What is required in the second commandment?

1. What is the opinion of the Papists about this commandment?

They alledge that it is not a distinct precept from the first, but only an appendix, or supplement thereto, by way of illustration.

2. What is their practice in consequence of this opinion?

They constantly leave it out in their mass-books, and other liturgies of their church, lest the people should observe the manifest contrariety of their image-worship, to what is here so expresly forbidden.

3. Wherein then doth the second commandment differ from the first?

The first commandment respects the OBJECT, and requires that we worship the true God, for our God, and no other: the second respects the MEANS of worship, and requires that the true God be worshipped in such a way only, and by such ordinances as he has appointed in his word, in opposition to all human inventions.

4. What is meant by [religious worship]?

That homage and respect we owe to a gracious God, as a God of infinite perfection; whereby we profess subjection to, and confidence in him as our God in Christ, for the supply of all our wants; and ascribe the praise and glory that is due to him, as our chief good, and only happiness.

5. What are these religious [ordinances] which God hath appointed in his word?

They are “prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments; church-government and discipline; the ministry, and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God; and vowing to him.” [Larger Cat. Quest. 108.]

6. Is prayer a moral duty, founded in the law of nature?

Surely it is: the necessary dependance of the rational creature upon its Creator, plainly proves it to be so. Hence we find the very Heathens practising it, when reduced to straits.

7. How doth it appear to be an instituted means of worship?

From a variety of scripture texts injoining the practice of it, in all cases and circumstances.

8. What is acceptable prayer?

It is an asking in Christ’s name, what God has promised to give; John 14:13 with a full persuasion that he doth hear, and will answer. Mark 11:24; James 1:6

9. How manifold is religious thanksgiving?

TWOFOLD: stated and occasional.

10. What is stated thanksgiving?

It is not only the thankful acknowledgment of mercies daily received, which is a branch of prayer; but likewise the singing the praises of God with the voice, which is a stated act of worship, distinct from prayer, though ejaculatory prayer ought, always, to be joined with it.

11. How do you prove, that singing with the voice is a stated act of worship, appointed under the New Testament?

From the example of Christ and his apostles, who, after the first supper, sang an hymn (or psalm, as on the margin); Matthew 26:30 and from the injunction laid upon all Christians to be employed in this exercise, as a stated duty. Ephesians 5:18–19; James 5:13

12. What should be the subject-matter of our praises to God?

The psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, which are dictated by the Spirit of God in scripture; and not any human composure whatsoever.

13. In what manner should these be sung?

With grace in our hearts to the Lord.

14. What is it to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord?

It is to have our hearts going along with our voice, in suitable acts of faith, and elevated affections.

15. Are not the Psalms of David, as we sing them in our language, of human composure?

The translation in metre is human, but the sense and meaning is the same with the original.

16. What is occasional thanksgiving?

It is the setting some time apart, for giving thanks to God, for some remarkable mercy and deliverance, respecting either churches and nations in general, Nehemiah 12:27 or ourselves and families in particular. Ephesians 5:20

17. How ought this duty to be gone about?

With an humble sense of our utter unworthiness of the least of all God’s favours.

18. Are reading, hearing, and preaching of the word, acts of worship?

Although they are not acts of such immediate worship as prayer and praise, wherein God is immediately addressed; yet being the instituted and ordinary means of salvation, they ought to be practised and attended, with that reverence and regard, which is due to the great God our Saviour, who is present in them.

19. How are the administration and receiving of the sacraments acts of worship?

As therein, by the sensible signs of divine appointment, Christ and his benefits are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

20. In what sense are church-government and discipline to be ranked among the ordinances of divine worship?

In as far as they are exercised in the name of the Lord Jesus, the alone head of his church, according to the rule of his word, by church-judicatories lawfully constitute.

21. Why is the ministry, and maintenance thereof, placed among religious ordinances?

Because as a standing ministry in the church, till the end of time, is of express divine institution, Ephesians 4:11–13 so the suitable and comfortable maintenance thereof, is as expresly appointed, not only in the Old Testament, Numbers 18:21, 24 but likewise in the New, “Do ye not know, that they which minister about holy things, live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar, are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:13–14

22. What is religious fasting?

“A religious fast, requires total abstinence, not only from all food, (unless bodily weakness do manifestly disable from holding out, till the fast be ended,——), but also from all worldly labour, discourses, and thoughts, and from all bodily delights.——” [Directory for the public worship of God, in the article, Concerning public solemn fasting.]

23. Whether is bodily fasting, or bare abstinence from food, any part of religious worship?

Not properly in itself; but as it is a mean of divine appointment, for fitting and disposing us for more spiritual and solemn exercises.

24. How doth fasting appear to be a mean of divine appointment?

From the practice of the saints under the Old Testament; Esther 4:16; Daniel 10:2–3 from the testimony of Christ; Matthew 6:17–18; 17:21 and the example of his apostles, under the New. Acts 13:3; 14:23

25. What are these spiritual and solemn exercises, which fasting is designed to dispose us for?

Deep humiliation of soul before the Lord, on account of sin; Ezra 9:6 free confession thereof, Daniel 9:20 and turning therefrom, Joel 2:12 as the genuine fruits of our taking hold of God’s covenant; Jeremiah 50:4–5 together with an importunate requesting of our gracious God, for that which is the particular occasion of the fast. Psalm 35:13

26. Whether is religious fasting an occasional, or a stated duty?

It is merely occasional and extraordinary, to be gone about only as the call of providence may require and direct.

27. What are the occurrences in providence, which are a call to this extraordinary duty?

“When some great and notable judgments are either inflicted upon a people,” Daniel 9:3, 12–14 “or, apparently imminent,” 2 Chronicles 20:2–4 “or, by some extraordinary provocations notoriously deserved,” 1 Samuel 7:3, 6 “as also, when some special blessing is to be sought and obtained,” 1 Samuel 7:5, 8, 10 [Directory for the public worship of God, in the article, Concerning public solemn fasting.]

28. Is swearing by the name of God an act of immediate and instituted worship?

Undoubtedly it is: and that either when we devote ourselves to God in a covenant of duties, Deuteronomy 6:13 or declare the truth upon oath, when called thereto; because, in both cases, the name of God is solemnly interposed and invocated. Jeremiah 4:2

29. To whom are vows to be made?

To God alone, as the only party and witness in the making and performing of them, “Vow, and pay unto the LORD your GOD.”

30. What should be the subject-matter of our vows unto God?

Nothing but what may tend either to promote the practice of commanded duty; Psalm 119:57 or prevent the commission of any sin, to which we are more ordinarily inclined and addicted. Psalm 119:106

31. What doth this commandment require, with respect to all these ordinances, and parts of worship, which God has appointed in his word?

The receiving and observing them; and keeping them pure and entire.

32. What is it to [receive] God’s ordinances?

It is to approve of, and embrace them, as bearing the stamp of his authority upon them.

33. What is it to [observe] them?

It is to set about the practice of them, or to be actually employed in them.

34. What is it to keep the ordinances of God [pure]?

It is to contribute our utmost endeavour to preserve them from all mixture of human invention.

35. What is it to keep them [entire]?

It is, in the exercise of faith, to attend upon each of them in their proper season, so as that one duty may not justle out another.

36. What doth God require of us, in this command, with reference to all false worship?

He requires “the disapproving, detesting, opposing all false worship; Psalm 16:4 and, according to each one’s place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry,” Deuteronomy 7:5 [Larger Cat. Quest. 108.]