Sunday Hymn: Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Dear re­fuge of my wea­ry soul,
On Thee, when sor­rows rise;
On Thee, when waves of trou­ble roll,
My faint­ing hope re­lies.

While hope re­vives, though pressed with fear
And I can say, My God,
Beneath Thy feet I spread my cares,
And pour my woes abroad.

To Thee I tell each ris­ing grief,
For Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet re­lief
For ev­ery pain I feel.

But oh! when gloomy doubts pre­vail,
I fear to call Thee mine;
The springs of com­fort seem to fail,
And all my hopes de­cline.

Yet, gra­cious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my on­ly trust,
And still my soul would cleave to Thee,
Though pros­trate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face?
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sov­er­eign grace
Be deaf when I com­plain?

No, still the ear of sov­er­eign grace
Attends the mourn­er’s pray­er;
O ac­cess may I ev­er find,
To breathe my sor­rows there.

Thy mer­cy seat is op­en still;
Here let my soul re­treat,
With hum­ble hope at­tend Thy will,
And wait be­neath Thy feet.

—Anne Steele

Theological Term of the Week: Catechism

catechism
A summary of Christian doctrine and belief written in the form of questions with answers, used to teach the basics the faith.   

• Scriptural warrant for the use of catechisms:

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV)

• From Living for God’s Glory by Joel R. Beeke and Sinclair B. Ferguson, page 338:

The Puritans taught their children catechism as soon as possible; most fathers catechized each child for one hour per week. To help them, Puritan pastors wrote books that explained fundamental Christian doctrines by means of questions and answers supported by Scripture. Fathers explained the theological content of the questions and answers of these catechism books by illustrating them with Bible stories and dialoguing with their children.

The goals of catechizing were to make sermons and the sacraments more understandable for covenant children, to prepare them for confession of faith, and to teach them how to defend their faith against error. Then, too, children were taught that truth must be loved and lived. As the Puritan ministers’ catechism books and sermons show, children were told the truth about matters such as the fall in Adam, sin, and condemnation, as well as salvation in Christ, His righteousness, and everlasting bliss. They were also invited, via appeals to their wills and hearts, to flee to Christ with their sins. The ultimate goal was not simply a well-stocked head, but also a warm appreciation of the truths of God in mind and soul so that the child would lead a holy life.

Learn more:

1. Covenant of Grace RPC: Catechism, what is it?
2. Greg Strand: “What is Catechism?”
3. Westminster Bookstore: What Is Catechism? A Simple Guide For Beginners
4. Joe Carter: 10 Things About Catechesis
5. Kim Riddlebarger: The Need To Recover the Practise of Catechism

A few Protestant catechisms:

• Luther’s Small Catechism
• Luther’s Large Catechism
• Bunyan’s Catechism
• Keach’s Catechism
• A Puritan Catechism (Spurgeon)
• Two Short Catechisms (John Owen)
• Heidelberg Catechism
• Westminster Shorter Catechism
• Westminster Larger Catechism
• New City Catechism
• New City Catechism for Kids

Related terms:

• Heidelberg Catechism
• Westminster Larger Catechism
• Westminster Shorter Catechism

Filed under Creeds and Confessions

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.

Sunday Hymn: Not What These Hands Have Done

Not what these hands have done
Can save my guil­ty soul;
Not what my toil­ing flesh has borne
Can make my spir­it whole.
Not what I feel or do
Can give me peace with God;
Not all my pray­ers and sighs and tears
Can bear my aw­ful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace with­in.
Thy love to me, O God,
Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,
Can rid me of this dark un­rest,
And set my spir­it free.

Thy grace alone, O God,
To me can par­don speak;
Thy pow­er alone, O Son of God,
Can this sore bond­age break.
No oth­er work, save Thine,
No mean­er blood will do;
No strength, save that which is di­vine,
Can bear me safe­ly through.

I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love di­vine;
And with un­fal­ter­ing lip and heart
I call this Sav­ior mine.
His cross dis­pels each doubt;
I bu­ry in His tomb
Each thought of un­belief and fear,
Each lin­ger­ing shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace;
I trust His truth and might;
He calls me His, I call Him mine,
My God, my joy and light.
In Him is on­ly good,
In me is on­ly ill;
My ill but draws His good­ness forth,
And me He lov­eth still.

’Tis He who sav­eth me,
And free­ly par­don gives;
I love be­cause He lov­eth me,
I live be­cause He lives.
My life with Him is hid,
My death has passed away,
My clouds have melt­ed in­to light,
My mid­night in­to day.

—Horatius Bonar