became indispensable that the Exposition should undergo a change correspondent with these amend, ments in the text. The principal change made by our General Assembly, is in Chapter XXIII., Section 3, and there accordingly an original exposition has been inserted to suit this change. For a like reason, the paragraph inserted under Chapter XXXI., Section 1, has been substituted for that found in the original. In Chapter XXV., Sections 1, 2 and 3, a passage is substituted for one which maintains, agreeably to the customs of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, but contrary to that of our own Church, that Church Sessions have no authority for inquiring into the evidences of the spiritual regeneration of applicants for sealing ordinances. The passages substituted are enclosed in brackets. Section 2 of Chapter XXXI., recognizing the right of the civil magistrate to convene Synods, has no place in our Constitution, and accordingly has been omitted, together with the exposition. These are the material changes; but besides these, some passages have been omitted which contained local allusions, or which incidentally alluded to the subject of civil magistracy. The European edition is introduced by an Essay from the pen of the Rev. Mr. Hetherington, already favourably known in this country as the historian of the Westminster Assembly, which embraces much excellent matter, but it was found to be so intimately blended with the peculiar circumstances of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, that it could not be adapted without injuring it as a composition. It has therefore been omitted entirely. With these explanations the work is submitted in the hope that it may prove at once popular and useful. PREFACE. IN preparing the following Exposition of the Confession of Faith, framed by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, it has been the object of the author to state the truths embraced in each section, to explain the terms employed wherever it seemed necessary, and to illustrate and confirm the doctrines. To avoid swelling the volume to an undue size, the arguments have been stated with the utmost possible brevity; in the illustrations, conciseness, combined with perspicuity, has been studied, and numerous passages of Scripture, which elucidate the subjects treated of, have been merely referred to, without being quoted at large. It is hoped that the attentive reader will here find the substance of larger works compressed within a small space; that materials for reflection will be suggested; and that an examination of the texts of Scripture marked, will throw much light upon the points to which they refer. The Westminster Confession of Faith contains a simple exhibition of the truth, based upon the word of God; but its several propositions are laid in opposition to the heresies and errors which had been disseminated in various ages. It has, therefore, been a prominent object of the author of the Exposition to point out the numerous errors against which the statements in the Confession are directed. The reader will thus find the testimony of the Westminster Assembly of Divines upon the various errors by which the truth has been corrupted in former times, and will be guarded against mo dern errors, which are generally only a revival of those that had previously disturbed the Church, and that had been long ago refuted. To render the work more accessible for reference, a Table of Contents has been prefixed, and a copious Index added, which will show, at a glance, the various subjects discussed in the course of the work. To have transcribed the proofs from Scripture annexed to each proposition by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, would have extended this volume to an inconvenient size, but the texts have been inserted after each section; and the additional labour of those who will take the trouble of turning to these proofs in their Bibles will be amply compensated. Their scriptural knowledge will be enlarged, and they will be satisfied that every truth set down in the Confession is "most agreeable to the word of God." Of this the author of the Exposition is so completely convinced, that he has not found it necessary to differ from the compilers of the Confession in any one point of doctrine. The language, in some cases, might admit of improvement; but "as to the truth of the matter," he cordially concurs in the judgment of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1647, that it is "most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God." And if the Confession, two hundred years ago, contained a faithful exhibition of the truth, it must do so still; for scriptural truth is, like its divine Author, "the same yesterday, to-day, and for-ever." WHITBURN, May 12, 1845. CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAPTER I. OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE. SECTION I.--Although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation:2 therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing;* which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceased." 1 Rom. ii. 14, 15; i 19, 20. Ps. xix. 1-3. Rom. i. 32; ii. 1. 21 Cor. i. 21; ii. 13, 14. Hebrews i. 1. 4 Prov. xxii. 19-21. Luke i. 3, 4 52 Tim iii. 15. 2 Pet. i. 19. EXPOSITION. Rom. Isa. viii. THERE are few doctrines of supernatural revelation that have not, in one period or another, been denied or controverted; and it is a peculiar excellence of the Westminster Confession of Faith, that its compilers have stated the several articles in terms the best calculated, not only to convey an accurate idea of sacred truths, but to guard against con |