The Westminster Confession of Faith

COMMENTARY

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH

WITH QUESTIONS FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS AND BIBLE CLASSES

PASTOR ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER HODGE, D.D.,

Professor of Didactic and Polemical Theology in the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church at Princeton, NJ

WITH APPENDIX

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PHILADELPHIA:

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION AND SABBATH-SCHOOL WORK,

No. 1334 Chestnut Street.

1885

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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1869, by

THE TRUSTEES OF THE

PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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Westcott & Thomson, Stereo-typers

Philadelphia

iii

Author's First Preface

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During the sessions of the General Assembly of 1868 in Albany, the author was honored with an invitation from Pastor G. C. Heckman, D.D., pastor of the State Street Church in that city, to visit a large and intelligent class held every Sunday afternoon in the body of the church, and instructed in the Confession of Faith by the admirable elder and fellow-laborer in the gospel, E. P. Durant, Esq. In both design and success this exercise appeared worthy of universal emulation. Its design was to diffuse throughout the entire congregation a higher knowledge of divine things, and a more earnest and intelligent appreciation of the Doctrines and Doctrinal Standards of our own Denomination, and to educate its best elements of every age in preparation for the inestimably important offices of ruling elder, Sabbath-school and Bible-class teacher, and lay-preacher, etc. Its success, as evidenced by the number, the character, the intelligent interest, and the regular attendance of the members, was, and is to the present time, as astonishing as it is gratifying.

At that time the design of this "Commentary" on the Confession of Faith was conceived. It consists of an analysis of its chapters and sections, with proofs and illustrations of its teachings—with Questions appended for the convenience of both the learner and the teacher.

It is in no sense controversial. It aims to bring out into full relief the natural, obvious, and generally admitted sense of the text. Its design is simply to stimulate and facilitate the study of this eminent embodiment of Christian truth, among Bible-class scholars, theological students, ruling elders, and ministers. To all of these classes it is respectfully commended.

Great honor has recently been put upon the common Standards of the great Presbyterian family of Churches. At the present time two great Denominations, having discarded all defining clauses, seem likely to unite upon the basis of these "Standards, pure and simple." We hail this with pleasure, and gratefully anticipate a largely increased interest in and study of these Standards on every side. This humble "Commentary" is not designed to forestall this study by partial interpretations in the interests of a party. It has been written with a sincere desire to promote such study in an impartial spirit, and to set forth these Standards in their plain, native sense, before the eyes and for the admiration of all those of every name who so cordially love them, and are now so enthusiastically rallying around them.

A. A. H.

Allegheny City, PA, Apr 30, 1869.

Author's Second Preface

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This Commentary on the "Confession of Faith" consists of an analysis of its chapters and sections, with proofs and illustrations of its doctrines. It aims to bring out the natural and historically-established sense of the text. Its design is to stimulate and facilitate the study of this excellent body of Christian truth among theological students, Bible-class scholars, ruling elders and ministers. It was first published in 1869, and, having been circulated in Great Britain and Ireland as well as in America, the Board of Publication has been encouraged to issue a new edition.

Two appendices have been added to this edition. The first contains the statement of the representative theologians, Dr. Charles Hodge and Dr. Henry B. Smith, as to the sense in which the historical Presbyterian Church understands entrants into her ministry to accept the "Confession of Faith as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures;" in which understanding the two branches of the Presbyterian Church are thus shown to have been perfectly agreed. The second appendix contains the only two official explanations of the sense in which the Westminster Confession is understood by their respective denominations made by representative bodies—i.e. the "Auburn Declaration" in 1837 and the "Declarative Act" of the United Presbyterian Synod of Scotland in 1879.

In the mean time very much light has been thrown upon the Westminster Assembly and its proceedings by the labors of Pastor Dr. A. F. Mitchell, professor of ecclesiastical history in St. Mary's College, St. Andrews. In 1867 and 1874 he published with a learned introduction, the Minutes of the Westminster Assembly and his Baird lecture for 1882, The Westminster Assembly, its History and Standards. The new information, however, relates

entirely to the sources from which the doctrine of our standards was drawn, and to the part performed by the several persons cooperating in their composition. It does not give occasion to the modification of a single interpretation advanced in this Commentary.

