THE TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
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