Two
Short Catechisms:
wherein the
Principles of the Doctrine of Christ
are
unfolded and explained.
Proper for all persons to learn before they be admitted to the sacrament of the Lord's supper; and composed for the use of all congregations in general.
"Come, ye children, hearken to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord," Ps. xxxiv. 11
Prefatory Note.
The first edition of these Catechisms issued from the press in 1645. Dr Owen had at that time the charge of the parish of Fordham in Essex, and laboured diligently for the instruction and benefit of his flock, by catechising from house to house. The catechisms were prepared in order that he might accomplish these parochial duties with greater efficiency and success. "The Lesser Catechism" is designed for the instruction of children; — "The Greater," for the examination of persons more advanced in years. They are chiefly doctrinal. It was the intention of Owen to have followed up this little work by another Catechism on the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and some articles of the Creed. This intention, however, was never fulfilled. These Catechisms on "the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ" are included in this volume, — which embodies all the treatises of Owen directly relating to the second Person of the Trinity, — inasmuch as, according to a statement of the author in the preface, they were intended to remind his people of what he had publicly taught them, "especially concerning the person and offices of Christ." They were among the first, as the other treatises in this volume are among the last, of our author's publications; and we are thus enabled to mark the undeviating consistency with which, during all the ministrations of his public course, Owen held fast by the great doctrines of the Gospel, — "the unsearchable riches of Christ." — Ed.
To my Loving Neighbours and Christian Friends.
Brethren,
My heart's desire and request unto God for you is, that you may be saved. I say the truth in Christ also, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness, and continual sorrow in my heart, for them amongst you who, as yet, walk disorderly, and not as beseemeth the Gospel, little labouring to acquaint themselves with the mystery of godliness; for many walk, of whom I have told you often weeping, and now tell you again with sorrow, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, who mind earthly things.
You know, brethren, how I have been amongst you, and in what manner, for these few years past, and how I have kept back nothing (to the utmost of the dispensation to me committed) that was profitable unto you; but have showed you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to all repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, with what sincerity this hath been by me performed, with what issue and success by you received, God the righteous Judge will one day declare; for before him must both you and I appear, to give an account of the dispensation of the glorious Gospel amongst us; — in the meanwhile, the desire of my heart is, to be servant to the least of you in the work of the Lord; and that in any way which I can concede profitable unto you, — either in your persons or your families.
Now, amongst my endeavours in this kind, after the ordinance of public preaching the Word, there is not, I conceive, any more needful (as all will grant that know the estate of this place, how taught of late days, how full of grossly ignorant persons) than catechising; which hath caused me to set aside some hours for the compiling of these following, which also I have procured to be printed, merely because the least part of the parish are able to read it in writing; — my intention in them being, principally, to hold out those necessary truths wherein you have been in my preaching more fully instructed. As they are, the use of them I shall briefly present unto you:--
1. The Lesser Catechism may be so learned of the younger sort, that they may be ready to answer to every question thereof.
2. The Greater will call to mind much of what hath been taught you in public, especially concerning the Person and Offices of Jesus Christ.
3. Out of that you may have help to instruct your families in the Lesser, being so framed, for the most part, that a chapter of the one is spent in unfolding a question of the other.
4. The texts of Scripture quoted are diligently to be sought out and pondered, that you may know indeed whether these things are so.
5. In reading the Word, you may have light into the meaning of many places, by considering what they are produced to confirm.
6. I have been sparing in the doctrine of the Sacraments, because I have already been so frequent in examinations about them.
7. The handling of moral duties I have wholly omitted, because, by God's assistance, I intend for you a brief explication of the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, with some articles of the Creed, not unfolded in these, by themselves, by the way of question and answer.
Now, in all this, as the pains hath been mine, so I pray that the benefit may be yours, and the praise His, to whom alone any good that is in this or any thing else is to be ascribed. Now, the God of heaven continue that peace, love, and amity, amongst ourselves, which hitherto hath been unshaken, in these divided times, and grant that the sceptre and kingdom of his Son may be gloriously advanced in your hearts, that the things which concern your peace may not be hidden from your eyes in this your day; which is the daily prayer of
Your servant in the work of the Lord,
From my Study, September the last, [1645].
The Lesser Catechism.
