Commentary: A Compendium of the Christian Religion:

Following is Mr. Benschop's commentary, as released to the CHR-EXP subscriber list. The logical order for these files is established by the questions outlined below.

• Compendium..., Part 1
  - (Brief introduction)

  Compendium..., Part 2:

  - How many things are necessary for thee to know, that you enjoying real comfort may live and die happily?

  Compendium..., Part 3

  - Whence know you thy misery?

  - What has God commanded thee in his law?

  Compendium..., Part 4

  - How are the ten commandments divided?

  - Which is the sum of what God requires of thee in the four commandments of the first table?

  - Which is the sum of what God commands thee in the six commandments of the second table?

  Compendium..., Part 5

  - What is the preface to the ten commandments?

  - What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us?

  Compendium..., Part 6

  - What is required in the first commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the first commandment?

  - What are we specially taught by these words "before" me" in the first commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 7

  - Which is the second commandment?

  - What is required in the second commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the second commandment?

  - What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 8

  - Which is the third commandment?

  - What is required in the third commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the third commandment?

  - What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 9

  - Which is the fourth commandment?

  - What is required in the fourth commandment?

  - Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?

  - How is the Sabbath to be sanctified?

  - What is forbidden in the fourth commandment?

  - What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 10

  - Which is the fifth commandment?

  - What is required in the fifth commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?

  - What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 11

  - Which is the sixth commandment?

  - What is required in the sixth commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 12

  - Which is the seventh commandment?

  - What is required in the seventh commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 13

  - Which is the eighth commandment?

  - What is required in the eighth commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 14

  - Which is the ninth commandment?

  - What is required in the ninth commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the ninth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 15

  - Which is the tenth commandment?

  - What is required in the tenth commandment?

  - What is forbidden in the tenth commandment?

  Compendium..., Part 16

  - How are the ten commandments divided?

  - Which is the sum of what God requires of thee in the four commandments of the first table?

  - Which is the sum of what God commands thee in the six commandments of the second table?

  - Can't you keep all these things perfectly?

  Compendium..., Part 17

  - Has God created thee naturally so wicked and perverse?

  - Whence then proceeds that depravity which is in thee?

  - What was that disobedience?

  - Does the disobedience of Adam concern us?

  Compendium..., Part 18

  - Are we then incapable of doing any good of ourselves, and prone to all manner of wickedness?

  - God suffer such disobedience and corruption to go unpunished?

  Compendium..., Part 19

  - By what means can you escape this punishment, and be again received into favour?

  - Who is that Mediator?

  - Could not the angels be our mediators?

  - Cannot the saints be our mediators?

  - Shall all men then be saved by the Mediator, Jesus, as they are all condemned in Adam?

  Compendium..., Part 20

  - What is true faith?

  - What is the sum of that which God has promised in the gospel, and commanded us to believe?

  - When you profess to believe in God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, do you mean three Gods thereby?

  - Why do you then name three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?

  Compendium..., Part 21

  - What believe you when you say: "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth"?

  - What believe you when you say: "And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son, our Lord"?

  Compendium..., Part 22

  - Do you not believe that he also became man?

  - Is his Godhead then changed into humanity?

  - How is he then become man?

  - Did he then bring his human nature from heaven?

  Compendium..., Part 23

  - Why is he called Jesus, that is, Saviour?

  - Is there no other Saviour?

  - Why is he called Christ, that is, anointed?

  Compendium..., Part 24

  - What then has Jesus Christ done to save us?

  - In which nature has he suffered this?

  - What has then his Godhead contributed thereto?

  - Did Christ then remain under the power of death?

  Compendium..., Part 25

  - Where is Christ now, as to his human nature?

  - To what end is he there so highly exalted?

  - Is he not with us then even unto the end of the world, as he has promised us?

  Compendium..., Part 26

  - On the Holy Spirit

  Compendium..., Part 27

  - What believe you concerning the holy catholic church?

  - Where does he gather his church?

  - What benefits does Christ bestow on his church?

  Compendium..., Part 28

  - What does it profit thee now that you believe all this?

  - How art you righteous before God?

  - How is it to be understood that you art justified by faith only?

  - Why cannot our good works be our righteousness before God, or some part thereof?

  - Do our good works then merit nothing, which yet God will reward in this, and in a future life?

  Compendium..., Part 29

  - Who works that faith in thee?

  - By what means?

  - How does he strengthen that faith?

  Compendium..., Part 30

  - What are the sacraments?

  - How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the New Testament?

  - Which is the outward sign in baptism?

  - What does that signify and seal?

  - Where has Christ promised and assured us of this?

  - Are infants also to be baptised?

  Compendium..., Part 31

  - What is the outward sign in the Lord's Supper?

  - What is thereby signified and sealed?

  - Where has Christ promised such things to us?

  - Is the bread changed into the body of Christ, and the wine into his blood?

  Compendium..., Part 32

  - After what manner must you examine yourself before you come to the Lord's supper?

  Compendium..., Part 33

  - May those be admitted to the Lord's supper, who teach false doctrines, or lead offensive lives?

  - How must we then deal with such persons?

  Compendium..., Part 34

  - Since we are saved merely of grace through Christ, why must we then yet do good works?

  - What purpose then do your good works answer?

  - Shall they also be saved who do no good works?

  Compendium..., Part 35

  - Wherein does the conversion of man consist?

  - What are good works?

  Compendium..., Part 36

  - Can they, who are converted to God, perfectly keep the law?

  Compendium..., Part 37

  - To whom must we pray for this?

  - In whose name must we pray to God?

  - What must we pray to God for?

  - What are the words of that prayer?

  - What do you desire of God in this prayer?

  Compendium..., Part 38

  - (conclusion)

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