Digital Logos Edition
In A Commentary on the Confession of Faith, Hodge analyzes each chapter and section of entire Westminster Confession, offering proofs of its necessity and illustrations of its application. This volume is intended both to facilitate and stimulate study of the Westminster Confession—designed for Presbyterians, but accessible and useful for everyone.
Hodge begins with a short history of the creeds and confessions in general and a history of the Westminster Confession in particular, including the historical and theological events which inspired its composition. Most of the volume is rightly devoted to detailed commentary on the Confession itself. Each chapter includes a detailed exposition of the Confession, and concludes with dozens of questions for review and reflection. A Commentary on the Confession of Faith also includes appendices which contain statements by Charles Hodge and Henry B. Smith, as well as the 1879 Auburn Declaration and the Declarative Act of the United Presbyterian Synod of Scotland.
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“The same is disproved from the fact that conscience, which is a universal and indestructible element of human nature, necessarily implies our accountability to a personal moral governor, and as a matter of fact has uniformly led men to a recognition of his existence and of their relation to him.” (Page 45)
“The third erroneous opinion which has been entertained on this subject is that of deists and theistic rationalists, viz.: that the light of nature, when legitimately used, is perfectly sufficient of itself to lead men to all necessary knowledge of God’s being, nature and purposes.” (Pages 46–47)
“It must be remembered, however, that the purpose of God with respect to the sinful acts of men and wicked angels is in no degree to cause the evil, nor to approve it, but only to permit the wicked agent to perform it, and then to overrule it for his own most wise and holy ends.” (Page 95)
“That the amount of knowledge attainable by the light of nature is not sufficient to enable any to secure salvation.” (Page 47)
“‘I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell (Hades); the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.’” (Page 23)