Ques. Whence is all truth concerning God and ourselves to be learned?
Ans. From the holy Scripture, the Word of God. — Chapter i. of the Greater Catechism.
Q. What do the Scriptures teach that God is?
A. An eternal, infinite, most holy Spirit, giving being to all things, and doing with them whatsoever he pleaseth. — Chap. ii.
Q. Is there but one God?
A. One only, in respect of his essence and being, but one in three distinct persons, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. — Chap. iii.
Q. What else is held forth in the Word concerning God, that we ought to know?
A. His decrees, and his works. — Chap. iv.
Q. What are the decrees of God concerning us?
A. His eternal purposes, of saving some by Jesus Christ, for the praise of his glory, and of condemning others for their sins. — Chap. v.
Q. What are the works of God?
A. Acts or doings of his power, whereby he createth, sustaineth, and governeth all things. — Chap. vi.
Q. What is required from us towards Almighty God?
A. Holy and spiritual obedience, according to his law given unto us. — Chap. vii.
Q. Are we able to do this of ourselves?
A. No, in no wise, being by nature unto every good work reprobate. — Chap. vii.
Q. How came we into this estate, being at the first created in the image of God, in righteousness and innocency?
A. By the fall of our first parents, breaking the covenant of God, losing his grace, and deserving his curse. — Chap. viii.
Q. By what way may we be delivered from this miserable estate?
A. Only by Jesus Christ. — Chap. ix.
Q. What is Jesus Christ?
A. God and man united in one person, to be a Mediator between God and man. — Chap x.
A. A King, a Priest, and a Prophet. — Chap. xi.
Q. Wherein doth he exercise his kingly power towards us?
A. In converting us unto God by his Spirit, subduing us unto his obedience, and ruling in us by his grace. — Chap. xii.
Q. In what doth the exercise of his priestly office for us chiefly consist?
A. In offering up himself an acceptable sacrifice on the cross, so satisfying the justice of God for our sins, removing his curse from our persons, and bringing us unto him. — Chap. xiii.
Q. Wherein doth Christ exercise his prophetical office towards us?
A. In revealing to our hearts, from the bosom of his Father, the way and truth whereby we must come unto him. — Chap. xiii.
Q. In what condition doth Jesus Christ exercise these offices?
A. He did in a low estate of humiliation on earth, but now in a glorious estate of exaltation in heaven. — Chap. xiv.
Q. For whose sake doth Christ perform all these?
A. Only for his elect. — Chap. xv.
Q. What is the church of Christ?
A. The universal company of God's elect, called to the adoption of children. — Chap. xvi.
Q. How come we to be members of this church?
A. By a lively faith. — Chap. xvii.
Q. What is a lively faith?
A. An assured resting of the soul upon God's promises of mercy in Jesus Christ, for pardon of sins here and glory hereafter. — Chap. xviii.
Q. How come we to have this faith?
A. By the effectual working of the Spirit of God in our hearts, freely calling us from the state of nature to the state of grace. — Chap. xviii.
Q. Are we accounted righteous for our faith?
A. No, but only for the righteousness of Christ, freely imputed unto us, and laid hold of by faith. — Chap. xix.
Q. 1. Is there no more required of us but faith only?
A. Yes; repentance also, and holiness. — Chap. xx.
Q. 2. What is repentance?
A. A forsaking of all sin, with godly sorrow for what we have committed. — Chap. xx.
Q. 3. What is that holiness which is required of us?
A. Universal obedience to the will of God revealed unto us. — Chap. xx.
Q. What are the privileges of believers?
A. First, union with Christ; secondly, adoption of children; thirdly, communion of saints; fourthly, right to the seals of the new covenant; fifthly, Christian liberty; sixthly, resurrection of the body to life eternal. — Chap. xxi.
Q. 1. What are the sacraments, or seals, of the new covenant?
A. Visible seals of God's spiritual promises, made unto us in the blood of Jesus Christ. — Chap. xxii.
Q. 2. Which be they?
A. Baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q. What is baptism?
A. A holy ordinance, whereby, being sprinkled with water according to Christ's institution, we are by his grace made children of God, and have the promises of the covenant sealed unto us. — Chap. xxiii.
