Part 1

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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. I._

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION, FROM THE THIRD EUROPEAN EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED BY AND FOR WILLIAM. W. WOODWARD, CORNER OF CHESNUT AND SOUTH SECOND STREETS.

1814.

_District of Pennsylvania, to wit_:

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the seventeenth day of May, in the thirty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1813, William W. Woodward, of the said District, hath deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

“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. First American, from the third European Edition.”

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, “An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned.”—And also to the Act, entitled “An Act supplementary to An Act, entitled ‘An act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such Copies during the times therein mentioned,’ and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints.”

D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania.

TO THE READER.

_In this first American edition the original text remains unaltered, the notes which Dr. Ridgley had subjoined to his work are retained, and for the sake of distinction, printed in Italics. The other notes have been added by Dr. Wilson; and in every instance wherein they have been selected by him from others, they are accompanied by marks of quotation, and the name of the author or book from whence they were taken._

PREFACE.

The influence which the different sentiments of men, in matters of religion, have, for the most part, on their temper and behaviour towards one another, affords very little ground to expect that any attempt to explain or defend the most important doctrines of Christianity, should not be treated with dislike and opposition by some, how much soever it may afford matter of conviction to others. This consideration would have put a stop to my pen, and thereby saved me a great deal of fatigue, in preparing and publishing the following sheets, had it not been over-balanced by what I cannot, at present, think any other than a sense of duty, in compliance with the call of providence. I heartily wish there were no occasion to vindicate some of the great doctrines of the gospel, which were more generally received in the last age, than at present, from misrepresentation, as though the method in which they had been explained led to licentiousness, and the doctrines themselves, especially those of election, particular redemption, efficacious grace, and some others, that depend upon them, were inconsistent with the moral perfections of the divine nature: these are now traduced by many, as though they were new and strange doctrines, not founded on scripture, nor to be maintained by any just methods of reasoning deduced from it, or as if the duties of practical religion could not be inculcated consistently therewith. If this insinuation were true, our preaching would be vain, our hope also vain, and we should be found false witnesses for God, and have no solid ground whereon to set our feet, which would be a most tremendous thought. And, if this be not sufficient to justify my present undertaking, I have nothing to allege of equal weight.

I must confess, that when I took the first step, in order to the setting this design on foot, by consenting that proposals should be printed, about two years since, I reckoned it little other than an expedient to disengage myself from any farther thoughts, and my friends from any expectation of it, which I could not well do, but by having a proof of the backwardness of persons to encourage, by subscription, a work which would be so very expensive to the undertakers; but, the design being countenanced, beyond what I could have imagined, and numbers subscribed for, with more expedition than is usual, I was laid under an obligation immediately to prepare my notes for the press, and set forward the work, which, through the divine goodness, has been thus far carried on; and I cannot but take occasion to express my grateful acknowledgment of the respect that has been shewed me, by those who have encouraged this undertaking. If it may answer their expectation, and subserve their spiritual advantage, I shall count my labour well employed, and humbly offer the glory thereof, as a tribute due to God, whose interest is the only thing that demands all our time, strength, and utmost abilities. If I may but have a testimony from him that I have spoken nothing concerning him that is a dishonour to his name, unbecoming his perfections, or that has a tendency to lead his people out of the right way to the glorifying and enjoying of him, my end is fully answered. Whatever weakness I have discovered, arising from mine inequality to the greatness of the subjects insisted on, I hope to obtain forgiveness thereof from God, whose cause I have endeavoured to maintain; and, to be excused by men, as I may truly say, I have not offered, either to him or them, what cost me nothing. I have, as far as I am able, adapted my method of reasoning to the capacities of those who are unacquainted with several abstruse and uncommon words and phrases, which have been often used by some who have treated on these subjects, which have a tendency rather to perplex, than improve the minds of men: terms of art, as they are sometimes called, or hard words, used by metaphysicians and schoolmen, have done little service to the cause of Christ.

