RPM, Volume 19, Number 1, January 1 to January 7, 2017

Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism

By Dr. Zacharias Ursinus

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN,
BY THE REV. G. W. WILLIARD, A. M.
Reproduction of the
SECOND AMERICAN EDITION, WM. B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COM.
- Grand Rapids 1956 Michigan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Translators Preface
Introduction


GENERAL PROLEGOMENA.
What the doctrine of the church is	31
What the parts of this doctrine are, with their differences	32
In what the doctrine of the church differs from that of other systems of religion, philosophy, &c	33
By what testimonies the truth of the Christian religion, or the doctrine of the church is confirmed	35
How manifold the method of teaching and learning the doctrine of the church is	39


SPECIAL PROLEGOMENA.
What Catechizing is	40
Of the origin of Catechization	41
Of the parts or principal heads of the doctrine of the Catechism	42
Of the necessity of Catechization	43
What the design of Catechism and the doctrine of the church is	45


OF TRUE CHRISTIAN COMFORT.
Question 1: What is thy only comfort in life and death?	47
What Comfort is	47
The parts of which it consists	48
Why this comfort alone is solid	49
Why it is necessary	50
How this comfort may be obtained	50


OF THE MISERY OF MAN.
What it is, and whence it may be known	50
Question 2: What is thy only comfort in life and death?	50
Question 3: How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happy?	53
What the law of God requires	53
Question 4: What doth the law of God require of us?	53
Question 5: Canst thou keep all these things perfectly?	56


OF THE CREATION OF MAN.
Question 6: Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?	58
The state in which man was originally created	58
The end for which God created man	59


OF THE IMAGE OF GOD IN MAN.
What it is, and what the parts thereof	61
To what extent it is lost, and what remains	62
How it may be restored in us	63


OF THE FALL AND FIRST SIN OF MAN.
Question 7: Whence, then, proceeds this depravity of human nature?	64
What the sin of our first parents was	64
What the causes of it were	65
What the effects thereof	66
Why God permitted it	66


OF SIN IN GENERAL.
The proofs of our sinfulness	67
What sin is	68
Original sin, and what it is	69
The proofs of original sin	70
Objections against original sin refuted	71
Actual sin	74
Reigning sin and sin not reigning	74
Mortal and venial sin	75
Sin against the conscience, &c.	75
The sin against the Holy Ghost	76
Rules to be observed in reference to the sin against the Holy Ghost	77
Sin per se, and sin by accident	77
The causes of sin	79
The effects of sin	84


THE FREEDOM OF THE WILL.
Question 8: Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?	85
The principal question to be considered in reference to this subject	86
What the freedom of the will is	86
In what the Liberty which is in God differs from that which is in his creatures, angels and men	87
Whether there be any Freedom of the human will	90
What Liberty belongs to man according to his four-fold state	91
Question 9: The question, whether God does any injustice to man, by requiring from him in his	96
law what he cannot perform, considered	96
Question 10: Will God suffer such disobedience and rebellion to go unpunished?	97
The punishment of sin	97
Question 11: But is not God also merciful?	98
How this comports with the mercy of God	99


CONCERNING AFFLICTIONS.
How many kinds of affliction there are	100
A table of the afflictions of man	102
The causes of afflictions	102
Comforts under afflictions	103


THE DELIVERANCE OF MAN.
Question 12: Since, then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?	106
In how many ways satisfaction may be made	106
What the deliverance of man is	107
Whether such a deliverance be possible	107
Whether deliverance be necessary and certain	109
Whether perfect deliverance may be expected	110
How this deliverance is accomplished	110
Question 13: Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?	111
The question whether we ourselves can make this satisfaction, Considered	111
Question 14: Can there be found anywhere one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?	113
The question whether any mere creature can make satisfaction for us, considered	113
Question 15: What sort of a mediator and deliverer, then, must we seek for?	113
What sort of a mediator we must seek for	113
Question 16: Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?	115
Why he must be very man and perfectly righteous	115
Question 17: Why must he in one person be also very God?	116
Why he must be very God	116


THE DOCTRINE OF THE MEDIATOR.
Question 18: Who, then, is that Mediator, who is, in one person, both very God, and a real righteous man?	119
What a mediator is	121
Whether we need a mediator	122
What the office of the mediator is	123
What kind of a mediator is necessary	124
Who this mediator is	124
Whether there can be more than one mediator	125


