by Thomas Ridgley
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
3023 pages
BEFORE we enter on our present undertaking, we shall premise a few things leading to the general subject of it. And that we may begin with what is most obvious, let it be considered,
1. That it is a duty incumbent on all who profess the Christian name, to be well acquainted with those great doctrines on which our faith, hope, and worship are founded; for, without the knowledge of these, we must necessarily be at a loss as to the way of salvation, which none has a right to prescribe but He who is its author.
2. This knowledge of divine truth must be derived from the holy scriptures; which are the only fountain of spiritual wisdom, whereby we are instructed in those things that could have been known in no other way but by divine revelation.
3. It will be of singular use for us not only to know the doctrines which are contained in scripture, but to observe their connection and dependence on one another, and to digest them into such a method that subsequent truths may give light to those which went before; or to lay them down in such a way that the whole scheme of religion may be comprised in a narrow compass, and, as it were, beheld with one view. This method will be a very great help to memory; and is what we call a system of divine truths, or a methodical collection of the chief articles of our religion, adapted to the capacity of those who need to be taught 'the first principles of the oracles of God.' When the design of this is to give the world a specimen of that 'form of sound words' which the church thinks itself obliged to 'hold fast,' and steadfastly to adhere to, we call it a confession of faith; and when digested into questions and answers, we call it a catechism. And though systems of divinity, confessions of faith, and catechisms are treated with contempt, instead of better arguments, by many who are no friends to the doctrines contained in them, and who appear to be partial in their resentment, in as much as they do not dislike those compositions which, by whatever name they are called, are agreeable to their own sentiments; yet we are bound to conclude that the labour, in what form soever it has been, of those who have been happy in the sense they have given of scripture, and in the method in which they have explained its doctrines, is a great blessing to us. At the same time, we are far from concluding that even the best composition is of equal authority with scripture, or that every word contained in it is infallible; nor do we regard it any further than as it is agreeable to, or sufficiently proved from, scripture.
4. Confessions of faith, and catechisms are not to be reckoned a novel invention, or not consonant to the scripture rule; since they are nothing else but a peculiar way of preaching or of instructing us in divine truths. And since scripture lays down no certain invariable rule concerning them, the same command which warrants preaching the word in any method, includes the explaining of it, as occasion serves, in a catechistical one.
5. As there are many excellent bodies of divinity printed in our own and foreign languages, and collections of sermons on the principal doctrines of religion, so there are various catechisms, or methodical summaries of divine truths, which, when consonant to scripture, are of great advantage to all Christians, whether elder or younger.
6. The catechisms composed by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, are esteemed as not inferior to any that are extant, either in our own or foreign languages, the doctrines therein contained being of the highest importance, and consonant to scripture. And the method in which they are laid down is so agreeable, that it may serve as a directory for ranging our ideas of the common heads of divinity in such an order that what occurs under each of them may be reduced to its proper place. [See Note B, p. 3.] It is the larger of them that we have attempted to explain and regulate our method by; because it contains several heads of divinity, not touched on in the shorter. And if, in any particular instance, we are obliged to recede from the common mode of speaking (though it is to be hoped, not from the common faith, once delivered to the saints), we submit our reasoning to the judgment of those who are disposed to pardon minor mistakes, and improve to the best purposes what comes with sufficient evidence.
