Front matter
THE COMMENTARY OF DR.
ZACHARIAS URSINUS
ON THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM
TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL
LATIN,
BY THE REV. G. W. WILLIARD, D. D.
FOURTH AMERICAN EDITION
CINCINNATI:
ELM STREET
PRINTING COMPANY, 1888.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL PROLEGOMENA
What the doctrine of the church is What the parts of this doctrine are, with their differences
In what the doctrine of the church differs from that of other systems of religion, philosophy, &c.
By what testimonies the truth of the Christian religion, or the doctrine of the church is confirmed How mani-fold the method of teaching and learning the doctrine of the church is
SPECIAL PROLEGOMENA
What Catechising is Of the origin of Catechisation Of the parts or principal heads of the doctrine of the Catechism
Of the necessity of Catechisation What the design of Catechism and the doctrine of the church is
OF TRUE CHRISTIAN COMFORT
What Comfort is The parts of which it consists Why this comfort alone is solid Why it is necessary How this comfort may be obtained
OF THE MISERY OF MAN
What it is, and whence it may be known What the law of God requires
OF THE CREATION OF MAN
The state in which man was originally created The end for which God created man
OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN
What it is, and what the parts thereof
To what extent it is lost, and what remains How it may be restored in us
OF THE FALL AND FIRST SIN OF MAN
What the sin of our first parents was What the causes of it were What the effects thereof Why God permitted it
OF SIN IN GENERAL
The proofs of our sinfulness What sin is Original sin, and what it is The proofs of original sin Objections against original sin refuted Actual sin Reigning sin and sin not reigning Mortal and venial sin Sin against the conscience, &c.
The sin against the Holy Ghost Rules to be observed in reference to the sin against the Holy Ghost
Sin per se, and sin by accident
The causes of sin The effects of sin
THE FREEDOM OF THE WILL
The principal question to be considered in reference to this subject What the freedom of the will is In what the Liberty which is in God differs from that which is in his creatures, angels and men Whether there be any Freedom of the human will
What Liberty belongs to man according to his four-fold state The question, whether God does any injustice to man, by requiring from him in his law what he cannot perform, considered
The punishment of sin:
How this comports with the mercy of God
CONCERNING AFFLICTIONS
How many kinds of affliction there are A table of the afflictions of man The causes of afflictions Comforts under afflictions
THE DELIVERANCE OF MAN
In how many ways satisfaction may be made What the deliverance of man is
Whether such a deliverance be possible Whether deliverance be necessary and certain
Whether perfect deliverance may be expected How this deliverance is acomplished The question whether we ourselves can make this satisfaction, considered
The question whether any mere creature can make satisfaction for us, considered What sort of a mediator we must seek for Why he must be very man and perfectly righteous
Why he must be very God
THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEDIATOR
What a mediator is Whether we need a mediator What the office of the mediator is What kind of a mediator is necessary Who this mediator is Whether there can be more than one mediator
THE COVENANT OF GOD
What this covenant is Whether it be one or more In what the old and new Covenants agree and differ
OF THE GOSPEL
What the Gospel is The question, Whether the gospel has always been known, considered
In what the Gospel differs from the Law What the effects of the Gospel are From what the truth of the Gospel appears
The question, Whether all men as they perished in Adam, are saved in Christ, considered
THE SUBJECT OF FAITH
What faith is How many kinds of faith there are In what faith and hope differ What the causes of faith are What the effects of faith To whom faith is given The assurance of faith, with a refutation of certain objections
The objects or contents of faith
THE APOSTLES' CREED
Why it is called apostolic Why other creeds were introduced Why the greatest authority should be attached to the Apostles' Creed
The division of the Creed
CONCERNING THE ONE TRUE GOD
The evidences of the existence of God Who, and what God is The unity of God What the terms Essence, Person, and Trinity signify, and in what they differ Whether the church should retain these terms
The number of persons in the Godhead How these persons are distinguished Why the church should retain the doctrine of the Trinity
Objections against the doctrine of the Trinity refuted
OF GOD THE FATHER
What it is to believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker, &c.
OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD
Whether God created the world How God created the world The end for which God created the world
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
Whether there be any providence of God Arguments from the works of God
Arguments from the nature and attributes of God What the Providence of God is A table of those things which fall under the providence of God
Objections to this doctrine refuted The benefit and use of this doctrine
OF GOD THE SON, AND THE NAMES WHICH ARE APPLIED TO HIM.
