God more than idolatry?

No. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God, they have provoked me to anger with their vanities,^j

And that upon their children?

Yes. Thou recompensest the iniquity of the fathers, into the bosom of their children,^l

And their children’s children?

Yes. To the third and fourth generation,^m

But will his judgments fall most heavily on those who make their father’s sins their own?

Yes. Behold ye are risen up in your father’s stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment the anger of the Lord,ⁿ

And may such expect to be exempted from desolating judgments when they come?

Yes. Go set a mark on the forehead of them that sigh and cry,^p

And to meet with peculiar tokens of the divine regard?

Yes. For the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon all them that fear him,^q