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Table of Contents
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
THE EDITOR'S PREFACE
LIFE OF DR. RIDGELEY
THE INTRODUCTION
The Authority of Creeds
The Assembly's Catechisms
QUESTION I: THE GLORIFYING AND THE ENJOYING OF GOD
QUESTION II: THE BEING OF GOD
QUESTION III: THE TITLES, OBJECT, AND SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE
QUESTION IV: THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE
QUESTIONS V, VI: THE TOPICS OF SCRIPTURE
QUESTION VII: THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD
QUESTION VIII: THE SUPREMACY AND UNITY OF GOD
QUESTIONS IX, X, XI: THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY
QUESTIONS XII, XIII: THE DECREES OF GOD
QUESTIONS XIV, XV: THE WORK OF CREATION
QUESTION XVI: THE CREATION, NATURE, CHARACTER, AND EMPLOYMENT OF ANGELS
QUESTION XVII: THE CREATION OF MAN
QUESTION XVIII: PROVIDENCE
QUESTION XIX: PROVIDENCE TOWARD ANGELS
QUESTION XX: PROVIDENCE TOWARD MAN IN PARADISE
QUESTION XXI: THE FALL
QUESTION XXII: ADAM'S REPRESENTATIVE CHARACTER, AND THE IMPUTATION OF HIS GUILT
QUESTIONS XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI: ORIGINAL SIN
QUESTION XXVII: THE PUNISHMENT CONSEQUENT ON ORIGINAL SIN
QUESTIONS XXVIII, XXIX: THE PUNISHMENTS OF SIN
QUESTION XXX: GENERAL VIEW OF SALVATION
QUESTION XXXI: THE COVENANT OF GRACE
QUESTION XXXII: THE DISPLAY OF GRACE IN THE COVENANT
QUESTIONS XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV: THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE
QUESTIONS XXXVI, XXXVII: THE MEDIATOR OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE
QUESTIONS XXXVIII, XXXIX, XL: WHY THE MEDIATOR REQUIRED TO BE GOD AND MAN
QUESTIONS XLI, XLII: THE TITLES AND OFFICES OF THE MEDIATOR
QUESTION XLIII: CHRIST'S PROPHETIC OFFICE
QUESTION XLIV: CHRIST'S PRIESTLY OFFICE
QUESTION XLV: CHRIST'S KINGLY OFFICE
QUESTIONS XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII: CHRIST'S HUMILIATION IN HIS BIRTH, AND IN HIS LIFE ON EARTH
QUESTIONS XLIX, L: CHRIST'S HUMILIATION IN AND AFTER HIS DEATH
QUESTIONS LI, LII: CHRIST'S EXALTATION IN HIS RESURRECTION
QUESTIONS LIII, LIV: CHRIST'S EXALTATION IN AND AFTER HIS ASCENSION
QUESTION LV: THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST
QUESTION LVI: CHRIST'S SECOND ADVENT
QUESTIONS LVII, LVIII, LIX: THE APPLICATION OF THE BENEFITS OF REDEMPTION
QUESTION LX: THE CONDITION OF THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT THE GOSPEL
QUESTIONS LXI, LXII, LXIII, LXIV: THE CHURCH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE
QUESTIONS LXV, LXVI: THE BENEFITS ENJOYED BY THE INVISIBLE CHURCH
QUESTIONS LXVII, LXVIII: EFFECTUAL CALLING
QUESTION LXIX: COMMUNION IN GRACE WITH CHRIST
QUESTIONS LXX, LXXI: JUSTIFICATION QUESTIONS LXXII, LXXIII.: THE CONNECTION OF FAITH WITH JUSTIFICATION
QUESTION LXXIV: ADOPTION
QUESTION LXXV: SANCTIFICATION
QUESTION LXXVI: REPENTANCE
QUESTION LXXVII: THE CONNECTION AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUSTIFICATION AND SANCTIFICATION
QUESTION LXXVIII: THE IMPERFECTION OF SANCTIFICATION
QUESTION LXXIX: PERSEVERANCE IN GRACE
QUESTION LXXX: ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
QUESTION LXXXI: DESTITUTION OF ASSURANCE
QUESTION LXXXII: COMMUNION WITH CHRIST IN GLORY
QUESTION LXXXIII: EARNESTS OF GLORY, AND APPREHENSIONS OF WRATH
QUESTIONS LXXXIV, LXXXV: DEATH
QUESTION LXXXVI: THE FUTURE STATE
QUESTION LXXXVII: THE RESURRECTION
QUESTION LXXXVIII: THE FINAL JUDGMENT
QUESTION LXXXIX: FINAL PUNISHMENT
QUESTION XC: FINAL BLESSEDNESS
QUESTIONS XCI, XCII: MORAL OBLIGATION