Q. What is the Lord's supper?
A. A holy ordinance of Christ, appointed to communicate unto believers his body and blood spiritually, being represented by bread and wine, blessed, broken, poured out, and received of them. — Chap. xxiv.
Q. Who have a right unto this sacrament?
A. They only who have an interest in Jesus Christ by faith. — Chap. xxiv.
Q. What is the communion of saints?
A. A holy conjunction between all God's people, partakers of the same Spirit, and members of the same mystical body. — Chap. xxv.
Q. What is the end of all this dispensation?
A. The glory of God in our salvation.
Glory be to God on high!
The Greater Catechism.
Chap. I. — Of the Scripture.
Ques. 1. What is Christian religion?
Q. 2. Whence is it to be learned?
A. From the holy Scripture only. Isa. viii. 20; John v. 39.
Q. 3. What is the Scripture?
A. The books of the ^aOld and ^bNew Testament, ^cgiven by inspiration from God, containing all things necessary to be believed and done, that God may be worshipped and our souls saved. ^aIsa. viii. 20; Rom. iii. 2. ^bRev. xxii. 19, 20. ^c2 Tim. iii. 16, 17; Ps. xix. 7, 8; Jer. vii. 13; John xx. 31.
Q. 4. How know you them to be the word of God?
A. By the ^atestimony of God's Spirit, working faith in my heart to close with that ^bheavenly majesty, and clear divine truth, that shineth in them. ^aMatt. xvi. 17; John xvi. 13; 1 Thess. ii. 13; 1 John ii. 20, v. 6. ^bLuke xxiv. 32; 1 Cor. ii. 14; Heb. iv. 12; 2 Pet. i. 19.
Every one out of this way everlastingly damned.
The life of religion is in the Life.
Popish traditions are false lights, leading from God.
The authority of the Scripture dependeth not on the authority of the church, as the Papists blaspheme.
All human inventions unnecessary helps in the worship of God.
The word thereof is the sole directory for faith, worship, and life.
This alone persuadeth and inwardly convinceth the heart of the
divine verity of the Scripture; other motives, also, there are from
without, and unanswerable arguments to prove the truth of them, as, --
1. Their antiquity; 2. Preservation from fury; 3. Prophecies in them;
4. The holiness and majesty of their doctrine agreeable to the nature
of God; 5. Miracles; 6. The testimony of the church of all ages; 7. The
blood of innumerable martyrs, &c.
Chap. II. — Of God.
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning God?
A. First, what he is, or his nature; secondly, what he doth, or his works. Exod. iii. 14; Isa. xlv. 6; Heb. i. 1-3, xi. 6.
Q. 2. What is God in himself?
A. An ^aeternal, ^binfinite, [10] ^cincomprehensible ^dSpirit, ^egiving being to all things, and doing with them whatsoever he pleaseth. ^aDeut. xxxiii. 27; Isa. lvii. 15; Rev. i. 8. ^b1 Kings viii. 27; Ps. cxxxix. 2-5, &c. ^cExod. xxxiii. 20; 1 Tim. vi. 16. ^dJohn iv. 24. ^eGen. i. 1; Ps. cxv. 3, cxxxv. 6; Isa. xlvi. 10; John v. 17; Heb. i. 2.
A. No, his glorious being is not of us, in this life, to be comprehended. Exod. xxxiii. 23; 1 Cor. xiii. 12.
Q. 4. Whereby is God chiefly made known unto us in the Word?
Q. 5. What are the names of God?
A. Glorious titles, which he hath given himself, to hold forth his excellencies unto us, with some perfections whereby he will reveal himself. Exod. iii. 14, 15, vi. 3, xxxiv. 6, 7; Gen. xvii. 1.