If I have explained any doctrine, or given the sense of any scripture in a way somewhat different from what is commonly received, I have never done it out of the least affectation of singularity, nor taken pleasure in going out of the beaten path, having as great a regard to the footsteps of the flock, as is consistent with that liberty of thinking and reasoning, which we are allowed to use, who conclude nothing to be an infallible rule of faith, but the inspired writings.

As to what I have advanced concerning the eternal generation of the Son, and the procession of the Holy Ghost, I have thought myself obliged to recede from some common modes of explication, which have been used, both by ancient and modern writers, in insisting on these mysterious doctrines, which, probably, will appear, if duly weighed, not to have done any great service to the cause, which, with convincing evidence, they have maintained; since it is obvious that this is the principal thing that has given occasion to some modern Arians to fill the margins of their books with quotations, taken out of the writings of others, whom they have either, without ground, pretended to have been on their side of the question, or charged with plucking down with one hand, what they have built up with the other.

Whether my method of explaining these doctrines be reckoned just, or no, I cannot but persuade myself, that if what I have said, concerning the subordination of these divine persons, be considered in any other view, than as an explication of the Sonship of Christ, and the procession of the Holy Ghost, it will not be reckoned a deviating from the common faith of those who have defended the doctrine of the ever-blessed Trinity; and, if it be an error to maintain that these divine persons, as well as the Father, are independent, as to their personality, as well as their essence, or to assert that the manner of their having the divine essence, as some express it, is independent, as well as the essence itself, then what I have delivered, on that subject, is to no purpose, which, when I am convinced of, I shall readily acknowledge my mistake, and count it an happiness to be undeceived.

As to what respects the decrees of God, and more particularly those that relate to angels and men, and his providence, as conversant about sinful actions, and the origin of moral evil, I have endeavoured to account for them in such a way, as, I trust, does not in the least, infer God to be the author of sin; nor have I, in any instance, represented God as punishing sin, or determining to do it, out of his mere sovereignty, as though he designed to render his creatures miserable, without considering them as contracting guilt, and thereby procuring this to themselves. And, when I have been led to insist on the freeness of divine grace, and the covenant of grace, as made with Christ, and, in him, with the elect, and maintained the absoluteness and independency hereof on the will of man to render it effectual to salvation, I have, notwithstanding, said as much as is necessary concerning the conditionality of our claim to the blessings thereof, and the inseparable connexion that there is between practical religion and salvation, which fences against the charge that is often brought against this doctrine, as though it led to licentiousness. This I could not omit to mention, that the reader might not entertain groundless prejudices against some of the doctrines insisted on, before he duly weighs the method in which they are handled, or considers whether my defence of them against the popular objections, of that or any other kind, be just or no. Some, it may be, will see reason to conclude that it is; and others, who think that there are many unsurmountable difficulties on our side of the question, may be convinced, that there are difficulties of another nature, as great, if not greater, attending the opposite scheme, which they themselves maintain. But this I rather chuse to submit to the impartial judgment of those who are not disposed to condemn a doctrine, without desiring to know what may be said in its defence.

As to what concerns the work in general, it may be observed, that when I have occasion to illustrate an argument, by making use of any criticism that may be of advantage to it, or to give the sense of ancient writers, either for or against what I have laid down, I have inserted it in Italics in the notes, that it might not appear to be a digression, or break the thread of the discourse.

Though the title of every page mentions only the general subject of the question, there is a table prefixed to each volume, that comprises the contents thereof, laid down in such a form, as that the reader may easily see the heads of argument, under every question, in their proper method and connexion.

And, at the end, there is an index of scriptures, in which only those are inserted that are either more largely or concisely explained. This, together with the table, was drawn up by a kind brother, which I thankfully acknowledge, as having afforded me more leisure to attend to the work itself.[1]

As to what concerns the second edition,[2] it was undertaken at the request of some who did not expect that the former would be so soon out of print. That which gives me great satisfaction is, the acceptance it has met with from many judicious divines and others, in North-Britain; and I cannot but reckon the honour that the learned professors in the university of Aberdeen did me, in signifying their approbation of it, much more to be desired, than the highest titles that could have been conferred upon me without it.

