HenryWSC 1

Matthew Henry’s Westminster Shorter Catechism Commentary on Question 1

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Is man a reasonable creature? Yes: for there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding,
Job 32:8
. Has he greater capacities than the brutes? Yes: God teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven,
Job 35:11
.
Is man his own maker? No: it is God that hath made us, and not we ourselves,
Ps. 100:3
. Is he then his own master? No: there is a Lord over us,
Ps. 12:4
. Is he his own carver? No: should it be according to thy mind,
Job 34:33
. Is he his own end? No: for none of us lives to himself, or dies to himself,
Rom. 14:7
.
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,
Rom. 8:12
. Is it to pursue the world? No: for we are not of the world,
John 17:16
.
Is your happiness bound up in the creature? No: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit,
Eccles. 1:14
. 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,
Luke 12:15
. Will the praise and applause of men make you happy? No: for it is vain glory,
Gal. 5:26
. Will sport and pleasure make you happy? No: for the wise man said of laughter, It is mad, and of mirth, What doth it?
Eccles. 2:2
. Can the gain of the world make you happy? No, for what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Matt. 16:26
.
Is God then your chief end? Yes, for of him, and through him, and to him are all things,
Rom. 11:36
. Were you made for him? Yes: this people have I formed for myself,
Isa. 43:21
. Were you redeemed for him? Yes: ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price,
1 Cor. 6:19–20
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Is it your chief business to glorify God? Yes: we must glorify God in our body and in our spirit, which are God’s,
1 Cor. 6:20
. Must this be ultimately designed in all our actions? Yes: do all to the glory of God,
1 Cor. 10:31
. Is God glorified by our praises? Yes: he that offers praise, glorifies me,
Ps. 50:23
. And is he glorified by our works? Yes: herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit,
John 15:8
.
Is God your chief good? Yes: for happy is the people whose God is the Lord,
Ps. 144:15
. Does all good come from him? Yes: for with him is the fountain of life,
Ps. 36:9
. And is all good enjoyed in him? Yes: the Lord is the portion of my inheritance, and of my cup,
Ps. 16:5
.
Is it your chief happiness then to have God’s favour? Yes: for in his favour is life,
Ps. 30:5
. Is that the most desirable good? Yes: for his loving kindness is better than life,
Ps. 63:3
. Do you desire it above any good? Yes: Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us,
Ps. 4:6–7
. And should you give all diligence to make it sure? Yes: herein we labour, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of the Lord,
2 Cor. 5:9
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Is communion with God in grace here the best pleasure? Yes: it is good for me to draw near to God,
Ps. 73:28
. Is the vision and fruition of God in glory hereafter the best portion? Yes: for in his presence there is fulness of joy,
Ps. 16:11
. 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,
Ps. 73:25–26
.
HenryWSC 1