Two Short Catetchisms

Q. 1. What are particular churches? A. Peculiar aassemblies103 104 of professors in one place, bunder officers of Christ’s institution, cenjoying the ordinances of God, dand leading lives beseeming their holy calling. aActs xi. 26; 1 Cor. iv. 17, xi. 22; 2 Cor. i. 1. bActs xx. 17, 28, xiv. 23; 2 Cor. viii. 23; Heb. xiii. 17. c1 Cor. iii. 5; Rev. ii. 1–3. d2 Thess. iii. 5, 6, 11; Gal. vi. 16; Phil. iii. 17; 1 Thess. ii. 12. Q. 2. What are the ordinary officers of such churches? A. First, apastors or doctors,105 to teach and exhort; secondly, belders, to assist in rule and government; thirdly, cdeacons, to provide for the poor. aRom. xii. 7, 8; Eph. iv. 11; 1 Cor. xii. 28. bRom. xii. 8; 1 Tim. v. 17. cActs vi. 2, 3. Q. 3. What is required of these officers, especially the chiefest, or ministers? A. aThat they be faithful in the ministry committed unto them; bsedulous in dispensing the Word; cwatching for the good of the souls committed to them; dgoing before them in an example of all godliness and holiness of life. a1 Cor. iv. 2; Acts xx. 18–20. b2 Tim. ii. 15, iv. 1–5. cTit. i. 13; 1 Tim. iv. 15, 16. dTit. ii. 7; 1 Tim. iv. 12; Matt. v. 16; Acts xxiv. 16. Q. 4. What is required in the people unto them? A. Obedience ato their message and ministry; bhonour and love to their persons; cmaintenance to them and their families. a2 Cor. v. 20; Rom. vi. 17; Heb. xiii. 17; 2 Thess. iii. 14; Rom. xvi. 19; 2 Cor. x. 4–6. b1 Cor. iv. 1; Gal. iv. 14; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18. cLuke x. 7; James v. 4; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18; 1 Cor. ix. 9–13.