I have nothing farther to trouble the reader with in this preface; but would only request of him, that, what thoughts soever he may entertain concerning the way in which I have endeavoured to state and defend some great and important truths, he would search the scriptures, and explain them agreeably to the divine perfections, and not think the worse of the gospel, which stands upon a firmer basis, than the weak efforts of fallible men, who use their best endeavours to defend it. If we had not a surer rule of faith, than the methods of human reasoning, religion would be a matter of great uncertainty, and we should be in danger of being _tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine_. But our best security against this, will be our having hearts established with grace, and rightly disposed to make a practical improvement of what we learn; and, if we are enabled to follow on to know the Lord with minds free from prejudice, and, if under a due sense of our weakness, we humbly present our supplications to him, who is able to make us wise to salvation, we may then hope to attain to that knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus, which shall be attended with peace and comfort here, and crowned with blessedness and glory hereafter.

May the great God, in whose hand is the life and usefulness of all men, succeed, with his blessing, what is humbly offered to his service, so far as it is adapted thereunto, and approved of by him, that hereby it may be conducive to the spiritual advantage of professing families, and the rising generation.

Footnote 1:

_And besides the above-mentioned Indexes there are now added to this edition an alphabetical index to the whole matters contained in the work._

Footnote 2:

_And the same reason may be assigned why this third is now offered to the public._

THE CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

QUEST. I. Of glorifying God, and the enjoyment of him.

_With what distinction the glorifying and enjoyment of God may both be said to be man’s chief and highest end_, _Page_ 13

_What it is to glorify God_ _ibid_

_How God glorifies himself_ _ibid_

_How creatures glorify him_ 14

_What it is to enjoy God_ 17

_The connexion between glorifying God and the enjoyment of him_ 18

_Contentedness to perish, that God may be glorified, unjustly made a mark of grace_ 19

_To be quickened to duty by a respect to the heavenly glory, no sign of a mercenary spirit_ 20

QUEST. II. Of the Being of a God.

_Reasons why we should be able to prove this by arguments_ 21

_The Being of a God may be evinced, From the light of nature_ _ibid_

_What meant thereby_ _ibid_

_How it proves the Being of a God_ 22

_From the works of creation_ 24

_from creatures below man_ 32

_from the structure of man’s body_ 33

_from the nature of his soul_ 34

_from the nature and office of conscience_ 35

_from the boundless desires of the soul_ 37

_From the consent of all nations_ _ibid_

_Objection, That there have been some speculative_ Atheists, _answered_ 38

_The belief of a God took not its rise from human policy_ 40

_It was not propagated merely by tradition_ _ibid_

_From the works of providence_ 41

_From the foretelling future events_ 42

_From the provision made for all_ 43

_Particularly for man’s safety_ 44

_The objections taken from the prosperity of the wicked, answered_ 45

_Nothing short of revelation sufficient to give a saving discovery of God_ 47

QUEST. III. Of the Holy Scripture.

_The names given to it_ 48

_Why called a Testament_ 50

_How the want of a written word was supplied to the church before_ Moses 52

_Whether the church, under the Old Testament, understood the spiritual meaning of the laws contained in it_ 53

_Whether the prophets understood their own predictions_ 54

_How far the Old Testament is still a rule_ 56

_How the scriptures are a complete revelation of the will of God_ 58

_The scripture a sufficient rule of faith and obedience_ 59

_Its properties as a rule_ 61

_It is the only rule_ _ibid_

_Human traditions of no divine authority_ 62

_The Popish doctrine of them confuted_ _ibid_

_The Canon of scripture preserved entire_ 65

_Is not perverted_ 66

QUEST. IV. Of the Divine Authority of the Scriptures.