THE COVENANT OF GOD.
What this covenant is	126
Whether it be one or more	127
In what the old and new Covenants agree and differ	128


OF THE GOSPEL.
Question 19: Whence knowest thou this?	130
What the Gospel is	130
The question, Whether the gospel has always been known, considered	131
In what the Gospel differs from the Law	133
What the effects of the Gospel are	134
From what the truth of the Gospel appears	134
Question 20: Are all men, then, as they perished in Adam, saved by Christ?	135
The, question, Whether all men as they perished in Adam, are saved in Christ, considered	135


THE SUBJECT OF FAITH.
Question 21: What is true faith?	136
What faith is	137
How many kinds of faith there are	137
In what faith and hope differ	140
What the causes of faith are	141
What the effects of faith	142
To whom faith is given	142
The assurance of faith, with a refutation of certain objections	142
Question 22: What is then necessary for a Christian to believe?	144
The objects or contents of faith	145


THE APOSTLES CREED.
Question 23: What are these articles?	146
Why it is called apostolic	146
Why other creeds were introduced	146
Why the greatest authority should be attached to the Apostles Creed	147
Question 24: How are these articles divided?	148
The division of the Creed	148


CONCERNING THE ONE TRUE GOD.
Question 25: Since there is but one divine essence, why speakest thou of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?	149
The evidences of the existence of God	149
Who, and what God is	152
The unity of God	156
What the terms Essence, Person, and Trinity signify, and in what they Differ	158
Whether the church should retain these terms	160
The number of persons in the Godhead	161
How these persons are distinguished	163
Why the church should retain the doctrine of the Trinity	165
Objections against the doctrine of the Trinity refuted	166


OF GOD THE FATHER.
Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth?”	168
What it is to believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker, &c.	168


OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.
Whether God created the world	170
How God created the world	172
The end for which God created the world	174


THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.
Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?	175
Whether there be any providence of God	175
Arguments from the works of God	176
Arguments from the nature and attributes of God	178
What the Providence of God is	179
A table of those things which fall under the providence of God	183
Objections to this doctrine refuted	185
Question 28. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?	190
The benefit and use of this doctrine	191


OF GOD THE SON, AND THE NAMES WHICH ARE APPLIED TO HIM.


CONCERNING THE NAME JESUS.
Question 29. Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, a Savior?	192
What it imports	192
The difference between this Jesus and other saviors	193
What it is to believe in Jesus	195
Question 30. Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and happiness of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?	195
The question, Whether such as seek their salvation out of Jesus really believe in him, considered.	195


CONCERNING THE NAME, CHRIST.
Question 31. Why is he called Christ, that is, anointed?	197
What the anointing of Christ signifies	197
What the prophetical office of Christ is	199
What the priestly office of Christ is	201
What the kingly office of Christ is	202
Question 32. But why art thou called a Christian?	203
What the term Christian imports	203
What the prophetical, priestly, and regal dignity of Christians consists in	205


OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
Question 33. Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?	208
In what sense Christ is the only begotten Son of God	208
A table of the Sons of God	210


THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.
Whether Christ was a subsistent or person before he assumed our nature	212
Whether he is a person distinct from the Father and the Holy Ghost	218
Whether he is equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost	219
Whether he is consubstantial	222
General rules according to which an answer may be given to the sophisms of heretics	223
Special rules serving the same ends	224
A refutation of the sophisms against the Divinity of the Son	226


CONCERNING THE NAME, LORD.
Question 34. Wherefore callest thou him our Lord?	228
In what sense Christ is called Lord	228
In how many ways, and why he is called our Lord	228
What it is to believe in Christ, our Lord	229


OF THE CONCEPTION AND NATIVITY OF CHRIST.
Question 35. What is the meaning of these words, “He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary?”	231
What Christ's conception by the Holy Ghost means	231
Why he was born of the Virgin Mary	232
Question 36. What profit dost thou receive by Christ's holy conception and nativity?	233
The profit of Christ's holy conception and nativity	233
What it is, to believe in the conception and nativity of Christ	233


OF THE TWO NATURES IN CHRIST.
Whether there be two natures in Christ	234
Whether these two natures constitute one or more persons	236
What the hypostatical union is	237
Why it was necessary to constitute this union	237


THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST.
Question 37. What dost thou understand by he words, “he suffered?”	238
What the term passion signifies	238
Whether Christ suffered according to both natures	241
What the moving causes of his passion were	242
What the final causes, or fruits	242
Question 38. Why did he suffer under Pontius Pilate, as his judge?	242
The question, Why Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate, considered	242
Question 39. Is there anything more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death?	243
Whether there is anything more in his being crucified, than if he had died some other death	243


THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF CHRIST.
Question 40. Why was it necessary for Christ to humble himself even unto death?	245
How Christ is said to have been dead	245
Whether the death of Christ was necessary	246
Whether Christ died for all	247
Question 41. Why was he also “buried?”	250
Why Christ was buried	250
Question 42. Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?	251
Why believers must die	251
Question 43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?	252
The benefits, or fruits of Christ’s death	252


CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL.
Question 44. Why is there added, “he descended into hell?”	253
What Christ's descent into hell signifies	254
What the fruits of his descent into hell are	257


THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.
Question 45. What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us?	259
Whether Christ rose from the dead	259
How Christ rose from the dead	260
Why he rose	261
The fruits or benefits of Christ’s resurrection	263


THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
Question 46. How dost thou understand these words, “he ascended into heaven?”	267
Whither Christ ascended	267
How Christ ascended	268
Question 47. Is not Christ then with us, even to the end of the world, as he hath promised?	272
Certain objections of the Ubiquitarians refuted	272
Question 48. But if his human nature is not present wherever his God head is, are then these two natures in Christ separated from one another.	273
For what purpose Christ ascended	274
In what Christ's ascension differs from ours	275
Question 49. Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?	275
What the fruits of Christ’s ascension are	276


CHRIST'S SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.
Question 50. Why is it added, “and sitteth at the right hand of God?	278
What the right hand of God signifies	278
What it is to sit at the right hand of God	278
Whether Christ always sat at the right hand of God	281
Question 51. What profit is this glory of Christ, our head, unto us?	283
What the fruits of Christ’s sitting at the right hand of God are	283


CHRIST'S RETURN TO JUDGMENT.
Question 52. What comfort is it to thee, that “Christ’s shall come again to judge the quick and the dead?”	284
Whether there be a future judgment	284
What the final judgment is	286
Who the Judge will be	288
Whence and whither he will come	289
How he will come	289
Whom he will judge	289
What the process, sentence and execution of the final judgment will be	290
The objects of this judgment	291
When this judgment will take place	291
The reasons why we should look for it	291
The reasons why God has not revealed the time when it will take place	292
Why it is deferred	292
Whether it may be desired	292


OF GOD THE HOLY GHOST.
Question 53. What dost thou believe concerning the Holy Ghost?	294
What the term Spirit signifies	294
Who and what the Holy Ghost is	295
What the office of the Holy Ghost	300
What, and how manifold the gifts of the Holy Ghost are	302
By whom and why the Holy Ghost was given	303
To whom and to what extent he is given	304
When and how the Holy Ghost is given and received	304
How the Holy Ghost may be retained	306
Whether and how the Holy Ghost may be lost	306
Why the Holy Ghost is necessary	307
How we may know that the Holy Ghost is in us	307


THE CHURCH.
Question 54. What believest thou concerning the “Holy Catholic Church” of Christ?	308
What the church is	308
How manifold it is	309
What the marks of the true church are	310
Why the church is called one, holy and Catholic	311
In what the church differs from the state	313
The cause of the difference between the church and the rest of mankind	314
Whether there is any salvation out of the church	314


THE ETERNAL PREDESTINATION OF GOD.
Whether there be any predestination	315
What it is	318
What the causes of it are	319
What the effects of it are	321
Whether it be unchangeable	321
To what extent it may be known	322
Whether the elect are always members of the church and the reprobate Never	323
Whether the elect may fall from the church and the reprobate always remain in it	323
What the use of this doctrine is	324


THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
Question 55. What do you understand by “the communion of saints?”	324
What the communion of saints is	324


THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
Question 56. What believest thou concerning “the forgiveness of sins?”	326
What the forgiveness of sins is	326
By whom forgiveness of sins is granted	327
On account of what is forgiveness granted	327
Whether forgiveness of sins agrees with divine justice	328
Whether it be gratuitous	328
To whom it is granted	329
How and when it is granted	329


THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY.
Question. 57. What comfort doth the “resurrection of the body” afford thee?	329
Whether the soul be immortal	330
Where the soul is when separated from the body	331
What the resurrection is, and what the errors in reference to it	332
From what the truth of a future resurrection is inferred	333
The kind of bodies which will rise in the resurrection	335
How the resurrection will be effected	336
When it will take place	336
By whose power the dead will be raised	336
Why and to what state the dead will be raised	337


