The Shorter Catechism
of the Westminster Assembly
Explained and Proved
from Scripture

by Thomas Vincent

XLVII. Ques. What is forbidden in the first commandment?
Ans. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God, and the giving of that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone.

Q. 1. What are the chief sins forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The chief sins forbidden in the first commandment are— 1. Atheism. 2. Profaneness. 3. Idolatry.

Q. 2. What is atheism?
A. Atheism is the denying, or not having a God. "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God."— Ps. 14:1. "At that time ye were without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world." — Eph. 2:12.

Q. 3. What is the profaneness forbidden in this commandment?
A. The profaneness forbidden in this commandment is, the not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God, and our God.

Q. 4. Wherein doth this profaneness in regard of God's worship and honour appear?
A. Profaneness, in regard of God's worship and honour, doth appear-]. When persons do not know God, or have misapprehensions of him. "My people is foolish, they have not known me."— Jer. 4:22. "Thou thoughtest I was altogether such an one as thyself."— Ps. 50:21. 2. When persons are forgetful of God. "My people have forgotten me days without number."— Jer. 2:32. 3. When persons hate God, or love themselves or anything else more than God, desire creatures more than God, trust in arms of flesh more than God, delight in objects of sense more than God, when persons set their affection upon anything in the world more than God, and take off the heart, in whole or in part, from God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God."— Rom. 8:7. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." — John 2:15. "Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth."— Col. 3:2. 4. When persons omit or neglect to give that worship and glory which is due unto God, either with the inward or outward man. "But thou hast not called upon me, 0 Jacob."— Isa. 43:22.

Q. 5. What is that idolatry which is forbidden in the first commandment?
A. The idolatry which is forbidden in the first commandment, is the giving that worship and glory unto any other which is due unto God alone. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. — Rom. 1:25.

Q. 6. How many ways may persons be guilty of the idolatry forbidden in this commandment?
A. Persons may be guilty of the idolatry forbidden in this commandment 1. By having and worshipping other gods besides the true God, with the outward man; as when persons worship the heathenish gods, or angels, or saints. 2. By giving that honour and respect to any thing in the world which is due only unto God, with the inward man, which is heart-idolatry. "And covetousness, which is idolatry."— Col. 3:5.