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. III.
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 THIRD VOLUME.
Quest. LXV, LXVI. Of the benefits which the invisible church enjoy by Christ.
What these benefits are, Page [9]
Union with Christ, and Communion in grace and glory [10]
Union with Christ illustrated [11]
by a conjugal union in particular [12]
The elect united to Christ [13]
In their effectual calling [15]
Quest. LXVII, LXVIII. Of effectual calling.
The Gospel-call described [16]
Its difference from effectual calling ibid.
How far improved without special grace [20]
A note [19]
Not saving without it [20]
Its efficacy depends on the power of God [39]
Its issue and consequence [26]
Offers of grace explained [16]
God’s design therein ibid.
Effectual calling [39]
A work of almighty power [40]
A work of grace [59]
Wrought by the Spirit [54]
This doctrine does not savour of enthusiasm [55]
Objections answered ibid.
His work internal and super-natural [57]
Objections answered [58]
God’s power and grace irresistible [61]
The seasons of effectual calling [63]
The state of man before and after it [28]
The Pelagians’ notion of it [30]
Their account of conversion absurd [31]
The nature of human liberty [34]
In what respects the will acts freely [35]
In what not ibid.
Regeneration before faith [26]
How it differs from conversion ibid.
A note [38]
A principle of grace implanted therein [46]
A note [45]
Whether good works prepare for it [51]
Scriptures thought to prove this explained [52]
Man merely passive therein [48]
But active after it [49]
Quest. LXIX. Of Communion with Christ in grace [65]
Quest. LXX, LXXI. Of Justification ibid.
Justification. Its importance [66]
Wherein it consisteth [67]
The privileges contained in it [69]
Pardon and eternal life connected [69]
Privileges attending it [72]
Its foundation [73]
Considered as an act of free-grace [74]
Note on righteousness [74]
Man cannot work out a righteousness for it [75]
Forgiveness of sin explained [70]
Christ our surety [77]
He suffered and obeyed as such [77]
Properties of a surety applied to him [78]
The Father accepted him as such [79]
What he did as a surety [81]
His righteousness imputed for our justification [86]
God provided a surety [95]
We could not have provided one for ourselves [96]
Quest. LXXII, LXXIII. Of justifying Faith.
Justifying faith, a note [98]
Justification is by Faith [99]
This not rightly explained by some [104]
Explained agreeably to scripture [106]
It cannot be before Faith; how [117]
It cannot be by works [101]
Not by repentance [101]
A full price required by justice [103]
Forgiveness free, notwithstanding [115]
God reconciled, not made reconcileable by Christ’s death [114]
Faith, its various kinds [121]
Of the Faith of miracles [122]
Of an historical Faith [124]
Of a temporary Faith [124]
Saving Faith explained [125]
Other graces are joined with it [99]
But that alone justifies ibid.
How it justifies a sinner [98]
A note [110]
It brings in a plea [107]
What it pleads ibid.
How imputed for righteousness [112]
Its various objects and acts [125]
A note [126]
By Faith we receive Christ [127]
And give up ourselves to him [129]
What this supposes [130]
A note [128]
Its assent and trust considered [119]
Of trust in Christ [121]
Its direct and reflex acts [132]
When strong, when weak [135]
Its use in the conduct of life [138]
How it works in common actions [138]
How in religious duties [140]
How it excites other graces [141]
How to be attained and increased [142]
How wrought by the word [134]
Quest. LXXIV. Of Adoption [148]
This Adoption differs from Man’s [145]
What is understood by sons of God [144]
Believers God’s sons in Christ [146]
Their privileges as such [147]
Privileges consequent upon Adoption [149]
How it agrees with justification [151]
How with sanctification [152]
Quest. LXXV. Of Sanctification [152]
The meaning of the word Sanctify [152]
In Sanctification the soul devoted to God [154]
And sin mortified ibid.
Proper means of mortification [155]
Wrong methods taken for it [159]
Vivification, what it imports [159]
Holiness, motives to it [160]
How it differs from moral virtue [161]
Heathens have, in some things, excelled Christians [163]
And yet were not sanctified ibid.
