Master.—What is the chief end of human life?
Scholar—To know God by whom men were created.
M. What reason have you for saying so?
S. Because he created us and placed us in this world to be glorified in us. And it is indeed right that our life, of which himself is the beginning, should be devoted to his glory.
M. What is the highest good of man? S. The very same thing.
M. Why do you hold that to be the highest good? S. Because without it our condition is worse than that the brutes. M. Hence, then, we clearly see that nothing worse happen to a man than not to live to God. S. Tt is soM. What is the true and right knowledge of God? S. When he is so known that due honour is paid to M. What is the method of honouring him duly? S. To place our whole confidence in him; to study serve him during our whole life by obeying his will; call upon him in all our necessities, seeking salvation every good thing that can be desired in him; lastly, knowledge him both with heart and lips, as the sole Author of all blessings. M. To consider these points in their order, and explain them more fully—What is the first head in this division yours? S. To place our whole confidence 1n God. M. How shall we do so? S. When we know him to be Almighty and perfectly M. Is this enough? S. Far from it. M. Wherefore? S. Because we are unworthy that he should exert power in helping us, and show how good he is by saving M. What more then is needful? 7 S. That each of us should set it down in his mind God loves him, and is willing to be a Father, and the of salvation to him. AM. But whence will this appear? S. From his word, in which he explains his mercy in Christ, and testifies of his love towards us. M. Then the foundation and beginning of confidence God 1s to know him in Christ? S. Entirely soM. I should now wish you to tell me in a few words, the sum of this knowledge is? JS. It is contained in the Confession of Faith, or
Formula of Confession, which all Christians have in common. It is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, because from the beginning of the Church it was ever received among all the pious, and because it either fell from the lips of the Apostles, or was faithfully gathered out of their writings.
M. Repeat it.
S. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried: he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholick Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
M. To understand each point more thoroughly, into how many parts shall we divide this confession?
S. Into four leading ones.
M. Mention them to me.
S. The first relates to God the Father; the second to his Son Jesus Christ, which also embraces the whole sum of man’s redemption; the third to the Holy Spirit; the fourth to the Church, and the Divine blessings conferred upon — her.
M. Since there is no God but one, why do you here mention three, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
S. Because in the one essence of God, it behoves us te look on God the Father as the beginning and origin, and the first cause of all things; next the Son, who is his eternal Wisdom; and, lastly, the Holy Spirit, as his energy diffused indeed over all things, but still perpetually resident in himself.
M. You mean then that there is no absurdity in holding that these three persons are in one Godhead, and God is not therefore divided?
S. Just so.;
M. Now repeat the first part.
S. I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of. heaven and earth.” M. Why do you call him Father? S. Primarily with reference to Christ who is his eternal Wisdom, begotten of him before all time, and being sent into this world was declared to be his Son. We infer, however, that as God 1s the Father of Jesus Christ, he is our Father also. M. In what sense do you give him the name of Almighty? — — S. Not as having a power which he does not exercise, but —. as having all things under his power and hand; governing - the world by his Providence, determining all things by his —. will, ruling all ereatures as seems to him good.
M. You do not then suppose an indolent power in God,. but consider it such that his hand is always engaged in working, so that nothing is done except through Him, and: by his decree. S. It is so. M. Why do you add Creator of heaven and earth?”