Weliveinanerawidelydominated by dispensational antinomianism. Because of the free-spirit rootlessness of the age, there is little regard for historic creedal formulations. "We have no creed bttt the Bible," is the modem, self contradictory and illusory creed. Nevertheless, it is pretisdy because of the temper of the . times that creedal studies and aids to confessional research are so important. Consequently, I wholeheartedly welcome the current work by reformed pastor, James E. Bordwine(Th. D. candidate, Greenville TheolOgical Seminary).

Bordwine has performed an invaluable service to students of reformed theology in general and the Westminster Standards in particular. Both versions of his Guide to the Westminster Standards will surely prove helpful to student and scholar alike. Letme consider the bookversion first.

The Book Version In this nicely produced volume we

have set befote us an invaluable and easily accessible tool that is worthy of distribution toallelrlprsin CQ!1fpc9:O!'-:llly based churches. The type is clear ,bold, good Sized-highly readable. Page headers allow a quick perusal of the contents with minimal difficulty.

The first portion of the work, spanningthirteen pages, offersa concise chapter-by-chapter summary of the teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith. Of course, the chapter titles in the Confession are themselves quite clear as a basic outline of the system of truth contained Confession. Yet

Bordwine'ssummationfurnishes a fine introduction to and survey of the Confession thatprovides ahandygrasp of the" doct:ti:he contlrlned within. For those theonomicallyinclined, Bordwirie doesnotallowhissummarytoovetlook

. .

the importimtstatementin Chapter 19 on the "general eq1,!ity" of the judicial laws.

The Second portion of the book is the actual text of the Westminster Confession, with fully typed proof textS. Bordwine comments on the text: "As the re ... cler is probably aware, the

. Confession has undergone some revision in American Presbyterianisni. This volume is based upon the 50_ called'Ainerican Version,' but it also includes the original wording in italicized type (see 20-4, 22-3, 23-3, 24-4,.25-6 and 31-2) as it appears in the Westminster Confession of Faith, published by Free Presbyterian Publications" (p.v). To Confessional putistsand theonomic adherents this is a welcome approach. Of course, just providing the original proof-texts prOvides a theonomic slant to the Confession, as lhave argued elsewhere.

But the portion of this new work that set it apart from other editions of the Confession and enhances its utility is its third major section: "Index to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Llrger Catechism." (For some

24 ~ TIlE COUNSEL of Chalcedon ~ July/August, 1992

reason the index to the Confession and Catechism appears after the Confession but before the Llrger Catechism!

Here we are provided with 102 pages of indexingmatetials. The index provides enough explanation for each

entry that it is altnost like a concordance, rather' than a hire-bones index. Asa good index, cross-references to other index entries are provided. This featureofBordwine's work will facilitate pastoral,student,and scholarly research in the Confession.

The fourth section of the work is the Llrger Catechism. Unfortunately, the proof-texts for the Llrger Catechism are left out.

The Computer Version

1111111 /.//7// /II nY\\Z'R~ The entire content of the book is

manageable files and saved in either Word"Perfect5.1, WiJrdPerfect5.0, br ASCII fonnats. This is the aspeCt of the publishing project that most interested me, since so much of my own research iscomputerassisted. Nowwenotonly have ahandyptintedindex,butwe can do computer assisted searches in the text and proof-texts of the Confession:. Of course, in that it is not a database program, thesearchesarecomparatively slow. Nevertheless, accurate computer

enhanced searches of the material far-and-awayexcels eye scanning.

Thecomputerversion breaks down the Confessioninto thirty-threesepamte files (one for each chapter). It breaks the Larger Catechism into four files and the index into six files. This is helpful in some respects, but frustrating in others. In WordPerfect 5.1 you can search for a word through the Directory screen (F5,9,4) extremely fast. But when the words are found by this method, only the file names containing the words is listed in the Directory screen. You then have to enter each file and do a normal Search (F2) to find the exact entries. Whereas, when a Search (F2) is done in each of the thirty-three files (of the Confession) one at a time , itissomewhat slower but it takes you right to each entry. But this requires entering and exiting thirty-three files.

I may regret this but I combined files, reducing their number but expanding the per-need search range. I combined the thirtycthree small Confession files into three larger files. I collapsed the Larger Catechism into one file and the Index into two files. This saves a lot of manual back-and-forth, thoughitslows the per-file search time. I also saved two versions of the Confession: Onestrippedofallfootuote proof-texts (procedure: combine into one file, then do Search and Replace of footuotes with nothing) and three containingtheentire Confessionin three parts but with all footuete proof-texts.

I noticed a typo or two, though not very many at all (e.g., WCF 32:2 had "hte" for "the" - I recognized this typo because I constantly do it myself!).

Our hats are off to Bordwine for a mostusefultoolforstudentsofreformed theology. May the Lord bless the use of his A Guide to the Westminster Standards: Corifession of Faith and Larger Catechism. 0

Byron Snapp

Book Review The Psalms of David in Metre with

notes by Jolm Brown, Presbyterian Heritage Publications P.O. Box 180922 Dallas, Texas 487 pp. including appendices hb. ($24.95) Quantity discounts are available.

Although I do not hold to the position of exclusive psalmody (that only psalms should be sung in worship services), I am very happy to see this book in print.

In his preface the author points out three reasons why he believes hymns should not be a part of public worship 1) Hymns are extremely dangerous because of possible errors creeping in by them. 2) With the existence of the psalms and scriptural songs there is no need for other songs. 3) Psalms are "a standing form of pmise in the church." While my purpose is not an in-depth defense of the use of hymns in worship services I do believe a coupleofremarks at this point are needed.

We must always be on guard for heresy, God's word is our standard by whichwearetojudgehymns,preaching and doctrine in whatever fOmIat it is presented. Secondlythemetrical psalms give us an excellent statement of the teaching in each psalm. ltI singing them we are not singing the inspired word of God. We are singing able, man-written renditions of the psalms. The first stanza of Psalm 1 provides a good example.

That man hath peifect blessedness, who walketh lWt astray In counsel of ungodly men, nor stands in sinners' W'!Y. Yet this book is enjoyable. The

singing of psalms can be a valued part of family worship as well as public

worship. While no music is included for the psalms most of them can be sung to common metre. A valuable index includes a list of psalms that must be sung to another metre. Hymnbooks provide a wide selection of common metre armngements as well as short and long metre armngements from which to choose.

The Psalmsspeakto awidespecrrum of human emotions thus provide a real help to God's people as they are read or sung.

Brown prefaces each metrical psalm with notes outlining the psalm and pmctical application. Of great help to the reader are Brown'smanycomments on how psalms relate to Christ. The preface to Psalm 18 closes with these words: "Let lne sing this new song, in the full assurance of faith, that God in Christ is my All in all; and with a heart mvishedwiththeconsolationsofChrist, and in the sweet reviews of what he hath done, what he doth, and what he will for ever do for my sou!." (p. 39). Psalm 119 contains an overall preface. This is followed by a preface to each eight verse section.

A variety of aids are included in the back of the book including a glossary that explains wordsunfarniliar to many today. A very helpful index of first and familiar lines are also included. The quality binding prolongs the book's use.

Uk me, I am sure many are not exclusive psalmists. We must not go to the other extreme and not sing any psalms. Our chUdrenneed to learn the value ofsingingpsalmsaswellashymns. This book can be a real encouragement toward that goal. Brown's notes make this book more than a psalter. It is also a very helpful tool inourunderstanding the psalms better. Discipleship groups and churches can also use this book with profit.O

July/August, 1992 ~ THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon 'l' 25