A Body of Divinity
A BODY OF DIVINITY:
WHEREIN THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION ARE EXPLAINED AND DEFENDED.
BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF SEVERAL LECTURES ON THE ASSEMBLY’S LARGER CATECHISM.
BY THOMAS RIDGLEY, D. D.
WITH NOTES, ORIGINAL AND SELECTED,
BY JAMES P. WILSON, D. D.
IN FOUR VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
FIRST AMERICAN, FROM THE THIRD EUROPEAN EDITION.
PHILADELPHIA:
PRINTED BY AND FOR WILLIAM. W. WOODWARD, CORNER OF CHESNUT AND SOUTH
SECOND STREETS.
1815.
THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
Quest. XIV, XV. Of the work of Creation.
CREATION, the word explained Page [5]
It was not from eternity [7]
This proved from the invention of things [13]
By the power and for the glory of God [14]
Performed in six days [16]
Each day’s work [19]
Of instantaneous production [17]
The condition and season of the year in which things were created [24]
Antiquity of nations vainly boasted of [10]
Quest. XVI. Of Angels.
Of their existence [26]
Nature and properties [28]
Work and employment [30]
Worship. Harmony therein, but no Hierarchy [31]
How they impart their Ideas to one another [33]
Quest. XVII. Of the creation of Man.
Man was created male and female [34]
Excellency of his make [40]
Origin of the soul, in a note [41]
Of God’s image in man [44]
No men before Adam [37]
Quest. XVIII. Of Providence.
Providence governs all creatures [47]
And all their actions ibid
His concern for man [51]
How conversant about evil actions [52]
Sin over-ruled for God’s glory, and his people’s good [53]
Other things over-ruled by providence [59]
Objections against providence answered [60]
Unequal distributions of providence vindicated [61]
Quest. XIX. Of God’s providence towards the angels.
How it was conversant about the fall of apostate angels [63]
These fell all at once [64]
Some angels confirmed in holiness and happiness [66]
Ministry of angels [68]
Quest. XX. Of God’s providence towards man in innocency.
Of Paradise [70]
Man’s secular employment and food therein [72]
His dominion over the creatures [74]
His spiritual concerns were under the direction of providence [75]
Sabbath instituted and the covenant established [76]
Representation, in a note [77]
Difference between a law and a covenant [78]
Adam was under a covenant [82]
Objections answered [83]
Conditions of that covenant [84]
Tree of life a seal of it [86]
Of the tree of knowledge [90]
Quest. XXI. Of the fall of man.
Our first parents were endued with freedom of will [93]
Were left thereunto [94]
How they were tempted [96]
Satan’s subtilty in the temptation [99]
Eve represented by Adam, in a note [103]
Aggravations of their sin [105]
Its immediate consequences [104]
Quest. XXII. All mankind fell in Adam.
Adam a federal head [109]
All fell in him, except Christ [112]
His sin imputed to his posterity [113]
Penal evils which followed [111]
Appointment of his headship vindicated [114]
Quest. XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI. Of Sin.
Original sin [118]
Actual transgressions proceed from it [120]
Conveyed by natural generation [132]
Original righteousness lost [121]
Man’s nature inclined to sin [123]
Propensity to sin not put into our nature by God [124]
Not harmless even in childhood [125]
Origin of moral evil [127]
The notion of two first causes exploded ibid
Pre-existence of souls a mere fancy [126]
Corruption of nature not by the soul’s traduction [128]
Not from imitation ibid
Necessarily ensues on the privation of original righteousness [131]
Quest. XXVII. Of man’s misery by the Fall.
Various opinions about the salvation of infants [138]
Punishment of original sin increased by actual [141]
Sinners liable to God’s wrath and curse [143]
Slaves to Satan [144]
Sin exists in the intentions, in a note [145]
Quest. XXVIII, XXIX. Of the punishment of sin in both worlds.
Of judicial blindness of mind [146]
Hardness of heart [149]
Sins that lead to it [150]
Difference between the hardness found in believers and judicial [152]
Of strong delusions [147]
A reprobate sense [152]
Vile affections [153]
Horror of conscience. When judicial [154]
Punishment of sin in outward things [155]
In the world to come [158]
This will be perpetual, in a note [159], [160]
Quest. XXX. Of man’s Recovery.
God’s love the only moving cause of it [162]
Covenant of grace. Its various periods [166]
Opposed to that of innocency [165]
Quest. XXXI. The covenant of grace made with Christ, and, in him, with the elect.
Covenant, scriptural sense of the word [168]
Between the Father and Son, explained [171]
And proved [173]
Of redemption distinguished by some from the covenant of grace [178]
God’s covenant differs from human [170]
How he covenants with man [181]
How man covenants with him [183]
Quest. XXXII. Of the grace manifested in the second covenant.
