CATECHISM
OF THE CHURCH OF GENEVA

GENEVA, 2nd December, 1545.

TO THE READER.

It has ever been the practice of the Church, and one carefully attended to, to see that children should be duly instructed in the Christian religion. That this might be done more conveniently, not only were schools opened in old time, and individuals enjoined properly to teach their families, but it was a received public custom and practice, to question children in the churches on each of the heads, which should be common and well known to all Christians. To secure this being done in order, there was written out a formula, which was called a Catechism or Institute. Thereafter the devil miserably rending the Church of God, and bringing upon it fearful ruin, (of which the marks are still too visible in the greater part of the world,) overthrew this sacred policy, and left nothing behind but certain trifles, which only beget superstition, without any fruit of edification. Of this description is that confirmation, as they call it, full of gesticulations which, worse than ridiculous, are fitted only for apes, and have no foundation to rest upon. What we now bring forward, therefore, is nothing else than the use of things which from ancient times were observed by Christians, and the true worshiper of God, and which never were laid aside until the Church was wholly corrupted.

CATECHISM OF THE CHURCH OF GENEVA OF FAITH.

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 of the brutes.

M.—Hence, then, we clearly see that nothing worse can happen to a man than not to live to God.

S.—It is so.

M.—What is the true and right knowledge of God?

S.—When he is so known that due honor is paid to him.

M.—What is the method of honoring him duly?

S.—To place our whole confidence in him; to study to serve him during our whole life by obeying his will; to call upon him in all our necessities, seeking salvation and every good thing that can be desired in him; lastly, to acknowledge 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 of yours?

S.—To place our whole confidence in God.

M.—How shall we do so?

S.—When we know him to be Almighty and perfectly good.

M.—Is this enough?

S.—Far from it.

M.—Wherefore?

S.—Because we are unworthy that he should exert his power in helping us, and show how good he is by saving us.

M.—What more then is needful?

S.—That each of us should set it down in his mind that God loves him, and is willing to be a Father, and the author of salvation to him.

M.—But whence will this appear?

S.—From his word, in which he explains his mercy to us in Christ, and testifies of his love towards us.

M.—Then the foundation and beginning of confidence in God is to know him in Christ?

S.—Entirely so.