Practical inferences from Sanctification [165]
Quest. LXXVI. Of Repentance unto life [166]
Repentance what, a note [167]
The subjects of it [167]
It is the work of the Holy Spirit [169]
How wrought by the word [169]
It differs from a legal Repentance [172]
Its various acts [173]
Inferences from this doctrine [175]
Quest. LXXVII. Wherein Justification and Sanctification differ [176]
Quest. LXXVIII. Of the Imperfection of Sanctification in this life [178]
The proof of this Imperfection [179]
Why Sanctification not perfected at once [182]
Wherein this Imperfection appears [183]
The conflict of a renewed soul [186]
Of an enlightened conscience [184]
Of the spirit against the flesh [187]
How this is maintained [188]
Consequences when sin prevails [190]
Inferences from this Imperfection [192]
Quest. LXXIX. Of the saints Perseverance in Grace [194]
This doctrine explained [197]
Preferable to the contrary [195]
The Father and the Son glorified by it [216]
The saints kept by God’s power [199]
This doctrine proved
From God’s unchangeable love [201]
From the covenant of Grace [202]
From the promises [203]
An objection answered [204]
From the saints union to Christ [207]
From Christ’s intercession [209]
From the Spirit’s indwelling [210]
From 2 Tim. ii. 19. [217]
How the saints cannot sin [212]
The principle of Grace ever abides [213]
Shipwreck made of doctrines [218]
Not of the Grace of faith [219]
Objections answered, taken
From instances of apostacy [220]
Solomon’s case cleared [221]
He was a true penitent [222]
Therefore no apostate [224]
From the apostacy of Judas [225]
And of the Jewish church [226]
From the parable of the debtor [238]
From Ezek. xviii. 24. [227]
Heb. x. 38. [229]
Chap. vi. 4-6. [232]
Chap. x. 29. [234]
2 Pet. ii. 20-22. [237]
1 Cor. ix. 27. [240]
Inferences from the saints’ Perseverance [241]
Quest. LXXX. Of Assurance of Salvation [243]
What we are to understand by it [243]
It is attainable in this life [245]
Without extraordinary revelation [247]
The Spirit promised, to give it [250]
In an ordinary way [251]
How it arises from his witness [266]
This doctrine savours not of Enthusiasm [252]
To whom assurance belongs [253]
The means of attaining it [254]
Self examination a duty [256]
How to be performed ibid.
Rule for trying marks of grace [259]
Uncertain marks of grace [260]
True marks of grace [262]
What they must do who know not the time of their conversion [263]
Quest. LXXXI. Some true believers destitute of Assurance [268]
What Assurance essential to faith [270]
And what not so ibid.
Texts relating to this explained [271]
Assurance may be long waited for [272]
Lost by manifold distempers [273]
By sins and temptations [274]
Deserted believers want Assurance [276]
Yet supported by God ibid.
Inference from this subject [278]
Quest. LXXXII, LXXXIII. Of Communion in glory with Christ enjoyed in this life [279]
Saints have an earnest of glory [280]
Wherein this consisteth [283]
Of the vision of God by faith [284]
The triumphant death of some saints [285]
Sinners filled with wrath here [288]
Inferences from those terrors [290]
And from the saints present joy [291]
Quest. LXXXIV, LXXXV. Of Death [292]
Death, the appointment of God [293]
Redounds to the saints advantage [297]
Its empire universal [294]
Its time uncertain [295]
Its sting is sin [297]
How it should be improved [295]
Its effects on the Spirit, a note [300]
Quest. LXXXVI. Of the saints Communion with Christ in glory after death [301]
Of the immortality of the soul [302]
How this is to be understood ibid.
Asserted by some Heathens [303]
Denied or questioned by others [304]
Proved from scripture [307]
Objections answered [310]
A note [311]
The saints perfected at death [312]
Of purgatory [313]
No proof for it in scripture [314]
Heaven the only paradise after death [316]
Of the soul’s sleeping at death [318]
How this notion is explained [320]
How to be opposed ibid.
Proved to be false from scripture [321]
The soul, at death, waits for the full redemption of the body [324]
The miseries which the souls of the wicked shall then endure [325]
Quest. LXXXVII. Of the doctrine of the Resurrection [326]
The Resurrection not contrary to reason [328]
Clearly revealed in scripture [329]
Fabulous accounts, by Heathens, of persons raised from the dead [330]
Certain accounts of it in scripture [330]
The Resurrection proved
From the Old Testament [332]
An emblem of it in Ezek. xxxvii. 1, & seq. [335]
From Job xix. 25-27. [337]
From Chap. xiv. 13-15. [339]
From Dan. xii. 2. [340]
The Jews belief of it [335]
Abraham’s belief of it [341]
From the New Testament [342]
From scripture-consequences [345]
From Christ’s dominion [346]
Objections answered [348]
The Resurrection universal [353]
Jews speak obscurely of it [355]
The saints shall be raised in glory [356]
How raised by the Spirit [357]
The saints found alive at Christ’s coming shall be changed [356]
Quest. LXXXVIII. Of the general and final Judgment [359]
A sense of it impressed on conscience [360]
Christ shall be the Judge [362]
The solemnity of his appearing [363]
The manner of his proceeding [367]
The persons to be judged [365]
Fallen angels, and all men [366]
The place of Judgment [372]
The time of it [373]
The matter of it [369]
Whether the sins of the saints shall be published [371]
Practical inferences [374]
Quest. LXXXIX. Of the Punishment of the wicked [376]
The punishment of sin in hell [377]
Of loss, and sense [378]
Its degree and duration [379]
How these subjects should be insisted on [381]
Quest. XC. Of the Privileges and Honours of the saints at the last day [382]
They shall be acknowledged and acquitted [383]
They shall judge the world, and angels [384]
What meant thereby; quære tamen. ibid.
They shall be received into heaven [387]
Whether known to one another there [393]
They shall be freed from sin and misery [388]
Made perfectly happy [389]
And joined with angels ibid.