_In what respects called divine_ 69

_A divine revelation necessary_ 71

_Not contrary to God’s perfections_ _ibid_

_Inspiration not impossible_ 72

_The scripture proved to be the word of God_ _ibid_

_From the majesty of its style_ 73

_From the purity of its doctrines_ 74

_Its holiness considered absolutely_ _ibid_

_And as compared with other writings_ 76

_From the harmony of all its parts_ 78

_Dr. Paley on the genuineness of the scriptures, in a note_ 79

_Its harmony shewn in the accomplishment of many predictions_ 86

_It doth not contradict itself_ 87

_Various objections answered_ 88

_Rules for reconciling seeming contradictions in scripture_ 94

_Grotius on their authority, in a note_ 97

_From its scope and design_ 98

_From the character of the penmen_ 102

_These were faithful_ _ibid_

_They were not imposed on_ 106

_How they might know they were under inspiration_ 108

_They mistook not the devil’s impressions for divine revelation_ 109

_The words as well as matter of scripture were given by inspiration_ 110

_From its antiquity and preservation_ 112

_From the testimony of God by miracles_ _ibid_

_Two objections answered_ 114, 115

_By the conviction and conversion of sinners_ 116

_How Christians come to a full persuasion of the divinity of scripture_ 118

_The inward testimony of the Spirit explained_ _ibid_

QUEST. V, VI. The principal matters contained in scripture.

QUEST. VII. Of the nature and perfections of God.

_How we may conceive aright of the divine perfections_ _ibid_

_Of the communicable and incommunicable perfections of God_ 122

_Nothing common between God and the creature_ _ibid_

_God is a Spirit; what a Spirit is_ 123

_Difference between other spiritual substances and God_ 124

_Independent_ 124. _Infinitely perfect_ 126

_All-sufficient_ 127. _When this perfection is in effect denied_ 127

_Eternal_ 129. _His eternal duration not successive_ 132. _How the parts of time are attributed to God_ 133

_Immutable. When immutability is a perfection. How peculiar to God_ 135. _Arguments to prove him so_ 136

_Incomprehensible_ 138

_Omnipresent_ 139, _and Almighty_ 140

_Wherein his power appears_ 141

_What things God cannot do_ 142

_The improvement of this subject_ 143

_Omniscient_ 145. _He knows all future contingencies_ 147

_Properties of God’s knowledge_ 149. _Its improvement_ 150

_When it is practically denied_, _ibid_.

_Wisdom of God infinite_ 152

_Different from knowledge_ _ibid_

_Wherein it appears_ _ibid_

_In Creation_ 154. _Providence_ 155. _Redemption_ 156

_In the constant government of the church_ _ibid_

_Inferences from God’s wisdom_ 158

_Holiness of God infinite_ 159

_What it is_, _ibid_. _Instances of it_ 160

_His suffering the entrance of sin, was no refection on it_ 161

_’Tis the standard of doctrines_ 162

_Instances of doctrines which lead to licentiousness_ 162, 163

_When God’s holiness is contemned_ 163

_Justice of God infinite_ 164

_How distinguished from his holiness_ _ibid_

_Glory, how called a reward_ 167

_Afflictions of believers not properly a punishment_ _ibid_

_Mercy and grace of God infinite_ 168

_Difference between goodness, mercy, grace, and patience_ 169

_Mercy is either common or special_ 171

_Grace free and sovereign_ 172

_Discriminating_ 173. _Instances of it_, _ibid_. _Afflictions not inconsistent with it_ 174

_Leads not to licentiousness_ _ibid_

_Patience of God, what it is_ 176

_Whether devils are objects of it_ _ibid_

_Instances of God’s patience_ 178

_Wherein manifested to the wicked_ 179

_Not inconsistent with justice_ 181

_How to be improved_ 183

_By whom it is abused_ 184

_Truth, God is abundant therein_ 186

_How he is called a God of truth_ 187

_Faithfulness of God_, _ibid_. _No impeachment hereof that some threatenings have not been executed_ 188. _Nor that some promises have not presently been performed_ 190

_How this perfection is to be improved_ 191

QUEST. VIII. Of the Unity of the Godhead.