QUESTIONS XCIII, XCIV, XCV, XCVI, XCVII: THE NATURE AND USES OF THE MORAL LAW
QUESTION XCVIII: THE JUDICIAL AND THE CEREMONIAL LAW
QUESTION XCIX: RULES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
QUESTIONS C, CI, CII: THE PREFACE AND SUM OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
QUESTIONS CIII, CIV: THE DUTIES REQUIRED IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CV, CVI: THE SINS FORBIDDEN IN THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CVII, CVIII, CIX, CX: THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXI, CXII, CXIII, CXIV: THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXV, CXVI: THE SABBATIC INSTITUTION
QUESTIONS CXVII, CXVIII: THE DUTIES ENJOINED IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXIX, CXX, CXXI: THE PROHIBITIONS AND MOTIVES OF THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTION CXXII: THE SUM OF THE SECOND TABLE OF THE LAW
QUESTIONS CXXIII, CXXIV, CXXV, CXXVI: THE RELATIONS OF LIFE
QUESTIONS CXXVII, CXXVIII, CXXIX, CXXX, CXXXI, CXXXII: RELATIVE DUTIES
QUESTION CXXXIII: THE REASONS ANNEXED TO THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXXXIV, CXXXV, CXXXVI: THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT QUESTIONS CXXXVII, CXXXVIII, CXXXIX: THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXL, CXLI: THE DUTIES ENJOINED IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTION CXLII: THE SINS FORBIDDEN IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXLIII, CXLIV, CXLV: THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTIONS CXLVI, CXLVII, CXLVIII: THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
QUESTION CXLIX: MAN'S INABILITY TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS
QUESTION CL: THE DEGREES OF SIN
QUESTION CLI: THE AGGRAVATIONS OF SIN
QUESTIONS CLII, CLIII: THE DESERT OF SIN, AND THE WAY OF ESCAPE FROM IT
QUESTION CLIV: THE ORDINANCES
QUESTION CLV: THE ORDINANCE OF THE WORD
QUESTIONS CLVI, CLVII: BY WHOM AND HOW THE WORD IS TO BE READ
QUESTIONS CLVIII, CLIX, CLX: THE PREACHING AND HEARING OF THE WORD
QUESTIONS CLXI, CLXII, CLXIII, CLXIV: THE SACRAMENTS
QUESTION CLXV: BAPTISM
QUESTION CLXVI: THE SUBJECTS AND MODE OF BAPTISM
QUESTION CLXVII: THE IMPROVEMENT OF BAPTISM
QUESTIONS CLXVIII, CLXIX, CLXX: THE LORD'S SUPPER
QUESTION CLXXI: PREPARATION FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER
QUESTIONS CLXXII, CLXXIII: THE PARTAKERS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
QUESTIONS CLXXIV, CLXXV: DUTIES CONNECTED WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
QUESTIONS CLXXVI, CLXXVII: THE CORRESPONDENCE AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
QUESTION CLXXVIII: THE KINDS AND PARTS OF PRAYER
QUESTIONS CLXXIX, CLXXX, CLXXXI: TO WHOM AND IN WHOSE NAME PRAYER IS MADE
QUESTION CLXXXII: THE HOLY SPIRIT'S HELP IN PRAYER
QUESTIONS CLXXXIII, CLXXXIV: FOR WHOM AND FOR WHAT PRAYER IS TO BE MADE
QUESTION CLXXXV: HOW PRAYER IS TO BE MADE
QUESTIONS CLXXXVI, CLXXXVII: THE RULE OF DIRECTION FOR PRAYER
QUESTIONS CLXXXVIII, CLXXXIX: THE PREFACE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXC: THE FIRST PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCI: THE SECOND PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCII: THE THIRD PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCIII: THE FOURTH PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCIV: THE FIFTH PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCV: THE SIXTH PETITION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
QUESTION CXCVI: THE CONCLUSION OF THE LORD'S PRAYER