While the doctrine of this Confession is in perfect harmony with that of the Reformed divines of Holland and Switzerland, especially with the form their doctrine assumed after the rise of what has been called "the Covenant Theology," nevertheless Dr. Mitchell shows that it is drawn almost entirely from British sources: "There was perhaps no branch of the mediaeval Church where the system of doctrine developed by Augustine had so unquestionably retained its old supremacy to the last as the Anglo-Norman. The system of its greatest theologians, Anselm and Bradwardine, appropriated by Wyclif and the Lollards, continued or revived by Tyndale, Frith, Barnes and their coadjutors, may be said to have formed the substratum of the Reformed teaching." "With respect to the doctrine of the covenants, which some assert to have been derived from Holland, I think myself now, after careful investigation, entitled to maintain that there is nothing taught in the Confession which had not been long before in substance taught by Rollock and Howie in Scotland, and by Cartwright, Preston, Perkins, Ames and Ball in England. The remarkable treatise of Ball on The Covenant of Grace was published with recommendatory notices by Reynolds, Cawdrey, Calamy, Hill, Ashe and Burgess at the very time the Assembly began to frame its Confession."

Dr. Mitchell proves that the Confession was conformed in the order of its chapters and the type of its doctrine more to the "Articles of the Irish Church" than to any other model. These were drawn up by Archbishop Ussher in 1615, when he was professor of divinity in Trinity College, Dublin. The correspondence of the Larger Catechism is also very striking with the Body of Christian Doctrine, a compilation attributed to Ussher when a youth, and circulated in the Westminster Assembly.

A. A. HODGE.

Princeton, NJ, June, 1885.

CONTENTS

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INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1.—A SHORT HISTORY OF CREEDS AND CONFESSIONS.	19
The Scriptures the only Standard of faith and practice	19
Man's part in the matter of interpretation	19
The origin of Creeds	20
The true use of Creeds and Confessions	20
Different conditions imposed upon private members and upon office-bearers	21
The "Adopting Act" of the original Synod	21
The final adoption of our Standards in their present form, AD 1788	22
I. The ancient Creeds which express the faith of the whole Church, viz.: the Apostles', the Nicene, the Athanasian Creeds, and those of the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon	22
II. The Creeds and Confessions of the different branches of the Church since the Reformation:	25
1. The Doctrinal Standards of the Church of Rome	25
2. The Doctrinal Standards of the Greek Church	26
3. The Confessions of the Lutheran Church	26
4. The Confessions of the Reformed or Calvinistic Churches	27
The adoption of the Westminster Confession and Catechisms by the Presbyterians and Congregationalists of America	29
Questions	29
CHAPTER 2.—SOME ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN OF THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION AND CATECHISMS.	33
The usual mode in which the Protestant Confessions were produced	33
The origin of the "Canons of the Synod of Dort" and the "Westminster Confession"	33
The Reformation in Scotland, its origin, character, and political effects	34
The "National Covenant," AD 1638, and the "Solemn League and Covenant," AD 1643	34
The Reformation in England, its origin, character, and effects	35
The tyranny of the Stuarts
The Long Parliament	36
The ordinance calling an Assembly of Divines at Westminster	36
The composition of the Assembly	37
Its organization	37
The different parties represented	37
The preparation of a "Directory of Worship, Government, and Discipline"	38
The preparation of the Confession of Faith and Catechisms	38
The establishment by Parliament of the Presbyterian Church	39
The ratification of the Confession by the Parliament and by the Scotch Assembly	39
The Dissolution of the Long Parliament	40
The adoption of the Westminster Standards by the original Presbyterian Synod in America, AD 1729	40
The passages relating to the civil magistrate excepted to and altered.	41
Questions	41

COMMENTARY ON THE CONFESSION OF FAITH.

