Two large volumes totalling just under 1300 pages. The definitive work on doctrinal history. Compares the truth to the three major heretical systems: Romanism, Socinianism (an old form of liberalism) and Arminianism. Covers the most important disputes, focusing in on significant points of controversy in each. The value of this set should not be underestimated, for it is an antidote against much of the innovative folly so prevalent in our day. As Iain Murray, concerning human pride and scriptural interpretation, succinctly points out,

Instead of beginning with a realization that God in His providence had already caused His Church to investigate and settle at least the great majority of Biblical doctrines, the Church, flattered by the supposed possession of superior light, began to despise the old doctrinal standards and to construct a 'creed' anew, as though the faith of the previous eighteen centuries counted for nothing. Nor were the evangelicals free from this plague; even they took up the slogans that 'Christianity is not a doctrine but a life' and that to express the truth systematically is an abuse of logic -- as though to think illogically was a mark of true spirituality!

J.J. Bonar stated that Cunningham's "grasp and vantage of the field of theological discussion" was "of inestimable value." This set is certainly one of the most useful items we carry and is much needed in our day.

• Introduction

• CHAPTER I. - The Church
  
  • 1. Nature of the Church
  • 2. Notes of the Church
  • 3. Promises to the Church
  • 4. Different Theories of the History of the Church

• CHAPTER II. - The Council Of Jerusalem
  • 1. Scripture Narrative
  • 2. The Rule of Church Power
  • 3. Authority of Church Officers
  • 4. The Place of Church Members
  • 5. Subordination of Church Courts
  • 6. Obligation of Apostolic Practice
  • 7. Divine Right of a Form of Church Government

• CHAPTER III. - The Apostles' Creed

• CHAPTER IV. - The Apostolical Fathers
  • 1. Barnabas
  • 2. Hennas
  • 3. Clemens Romanus
  • 4. Polycarp
  • 5. Epistle to Diognetus
  • 6. Ignatius

• CHAPTER V. - The Heresies Of The Apostolic Age

• CHAPTER VI. - The Fathers Of The Second And Third Centuries
  • 1. Justin Martyr
  • 2. Ireneus
  • 3. Clemens Alexandrinus
  • 4. Origen
  • 5. Tertullian
  • 6. Cyprian

• CHAPTER VII. - The Church Of The First Two Centuries
  • 1. The Doctrines of Grace
  • 2. The Sufficiency of Scripture
  • 3. Rights of the Christian People
  • 4. Idolatry
  • 5. The Sacraments
  • 6. The Papal Supremacy

• CHAPTER VIII. - The Constitution Of The Church
  • 1. Prelacy : - State of the Question
  • 2. Prelacy : - Argument from Antiquity

• CHAPTER IX. - The Doctrine Of The Trinitt
  • 1. Testimony of the Early Church on the Trinity
  • 2. Nicene Creed - Consubstantiality
  • 3. Nicene Creed - the Eternal Sonship
  • 4. Nicene Creed - Procession of the Spirit

• CHAPTER X. - The Person Of Christ
  • 1. The Eutychian Controversy
  • 2. The Nestorian Controversy

• CHAPTER XI. - The Pelagian Controversy
  • 1. Historical Statement
  • 2. Depravity - Original Sin
  • 3. Conversion - Sovereign and Efficacious Grace
  • 4. Perseverance of the Saints

• CHAPTER XII. - The Worship Of Saints And Images
  • 1. Historical Statement
  • 2. Doctrinal Exposition

• CHAPTER XIII. - The Civil And Ecclesiastical Authorities
  • 1. Voluntaryism
  • 2. Co-ordinate Authorities
  • 3. Erastianism
  • 4. Popish Theory

• CHAPTER XIV. - Scholastic Theology

• CHAPTER XV. - The Canon Law

• CHAPTER XVI. - Witnesses For The Truth During The Middle Ages.
  • 1. Perpetuity and Visibility of the Church
  • 2. Waldenses and Albigenses

• CHAPTER XVII. - The Church At The Era Of The Reformation

• CHAPTER XVIII. - The Council Of Trent

• CHAPTER XIX. - The Doctrine Of The Fall
  • 1. Popish and Protestant Views
  • 2. Guilt of Adam's First Sin
  • 3. The Want of Original Righteousness
  • 4. Corruption of Nature
  • 5. Concupiscence
  • 6. Sinfulness of Works before Regeneration
  • 7. Sinfulness of Works after Regeneration

• CHAPTER XX. - The Doctrine Of The Will
  • 1. The Will before and after the Fall
  • 2. The Bondage of the Will
  • 3. Bondage of the Will - Objections
  • 4. The Will in Regeneration
  • 5. God's Providence, and Man's Sin

• CHAPTER XXI. - Justification
  • 1. Popish and Protestant Views
  • 2. Nature of Justification
  • 3. Imputation of Christ's Righteousness
  • 4. Justification by Faith alone
  • 5. Office of Faith in Justifying
  • 6. Objections to the Scriptural Doctrine
  • 7. The Forgiveness of Post-baptismal Sins
  • 8. The Merit of Good Works
  • 9. Practical Tendency of the Popish Doctrine of Justification

• CHAPTER XXII. - The Sacramental Principle
  • 1. Sacramental Grace
  • 2. Baptismal Regeneration
  • 3. Popish View of the Lord's Supper
  • 4. Infant Baptism

• CHAPTER XXIII. - The Socinian Controversy
  • 1. Origin of Socinianism
  • 2. Socinian Views as to Scripture
  • 3. Socinian System of Theology
  • 4. Original and Recent Socinianism
  • 5. Distinction of Persons in the Godhead
  • 6. Trinity and Unity
  • 7. Evidence for the Divinity of Christ

• CHAPTER XXIV. - Doctrine Of The Atonement
  • 1. Connection between the Person and Work of Christ
  • 2. Necessity of the Atonement
  • 3. The Necessity and Nature of the Atonement
  • 4. Objections to the Doctrine of Atonement
  • 5. Scriptural Evidence for the Atonement
  • 6. Socinian View of the Atonement
  • 7. Arminian View of the Atonement
  • 8. Extent of the Atonement
  • 9. Evidence as to the Extent of the Atonement
  • 10. Extent of Atonement and Gospel Offer
  • 11. Extent of Atonement, and its Object
  • 12. Extent of the Atonement, and Calvinistic Principles

• CHAPTER XXV. - The Arminian Controversy
  • 1. Arminius and the Anninians
  • 2. Synod of Dort
  • 3. The Five Points
  • 4. Original Sin
  • 5. Universal and Effectual Calling
  • 6. Efficacious and Irresistible Grace
  • 7. The Decrees of God
  • 8. Predestination - State of the Question
  • 9. Predestination, and the Doctrine of the Fall
  • 10. Predestination, and the Omniscience of God
  • 11. Predestination, and the Sovereignty of God
  • 12. Scripture Evidence for Predestination
  • 13. Objections against Predestination
  • 14. Perseverance of Saints
  • 15. Socinianism - Arminianism - Calvinism

• CHAPTER XXVI. - Church Government
  • 1. Presbyterianism
  • 2. Testimony of the Reformers as to Presbyterianism
  • 3. Popular Election of Office-bearers
  • 4. Congregationalism, or Independency

• CHAPTER XXVII. - The Eeastian Controversy
  • 1. The Civil Magistrate and Religion
  • 2. Erastus and the Erastians
  • 3. Erastianism during the Seventeenth Century

• The Free Church of Scotland

• Index