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In the opinion of B.B. Warfield, the Westminster divines left to posterity not only 'the most thoroughly thought out statement ever penned of the elements of evangelical religion' but also one which breathes 'the finest fragrance of spiritual religion'. Their most influential work, 'The Shorter Catechism', was intended as a teaching basis for an introduction to the Christian Faith. No London pastor made more effective use of it than Thomas Vincent (1634-1678) and when his 'explanation'(The Shorter Catechism Explained From Scripture) was first published in 1674, John Owen, Thomas Watson along with 38 other signatories to the Preface, declared their belief that it would 'be greatly useful to all Christians in general'.
In this book, Alan D. Strange investigates the Westminster Assembly and the Westminster Standards to determine whether they affirmed the imputation of Christ’s active obedience as necessary for our justification. He also gives a survey of church history before and during the Reformation to see how the Assembly relates to the tradition before it. This study also reflects on the relation of imputation to federal theology, modern challenges to the doctrine, and important rules for interpreting the confessional document. Table of Contents: 1. An Initial Approach to the Westminster Assembly’s Understanding of Christ’s Active Obedience 2. Antecedents to Active Obedience in the Ancient and Medieval Church 3. Active Obedience in the Reformation before the Westminster Assembly 4. The Work of the Westminster Assembly and Active Obedience, Part 1 5. The Work of the Westminster Assembly and Active Obedience, Part 2 6. The Imputation of Christ’s Active Obedience throughout the Westminster Standards 7. Active Obedience and Federal Theology 8. The Place of Active Obedience in Confessional Interpretation