CONCERNING THE NAME JESUS
What it imports The difference between this Jesus and other saviours What it is to believe in Jesus The question, Whether such as seek their salvation out of Jesus really believe in him, considered
CONCERNING THE NAME, CHRIST
What the anointing of Christ signifies What the prophetical office of Christ is What the priestly office of Christ is What the kingly office of Christ is What the term Christian imports What the prophetical, priestly, and regal dignity of Christians consists in
OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD
In what sense Christ is the only begotten Son of God
A table of the Sons of God
THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST
Whether Christ was a subsistent or person before he assumed our nature Whether he is a person distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost
Whether he is equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost Whether he is consubstantial General rules according to which an answer may be given to the sophisms of heretics Special rules serving the same ends A refutation of the sophisms against the Divinity of the Son
CONCERNING THE NAME, LORD
In what sense Christ is called Lord In how many ways, and why he is called our Lord
What it is to believe in Christ, our Lord
OF THE CONCEPTION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST
What Christ's conception by the Holy Ghost means Why he was born of the Virgin Mary The profit of Christ's holy conception and nativity
What it is, to believe in the conception and nativity of Christ
OF THE TWO NATURES IN CHRIST
Whether there be two natures in Christ
Whether these two natures constitute one or more persons What the hypostatical union is Why it was necessary to constitute this union
THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST
What the term passion signifies Whether Christ suffered according to both natures
What the moving causes of his passion were What the final causes, or fruits The question, Why Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, considered
Whether there is any thing more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF CHRIST
How Christ is said to have been dead Whether the death of Christ was necessary Whether Christ died for all Why Christ was buried Why believers must die The benefits, or fruits of Christ's death
CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL
What Christ's descent into hell signifies What the fruits of his descent into hell are
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
Whether Christ rose from the dead How Christ rose from the dead Why he rose The fruits or benefits of Christ's resurrection
THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST
Whither Christ ascended How Christ ascended Certain objections of the Ubiquitarians refuted
For what purpose Christ ascended In what Christ's ascension differs from ours What the fruits of Christ's ascension are
CHRIST'S SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER
What the right hand of God signifies What it is to sit at the right hand of God Whether Christ always sat at the right hand of God
What the fruits of Christ's sitting at the right hand of God are
CHRIST'S RETURN TO JUDGMENT
Whether there be a future judgment What the final judgment is
Who the Judge will be Whence and whither he will come How he will come Whom he will judge What the process, sentence and execution of the final judgment will be
The objects of this judgment When this judgment will take place The reasons why we should look for it The reasons why God has not revealed the time when it will take place
Why it is deferred Whether it may be desired
OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST
What the term Spirit signifies Who and what the Holy Ghost is What the office of the Holy Ghost What, and how mani-fold the gifts of the Holy Ghost are
By whom and why the Holy Ghost was given To whom and to what extent he is given When and how the Holy Ghost is given and received
How the Holy Ghost may be retained
Whether and how the Holy Ghost may be lost Why the Holy Ghost is necessary How we may know that the Holy Ghost is in us
THE CHURCH
What the church is How mani-fold it is What the marks of the true church are Why the church is called one, holy and Catholic
In what the church differs from the state The cause of the difference between the church and the rest of mankind
Whether there is any salvation out of the church
THE ETERNAL PREDESTINATION OF GOD
Whether there be any predestination What it is What the causes of it are What the effects of it are Whether it be unchangeable To what extent it may be known Whether the elect are always members of the church and the reprobate never Whether the elect may fall from the church and the reprobate always
remain in it What the use of this doctrine is
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
What the communion of saints is
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
What the forgiveness of sins is By whom forgiveness of sins is granted On account of what is forgiveness granted
Whether forgiveness of sins agrees with divine justice Whether it be gratuitous To whom it is granted How and when it is granted
THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY
Whether the soul be immortal Where the soul is when separated from the body What the resurrection is, and what the errors in reference to it
From what the truth of a future resurrection is inferred The kind of bodies which will rise in the resurrection
How the resurrection will be effected When it will take place
By whose power the dead will be raised Why and to what state the dead will be raised
THE LIFE EVERLASTING
What everlasting life is By whom it is given To whom it is given Why it is given How it is given When it is given Whether and whence we may be assured of it
THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION
What righteousnes in general is How mani-fold it is In what righteousness differs from justification
What our righteousness before God is How the satisfaction of Christ is made ours
Why it is made ours Why we are justified by faith only Why our good works cannot justify us How a reward is promised to our works
Whether this doctrine makes men careless Other objections to this doctrine refuted
THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
What sacraments are What the designs of the sacraments In what sacraments differ from sacrifices
In what the sacraments of the Old and New Testaments agree and differ What the signs are; and what the things signified in the sacraments, and in what they differ What the sacramental union is What sacramental phrases are What the lawful use of the sacraments consists in What the ungodly receive in the sacraments
What the sacraments and word have in common, and in what they differ How many sacraments there are Theses concerning the sacraments in general
HOLY BAPTISM
What Baptism is What the ends of Baptism are The institution of Baptism, and what the words of the institution signify
What the lawful use of Baptism consists in
Sacramental phrases in reference to Baptism The question of infant Baptism considered
The objections of the Anabaptists refuted Theses concerning Baptism
OF CIRCUMCISION
What circumcision is Why circumcision was instituted Why it was abolished What there is in the place of circumcision