CHAPTER 1.—OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE.
Section 1 teaches—	43
(1) The light of nature sufficient to leave men without excuse.	43
(2) Not sufficient to enable any to attain salvation.	45
(3) Hence God has at different times made a supernatural revelation of himself to some favored portion of the race.	46
(4) This revelation, having been committed to writing, is exclusively embraced in the Holy Scriptures.	48
Sections 2-3 teach—	50
(1) That these Holy Scriptures include the Old and the New Testaments and all the particular books named.	51
(2) The books called "Apocrypha" form no part of the Sacred Canon.	53
(3) All the canonical books were divinely inspired, and hence are an infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice.	54
Sections 4-5 teach—	56
(1) The authority of Scripture rests not on the Church, but immediately upon God.	57
(2) Their internal characteristics prove the Scriptures to be divine.	58
(3) Their highest evidence is the direct work of the Spirit on the heart.	58
Section 6 teaches—	59
(1) The Scriptures are a complete rule of faith and practice.	59
(2) Nothing in the present dispensation is to be added to them or to take their place.	60
(3) Yet the spiritual illumination of each person by the Holy Ghost is necessary.	61
(4) Men are left to apply the principles revealed to practical details according to the leadings of Providence.	62
Section 7 affirms that the Scriptures are Perspicuous.	62
Section 8 teaches—	64
(1) That the absolute rule of faith is the Scripture in the original tongues.	64
(2) That we possess an essentially pure and reliable text.	65
(3) That they ought to be translated into the languages of all people.	65
Sections 9-10 teach—	66
(1) The only infallible rule for the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself.	66
(2) The Scriptures are the supreme judge in all controversies respecting religion.	67
Questions	68
CHAPTER 2.—OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY TRINITY.
Sections 1-2 teach—	70
(1) There is but one living and true God.	71
(2) This God is a free personal Spirit, without bodily parts or passions.	72
(3) He possesses all absolute perfections in himself.	74
(4) He possesses all relative perfections with respect to his creatures.	74
(5) He is the self-existent and absolutely independent Supporter, Proprietor, and Disposer of all his creatures.	82
Section 3 teaches—	83
(1) That Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each equally that one God and possess in common all the divine perfections.	84
(2) That they are three distinct persons although one substance.	86
(3) That they are distinguished from one another by certain personal properties and modes of operation and of manifestation—as follows, etc.	88
Questions	89
CHAPTER 3.—OF GOD'S ETERNAL DECREE.
Sections 1-2 teach—	92
(1) God has from eternity followed an unchangeable plan in all his works.	93
(2) This plan comprehends all things and events whatsoever that come to pass.	93
(3) This plan, as a whole, and in all its parts, is an absolutely sovereign purpose.	95
(4) This purpose is in reference to all its objects certainly efficacious.	98
(5) It is in all its parts consistent with his own perfections.	98
(6) It is in all things perfectly consistent with the nature of the creatures severally affected by it.	99
Sections 3-5 affirm—	100
(1) That God's eternal purpose determines what individuals shall be effectually called through faith unto salvation, and that the rest shall be condemned for their sin.	101
(2) This determination is unchangeable.	102
(3) It is not conditioned upon foreseen faith or obedience, but is sovereignly determined by the wise counsel of his own will.	102
(4) The ultimate end of his election is the praise of his glorious grace.	103
Section 6 affirms—	104
(1) That God's all-comprehensive purpose determines all the means and conditions as well as all the ends he has chosen to effect, and that in the logical order the end takes precedence of the means.	105
(2) That in the matter of human redemption the "end" is the salvation of the elect—the "means" are redemption by Christ, regeneration, sanctification, etc.	105
(3) That hence the "means" are only intended to be applied to those for whom the "end" is intended; i.e., none but the elect are redeemed by Christ, effectually called, etc. etc.	107
Section 7 affirms—	107
(1) That the sovereign destination of some to grace involves the sovereign determination to withhold grace from the non-elect.	108
(2) That God treats the non-elect upon principles of strict justice, and condemns them for their sins.	108
Section 8 teaches that this doctrine is a great mystery, and should be handled with special care.	110
Questions	111
CHAPTER 4.—OF CREATION.
Section 1 teaches—	114
