Satan, their prince; and by supposing that spirits who possess no corporeal substance, have the power of moving from place to place, with the same rapidity, as we can transfer our thoughts from one place to another, however distant.

SECTION III.

SUMMARY OF CHRISTIANITY.*

Q. 105. Into how many parts may the Christian Religion be conveniently divided?

A. Into three; viz. its doctrines, its duties, and its sacraments.

Q. § 106. Can you give me a short account or summary of the doctrines of Christianity ?

A. Yes; the Apostles' Creed contains such a sumof Christian doctrines.

mary

Q. 107. Can you repeat that Creed ?

A. Yes; "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

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Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under "Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried, he "descended into Hell; the third day he rose again "from the dead, he ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from *The design of this short section is to give the student a general outline of the entire system, preparatory to its consideration in detail.-SEC. ED.

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"thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. "I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; "the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the "resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."

Q. 108. Why is this Creed called the Apostles' Creed? A. Chiefly because it contains a brief account of all the doctrines which the Apostles taught.*

Q. 109. Can you give me a still shorter summary of the doctrines of Christianity?

A. Yes; the words of Christ our Lord, "Ye believe in God, believe also in me," (John xiv. 1,) may be considered a still shorter abridgment.

Q. 110. Are these summaries of Christian doctrines complete; or, are there not some other important truths contained in Scripture which are not adverted to in these summaries?

A. Yes; the agency of spirits is not included in these summaries. There are also many decrees of God relating to the government of the world, and particularly to the kingdom of Christ, to which all the events of providence are subservient, which are not adverted to in these summaries.†

* The Creed of St. Athanasius, and that of the Council of Nice, contain also excellent epitomes of Christian doctrines.

+ Here, according to the age and capacities of youth, the Catechist might do well to enlarge upon the events mentioned by the prophet Daniel, and in the Revelations-and more particularly those prophecies which relate to the Millennium; the destruction of Popery, Mahometanism, and all other anti-christian idolatries; and also the conversion of the Jews to Christianity, &c. which are afterwards adverted to.

§ Q. 111. Can you now tell me a summary of the duties required of us by the word of God?

A. Yes; the Decalogue, or Ten Commandments, contain a summary of our duty both to God and man.

Q. 112. Is there any shorter account of our duties given us in Scripture?

A. Yes; in the words quoted by our Lord," thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Qs. 299, 300.)

§ Q. 113. How many and what are the sacraments of Christianity?

A. Two; Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

SECTION IV.

CONCERNING THE TRINITY IN UNITY.

Q. 114. Are there more Gods than one?

A. No; there is one only; the living and true God.(a)

(a) 1 Tim. ii. 5; Deut. vi. 4; Mark xii. 29.

Q. 115. In what manner does God subsist?

A. In three persons; viz. the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (Gen. i. 26; Matt. xxviii. 19; 1 John v. 7; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Ep. ii. 18.)

Q. 116. Can the reason of man comprehend the nature of this union?

A. No; it is one of the great mysteries of revelation,

which, though not contrary to reason, is above its comprehension.*

Q. 117. What do you mean by the mysteries of revelation?

A. I mean such doctrines and declarations contained in the Bible, as either could not be discovered, or cannot be perfectly understood, by the utmost effort of human reason.

Q. 118. But are there no other mysteries besides that of the Trinity in Unity?

A. Yes; of this nature are the doctrines of the immortality of the soul ;† the judgment to come; the rewards and punishments of a future life; the great atonement by Christ; and many others. These all, could not be discovered by human reason, although, when revealed, they are not contrary to reason, but are sufficiently comprehensible.

Q. 119. Can you also give an example of such mys ̧ teries as are entirely beyond the comprehension of the human mind?

A. Yes; besides the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, the union of the Godhead with the manhood in the person of Christ, and others, as to their nature; and

* A short digression here has been thought advisable, to obviate the common objection of infidels against the religion of the Bible, from the mysteries it contains; and so, to pave the way for a deeper conviction of its divine truths.

† Human reason might have inferred this, from the analogy of nature, as probable; but never could have established the truth of it beyond doubt.

the operations of the Holy Spirit upon the soul of man, with others, as to their manner, are, to us, quite incomprehensible. (John iii. 8.)

Q. 120. Are we then bound to believe what we cannot comprehend?

A. Yes, undoubtedly, if it be clearly revealed in the word of God.

Q. 121. Are there not mysteries in nature as well as in revelation?

A. Yes; all the works of nature are to us mysteries: we cannot comprehend the manner and the nature of that union which subsists between our bodies and our souls; and even the growth of a blade of grass surpasses all our comprehension. The same kind of reasoning, therefore, which leads an infidel to disbelieve the mysteries of divine revelation, would also lead him to dissent from any fact in nature above our comprehension, which is evinced by his bodily senses.(Q. 59.)

Q. 122. You said, that God subsists in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; are these three persons distinct from each other?

A. Yes; "there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost; and yet they are not three Gods, but one God." (St. Ath. Cr.)

Q. 123. But is not the Father greater in majesty and glory than the Son; and the Son than the Holy Ghost?