THE LIFE EVERLASTING.
Question 58. What comfort takest thou from the article of “life everlasting?"	338
What everlasting life is	338
By whom it is given	340
To whom it is given	341
Why it is given	341
How it is given	342
When it is given	342
Whether and whence we may be assured of it	342


THE DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION.
Question 59. But what doth it profit thee now, that thou believest all this?	344
Question 60. How art thou righteous before God?	344
What righteousness in general is	344
How manifold it is	345
In what righteousness differs from justification	346
What our righteousness before God is	346
How the satisfaction of Christ is made ours	348
Why it is made ours	349
Question. 61. Why sayest thou that thou art righteous by faith only?	350
Why we are justified by faith only	350
Question. 62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?	352
Why our good works cannot justify us	352
Question 63. What! do not our good works merit, which yet God will reward in this and a future life?	353
How a reward is promised to our works	353
Question 64. But doth not this doctrine make men careless and profane?	355
Whether this doctrine makes men careless	355
Other objections to this doctrine refuted	355


THE SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL.
Question. 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ, and all his benefits, by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?	359
Question 66. What are the sacraments?	359
What sacraments are	360
What the designs of the sacraments	362
In what sacraments differ from sacrifices	363
In what the sacraments of the Old and New Testaments agree and differ	364
What the signs are; and what the things signified in the sacraments, and in what they differ	365
What the sacramental union is	366
What sacramental phrases are	367
What the lawful use of the sacraments consists in	368
What the ungodly receive in the sacraments	368
Question 67. Are both word and sacraments then ordained and appointed for this end, that they may direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, on the cross, as the only ground for our salvation?	369
What the sacraments and word have in common, and in what they differ	369
Question 68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the new covenant or testament?	371
How many sacraments there are	371
Theses concerning the sacraments in general	372


HOLY BAPTISM.
Question 69. How art thou admonished and assured, by holy baptism, that the one sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is of real advantage to thee?	375
What Baptism is	375
What the ends of Baptism are	377
Question 70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?	379
Question 71. Where has Christ promised us that he will as certainly wash us by his blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?	380
The institution of Baptism, and what the words of the institution signify	380
What the lawful use of Baptism consists in	381
Sacramental phrases in reference to Baptism	382
Question 72. Is then the external baptism with water, the washing away of sin itself?	383
Question 73. Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration,” and “the washing away of sins?”	383
Question 74. Are infants also to be baptized?	384
The question of infant Baptism considered	384
The objections of the Anabaptists refuted	389
Theses concerning Baptism	389


OF CIRCUMCISION.
What circumcision is	391
Why circumcision was instituted	392
Why it was abolished	393
What there is in the place of circumcision	393
In what circumcision and baptism agree and differ	393
Why Christ was circumcised	394


THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Question 75. How art thou admonished and assured in the Lord’s supper, that thou art a partaker of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross, and of all his benefits?	395
That the Lord's Supper is	395
What the design of it is	397
In what the Lord’s Supper differs from Baptism	398
Question 76. What is it then to eat the crucified body, and drink the shed blood of Christ?	399
The institution of the Supper and the true sense of the words of the Institution	399
Question 77. Where has Christ promised, that he will as certainly feed and nourish believers with his body and blood, as they eat of this broken bread, and drink of this cup?	400
Question 78. Do then the bread and wine become the very body and blood of Christ?	407
The controversy respecting the words of the institution of the holy Supper	408
Four classes of arguments in favor of the orthodox interpretation of the words of Christ	410
The testimony of the Fathers	420
Of transubstantiation	423
Of consubstantiation	426
The schism of the Consubstantialists	428
Objections in favor of consubstantiation refuted	429
Question 79. Why then doth Christ call the bread his body, and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood; and Paul the “communion of the body and blood of Christ?”	432
Question 80. What difference is there between the Lord’s supper and the Popish mass?	434
The difference between the Lord’s Supper and the Popish Mass	434
Question 81. For whom is the Lord’s supper instituted?	441
For whom the Lord's Supper was instituted	441
What the wicked receive in the use of the Supper	443
What the lawful use of the Supper consists in	445
Question 82. Are they also to be admitted to this supper, who, by confession and life, declare themselves infidels and ungodly?	445
Whom the church should admit to the Supper	445
Certain arguments of the Consubstantialists noticed	451
The general points in which the churches professing the gospel agree and differ in the controversy respecting the Lord’s Supper	452