(1) Neither the elementary substance nor the form of the universe nor of any of its parts is self-existent or eternal.	115
(2) The triune God originally created the elementary substances of the universe out of nothing, and arranged all the forms they assume; and reconstructed this earth into its present condition in the space of six days.	117
(3) When finished, all God's works were very good, each after its kind.	118
(4) The final end of God in his creation was the manifestation of his own glory.	119
Section 2 teaches—	120
(1) Man was created immediately by God, and last of all the creatures.	121
(2) The whole human family has descended from one pair.	122
(3) God originally created man in his own image	124
(a) a personal spirit	124
(b) an intelligent, righteous, and holy spirit, with dominion over the creatures.	124
(4) God furnished Adam with a moral nature in a perfect state, and a positive revelation of his will.	126
(5) But while capable of obedience, Adam was left, under a special test, capable of falling.	126
Questions	127
CHAPTER 5.—OF PROVIDENCE.
Section 1 teaches—	129
(1) God continues to uphold all his creatures in being, and in the possession and exercise of the qualities and active powers with which he endowed them.	130
(2) God directs all the actions of his creatures according to their respective properties and relations.	132
(3) This providential control extends to all his creatures and all their actions.	132
(4) It is the consistent execution in time of his eternal purpose.	134
(5) Its final end is the manifestation of his own glory.	134
Sections 2-3 teach—	134
(1) God's providential control over every being and event is certainly efficacious.	135
(2) As to manner, it is in every case perfectly consistent with the nature of the agent subject to it.	135
(3) God ordinarily effects his purposes through the agency of second causes.	137
(4) At times, however, immediately by the direct energy of his power.	138
Section 4 teaches—	140
(1) God not only permits sinful acts, but he directs and controls them.	141
(2) Yet the sinfulness of these actions is only from the sinning agent, and God in no case is either the author or approver of sin.	141
Sections 5-7 teach—	141
(1) The general providence of God comprehends several distinct systems.	142
(2) These are subordinated to each other in a certain order—the general to the special, the physical to the moral, and the moral to the spiritual.	143
(3) The relation of providence to the gracious influences of the Spirit, and of "common" to "efficacious" grace.	143
(4) The discipline of God's people.	144
(5) The judicial abandonment of the reprobate.	144
Questions	145
CHAPTER 6.—OF THE FALL OF MAN, OF SIN AND OF THE PUNISHMENT THEREOF.
Section 1 teaches—	147
(1) Our first parents being created holy, and endowed with sufficient knowledge, sinned.	147
(2) Their sin was eating the forbidden fruit.	147
(3) They were seduced thereto by Satan.	150
(4) This sin was, by way of permission, embraced in the divine plan.	150
(5) God designed to order it to his own glory. The twofold mystery involved in the origin of sin stated and considered.	151
Section 2 teaches—	151
(1) By this sin they were immediately cut off from communion with God.	152
(2) And consequently lost all original righteousness.	152
(3) And became dead in sin and wholly defiled.	152
(4) This moral corruption extends to all faculties and parts of soul and body.	152
Sections 3-4 teach—	153
(1) Adam was both the natural and federal head of all mankind.	154
(2) The penal consequences of his sin are at birth actually inflicted upon all his descendants.	156
(3) Hence they all inherit his moral corruption.	159
(4) This innate depravity is total, involving disinclination and inability for all good, and inclination to all evil.	159
(5) From this inward state all actual transgressions proceed.	159
Sections 5-6 teach—	161
(1) Innate moral corruption remains in the regenerate as long as they live.	161
(2) In them it is pardoned for Christ's sake.	161
(3) It is gradually brought into subjection by the Holy Ghost.	161
(4) All that remains of it is intrinsically of the nature of sin.	161
(5) Original sin (i.e., a corrupt habit of soul) is as much a violation of God's law as actual transgression.	161
(6) All sin, whether original or actual, deserves punishment.	161
(7) All sin is death, unless grace prevent.	161
Questions	164
CHAPTER 7.—OF GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN.
Sections 1-2 teach—	167
(1) Every creature is under an essential and unlimited debt to his Creator.	168
(2) But the fruition of the Creator by the creature is a matter of sovereign grace.	168
(3) God has been graciously pleased to offer men and angels a reward upon condition they render an obedience to which they are previously bound.	169
