630.

631.

632.

The Conjugal Union.

Whether it were better to marry.
Religious Significance of Marriage.

633. Divorce among Jews

Art. 654.

655.

Known to us in whatever manner.

Revelation does not supersede Reason.

656. Scripture acknowledges Reason

657.

As a Guide of Christians.

PAGE

658. Moral Rules are not the main purpose of Scrip-

ture.

659. Various kinds of Precepts are mingled in

Scripture.

660. Our Supreme Rule is derived from Scripture and
Reason jointly.

661. The Will of God is the absolute Rule.

664.

665.

This combines Fear and Love.

Obedience to God is a Duty.

666. That is right which is intended by God.

667. That is right which is according to Nature

668. The Will of God is the Source of Duties.

669. Gratitude to God is a Duty.

670. Filial Affection to God is a Duty.

671. Hence men are our Brethren.

672. Affections to God may be expressed.

673. Prayers. Thanksgivings. Praises.

674. Public Worship.

675. Sacred Places, Times, Ceremonies.
676. Natural Piety recognized in Scripture.

CHAP. XI. OATHS

Art. 677. Meaning of an Oath.

678.

679.

It brings religious Duties home to us.

So help me God

680. Is not an Imprecation.

681.

682.

683.

684.

Oaths are not irreverent.

They remove all Excuse for Falsehood.

I solemnly affirm.

Oaths make Men careful.

685. Oaths of Testimony.

688.

689.

690.

Oaths of Future Conduct in Institutions.

A sincere purpose of Truth is required.

To be interpreted secundum animum Impo-

nentis.

89

Art. 691. The Imposer is the State.

692. The State may interpret.

693. The Silence of the State may interpret.

694. Custom may interpret;

695. If sanctioned by the State.

696.

PAGE

Present usage of words is not the interpretation.
097. Revival of obsolete usages is not required.
698. Usages become obsolete without blame.
699. The change must take place in good faith.
The Founder's supposed wish is not our Rule.
Oaths so observed secure permanence.
702. Oaths understood in a forced sense not lightly
to be allowed.

700.
701.

703.

The Silence of the State does not prove assent.
704. It is a duty to remove Contradictions in Oaths.
705. This discussion of Oaths why placed here.

CHAP. XII. CHRISTIAN PIETY.

Art. 706.

Obedience to God includes all Duties.

707. Peculiar Christian Duties.

106

709.

Christians are sons of God.

710. Christian Filial Obedience to God.

711. Christian Love of men as brethren.

712. Includes all Duties, and extends them.

Christian Duty of Prayer.

713.

714. Difficulty respecting Prayer.

715. Christian Resignation.

716. Christian Private Prayer.

CHAP. XIII. RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

113

In like manner Unbelief in God is blameable:

And Unbelief in Christian Revelation.

Art. 717.

718.

Belief is necessary for a Christian.

Moral Error is blameable.

719.

720.

721.

722.

But their Ignorance was their Misfortune.

723.

The heathen not liable to this blame.

Blame of rejecting truths when once discovered.

724. Agrees with Christian teaching.

725. Those who reject Christian Truth are blamed.

726. Those who accept it approved.

727. Difference in progress of scientific and religious

Truth.

728. Religious Truth differently expressed in succes-
sive Creeds.

729. Religious Belief is part of Religious Culture.

CHAP. XIV.

Art. 730.

731.

732.

733.

CHRISTIAN EDIFICATION

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122

Christian Duty of promoting Christian Progress

in others.

First, Christian Education.

Next, Christian Edification.

Christian Duty of preserving Christian Truth.

734. Objections to this Duty.

735. There is Truth and Falsehood, as well as Opinion.

736. Truth must include the Reality of Duty.

737. Atheism has always been condemned.

738. Christian Belief is a Duty.

739.

The Duty of Belief does not destroy Inquiry.

Ridicule in religious matters is blameable.

741. Familiar mention of God blameable.

740.

742.

Profane Swearing.

743. Christian Duty of bringing all men to God.

CHAP. XV.

Art. 744.

745.

746.

747.

CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES IN GENERAL

Enumeration of Christian Ordinances.

133

The use of Christian Ordinances is a Duty.

The Moralist does not discuss their Spiritual

Efficacy.

Four Sources of Rules of Christian Ordinances.

748. First; Natural Piety.

Pentecost. Whitsuntide.

Other Ordinances.

Third; Apostolic Institution.

Fourth; Catholic Tradition.

758. The National Church appoints National Ordi-

Is the Fourth Commandment binding?

Difference of the Sabbath and Lord's Day.

The Lord's Day is of Catholic and Apostolic

Authority, and recommended by early

Revelation.

PAGE

Art. 765.

Not instituted in the wilderness.

766.

767.

Was an early usage in Egypt.

Probable state of the matter at the Exodus.

768. The Form of the Ordinance to be fixed by the

769.

770.
771.

772.

773.

774.

Church.

Christians have no right to alter the Form.
To be observed as a day of Prayer, &c.
According to National Rules.

Individuals ought to conform to Rules.

External Observances are not the essential points.
Individuals ought to conform to Usages.

775. For Edification's sake.

776. But not so as to promote Error.

780.

Art. 779. Have been generally used.

Reasons for Forms.

Examples in the Old Testament.

in the New.

781.

782.