Their happiness shall be eternal [399]
Of the language of heaven [390]
Of the beatific vision and fruition of God [399]
Of degrees of the heavenly glory [399]
Whether any additions shall be made thereunto [399]
Inferences from the heavenly happiness [403]
Quest. XCI, XCII.
Of man’s obligation to obedience [405]
Note on the foundation of moral obligation [405]
God’s revealed will a law [408]
Quest. XCIII, XCIV, XCV, XCVI, XCVII. Of the Moral Law [409]
What it is [410]
What obedience it requires [411]
Its sanction [412]
Its use to all men [413]
To the unregenerate [414]
To the regenerate [415]
Antinomians, who are such [418]
Unguarded expressions hurtful [420]
Quest. XCVIII. The Moral Law, where summarily comprehended [421]
Of the law given from mount Sinai [421]
Of the judicial law [422]
Of the ceremonial law [423]
Holy places, with the vessels thereof [424]
Of ministers in holy things [426]
Of holy times or festivals [427]
Quest. XCIX. Rules for the understanding the Ten Commandments [428] to 431
Quest. C, CI, CII. The Sum of the Ten Commandments [432]
The preface to them [432]
Their division into two tables [433]
Remarks on their subject-matter [434]
The sum of the first four ibid.
Quest. CIII, CIV. The Duties required in the First Commandment [435] to 438
Quest. CV, CVI. The Sins forbidden in the First Commandment [438]
Of atheistical thoughts [439]
Of idolatry. The origin of it [443]
Of heart-idolatry [447]
In idolizing self ibid.
In loving the world [448]
In regarding the dictates of Satan [449]
Of the case of the witch of Endor [451]
Joseph no sorcerer [452]
Moses no astrologer [454]
But learned in all the wisdom of Egypt ibid.
Quest. CVII, CVIII, CIX, CX. An Explication of the Second Commandment [455]
The duties required [456]
The sins forbidden [459]
The reasons annexed [465]
Of Popish superstition [460]
Of making to ourselves images [461]
Of image-worship and idolatry [462]
The Papists guilty of both ibid.
Quest. CXI, CXII, CXIII, CXIV. An Explication of the Third Commandment [466]
The duties required in it [468]
The sins forbidden in it [469]
The reasons annexed to it [476]
Of religious oaths [472]
Various forms used therein [471]
Swearing by God’s Name a duty [470]
Of profane oaths and curses [470]
When God’s Name is taken in vain [473]
Quest. CXV, CXVI. An Explication of the Fourth Commandment [477]
The sabbath. Its original institution [482]
A note ibid.
In what respect moral [478]
In what positive [479]
Its morality proved [480]
Objections answered [481]
Was no ceremonial institution [481]
Its change proved [486]
From the example of Christ [488]
Objections answered [488]
From the practice of the Apostles [491]
And of the Christian church [494]
The proportion of time to be observed [495]
Quest. CXVII, CXVIII. Of sanctifying the Sabbath or Lord’s-day [497]
The duties preparatory for it [497]
The rest required upon that day [500]
Works of necessity then lawful [502]
The whole day to be sanctified [505]
The duties of the evening of that day [506]
Quest. CXIX, CXX, CXXI. Of Sins forbidden in the Fourth Commandment [508]
The omission of holy duties [509]
A careless performance of them ibid.
The reasons annexed to this Commandment [510]
Objections answered [511]
The import of the word Remember [512]
Inferences [513]
Quest. CXXII. The Sum of the six Commandments, respecting our duty to man; or, of doing as we would be done by [514]
Questions CXXIII, CXXIV, CXXV, CXXVI, CXXVII, CXXVIII. An Explication of the Fifth Commandment [517]
Relations, how founded [518]
Duties of each differ ibid.
Superiors, why called fathers ibid.
Duties of inferiors to superiors [520]
Of children to parents ibid.
Of servants to masters [523]
Of subjects to magistrates [525]
The necessity and advantage of civil government [524]
Papists arguments for deposing princes, answered [526]
The sins of inferiors [529]
Questions CXXIX, CXXX, CXXXI, CXXXII, CXXXIII. The Duties of superiors, &c. [530]
The duties of parents to their children [531]
Of masters to servants [533]
Of magistrates to subjects [534]
The sins of superiors ibid.
The duties of equals [535]
The sins of equals [536]
Reasons annexed to this Commandment ibid.
Of the promise of long life [537]
Old age how far to be desired [538]
Quest. CXXXVII, CXXXV, CXXXVI. An Explication of the Sixth Commandment [539]
The life of others to be preserved [540]
When lawful to take it away [541]
Of duels [542]
Elijah not guilty of murder [543]
Nor Abraham in offering Isaac [544]
Nor Moses in killing the Egyptian [545]
Self-murder a great sin ibid.
Whether Samson was guilty of it [546]
God’s judgments on murderers [547]
Sinful anger is heart-murder [548]
Passionate men, their sin and guilt [549]
How to be dealt with [550]