(4) In this covenant Adam is the representative of his descendants.	169
(5) The promise of this covenant was life—the condition, perfect obedience.	170
Sections 3-4.—The Arminian and Calvinistic views of the Covenant of Grace contrasted. The Calvinistic view stated and supported with proof.	172
Sections 5-6.—	178
(1) This covenant, although variously administered, is one.	179
(2) Its manner of administration under the Old Testament stated.	180
(3) Its manner of administration under the New Testament stated.	181
Questions	181
CHAPTER 8.—OF CHRIST THE MEDIATOR.
Section 1 teaches—	184
(1) The covenanted Head of the Church is the God-man.	184
(2) His mediatorial office embraces the three functions of prophet, priest, and king.	185
(3) As Mediator, Christ is Head of his Church, Heir of all things, and Judge of the world.	185
Section 2 teaches—	190
(1) Christ was true man.	192
(2) He was absolutely sinless.	193
(3) He was very God, the second person of the Trinity.	193
(4) The God-man was one single person.	193
(5) This single personality was that of the Eternal Son of the Father.	194
(6) The two natures in him continue distinct.	195
Sections 3-4 teach—	196
(1) The human nature of Christ was greatly exalted by the incarnation.	198
(2) Christ performs all mediatorial actions as God-man.	198
(3) He acts in virtue of his appointment by the Father.	199
(4) He assumed it voluntarily.	199
(5) He acts as Mediator in his estate of exaltation, and	200
(6) In His estate of humiliation.	203
Sections 5-6 teach—	205
(1) Christ satisfied for his people	206
(a) by his obedience,
(b) by his sufferings.
(2) He fully satisfied for them in strict justice.	207
(3) He secured for them	208
(a) remission of sins,
(b) an everlasting inheritance.
(4) The benefits of this redemption are applied to his people by the Holy Ghost.	209
Section 7 teaches—	209
(1) The properties of each nature of Christ are exercised in all his actions as Mediator.	210
(2) The Person is indifferently designated in the style of either nature, and the properties of either nature are indifferently predicated of the Person.	211
Section 8 teaches—	211
(1) Christ as mediatorial King applies his redemption to those for whom he purchased it.	211
(2) He applies it by	212
(a) intercession,
(b) revelation,
(c) effectual calling,
(d) providences.
(3) He certainly applies it to "all those for whom he hath purchased it."	212
Questions	215
CHAPTER 9.—OF FREE WILL.
Section 1 teaches that man is endowed with a rational and moral power of self-determination.	219
Sections 2-5 teach the peculiar conditions of human liberty.	222
(1) In the estate of original innocence.	223
(2) In the present estate of sin.	224
(3) In the estate of imperfectly sanctified saints on earth.	227
(4) In the estate of glory.	228
Questions	228
CHAPTER 10.—OF EFFECTUAL CALLING.
Sections 1-2 teach—	231
(1) That there is an internal as well as an external call necessary to save men.	232
(2) Its subjects are the elect only.	234
(3) The Holy Ghost is sole agent, who effects it by the instrumentality of the truth.	234
(4) It consists in an effectual act of divine power.	237
(5) It effects a radical change in the moral condition of the whole man.	238
Section 3 teaches that infants and others incapable of knowing the truth are regenerated by the Spirit without it.	239
Section 4 teaches—	240
(1) The non-elect will perish certainly, but only because they freely reject Christ.	241
(2) Men can be saved only by Christ.	241
(3) In the case of sane adults, the knowledge of Christ and his work is necessary.	242
Questions	243
CHAPTER 11.—OF JUSTIFICATION.
Sections 1-2 teach—	245
(1) All those and only those effectually called are justified.	246
(2) Justification is a judicial act of God, and is a declaration that the person justified is righteous in the eye of law.	246
(3) It proceeds upon the imputation of Christ's righteousness.	249
(4) This imputation is conditioned on faith.	252
(5) This faith is the gift of God.	253
(6) Faith alone, but not faith which is alone, justifies.	253
Section 3 teaches—	254
(1) That justification proceeds upon the full legal satisfaction rendered by Christ.	254
(2) It is nevertheless a stupendous exercise of free grace.	254
Section 4 teaches that the elect are never justified until they believe in Christ.	255
Sections 5-6 teach—	256
(1) That justified men, although they may temporarily fall under God's displeasure because of sin, will never be finally abandoned.
(2) The Old Testament believers were justified upon the same principles as modern believers.
Questions	258
CHAPTER 12.—OF ADOPTION.	260
The relation of regeneration, faith, justification, sanctification, and adoption. The elements and consequences of adoption.
Questions	262