Q. 6. What are the attributes of God?
A. His infinite perfections in being and working. Rev. iv. 8-11.
Q. 7. What are the chief attributes of his being?
A. ^aEternity, ^binfiniteness, ^csimplicity or purity, ^dall-sufficiency, ^eperfectness, ^fimmutability, ^glife, ^hwill, and ^iunderstanding. ^aDeut. xxxiii. 27; Ps. xciii. 2; Isa. lvii. 15; Rev. i. 11. ^b1 Kings viii. 27; Ps. cxxxix. 1-4, 8-10. ^cExod. iii. 14. ^dGen. xvii. 1; Ps. cxxxv. 4-6. ^eJob xi. 7-9; Rom. xi. 33-36. ^fMal. iii. 6; James i. 17. ^gJudges viii. 19; 1 Sam. xxv. 34; 2 Kings iii. 14; Ezek. xiv. 16, xvi. 48; Matt. xvi. 16; Acts xiv. 15; 1 Thess. i. 9. ^hDan. iv. 35; Isa. xlvi. 10; Eph. i. 5, 11; James i. 18. ^iPs. vii. 8, cxxxix. 2, cxlvii. 4; Jer. xi. 20; Heb. iv. 13.
Q. 8. What are the attributes which usually are ascribed to him in his works, or the acts of his will?
A. ^aGoodness, ^bpower, [15] ^cjustice, ^dmercy, ^eholiness, ^fwisdom, and the like; which he delighteth to exercise towards his creatures, for the praise of his glory. ^aPs. cxix. 68; Matt. xix. 17. ^bExod. xv. 11; Ps. lxii. 11; Rev. xix. 1. ^cZeph. iii. 5; Ps. xi. 7; Jer. xii. 1; Rom. i. 32. ^dPs. cxxx. 7; Rom. ix. 15; Eph. ii. 4. ^eExod. xv. 11; Josh. xxiv. 19; Hab. i. 13; Rev. iv. 8. ^fRom. xi. 33, xvi. 27.
The perfection of God's being is known of us chiefly by removing all imperfections.
Hence the abominable vanity of idolaters, and of the blasphemous Papists, that picture God.
Let us prostrate ourselves in holy adoration of that which we cannot comprehend.
The divers names of God signify one and the same thing, but under diverse notions in respect of our conception.
Some of these attributes belong so unto God, as that they are in no sort to be ascribed to any else, — as infiniteness, eternity, &c. Others are after a sort attributed to some of his creatures, in that he communicates unto them some of the effects of them in himself; — as life, goodness, &c.
The first of these are motives to humble adoration, fear, self-abhorrency; the other, to faith, hope, love, and confidence, through Jesus Christ.
Nothing is to be ascribed unto God, nor imagined of him, but what is exactly agreeable to those his glorious properties.
These last are no less essential unto God than the former — only we thus distinguish them, because these are chiefly seen in his works.
Chap. III. — Of the Holy Trinity.
Q. 1. Is there but one God to whom these properties do belong?
A. ^aOne only, in respect of his essence and being, but one ^bin three distinct persons, of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. ^aDeut. vi. 4; Matt. xix. 17; Eph. iv. 5, 6. ^bGen. i. 26; 1 John v. 7; Matt. xxviii. 19.
Q. 2. What mean you by person?
A. A distinct manner of subsistence or being, distinguished from the other persons by its own properties. John v. 17; Heb. i. 3.
Q. 3. What is the distinguishing property of the person of the Father?
A. To be of himself only the fountain of the Godhead. John v. 26, 27; Eph. i. 3.
Q. 4. What is the property of the Son?
A. To be begotten of his Father from eternity. Ps. ii. 7; John i. 14, iii. 16.
Q. 5. What of the Holy Ghost?
A. To proceed from the Father and the Son. John xiv. 17, xvi. 14, xv. 26, xx. 22.
Q. 6. Are these three one?
A. One ^aevery way, in nature, will, and essential properties, ^bdistinguished only in their personal manner of subsistence. ^aJohn x. 30; Rom. iii. 30. ^bJohn xv. 26; 1 John v. 7.
Q. 7. Can we conceive these things as they are in themselves?
A. Neither ^awe nor yet the ^bangels of heaven are at all able to dive into these secrets, as they are internally in God; ^cbut in respect of the outward dispensation of themselves to us by creation, redemption, and sanctification, a knowledge may be attained of these things, saving and heavenly. ^a1 Tim. vi. 16. ^bIsa. vi. 2, 3. ^cCol. i. 11-14.
This is that mysterious ark that must not be pried into, nor the least tittle spoken about it, wherein plain Scripture goeth not before.
To deny the Deity of any one person, is in effect to deny the whole Godhead for whosoever hath not the Son, hath not the Father.
This only doctrine remained undefiled in the Papacy.