THE PASSOVER.
What the Passover was	452
What the design of the Passover was	453
The points of resemblance between Christ and the Paschal Lamb	455
Whether the Passover be abolished	455


THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Question 83. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven?	457
Question 84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the holy gospel? (this question is not in Ursinus commentary)	457
Question 85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by church discipline? (this question is not in Ursinus commentary)	457
What the power of the keys given to the church is	458
Whether ecclesiastical discipline be necessary	459
How it is to be exercised	463
What the design of it is, and what abuses are to be avoided	465
In what the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven differs from civil Power	466
A disputation respecting excommunication	470


OF THANKFULNESS.
What thankfulness is	479
Question 86. Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works?	480
Why it is necessary	480


MAN'S CONVERSION TO GOD.
Question 87. Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God?	481
Question 88. In how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist?	483
Question 89. What is the mortification of the old man?	483
Question 90. What is the quickening of the new man?	483
Whether conversion be necessary	483
What conversion to God is	484
What the parts of man’s conversion are	485
What the causes of it	487
What the fruits of it	488
Whether it be perfect in this life	489
In what the repentance of the godly differs from that of the ungodly	490


CONCERNING GOOD WORKS.
Question 91. But what are good works?	491
What good works are	491
A table of good works	494
How they may be performed	494
Whether the works of the regenerate are perfectly good	495
How they please God	496
Why they should be done	497
Whether they merit anything in the sight of God	500


THE LAW OF GOD.
Question 92. What is the law of God?	503
What the law of God is	504
What the parts of the law and their differences	505
To what extent the law has been abrogated	507
In what the law differs from the gospel	512
Question 93. How are these ten commandments divided?	512
The division of the law	512
A table of the division of the Decalogue	516
General rules for the understanding of the Decalogue	516
Theses concerning the Decalogue	519


THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
Question 94. What doth God enjoin in the first command?	521
The preface to the Decalogue considered	521
The design of this commandment	522
The virtues of the first commandment	522
Question 95: What is idolatry (this question is not in Ursinus commentary)	530


THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.
Question 96. What does God require in the second command?	531
The design of this commandment	531
What it prohibits and sanctions	531
Of human precepts and the authority of tradition	533
Question 97. Are images then not at all to be made?	538
Whether all statues and images are here forbidden	538
Whether all worshipping of images is forbidden	541
Question 98. But may not images be tolerated in the churches, as books to the laity?	543
Why images are not to be tolerated in our churches	543
How and by whom they are to be removed	544
Objections against the removal of images refuted	545
The exhortation added to this commandment considered


THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
Question 99. What is required in the third command?	549
Question 100. Is then the profaning of God’s name by swearing and cursing, so heinous a sin, that his wrath is kindled against those who do not endeavor, as much as in them lies, to prevent and forbid such cursing and swearing?	549
What the name of God signifies	549
What this commandment forbids, and enjoins, with the design thereof	549
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto	554
The arguments of the Papists in favor of the invocation of the saints considered and refuted	555


THE DOCTRINE OF THE OATH.
Question 101. May we then swear religiously by the name of God?	562
Question 102. May we also swear by saints, or any other creatures?	562
What an oath is	562
By whom we are to swear	563
Whether it is lawful for Christians to take an oath	564
What oaths are lawful and what unlawful	566
Whether all oaths should be kept	567


THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 103. What doth God require in the fourth command?	569
The design of this commandment	569
An explanation of the words of the commandment	570
What and how manifold the sabbath is	573
How far the sabbath pertains to us	575
The design of the Sabbath	577
How it is sanctified and how profaned	578
The virtues of this commandment, with the vices opposed thereto	580


THE ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY.
What the ministry of the church is	583
Why it was instituted	583
What the grades of ministers are	584
What the duties of ministers	584
To whom the ministry should be committed	584


CONCERNING CEREMONIES.
What ceremonies are	585
In what they differ from moral works	585
How many kinds of ceremonies there are	585
Whether the church may institute ceremonies	586


THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 104. What doth God require in the fifth command?	587
Why obedience to the second table is necessary	587
The design of this commandment	588
The commandment itself	588
The promise annexed thereto	589
The virtues peculiar to superiors	590
The virtues peculiar to inferiors	592
The virtues common to both	592


THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 105. What doth God require in the sixth command?	596
Question 106. But this command seems only to speak of murder.	596
Question 107. But is it enough that we do not kill any man in the manner mentioned above?	596
The design of this commandment	596
The virtues which do not injure the safety of men	598
The virtues which contribute to the safety of men	599
A table of the sixth commandment	601


THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 108. What doth the seventh command teach us?	602
Question 109. Doth God forbid, in this command, only adultery, and such like gross sins?	602
The design of this commandment	602
The virtues of this commandment	602
Three classes of lusts	603


OF MARRIAGE.
What marriage is	605
Why it was instituted	605
What marriages are lawful	605
Whether it be a thing indifferent	606
What the duties of married persons are	607
What things are contrary to marriage	607


THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 110, What doth God forbid in the eighth command.	608
Question 111. But what doth God require in this command?	608
The design of this commandment	608
The virtues of the eighth commandment	608
Ten kinds of contracts	609
Objections against the division of property	610


THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 112. What is required in the ninth command?	613
The design of this commandment	613
The virtues of this commandment with the vices opposed thereto	613


THE TENTH COMMANDMENT.
Question 113. What doth the tenth commandment require of us?	618
The commandment respecting concupiscence one and not two	618
The design of this commandment	618
The principal arguments of the Pelagians	619


THE POSSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW.
Question 114. But can those who are converted to God, perfectly keep these commands?	619
How the law was possible before the fall, and how since the fall	619
Objections against the imperfection of the works of the regenerate	621
THE USE OF THE LAW.
Question 115. Why will God then have the ten commands so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?	624
The use of the ceremonial law	624
The use of the judicial law	625
The use of the moral law in nature as pure and holy	625
In nature fallen and depraved	625
In nature restored by Christ	626
In nature perfectly glorified	627
Principal arguments of the Antinomians against the use of the law	627


OF PRAYER.
Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for Christians?	632
What prayer is	632
Why it is necessary	633
Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?	634
Question 118. What hath God commanded us to ask of him?	634
What the conditions of acceptable prayer are	634
Question 119. What are the words of that prayer?	637
The Lord's Prayer	637
Question 120. Why hath Christ commanded us to address God thus, “OUR FATHER?”	639
The preface to the Lord’s Prayer	639
Question 121. Why is here added, “WHICH ART IN HEAVEN?”	641


THE FIRST PETITION.
Question 122. Which is the first petition?	643
What the name of God signifies	643
What it is to hallow the name of God	643
THE SECOND PETITION.
Question 123. Which is the second petition?	646
What the kingdom of God is	646
How manifold it is	647
Who the Head and King is	648
Who the subjects are	648
What the laws are	648
What benefits pertain to the subjects of this kingdom	648
Who the enemies of this kingdom are	648
Where it is administered	649
How long it will continue	649
How it comes to us	649
Why we should pray for the coming of this kingdom	649


THE THIRD PETITION.
Question 124. Which is the third petition?	651
What the Will of God is	651
What we desire in this petition, and in what it differs from the second	651
Why it is necessary	653
Why it is added, As in heaven	653


THE FOURTH PETITION.
Question 125. Which is the fourth petition?	655
Why temporal blessings should be prayed for	655
How they should be prayed for	656
Why Christ comprehends temporal blessings under the term bread	657
Why Christ calls it our bread	658
Why Christ calls it daily bread	658
Why Christ adds, This day	658
Whether it be lawful to pray for riches	659
Whether it be lawful to lay anything by for the time to come	660


THE FIFTH PETITION.
Question 126. What is the fifth petition?	662
What Christ means by debts	662
What it is to forgive debts	663
Why we should desire the forgiveness of sins	663
How our sins are remitted unto us	664


THE SIXTH PETITION.
Question 127. Which is the sixth petition?	666
What temptation is	666
What it is to lead into temptation	668
What is implied in delivering us from evil	668
Why this petition is necessary	668
What is the benefit of this petition	669
The order and connection of these petitions	670
Question 128. How dost thou conclude thy prayer?	670
The conclusion of this prayer.	670
Question 129. What doth the word “AMEN” signify?	671
The meaning of the word, Amen	671

This article is provided as a ministry of Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill). If you have a question about this article, please email our Theological Editor. If you would like to discuss this article in our online community, please visit the RPM Forum.

RPM MAGAZINE

Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism

By Dr. Zacharias Ursinus

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