CHAPTER 13.—OF SANCTIFICATION.	264
This chapter teaches—
(1) The gracious principle implanted in regeneration is gradually developed in sanctification.	265
(2) Sanctification is both negative and positive.	267
(3) It involves the entire man.	268
(4) It is never perfect in this life.	269
(5) Nevertheless, through grace it shall never fail.	272
Questions	273
CHAPTER 14.—OF SAVING FAITH.
Saving faith defined.	275
Section 1 teaches—	275
(1) That saving faith is the work of the Holy Ghost	277
(2) by means of the Word,	277
(3) and strengthened by the use of the sacraments and prayer.	278
Section 2 teaches—	278
(1) Saving faith rests upon the truth of God speaking in the Word.	279
(2) It embraces all the contents of the Word.	279
(3) It is a complex state of mind varying with its objects.	280
(4) The specific act of faith which justifies includes	281
(a) assent,
(b) trust.
Section 3 teaches—	282
(1) True faith varies in different persons in degree, and in the same person at different times.
(2) It is assailed and often enfeebled, but always gains the victory.
(3) In time it grows up to the measure of full assurance.
Questions	283
CHAPTER 15.—OF REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE.
Sections 1-2 teach—	285
(1) True repentance rests on	286
(a) sense of guilt and pollution,
(b) apprehension of mercy in Christ.
(2) It consists in	287
(a) hatred of sin,
(b) turning unto God,
(c) an endeavor after new obedience.
(3) It is both a duty and a grace.	289
(4) It should be faithfully preached.	289
Sections 3-5 teach—	289
(1) There is no merit in repentance.	290
(2) The greatest sin when repented of will be forgiven.	292
(3) We should repent of the sinfulness of our nature, and of every sinful act in particular.	293
Section 6 teaches—	293
(1) That every man should make private confession of sin to God.	294
(2) Should confess injuries to the person injured, and public offences to the Church.	294
(3) Christians should forgive all repentant offenders.	295
Questions	296
CHAPTER 16.—OF GOOD WORKS.
Sections 1-2 teach—	298
(1) Every work in order to be good	299
(a) must be commanded;
(b) must spring from a good motive.
(2) The effects of good works are various, and as follow.	300
Section 3 teaches—	302
(1) The ability to produce good works is wholly from God.	303
(2) Continuous sanctifying as well as regenerative grace is needed.
(3) Nevertheless we must exert ourselves and use means thereto.
Sections 4-6 teach—	304
(1) Works of "supererogation" are impossible.	305
(2) The best works of believers are imperfect.	306
(3) They are nevertheless accepted through Christ, and rewarded for his sake.	307
Section 7 teaches—	309
(1) Works of unregenerate men may be good relatively to their fellows.	310
(2) But relatively to God they are all irreligious and unacceptable.
[(3) Still, better done sinfully than to entirely neglect them.][1]	311
Questions	311
CHAPTER 17.—OF THE PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS.	314
This Chapter teaches—
(1) The true believer can never finally fall away.	315
(2) The ground of this certain perseverance is not in the believer, but in the purpose, promise, and grace of God.
(3) The true believer may, however, fall temporarily, the occasions and effects of which falls are as follow.
Questions	320
CHAPTER 18.—OF ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION.
Sections 1-2 teach—	322
(1) There is a false assurance which disappoints.	323
(2) There is a true assurance amounting to an infallible certainty.	324
(3) It rests	325
(a) upon the divine truth of the promises,
(b) upon the inward evidence of grace,
(c) upon the witness of the Spirit.
Sections 3-4 teach—	328
(1) This assurance is not of the essence of faith.	330
(2) It is attainable, and should be sought as a great advantage.	332
(3) May be lost in divers ways.	333
(4) The true believer is never allowed finally to fall into despair, and assurance once lost may be revived.	333
Questions	334
CHAPTER 19.—OF THE LAW OF GOD.
Sections 1-2 teach—	336
(1) Man was created a moral agent, subject to a moral law of absolute perfection.	337
(2) God put Adam, the natural head of the human race, under trial of obedience for a special probationary period.	340
(3) This law, since the fall, is not the condition of salvation, but continues the standard of life and character.	340
(4) It is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments.	341
Sections 3-5 teach—	343
(1) God gave the Jews also a ceremonial law.
(2) Also a system of judicial laws.
(3) Both these have ceased to be in force in the Christian dispensation.
(4) On the other hand, the moral law continues in unabated force.
Sections 6-7 teach—	347
(1) Since the fall, no man can be saved by the law.
(2) Believers are not under the law as a condition of salvation.
