Question 1

Is Man a reasonable Creature?

Yes. For there is a Spirit in Man, and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth them Understanding,^a

Hath he greater Capacities than the Brutes?

Yes. For God teacheth us more than the Beasts of the Earth, and maketh us wiser than the Fowls of Heaven,^b

Is Man his own Maker?

No. It is God that hath made us, and not we our selves,^c

Is he then his own Master?

No. There is a Lord over us,^d

Is he his own Carver?

No. Should it be according to thy Mind?^e

Is he his own End?

No. For none of us lives to himself, or dies to himself,^f

Is it your Business in the World to serve the Flesh?

No, For we are not Debtors to the Flesh, that we should live after the Flesh,^g

Is it to pursue the World?

No, For we are not of the World,^h

Is your Happiness bound up in the Creature?

No. For all is Vanity and Vexation of Spirit,ⁱ

Will the Riches of the World make you happy?

No. For a Man’s Life consisteth not in the Abundance of the Things which he possesseth,^j

Will the Praise and Applause of Men make you happy?

No. For it is Vain-Glory,^k

Will Sport and Pleasure make you happy?

No. For the wise Man said of Laughter, it is mad; and of Mirth, what doth it?^l

Can the Gain of all the World make you happy?

No, For what is a Man profited if he gain the whole World, and lose his own Soul?^m

Is God then your chief End?

Yes. For of him, and through him, and to him, are all Things,ⁿ

Were you made for him?

Yes. This People have I formed for my self,^o

Were you redeem’d for him?

Yes. Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a Price,^p

Is it your chief Business to glorifie God?

Yes. We must glorifie God in our Body, and in our Spirit, which are God’s,^q

Must this be ultimately design’d in all our Actions?

Yes. Do all to the Glory of God,^r

Is God glorified by our Praises?

Yes. He that offers Praise, glorifies me,^s

And is he glorified by our good Works?

Yes. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much Fruit,^t

Is God your chief Good?

Yes. For happy is the People whose God is the Lord,^u

Doth all Good come from him?

Yes. For with him is the Fountain of Life,^v

And is all Good enjoy’d in him?

Yes. The Lord is the Portion of my Inheritance, and of my Cup,^w

Is it your chief Happiness then to have God’s Favor?

Yes. For in his Favor is Life,^x

Is that the most desirable Good?

Yes. For his Loving-kindness is better than Life,^y

Do you desire it above any Good?

Yes. Lord, lift thou up the Light of thy Countenance upon us,^z

And should you give all Diligence to make it sure?

Yes. Herein we labor, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of the Lord,^aa

Is Communion with God in Grace here the best Pleasure?

Yes. It is good for me to draw near to God,^bb

Is the Vision and Fruition of God in Glory hereafter the best Portion?

Yes. For in his Presence there is Fulness of Joy,^cc

Will you therefore set your Heart upon this chief Good?

Yes. Lord, whom have I in Heaven but thee? And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee; when my Flesh and my Heart fail, God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever,^dd