Lord's Day 41

Question 108.

What doth the seventh commandment teach us?

Answer. That all uncleanness is accursed [a] of God: and that therefore we must with all our hearts [b] detest the same, and live [c] chastely and temperately, whether in [d] holy wedlock, or in single life.

Question 109.

Doth God forbid in this commandment, only adultery, and such like gross sins?

Answer. Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, he commands us to preserve them pure and holy: therefore he forbids all unchaste actions, [e] gestures, words, thoughts, [f] desires, and whatever [g] can entice men thereto.

[a]: Lev. 18:27
[b]: Deut. 29:20-23
[c]: 1Thes. 4:3,4
[d]: Heb. 13:4; 1Cor. 7:4-9
[e]: Eph. 5:3; 1Cor. 6:18
[f]: Mat. 5:28
[g]: Eph. 5:18; 1Cor. 15:33

Lord's Day 42

Question 110.

What doth God forbid in the eighth commandment?

Answer. God forbids not only those [a] thefts, and [b] robberies, which are punishable by the magistrate; but he comprehends under the name of theft all wicked tricks and devices, whereby we design to [c] appropriate to ourselves the goods which belong to our neighbor: whether it be by force, or under the appearance of right, as by unjust [d] weights, ells, [e] measures, fraudulent merchandise, false coins, [f] usury, or by any other way forbidden by God; as also all [g] covetousness, all abuse and waste of his gifts.

Question 111.

But what doth God require in this commandment?

Answer. That I promote the advantage of my neighbor in every instance I can or may; and deal with him as I [h] desire to be dealt with by others: further also that I faithfully labor, so that I [i] may be able to relieve the needy.
[a]: 1Cor. 6:10
[b]: 1Cor. 5:10
[c]: Luke 3:14; 1Thes. 4:6
[d]: Prov. 11:1
[e]: Ezek. 45:9,10,11; Deut. 25:13
[f]: Psa. 15:5; Luke 6:35
[g]: 1Cor. 6:10
[h]: Mat. 7:12
[i]: Prov. 5:16; Eph. 4:28

Lord's Day 43

Question 112.

What is required in the ninth commandment?

Answer. That I bear false witness [a] against no man, nor falsify [b] any man's words; that I be no backbiter, [c] nor slanderer; that I do not judge, nor join [d] in condemning any man rashly, or unheard; but that I [e] avoid all sorts of lies and deceit, as the proper works [f] of the devil, unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God; likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth, speak it uprightly [g] and confess it; also that I defend and promote, [h] as much as I am able, the honor and good character of my neighbor.

[a]: Prov. 19:5,9; Prov. 21:28
[b]: Psa. 15:3
[c]: Rom. 1:29,30
[d]: Mat. 7:1ff; Luke 6:37
[e]: Lev. 19:11
[f]: Prov. 12:22; Prov. 13:5
[g]: 1Cor. 13:6; Eph. 4:25
[h]: 1Pet. 4:8

Lord's Day 44

Question 113.

What doth the tenth commandment require of us?

Answer. That even the smallest inclination or thought, contrary to any of God's commandments, never rise in our hearts; but that at all times we hate all sin with our whole heart, [a] and delight in all righteousness.

Question 114.

But can those who are converted to God perfectly keep these commandments?

Answer. No: but even the holiest men, while in this life, have only a small beginning of this [b] obedience; yet so, that with a [c] sincere resolution they begin to live, not only according to some, but all of the commandments of God.

Question 115.

Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

Answer. First, that all our lifetime we may learn [d] more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, [e] and righteousness in Christ; likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come. [f]

[a]: Rom. 7:7ff
[b]: Rom. 7:14
[c]: Rom. 7:15ff; James 3:2
[d]: 1 Jn 1:9; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 5:13; Rom. 7:7
[e]: Rom. 7:24
[f]: 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12,13,14

Lord's Day 45

Question 116.

Why is prayer necessary for christians?

Answer. Because it is the chief part of [a] thankfulness which God requires of us: and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and [b] are thankful for them.

Question 117.

What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?

Answer. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath [c] manifested himself in his word, for all things, he hath commanded us to ask of him; [d] secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may [e] deeply humble ourselves in the presence of his divine majesty; thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that he, notwithstanding that we are [f] unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly [g] hear our prayer, as he has [h] promised us in his word.

Question 118.

What hath God commanded us to ask of him?

Answer. All [i] things necessary for soul and body; which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer he himself [j] has taught us.

Question 119.

What are the words of that prayer?

Answer. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

[a]: Psa. 50:14,15
[b]: Mat. 7:7,8; Luke 11:9,13; Mat. 13:12; Psa. 50:15
[c]: John 4:22,23
[d]: Rom. 8:26; 1John 5:14
[e]: John 4:23,24; Psa. 145:18
[f]: 2Chron. 20:12
[g]: Psa. 2:11; Psa. 34:18,19; Isa. 66:2
[h]: Rom. 10:13; Rom. 8:15,16; James 1:6ff; John 14:13; Dan. 9:17,18; Mat. 7:8; Psa. 143:1
[i]: James 1:17; Mat. 6:33
[j]: Mat. 6:9ff; Luke 11:2ff

Lord's Day 46

Question 120.

Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus: "Our Father"?

Answer. That immediately, in the very beginning of our prayer, he might excite in us a childlike reverence for, and confidence in God, which are the foundation of our prayer: namely, that God is become our Father in Christ, [a] and will much less deny us what we ask of him in true faith, than our parents [b] will refuse us earthly things.

Question 121.

Why is it here added, "Which art in heaven"?

Answer. Lest we should form any [c] earthly conceptions of God's heavenly majesty, and that we [d] may expect from his almighty power all things necessary for soul and body.
[a]: Mat. 6:9
[b]: Mat. 7:9,10,11; Luke 11:11; Isa. 49:15
[c]: Jer. 23:24
[d]: Acts 17:24; Rom. 10:12

Lord's Day 47

Question 122.

Which is the first petition?

Answer. [a] "Hallowed be thy name"; that is, grant us, first, rightly [b] to know thee, and to [c] sanctify, glorify and praise thee, in all thy works, in which thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth, are clearly displayed; and further also, that we may so order and direct our whole lives, our thoughts, words and actions, that thy name may never be blasphemed, but rather [d] honored and praised on our account.

[a]: Mat. 6:9
[b]: John 17:3; Jer. 9:23,24; Mat. 16:17; James 1:5
[c]: Psa. 119:137,138; Luke 1:46; Psa. 145:8,9
[d]: Psa. 115:1; Psa. 71:8

Lord's Day 48

Question 123

Which is the second petition?

Answer. [a] "Thy kingdom come"; that is, rule us so by thy word and Spirit, that we may [b] submit ourselves more and more to thee; preserve and [c] increase thy church; destroy the [d] works of the devil, and all violence which would exalt itself against thee; and also, all wicked counsels devised against thy holy word; till the full [e] perfection of thy kingdom take place, [f] wherein thou shalt be all in all.

[a]: Mat. 6:10
[b]: Psa. 119:5
[c]: Psa. 51:18
[d]: 1John 3:8; Rom. 16:20
[e]: Rev. 22:17,20
[f]: 1Cor. 15:15,28