From the time of its foundation, Princeton Theological Seminary had a Sabbath afternoon tradition where its professors would meet with students to discuss matters of Scripture—as pastors and friends, not as instructors. The professors would give a sermon, and then the group would discuss what it meant. “Here they sought rather to build up Christian men, than to form accomplished scholars, and to infuse into their pupils the highest motives, and to instruct them in the wisest methods for their future work of saving souls and of edifying the Church of Christ.”
Charles Hodge prepared for these sermons as much as he did for his theology courses, believing them to be just as important. Princeton Sermons contains 249 of Hodge’s sermon outlines divided into ten themes:
- God and His Attributes
- Christ, His Person, and Offices
- The Holy Spirit and His Offices
- Satan and His Influence—Sin and Sins
- Conversion—Entrance upon the Christian Life
- Christian Experiences, Characteristics, and Privileges
- Christian Responsibilities and Duties
- The Means of Grace—The Scriptures, Ministry, Sacraments, Etc.
- Death, and the Consummation of Redemption
- Last Words—Papers Prepared During the Last Years of His Life
