Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q 104: What do we pray for in the fourth petition? A 104: In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread)(1), we pray, That of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.(2) (1) Matt. 6:11. (2) Prov. 30:8-9; Gen. 28:20; I Tim. 4:4-5.

Quest. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? Ans. 104. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our daily bread)(1), we pray, That of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.(2) (1) Matt. 6:11. (2) Prov. 30:8-9; Gen. 28:20; I Tim. 4:4-5.

Quest. 102. What do we pray for in the second petition? Ans. 102. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come)(1) we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed;(2) and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced,(3) ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it;(4) and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.(5) (1) Matt. 6:10. (2) Ps. 68:1, 18. (3) Rev. 12:10-11. (4) II Thess. 3:1; Rom. 10:1; John 17:9, 20. (5) Rev. 22:20.

Pastor John continues to expand on the Westminster Shorter Catechism Quest. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition? Ans. 101. In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name)(1) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known;(2) and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.(3) (1) Matt. 6:9. (2) Ps. 67:2-3. (3) Ps. 83.

Quest. 96. What is the Lord's supper? Ans. 96. The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worth receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.(1) (1) I Cor. 11:23-26; 10:16. Quest. 97. What is required to be the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper? Ans. 97. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body,(1) of their faith to feed upon him,(2) of their repentance,(3) love,(4) and new obedience;(5) lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.(6) (1) I Cor. 11:28-29. (2) II Cor. 13:5. (3) I Cor. 11:31. (4) I Cor. 10:16-17. (5) I Cor. 5:7-8. (6) I Cor. 11:28-29.

Quest. 98. What is prayer? Ans. 98. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God,(1) for things agreeable to his will,(2) in the name of Christ,(3) with confession of our sins,(4) and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.(5) (1) Ps. 62:8. (2) I John 5:14. (3) John 16:23. (4) Ps. 32:5-6; Dan. 9:4. (5) Phil. 4:6. Quest. 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? Ans. 99. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in prayer;(12) but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's prayer.(2) (1) I John 5:14. (2) Matt. 6:9-13. Cf. Luke 11:2-4.

Quest. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation? Ans. 91. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ,(1) and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.(2) (1) I Pet. 3:21; Matt. 3:11; I Cor. 3:6-7. (2) I Cor. 12:13. Quest. 92. What is a sacrament? Ans. 92. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.(1) (1) Gen. 17:7, 10; Exod. 12; I Cor. 11:23, 26. Quest. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament? Ans. 93. The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism,(2) and the Lord's supper.(2) (1) Matt. 28:19. (2) Matt. 26:26-28.

Quest. 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation? Ans. 89. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.(1) (1) Neh. 8:8; I Cor. 14:24-25; Acts 26:18; Ps. 19:8; Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4; II Tim. 3:15-17; Rom. 10:13-17; 1:16. Quest. 90. How is the word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? Ans. 90. The word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,(1) preparation,(2) and prayer;(3) receive it with faith and love,(4) lay it up in our hearts,(5) and practice it in our lives.(6) (1) Prov. 8:34. (2) I Pet. 2:1-2. (3) Ps. 119:18. (4) Heb. 4:2; II Thess. 2:10. (5) Ps. 119:11. (6) Luke 8:15; James 1:25.

Quest. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? Ans. 82. No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God,(1) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.(2) (1) Eccles. 7:20; I John 1:8, 10; Gal. 5:17. (2) Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Rom. 3:9-21; James 3:2-13. Quest. 83. Are all transgression of the law equally heinous? Ans. 83. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.(1) (1) Ezek. 8:6, 13, 15; I John 5:16; Ps. 78:17, 32, 56. Quest. 84. What doth every sin deserve? Ans. 84. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come.(1) (1) Eph. 5:6; Gal. 3:10; Lam. 3:39; Matt. 25:41.

Quest. 79. Which is the tenth commandment? Ans. 79. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.(1) (1) Exod. 20:17. Quest. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment? Ans. 80. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition,(1) with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all this is his.(2) (1) Heb. 13:5; I Tim. 6:6. (2) Job 31:29; Rom. 12:15; I Tim. 1:5; I Cor. 13:4-7. Quest. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? Ans. 81. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate,(1) envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour,(2) and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his.(3) (1) I Kings 21:4; Esther 5:13; I Cor. 10:10. (2) Gal. 5:26; James 3:14, 16. (3) Rom. 7:7-8; 13:9; Deut. 5:21.