James Fisher published a widely-read (and oft-reprinted) Exposition of the Shorter Catechism (1753). Ebenezer Erskine and others of the “Marrow Men”—that is, those who were the gospel-men in eighteenth-century Scotland (as opposed to the moralists of the time)—were also associated with it. (HT: Allan Bledsoe) It is interesting to see him using Ursinus’ distinction between the kingdom considered “generally” and “specially” two hundred years later.
QUESTION 102. What do we pray for in the second petition?
ANSWER: In the second petition, which is, “Thy kingdom come,” we pray, That Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
Q. 1. How many fold is God’s kingdom in this world?
A. TWOFOLD; namely, his general, essential, or providential kingdom; and his special kingdom.
Q. 2. What is his general kingdom?
A. It is the absolute power and sovereignty which he exercises over all things in heaven, earth, and hell, for the purposes of his own glory, Psalm 103:19—“His kingdom ruleth over all.”
Q. 3. What is his special kingdom?
A. It is the government and care which he exercises in and over his church and people, as a society distinct from the rest of the world, Psalm 59:13—“God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth.”
Q. 12. Whether is it the coming of God’s general or special kingdom that is chiefly intended in the answer?
A. It is the coming of his special kingdom of grace here, and of glory hereafter.
Q. 14. How may the kingdom of grace in this world be viewed?
A. Either as to outward dispensation, or inward operation.
Q. 15. What is it as to outward dispensation?
A. It is just the preaching of the gospel, Mark 1:14—“Jesus came, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.”
Q. 16. What is it as to inward operation?
A. It is the work of saving grace in the soul, Luke 17:21—“Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Q. 31. When may the kingdom of grace be said to be advanced?
A. When ourselves and others are brought into it, and kept in it.
Q. 34. For what should we pray, as the means of bringing into this kingdom?
A. We should pray, “that the gospel may be propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; that the ordinances of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual to the converting of those that are yet in their sins.”
Q. 35. For what should we pray as means of being kept in it?
A. That the same ordinances may be effectual to the “confirming, comforting, and building up of those that are already converted.
©R. Scott Clark. All Rights Reserved.
Editor’s Note: You can find the whole document here. These particular questions and answers are taken from pages 443–46.
RESOURCES
- Subscribe To The Heidelblog!
- Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play
- The Heidelblog Resource Page
- Heidelmedia Resources
- The Ecumenical Creeds
- The Reformed Confessions
- The Heidelberg Catechism
- The Heidelberg Catechism: A Historical, Theological, & Pastoral Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2025)
- Recovering the Reformed Confession (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2008)
- Why I Am A Christian
- What Must A Christian Believe?
- Heidelblog Contributors
- Support Heidelmedia: use the donate button or send a check to
Heidelberg Reformation Association
1637 E. Valley Parkway #391
Escondido CA 92027
USA
The HRA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
More by R. Scott Clark ›
Very interesting that the preface in the original document linked to at the end of the post indicates that it was written by three men: Ebenezer & Ralph Erskine and James Fisher. Really should be called the Erskine & Fisher catechism. James was son in law to Ebenezer. Probably named after him because he gave it it’s final form and published it.
Interesting!
Exactly the question I asked. To me theological discussions are hard. How are to differentiate something that the reformers differentiated and yet recognize that theocratic government isn’t core to the reformed confession? The more I see discussions the more I see people being really harsh toward the revised versions of the confessions and catechisms. What I mean is this, indeed they differentiated between a earthly kingdom and a heavenly kingdom. So did Augustine. Yet they were chiefly theocratics. I read some explanation at RRC, still going through it btw, awesome work with lots and lots of footnotes and references.
Bests,
João de Sousa Luz
Dr. Clark,
I recently acquired “The Marrow of Modern Divinity.”
Would you personally recommend it?
Yours in Christ,
Warren
Absolutely!
https://heidelblog.net/2009/11/the-solution-to-a-great-lot-of-problems/
this link is not working
Marc,
I just checked it. It works for me. Are you getting a 404 message?
I could not get it to work either even after clearing cache. Says: “heidelblog.wordpress.com is no longer available.The authors have deleted this site.”
That’s very weird. Yes, that’s the original, old HB site. It no longer exists. I’m looking at the HTML for this post and the link goes to:
https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/fisher/Fisher's%20Catechism.pdf
Sorry Prof. Scott, but are James Fisher and Edward Fisher two different people?
I understand. The Marrow men reprinted Edward Fisher’s Marrow from the 17c. This was an 18c catechism, contemporary to the Marrow men.
Thanks a lot.