Conditions of a covenant, how understood [190]
Faith is a duty, in a note [193]
Meritorious performed by Christ [192]
Conditional promises uncertain [191]
Interest in Christ, what meant by it [189]
Grace glorified, in ordaining, promising, and working faith [197]
Other graces promised and connected with salvation [195]
Quest. XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV. Of the various dispensations of the covenant of grace.
Christ revealed of old by promises and prophecies [199]
Ceremonial law typified Christ and the gospel [201]
Types. Cautions about them [203]
Rules how to judge of them [205]
How the Jews knew their meaning [207]
Cocceius’s sentiments about the bondage and darkness of that dispensation [208]
Gospel-dispensation, when it began [212]
How it excels the Legal [213]
Quest. XXXVI, XXXVII. Of the Mediator of the covenant of Grace.
Saints and angels no Mediators [218]
Christ the only Mediator [217]
Two distinct natures in Christ, but not two Persons [222]
His human nature was united to his Person [220]
It shall continue so for ever [234]
How formed like ours. How not [227]
It was formed of the Virgin [229]
His body was truly human [224]
His soul distinct from his deity [226]
He was expected by the Jews [231]
Born in the fulness of time [233]
What meant thereby [233]
Quest. XXXVIII, XXXIX, XL. Of the necessity of the Mediator’s having two natures.
Why he should be God [235]
Why man [238]
Why both God and man [242]
Quest. XLI, XLII. Of the Mediator’s name and offices.
Why he was called Jesus [244]
Why he was called Christ [245]
His offices distinguished, but not divided [252]
He was set apart and authorized to execute them [248]
He was fitly qualified for them [249]
Quest. XLIII. Of Christ’s prophetical office.
He reveals the will of God [253]
He was qualified for it [254]
He does it in various ages [257]
To whom and how he does it [255]
Quest. XLIV. Of Christ’s priestly office.
Priesthood of Christ and Aaron compared [280]
Typified by Melchisedek [264]
Various opinions who Melchisedek was [265]
Proved that he was Christ (quære tamen) [267]
Objections answered [270]
Satisfaction demanded for sin, of what value and kind [275]
Of Christ was necessary [273]
His active obedience a part of it [283]
Least degree of his sufferings not sufficient for it [281]
No redemption without price [286]
Death of Christ a ransom [290]
Confirmation of his doctrine not its principal end [293]
Christ died in our stead [290]
Objections answered ibid
Modern opinions on the atonement, in a note, [276] to 280, and [292] to 297.
He offered himself
by the Spirit [297]
without spot to God [297]
but for his sheep and friends [316]
and for his church [318] Dr. Magee’s Discourses, in a note [298]-317
This evidenced
by his love to it [318]
his propriety in it [322]
and saving it ibid
Objections answered [319]
Christ purchased grace and glory [328]
Universal redemption,
its consequences [326]
Arguments for it considered [327]
Texts urged for it explained [343]
How the word All, &c. is to be explained [341]
Special Redemption,
consistent with the covenant of grace [329]
and with preaching the gospel [331]
It advances grace more than general does [337]
It leads not to despair [331]
Whether it be contrary to scripture [338]
Christ intercedes not for all [324]
Divine expostulations explained [333]
How all should repent and believe, though Christ died not for all [335]
Sacrifice of Christ sufficient for all, in a note [349]
Quest. XLV. Of Christ’s Kingly office.
As respecting his subjects
What they were, before subdued [353]
How brought into subjection [354]
How their subjection expressed at first [357]
Their behaviour and conflicts [358]
How Christ deals with them [361]
As respecting his enemies [362]
He governed the church before and since his incarnation [364]
This office executed by him in glory [365]
Of the Millennium.
Various opinions about it [366]
Some have gross Ideas of it [370]
What shall precede or attend it [368]
Gospel shall then be more spread [373]
How this doctrine to be treated [367]
In what respects it is to be allowed [368]
Some prophecies of the call of the Jews not yet fulfilled [376]
Why Christ shall not reign visibly in his human nature [379]
Temple-service not to be revived [381]
Gospel-ordinances shall be continued [382]
First resurrection; how understood by some [383]
Its literal sense debated [384]
General conflagration [387]
New heavens and new earth [388]
Resurrection of the church sometimes taken mystically [389]
1000 years how understood by some [391]
These not yet begun ibid
Mediatorial kingdom of Christ eternal [392]
1 Cor. xv. ver. 24, 25, 28. explained [393]
Quest. XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII. Of Christ’s Humiliation.