_How God is styled the living God_ 194

_Unity of the Godhead proved_ _ibid_

_Abernethy on that subject, in a note_ 197

_Was not denied by the wiser Heathen_ 200

_Inferences from it_ 202

_How we should conceive of it_ 203

_Different modes used in speaking of the perfections of God_ 204

QUEST. IX, X, XI. Of the Doctrine of the Trinity.

_Calvin on the word Person, in a note_ 207

_The doctrine of the highest importance_ 209

_How to determine the importance of a doctrine_ 211

_What knowledge of it necessary to salvation_ 213

_It is a great mystery_, 214. _What a mystery is_, _ibid_.

_It is incomprehensible_ 216

_Dr. Bates on mysteries_, in a note 217

_Objections on this account answered_ 220

_Whether to receive it be to use words without ideas_ _ibid_

_Whether the revelation of it be unintelligible_ 221

_Whether that which is unintelligible be the object of faith_ 222

_How this doctrine promotes religion_ 223

_In what sense revelation is an improvement of the light of nature_ 224

_Not contrary to reason, though above it_ 226

_When a doctrine is contrary to reason_ _ibid_

_It is not chargeable with Tritheism_ 227

_The use of reason in proving doctrines of pure revelation_ 229

_It cannot be known by the light of nature_ 230

_How it was made known to_ Adam _ibid_

_Whether the heathen knew it_ 231

_Whitaker on the word_ Logos _used by the Jews_, in a note 233

Trinity, _not to be illustrated by similitudes_ 235

_Rules for interpreting scriptures relating to it_ 236

_The word_ Trinity _explained_ 239

Person, _the word explained_ 239

_The difference between divine and human persons_ 242

_Sacred Three, in what respect One_ 243

_Dr. Jamieson on the Trinity_, in a note 243

_How their glory equal, how the same_ _ibid_

_Personality of the Son_, 248. _Of the Spirit_ 250

_Not metaphorically ascribed to either_ 252

_Eternal generation of the Son, how understood by many_ 259

_Another method of accounting for it_ 261

_This account thereof proved_ 264

_Scriptures relating to Christ’s sonship explained_ 274

_Christ’s sonship as Mediator, considered_ 276

_Another view of the subject_, in a note 279

_Procession of the Spirit, how understood by many_, 260. _What it is_ 261

_The scripture doctrine of it_ 280

_Œconomy of the sacred Three explained_ 291

_How distinct works are ascribed to them_ 292

_The Deity of the Son proved_ _ibid_

_From his divine names_ 295

Jehovah _God’s incommunicable name_ 296

_Never given to creatures_ 297

_It is not applied to angels_ 301

_Christ’s Deity proved from it_ 302

God _and_ Lord, _how applied in scripture_ 304

_Christ’s Deity proved thereby_ 306

_This argued from_ 1 Tim. iii. 16. 311

_And from_ Acts xx. 28. 313. Rom. ix. 5. _ibid_.

_From_ 1 John v. 20. 315. Isa. ix. 6. 317

_From_ Titus ii. 13. _ibid_. John xx. 28. 319

_When the word_ God _is used absolutely_ 321

_Its meaning when so used_ 321

_In what sense Christ is styled God by the_ Socinians 322

_From the ascription of the divine nature to him in_ Col. ii. 9. 325

_In_ Philip, ii. 6. _this explained and defended_ 326

_Genuineness of_ 1 John v. 7. _defended_ 329

_From his conference with the_ Jews 335

_From his Attributes_ 342

_Eternity_, 343. _Immutability_, _ibid_.

_Omnipresence_ 345