Manual of Theology

STUDY OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH. CHAPTER I.

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The Obligation, 13

CHAPTER II. Sources of Knowledge - 18

Inspiration and Transmission of the Scriptures 22

Appendix. — Origin and Authority of the Bible 26 DOCTRINE CONCERNING GOD.

INTRODUCTION. Duty of Love to God - 43

CHAPTER I. Existence of God 50

CHAPTER II.

Attributes of God 55

Viii CONTENTS.

Page

" 3. Immensity, Omnipresence 60

" 4. Eternity and Immutability 63

Conclusion 91 DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE WILL AND WORKS OF GOD.

INTRODUCTION.

Duty of Delighting in the Will and Works of God 95

CHAPTER I.

Will of Command 100

Will of Purpose 102

CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.

Providence 115

" 2. Government in general 117

" 7. Designs of Providence 128

Conclusion 135

CONTENTS. IX DOCT.RINE CONCERNING THE FALL AND PRESENT STATE OF MAN. INTRODUCTION.

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Duty of Repentance 138

CHAPTER I. Original State of Man 141

CHAPTER II. The Fall 144

CHAPTER III.

Man's Present State 150

Conclusion 171 DOCTRINE CONCERNING JESUS CHRIST.

INTRODUCTION. Duty of Believing in Jesus Christ 175

CHAPTER I.

Person of Christ 179

CONTENTS

CHAPTER II.

Page

States of Christ 203

CHAPTER III.

Offices of Christ * 207

Conclusion 229 DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE HOLY SPIRIT.

INTRODUCTION. Duty of Living and Walking in the Holy Spirit 234

CHAPTER I. Personality of the Holy Spirit - 236

CHAPTER II. Divinity of the Holy Spirit 238

CHAPTER III.

Office of the Holy Spirit 241

CONTENTS. XI DOCTRINE CONCERNING DIVINE GRACE. INTRODUCTION.

Page

Duty of Gratitude for Divine Grace 244

CHAPTER I. The Trinity 246

CHAPTER II. Covenant of Grace 253

CHAPTER III.

Blessings of Grace 258

" 6 Final Perseverance 287

CHAPTER IY.

Sovereignty of Grace 305

" 2. Particular Redemption 324

Conclusion 335

Xll CONTENTS DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE FUTURE WORLD. INTRODUCTION.

Page Duty of Preparing for the Future World 339

CHAPTER I. Immortality and Separate State of the Soul 341

CHAPTER II. Resurrection , 345

CHAPTER III. Last Judgment 350

CHAPTER IV. Heaven 357

CHAPTER T.

Conclusion 376

MANUAL OF THEOLOGY.

CHAPTER I.

THE OBLIGATION.

The study of religious truth ought to be undertaken and prose- cuted from a sense of duty, and with a view to the improvement of the heart. When learned, it ought not to be laid on the shelf, as an object of speculation ; but it should be deposited deep in the heart, where its sanctifying power ought to be felt. To study the- ology, for the purpose of gratifying curiosity, or preparing for a profession, is an abuse and profanation of what ought to be re- garded as most holy. To learn things pertaining to God, merely for the sake of amusement, or secular advantage, or to gratify the mere love of knowledge, is to treat the Most High with contempt.

Our eternal interests are involved in the subject of religion, and we should study it with a view to these interests. A farmer should study agriculture, with a view to the increase of his crop ; but if, instead of this he exhausts himself in inquiring how plants propa- gate their like, and how the different soils were originally produced, his grounds will be overrun with briers and thorns, and his barns will be empty. Equally unprofitable will be that study of religious doctrine which is directed to the mere purpose of speculation. It is as if the food necessary for the sustenance of the body, instead of being eaten and digested, were merely set out in such order as

to gratify the sight. In this case, the body would certainly perish ■with hunger ; and, with equal certainty will the soul famish if it feed not on divine truth.

When religious doctrine is regarded merely as an object of specu- lation, the mind is not content with the simple truth as it is in Jesus, but wanders after unprofitable questions, and becomes en- tangled in difficulties, from which it is unable to extricate itself. Hence arises the skepticism of many. Truth, which would sanctify and save the soul, they wilfully reject, because it will not gratify all their curiosity, and solve all their perplexities. They act as the husbandman would, who should reject the whole science of agriculture, and refuse to cultivate his grounds, because there are many mysteries in the growth of plants, which he cannot explain.

If we set out, in our search for religious truth, from a sense of duty, and with the purpose of making the best possible use of it, we may hope for success. The Lord will bless our efforts ; for he has promised, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine."1 As we advance, we shall find out all that is necessary for any practical purpose ; and the sense of duty, under which we proceed, will not drive us beyond this point.

The sense of religious obligation which moves us to seek the knowledge of the truth, though disregarded by a large part of mankind, belongs to the constitution of human nature. Man was originally designed for religion, as certainly as the eye was formed for the purpose of vision. It will be advantageous to consider well this fact, at the outset of our inquiries. We shall then feel that we are proceeding according to the best dictates of human nature.

The various parts of the world which we inhabit, are admirably adapted to each other. Many of these adaptations present them- selves to our most careless observation ; and, if we search for them with diligence, they multiply to our view beyond number. The seed falls to the ground from its parent stalk, like a grain of sand ; but, unlike the sand, it contains in its minute dimensions, a won- derful provision for the production of a future plant. This provi- sion, however, would prove unavailing, if it did not find a soil adapted to give nourishment to the young germ. Moisture is also needed : and the vapor, rising from a distant sea, is wafted to the