We must labour to make out comfort from the proper work of every person towards us.
Chap. IV. — Of the Works of God; and, First, of those that are Internal and Immanent.
Q. 1. What do the Scriptures teach concerning the works of God?
A. That they are of two sorts; first, internal, in his counsel, decrees, and purposes, towards his creatures; secondly, external, in his works over and about them, to the praise of his own glory. Acts xv. 18; Prov. xvi. 4.
Q. 2. What are the decrees of God?
A. ^aEternal, ^bunchangeable purposes of his will, concerning the being and well-being of his creatures. ^aMic. v. 2; Eph. iii. 9-11; Acts xv. 18. ^bIsa. xiv. 24, xlvi. 10; Rom. ix. 11; 2 Tim. ii. 19.
Q. 3. Concerning which of his creatures chiefly are his decrees to be considered?
A. Angels and men, for whom other things were ordained. 1 Tim. v. 21; Jude 6.
Q. 4. What are the decrees of God concerning men?
A. Election and reprobation. Rom. ix. 11-13.
Q. 5. What is the decree of election?
A. The ^aeternal, ^bfree, ^cimmutable purpose of God, ^dwhereby in Jesus Christ he chooseth unto himself whom he pleaseth out of ^ewhole mankind, determining to bestow upon them, for his sake, ^fgrace here, and everlasting happiness hereafter, for the praise of his glory, by the way of mercy. [26] ^aEph. i. 4; Acts xiii. 48; Rom. viii. 29, 30. ^bMatt. xi. 26. ^c2 Tim. ii. 19. ^dEph i. 4, 5; Matt. xxii. 14. ^eRom. ix. 18-21. ^fJohn vi. 37, xvii. 6, 9, 11, 24.
Q. 6. Doth any thing in us move the Lord thus to choose us from amongst others?
A. No, in no wise; we are in the same lump with others rejected, when separated by his undeserved grace. Rom. ix. 11, 12; Matt. xi. 25; 1 Cor. iv. 7; 2 Tim. i. 9.
Q. 7. What is the decree of reprobation?
A. The eternal purpose of God to suffer many to sin, leave them in their sin, and not giving them to Christ, to punish them for their sin. Rom. ix. 11, 12, 21, 22; Prov. xvi. 4; Matt. xi. 25, 26; 2 Pet. ii. 12; Jude 4.
The purposes and decrees of God, so far as by him revealed, are objects of our faith, and full of comfort.
Farther reasons of God's decrees than his own will, not to be inquired after.
The changes in the scripture ascribed unto God are only in the outward dispensations and works, variously tending to one infallible event, by him proposed.
The Arminians' blasphemy, in saying God sometimes fails of his purposes.
The decree of election is the fountain of all spiritual graces, for they are bestowed only on the elect.
In nothing doth natural corruption more exalt itself against God, than in opposing the freedom of his grace in his eternal decrees.
From the execution of these decrees flows that variety and difference we see in the dispensation of the means of grace, — God sending the Gospel where he hath a remnant according to election.
Chap. V. — Of the Works of God that outwardly are of Him.
Q. 1. What are the works of God that outwardly respect his creatures?
A. First, of creation; secondly, of actual providence. Ps. xxxiii. 9; Heb. i. 2, 3.
Q. 2. What is the work of creation?
A. An act or work of God's almighty power, whereby of nothing, in six days, he created heaven, earth, and the sea, with all things in them contained. Gen. i. 1; Exod. xx. 11; Prov. xvi. 4.
Q. 3. Wherefore did God make man?
A. For his own glory in his service and obedience. Gen. i. 26, 27, ii. 16, 17; Rom. ix. 23.
Q. 4. Was man able to yield the service and worship that God required of him?
A. Yea, to the uttermost, being created upright in the image of God, in purity, innocence, righteousness, and holiness. Gen. i. 26; Eccles. vii. 29; Eph. iv. 24; Col. iii. 10.
Q. 5. What was the rule whereby man was at first to be directed in his obedience?
A. The moral or eternal law of God, implanted in his nature and written in his heart by creation, being the tenor of the covenant between God and him, sacramentally typified by the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Gen. ii. 15-17; Rom. ii. 14, 15; Eph. iv. 24.
