A Body of Divinity: Being the Substance of Several Lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism (eBook)

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 

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