(3) Nevertheless, the law is of manifold uses under the gospel, as follows.
Questions	350
CHAPTER 20.—OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY AND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE.
Section 1 teaches—	352
(1) Christian liberty is common to all believers in all ages, and includes	353
(a) deliverance from the guilt of sin,
(b) and from the bondage of corruption,
(c) peace with God,
(d) deliverance from the bondage of Satan,
(e) and of afflictions and death,
(f) and of the grave.
(2) This liberty is greater under the new than under the old dispensation.	356
Sections 2-4 teach—	357
(1) God alone is Lord of the conscience.	359
(2) His will is revealed only in Scripture.	360
(3) Hence either to require or to yield belief to the doctrines of men is treason to God.	362
(4) Christian liberty has, however, its due end and limits.	362
(5) God has established both Church and State, and requires obedience to each.	363
(6) The Church has a divine right of exercising government and discipline.
Questions	363
CHAPTER 21.—OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP AND THE SABBATH-DAY.
Sections 1-2 teach—	366
(1) The obligation of worship is a dictate of nature.	367
(2) Scripture prescribes how we should worship God, and all man-prescribed methods are sinful.	367
(3) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost the only proper object of worship, and all worship must be offered through Christ.	369
(4) Worship of saints and angels unlawful.	369
Sections 3-4 teach—	372
(1) Prayer is a principal part of worship.	373
(2) It should be offered for all men.	373
(3) The conditions of acceptable prayer as follow.	374
(4) The object of prayer as follows.	375
Sections 5-6 teach of public, family and private worship, etc.	376
Sections 7-8 teach of the law of the Sabbath and the proper method of its observance.	379
Questions	384
CHAPTER 22.—OF LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS.
Sections 1-4 teach—	388
(1) The nature of a lawful oath.	389
(2) The only Name in which it is lawful to swear.	389
(3) The propriety of taking oaths upon lawful occasions.	390
(4) The sense in which an oath is to be interpreted.	391
(5) The extent and grounds of its obligation.	392
Sections 5-7 teach of the nature and obligations of a vow.	393
Questions	395
CHAPTER 23.—OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE.
Sections 1-2 teach—	398
(1) Civil government originates not with the people, but with God; this proved.	398
(2) The proximate end, the good of the community; the ultimate end, the glory of God.	400
(3) Christian magistrates should promote piety, etc.	401
(4) It is lawful for Christians to be magistrates.	402
(5) Justifiable war is lawful.	402
Sections 3-4 teach, in opposition to Romish and Erastian error, that the State and the Church are not to interfere with one another.	403
Questions	407
CHAPTER 24.—OF MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
Sections 1-3 teach—	409
(1) Marriage is a divine institution, and a religious as well as a civil contract.	410
(2) The ends of the institution are as follow.	411
(3) Lawful only between one woman and one man at a time.	411
(4) Marriage lawful for all men, and good.	413
(5) Persons of different religions should not intermarry.	414
Sections 4-6 teach the divine law—	415
(1) As to Incest.	416
(2) As to Divorce.	417
Questions	418
CHAPTER 25.—OF THE CHURCH.
Sections 1-3 teach—	421
(1) The scriptural doctrine as to the invisible catholic Church.	422
(2) As to the visible catholic Church.	424
(3) That this catholic visible Church is endowed with the means of grace.	425
(4) That out of it is no ordinary possibility of salvation.	426
Sections 4-6 teach—	427
(1) That the visible catholic Church varies in purity and visibility at different times and places.	428
(2) That it can never fail.	429
(3) That Christ is the only Head of the Church.	431
Questions	434
CHAPTER 26.—OF COMMUNION OF SAINTS.	436
This chapter teaches—
(1) Of the union of Christ and his people.	437
(2) Of his consequent fellowship with them.	439
(3) Of their union with one another.	440
(4) Their consequent fellowship.	441
(5) Their mutual duties.	441
Questions	443
CHAPTER 27.—OF THE SACRAMENTS.
Sections 1-2 teach—	445
(1) A sacrament is an ordinance instituted by Christ.	447
(2) It consists of	447
(a) A visible sign,
(b) An inward, spiritual grace signified by it.
(3) The nature and consequents of the sacramental union between the sign and the grace.	448
(4) They are designed "to represent, seal and apply" the benefits of Christ to believers.	450
(5) And to be badges of our profession.	452
Section 3 teaches—	452
(1) That the virtue of the sacrament is not inherent.	452
(2) That it does not depend upon the piety or "intention" of the administrator.	453
