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A Scripture Catechism

Question 39

On Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) Q. 39

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What is the Duty which God requires of Man?

The Duty which God requires of Man is Obedience to his revealed Will.

Doth God require Duty of Man?

Yes. Now, O Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee?a

Of every Man?

Yes. He that hath Ears to hear let him hear,b

Hath he Authority to require Duty?

Yes. If I be a Master where is my Fear?c

Is it fit he should rule us?

Yes. For we are his People, and the Sheep of his Pasture,d

Is it fit we should obey him?

Yes. For the Borrower is Servant to the Lender, and the Fool is Servant to the Wise of Heart,e

Ought we therefore to enquire what our Duty is?

Yes. Teach me, O Lord, the Way of thy Statutes,f

Hath God made known his Will concerning our Duty?

Yes. He sheweth his Word unto Jacob, his Statutes and his Judgments unto Israel,g

Are we to obey it?

Yes. Thou shalt obey the Voice of the Lord thy God, and do his Commandments,h

Is that Obedience the Condition of our Acceptance?

Yes. Obey my Voice, and I will be your God,i

Is Obedience to God reasonable?

Yes. It is your reasonable Service,j

Is it easie?

Yes. For his Commandments are not grievous,k

And will it be acceptable?

Yes. For to obey is better than Sacrifice,l

Must our Obedience to God be sincere?

Yes. Fear the Lord, and serve him in Sincerity, and in Truth,m

Must it be Universal?

Yes. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have Respect unto all thy Commandments,n

Must it be with Delight?

Yes. I delight in the Law of God after the inward Man,o

Must it be constant?

Yes. Be thou in the Fear of the Lord all the Day long,p

Must God’s Commands take Place of Mens?

Yes. We ought to obey God rather than Man,q

Should we therefore labour to know the Will of God?

Yes. Understand what the Will of the Lord is,r

Are we to study his secret Will?

No. For secret Things belong not to us.

But his revealed Will?

Yes. For Things revealed belong to us, and to our Children, that we may do all the Words of this Law,s

Is Obedience to God’s revealed Will the whole Duty of Man?

Yes. Let us hear the Conclusion of the whole Matter; fear God, and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole Duty of Man,t

Proofs

Each links to the Scripture index: what else cites the passage.

  1. aDeuteronomy 10:12
  2. bMatthew 13:9
  3. cMalachi 1:6
  4. dPsalm 100:3
  5. eProverbs 22:7; Proverbs 11:29
  6. fPsalm 119:33
  7. gPsalm 147:19
  8. hDeuteronomy 27:10
  9. iJeremiah 7:23
  10. jRomans 12:1
  11. k1 John 5:3
  12. l1 Samuel 15:22
  13. mJoshua 24:14
  14. nPsalm 119:6
  15. oRomans 7:22
  16. pProverbs 23:17
  17. qActs 5:29; Acts 4:19
  18. rEphesians 5:17
  19. sDeuteronomy 29:29
  20. tEcclesiastes 12:13

Cite this

A Scripture Catechism (1703) on Q. 39, symbolics.dev/henry1703/39

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