In what circumcision and baptism agree and differ Why Christ was circumcised
THE LORD'S SUPPER
What the Lord's Supper is What the design of it is In what the Lord's Supper differs from Baptism
The institution of the Supper and the true sense of the words of the institution The controversy respecting the words of the institution of the holy Supper
Four classes of arguments in favor of the orthodox interpretation of the words of Christ The testimony of the Fathers
Of transubstantiation Of consubstantiation The schism of the Consubstantialists Objections in favor of consubstantiation refuted
The difference between the Lord's Supper and the Popish Mass For whom the Lord's Supper was instituted
What the wicked receive in the use of the Supper What the lawful use of the Supper consists in Whom the church should admit to the Supper
Certain arguments of the Consubstantialists noticed The general points in which the churches professing the gospel agree and differ in the controversy respecting the Lord's Supper
THE PASSOVER
What the Passover was What the design of the Passover was The points of resemblance between Christ and the Paschal Lamb
Whether the Passover be abolished
THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
What the power of the keys given to the church is Whether ecclesiastical discipline be necessary
How it is to be exercised
What the design of it is, and what abuses are to be avoided In what the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven differs from civil power A disputation respecting excommunication
OF THANKFULNESS
What thankfulness is Why it is necessary
MAN'S CONVERSION TO GOD
Whether conversion be necessary What conversion to God is What the parts of man's conversion are What the causes of it What the fruits of it Whether it be perfect in this life In what the repentance of the godly differs from that of the ungodly
CONCERNING GOOD WORKS
What good works are A table of good works How they may be performed Whether the works of the regenerate are perfectly good
How they please God
Why they should be done Whether they merit any thing in the sight of God
THE LAW OF GOD
What the law of God is What the parts of the law and their differences To what extent the law has been abrogated
In what the law differs from the gospel The division of the law A table of the division of the Decalogue
General rules for the understanding of the Decalogue Theses concerning the Decalogue
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
The preface to the Decalogue considered The design of this commandment The virtues of the first commandment
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment What it prohibits and sanctions Of human precepts and the authority of tradition
Whether all statues and images are here forbidden
Whether all worshipping of images is forbidden Why images are not to be tolerated in our churches
How and by whom they are to be removed Objections against the removal of images refuted
The exhortation added to this commandment considered
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
What the name of God signifies What this commandment forbids, and enjoins, with the design thereof
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto The arguments of the Papists in favor of the invocation of the saints considered and refuted
THE DOCTRINE OF THE OATH
What an oath is By whom we are to swear Whether it is lawful for Christians to take an oath
What oaths are lawful and what unlawful Whether all oaths should be kept
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment An explanation of the words of the commandment What and how mani-fold the sabbath is
How far the sabbath pertains to us The design of the sabbath How it is sanctified and how profaned The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto
THE ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY
What the ministry of the church is Why it was instituted What the grades of ministers are What the duties of ministers To whom the ministry should be committed
CONCERNING CEREMONIES
What ceremonies are In what they differ from moral works How many kinds of ceremonies there are Whether the church may institute ceremonies
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
Why obedience to the second table is necessary The design of this commandment The commandment itself The promise annexed thereto
The virtues peculiar to superiors The virtues peculiar to inferiors The virtues common to both
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment The virtues which do not injure the safety of men
The virtues which contribute to the safety of men A table of the sixth commandment
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment The virtues of this commandment Three classes of lusts
OF MARRIAGE
What marriage is Why it was instituted What marriages are lawful Whether it be a thing indifferent What the duties of married persons are What things are contrary to marriage
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment The virtues of the eighth commandment Ten kinds of contracts Objections against the division of property
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
The design of this commandment The virtues of this commandment with the vices opposed thereto
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
The commandment respecting concupiscence one and not two The design of this commandment The principal arguments of the Pelagians
THE POSSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW
How the law was possible before the fall, and how since the fall Objections against the imperfection of the works of the regenerate
THE USE OF THE LAW
The use of the ceremonial law The use of the judicial law The use of the moral law in nature as pure and holy
In nature fallen and depraved In nature restored by Christ
In nature perfectly glorified Principal arguments of the Antinomians against the use of the law
OF PRAYER
What prayer is Why it is necessary What the conditions of acceptable prayer are The Lord's Prayer The preface to the Lord's Prayer
THE FIRST PETITION
What the name of God signifies What it is to hallow the name of God
THE SECOND PETITION
What the kingdom of God is How mani-fold it is Who the Head and King is Who the subjects are What the laws are What benefits pertain to the subjects of this kingdom
Who the enemies of this kingdom are Where it is administered
How long it will continue How it comes to us Why we should pray for the coming of this kingdom
THE THIRD PETITION
What the Will of God is What we desire in this petition, and in what it differs from the second
Why it is necessary Why it is added, As in heaven
THE FOURTH PETITION
Why temporal blessings should be prayed for How they should be prayed for Why Christ comphehends temporal blessings under the term bread
Why Christ calls it our bread Why Christ calls it daily bread Why Christ adds, This day Whether it be lawful to pray for riches Whether it be lawful to lay any thing by for the time to come
THE FIFTH PETITION
What Christ means by debts What it is to forgive debts
Why we should desire the forgiveness of sins How our sins are remitted unto us
THE SIXTH PETITION
What temptation is What it is to lead into temptation What is implied in delivering us from evil
Why this petition is necessary What is the benefit of this petition The order and connection of these petitions
The conclusion of this prayer The meaning of the word, Amen