“Prefaces to the Westminster Confession of Faith”
Part of my summer reading in St
Andrews is in preparation for our presbytery’s examination of our students on
the Confession. I am enjoying reviewing
the standard commentaries on the Confession and listening to various series of
lectures on the Confession featuring a Scotsman, an American and a New
Zealander. What is interesting is that
all of the lectures begin with the first chapter, “Of the Holy Scriptures”. That is natural and to be expected. Indeed, I noted that the OPC and FCS editions
of the Confession have neither of the prefaces by some of the puritan
divines. These prefaces are not part of
our confessional standards, but they are important nevertheless and well worth
reading.
What is interesting is that while
we think of the Confession as a church document, and associate its use with
teaching and ruling elders, both of these prefaces are addressed to ordinary
members in general and fathers or heads of households in particular.
Manton writes, “I do therefore desire, that all masters of
families would first study well this work themselves, and then teach it their
children and servants, according to their several capacities.”
We do a disservice to our church
families when we assume that the Confession is only for office-bearers! In
doing so we deprive them of a biblical and practical theology textbook that can
enrich their understanding and warm their hearts.
Some practical suggestions:
1 Read the two
prefaces to the Westminster Confession.
2 Read the
Confession in a systematic and regular manner.
3 Read one
of the modern language editions of the Confession. My two preferences are the Modern Study
Version produced by the OPC, and the excellent edition by Roland Ward.
Yes, our
students, ministers, and elders should know the Confession. Would that the day would come again when our
members and families can also be assumed to know and love the Confession.
See the two prefaces, with
somewhat inaccurate OCR, at:
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