Q. 6. Do we stand in the same covenant still, and have we the same power to yield obedience unto God?
A. No; the ^acovenant was broken by the sin of Adam, with whom it was made, ^bour nature corrupted, ^cand all power to do good utterly lost. ^aGen. iii. 16-18; Gal. iii. 10, 11, 21; Heb. vii. 19, viii. 13. ^bJob xiv. 4; Ps. li. 5. ^cGen. vi. 5; Jer. xiii. 23.
The very outward works of God are sufficient to convince men of his eternal power and Godhead, and to leave them inexcusable, if they serve him not.
The glory of God is to be preferred above our own either being or well-being, as the supreme end of them.
The approaching unto God in his service is the chief exaltation of one nature above the beasts that perish.
God never allowed, from the beginning, that the will of the creature should be the measure of his worship and honour.
Though we have all lost our right unto the promise of the first covenant, yet all not restored by Christ are under the commination and curse thereof.
Chap. VI. — Of God's actual Providence.
Q. 1. What is God's actual providence?
A. The effectual working of his power, and almighty act of his will, whereby he sustaineth, governeth, and disposeth of all things, men and their actions, to the ends which he hath ordained for them. Exod. iv. 11; Job v. 10-12, ix. 5, 6; Ps. cxlvii. 4; Prov. xv. 3; Isa. xlv. 6, 7; John v. 17; Acts xvii. 28; Heb. i. 3.
Q. 2. How is this providence exercised towards mankind?
A. Two ways; first, ^apeculiarly towards his church, or elect, in their generations, for whom are all things; secondly, ^btowards all in a general manner, yet with various and divers dispensations. ^aDeut. xxxii. 10; Ps. xvii. 8; Zech. ii. 8; Matt. xvi. 18, xix. 2, 29; 1 Pet. v. 7. ^bGen. ix. 5; Ps. lxxv. 6, 7; Isa. xlv. 6, 7; Matt. v. 45.
Q. 3. Wherein chiefly consists the outward providence of God towards his church?
A. In three things; — first, in ^acausing all things to work together for their good; secondly, in ^bruling and disposing of kingdoms, nations, and persons, for their benefit; thirdly, ^cin avenging them of their adversaries. ^aMatt. vi. 31-33; Rom. viii. 28; 1 Tim. vi. 17; 2 Pet. i. 3. ^bPs. cv. 14,15; Isa. xliv. 28; Dan. ii. 44; Rom. ix. 17. ^cIsa. lx. 12; Zech. xii. 2-5; Luke xviii. 7; Rev. xvii. 14.
Q. 4. Doth God rule also in and over the sinful actions of wicked men?
A. Yea, he willingly (according to his determinate counsel) suffereth them to be, for the manifestation of his glory, and by them effecteth his own righteous ends. 2 Sam. xii. 11, xvi. 10; 1 Kings xi. 31, xxii. 22; Job i. 21; Prov. xxii. 14; Isa. x. 6, 7; Ezek. xxi. 19-21; Amos vii. 17; Acts iv. 27, 28; Rom. i. 24, ix. 22; 1 Pet. ii. 8; Rev. xvii. 17.
Q. 5. Doth the providence of God extend itself to every small thing?
A. The least grass of the field, hair of our heads, or worm of the earth, is not exempted from his knowledge and care. Job xxxix.; Ps. civ. 21, cxlv. 15; Jonah iv. 7; Matt. vi. 26-29, x. 29, 30.
To this providence is to be ascribed all the good we do enjoy, and all the afflictions we undergo.
Fortune, chance, and the like, are names without things, scarce fit to be used among Christians, seeing Providence certainly ruleth all to appointed ends.
No free-will in man exempted either from the eternal decree or the over-ruling providence of God.
Though the dispensations of God's providence towards his people be various, yet every issue and act of it tends to one certain end, — their good in his glory.
Almighty God knows how to bring light out of darkness, good out of evil, the salvation of his elect out of Judas's treachery, the Jews' cruelty, and Pilate's injustice.
Chap. VII. — Of the Law of God.
Q. 1. Which is the law that God gave man at first to fulfil?
A. The same which was afterwards written with the finger of God in two tables of stone on Mount Horeb, called the Ten Commandments. Rom. ii. 14, 15.