This shewn in his birth and infancy [398]
In his parentage [399]
In the place of his birth and abode [400]
In the sinless infirmities of his life [422]
In his being made under the law [401]
In his being exposed to indignities [402]
Temptations endured by him [404]
General remarks on them [406]
The time and place thereof [405]
His first temptation [410]
His second temptation [412]
Its matter explained [416]
His third temptation [417]
What to be observed therein [419]
Temptations were mental, in a note [420]
Quest. XLIX, L. Of Christ’s humiliation before and after his death.
Christ betrayed by Judas [424]
Forsaken by his disciples [425]
Denied by Peter [426]
Scorned by the world ibid
Reviled by many [428]
Inferences ibid
Prosecuted by the Jews [429]
Condemned by Pilate ibid
Tormented by his persecutors [431]
Bore the wrath of God ibid
Death of the cross cruel and painful [433]
Shameful, servile, and cursed [434]
Christ buried with respect by his friends [437]
Was under the power of death till the third day [438]
Of his descent into hell [440]
How the Papists understand it [441]
1 Pet. iii. 18. explained, in a note [442]
Quest. LI, LII. Of Christ’s Resurrection and Exaltation.
Resurrection of Christ proved [444]
By credible witnesses [448]
They were men of integrity [449]
By the conduct of his enemies [450]
By miracles [451]
Properties of his risen body [452]
Christ raised the third day [453]
Reasons of it [454]
Was not three whole days and nights in the grave [455]
Socinians’ account of Christ’s resurrection [457]
Christ’s own and his peoples’ concern in his resurrection [458]
Quest. LIII, LIV. Of Christ’s Ascension.
It was real and visible [464]
Its necessity and design [468]
Its distance from the time of his resurrection [461]
How this interval was employed [463]
Matter of his conversation with his disciples [464]
Remarks on what preceded it [460]
He ascended from mount Olivet [467]
Christ’s sitting at the right hand of God [471]
Quest. LV. Of Christ’s Intercession.
Necessity of it [473]
His fitness for it [474]
Manner of it [477]
How it differs from our prayers [476]
What procured by it [479]
How to be improved ibid
Quest. LVI. Of Christ’s coming to judge the world.
The time of his appearance [481]
The glory that shall attend it [482]
Quest. LVII, LVIII, LIX. Of the benefits of redemption, and the application thereof.
Benefits procured by Christ [486]
These applied by the Holy Ghost [487]
To all for whom they were purchased (vide [349]) [488]
Quest. LX. Of the disadvantages of those who never hear the gospel.
State of the Heathen considered [491]
No salvation without the gospel—tamen quære [492]
Nor without faith in Christ—tamen quære ibid
Deists; falseness of their hope set forth [494]
False grounds of hope in others [496]
Salvation in none but Christ [498]
This proved [499]
Objections answered [502]
Christ the Saviour only of his Body the church [508]
Quest. LXI, LXII, LXIII, LXIV. Of the Church, visible and invisible.
Church, the word how used, ([515] in a note) [510]
Places of worship so termed [511]
Their first erection [512]
Its distinction into visible and invisible [516]
Invisible church described [519]
This farther explained and defended [520]
Visible church described [521]
In what respects it is one [522]
In what respects it is not one ibid
Its concern for the children of its members [526]
Jewish church, its establishment ibid
Its government [527]
How they promoted religion in their synagogues [529]
Their Proseuchæ, or places appointed for prayer [530]
A particular gospel-church described [536]
Its matter [539]
Its form or bond of union [540]
Its subjection to Christ to be professed [542]
How this to be made visible [543]
Its power of admission [541]
The reformed churches differ about this ibid
Terms of communion fixed by Christ ibid
Its power of exclusion [544]
Causes of exclusion [545]
The way of proceeding therein [547]
With what temper this should be done [549]
What meant by being delivered to Satan [550]
and for what end [551]
The first preaching and success of the gospel [532]
Conduct of the Apostles in planting gospel-churches [534] Church-communion proved
from the law of nature [538]
from scripture ibid
Government of churches by their officers [552]
Αποστολος, Επισκοπος, Διακονος, in a note, ibid
The office of a Pastor, Bishop, or Elder [555]
Bishops and Elders the same [556]
Jerom’s account of the increase of the power of Bishops, in a note [558]
Pastors chosen by the church [561]
Χειροτονεω, in a note [563]
How to be set apart ibid
How their office to be discharged [565]
Whether a Teacher be a distinct officer [566]
Synods, the abuse and advantage of them [566]
Parishes, why churches were so called by ancient writers [567]
The office of a Deacon [570]
Officers of the church, in a note [571]
Privileges of the visible church [572]
It is under Christ’s special care [574]
Wherein this consists [575]
It is under Christ’s special government [576]
In what respects [577]
It enjoys communion of saints ibid
It has the ordinary means of grace [578]