(3) But upon	454
(a) the divine appointment,
(b) the sovereign grace of the Holy Ghost.
Section 4 teaches that there are only two sacraments.	454
Section 5 teaches that the sacraments of the old and the new dispensations are substantially the same.	456
Questions	457
CHAPTER 28.—OF BAPTISM.
Sections 1-3 teach—	460
(1) Baptism is a New Testament sacrament.	461
(2) It is a washing with water in the name of the Trinity.	463
(3) Its design is to signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ and our engagement to be his.	467
Section 4 teaches that not only professors of religion, "but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized."	468
Sections 5-7 teach—	475
(1) Baptism is not essential to salvation.
(2) Its observance, however, a duty.
(3) Its efficacy is not tied down to the moment of application.
(4) To be administered but once.
Questions	478
CHAPTER 29.—OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Section 1 teaches—	482
(1) Of the time and the Person by whom this ordinance was instituted.	482
(2) Of its perpetual obligation.	482
(3) Of its design and effect.	483
Sections 2-6 teach the true doctrine in opposition to the following errors:	485
(1) Transubstantiation.	486
(2) Sacrifice of the mass.	488
(3) The elevation and worship of the elements.	490
(4) Denying the cup to the laity.	490
(5) Private communion.	491
Sections 7-8 teach—	491
(1) The relation between the bread and wine and the flesh and blood of Christ only moral.
(2) Christ's body is present only virtually.
(3) Believers feed on him only through faith,
(4) Precisely as they do at other times.
Questions	493
CHAPTER 30.—OF CHURCH CENSURES.
Section 1 teaches—	496
(1) Christ has appointed a government for the Church,	497
(2) which is distinct from that of the State.	497
Sections 2-4 teach—	500
(1) As to the nature and extent of church power.
(2) As to the ends of discipline.
(3) As to the methods through which it should be administered.
Questions	503
CHAPTER 31.—OF SYNODS AND COUNCILS.
Section 1 teaches of synods and councils, and the right of church officers to call them.	505
Sections 2-4 teach—	509
(1) The classes of subjects falling under the jurisdiction of synods and councils.
(2) The grounds of their binding power.
(3) The extent to which submission to their decisions is a duty.
Questions	512
CHAPTER 32.—OF THE STATE OF MEN AFTER DEATH, AND OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD.
Section 1 teaches—
(1) Man consists of soul and body.	516
(2) In death the body decomposes, and the soul of the believer	516
(a) is at once made perfect,
(b) continues conscious and happy,
(c) is with Christ.
(d) The souls of the wicked are in conscious misery with the devil.
(e) These conditions are irreversible.
(f) Romish doctrine as to purgatory, etc., disproved.
Sections 2-3 teach—	522
(1) There is to be a simultaneous resurrection of the just and of the unjust.	522
(2) Those then living are to be changed.	523
(3) The identical bodies laid in the grave to be raised.	523
(4) The "animal" bodies of the saints to be made "spiritual."	524
(5) The bodies of the unjust to be raised to dishonor.	525
Questions	525
CHAPTER 33.—OF THE LAST JUDGMENT.
Sections 1-2 teach—	527
(1) God has appointed a day of general judgment.	528
(2) He has committed the judgment to the Mediator.	529
(3) The persons to be judged include angels and the whole human race.	529
(4) It is to reach to thoughts and feelings as well as words and deeds.	530
(5) It will vindicate the justice and display the grace of God.	531
(6) The righteous are to be exalted to eternal honor and felicity.	532
(7) The ungodly are to be remanded to conscious misery and dishonor for all eternity.	533
Section 3 teaches—	535
(1) Of the certainty of the fact, but	535
(2) Of the uncertainty of the time of the judgment, and of the designed effect of this uncertainty.	535
Questions	537
APPENDICES.
1. The Meaning of 'System of Doctrine': Old School vs. New School.	539
2. The Auburn Declaration and The Declaratory Act	544
Index to the Commentary.	549
APPENDICES. (1869 edition)[2]	560
3. (1.) What is Presbyterianism?	560
4. (2.) What is Meant by Adopting the Westminster Confession?	581
5. (3.) On the Passages of the Confession Concerning the Magistrate's Power as to Religion and the Church.	588

[1] EPP Note: Entry for this point is missing from all copies we could check.

[2] EPP Note: These last three appendices are from the 1869 edition. The number in parentheses represents their number in that earlier edition. Also, the pages in those appendices have two numbers: the first what the number would have been had they been in the 1885 edition, and the second number (in parentheses) is the actual page number from the 1869 edition from which they were taken.