A Body of Divinity, Vol. 3 (of 4) Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism

Neither can any one be justified by performing active obedience to the law of God; for nothing is sufficient to answer that end, but what is perfect in all respects; it must be...

_Obj._ 3. It is farther objected, that when the observation of the Sabbath was enjoined, God bade the Israelites, in Deut. v. 15. to _remember that_ they were _servants in the l...

I might produce many other scriptures out of the New Testament, in which this doctrine is maintained; but we shall proceed to consider what proofs may be deduced from scripture-...

[1.] When we assert a thing, without implying this condition that ought to be contained in it, if God will, or he be pleased to enable us to do it. This the apostle particularly...

And we may comfortably conclude, that we have received good under the ordinances, if we have been brought into an holy and lively frame of spirit; and the more we attend to them...

IV. We are now to consider this grace of faith as that which accompanies salvation, upon which account it is called a _saving grace_; and also, that it is wrought in the heart b...

Having explained what we mean by regeneration, under our last head, it is necessary, in this, to consider how it differs from conversion; in which I shall take leave to transcri...

Besides we may farther observe, that there are many blasphemous expressions given to the virgin Mary, in their Breviaries and Missals, which are used by public authority. Thus s...

_The word_ αδοκιμοι, _though it be sometimes used to signify such as are rejected as objects of God’s hatred, as in Heb._ vi. 8. _and consequently is inconsistent with the chara...

This denotes that obedience ought to be performed in a spiritual manner. God is to be worshipped with our spirits; without which, all external modes of worship will avail nothin...

(2.) It was necessary that there should be a firm persuasion of the truth of the doctrine, to be confirmed by a miracle in him that wrought it, together with an explicit appeal...

It is farther observed, that this obedience includes in it holiness and righteousness. The former of these respects more especially our duty to God, which, being a branch of rel...

There is also an account, in the life and death of Mr. John Janeway, of the great assurance and joy which he had in his last sickness, in which he expresses himself to this purp...

3. The performance of those moral duties, which are materially good, is no certain sign of the truth of grace; I do not say that this is not necessary; for when we speak of a ma...

We might also consider the body after death, as a prey for worms, the seat of corruption; and lodged in the grave, the house appointed for all living; and then an end is put to...

The only thing that remains to be explained is; how God may be said to be reconciled by the blood of Christ, to a person who is in an unconverted state, and as such, represented...

That it is in its own nature immortal, has been allowed by many of the Heathens, who have had just conceptions of the spirituality of its nature, possessed due regards to the pr...

ANSW. We are to believe, that at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust; when they that are then found alive, shall, in a mo...

As for the time which the more religious Jews took, in preparing for the Sabbath before it came, something of this may be learned from the practice of holy Nehemiah; whereby it...

1. By pride and haughtiness; when they treat those who are below them, with contempt and disdain; as though, because they are not, in many respects, their equals, they are not t...

IV. We are now to consider the means by which assurance is to be attained, _viz._ not by extraordinary revelation, but by faith, founded on the promises of God. As to the former...

In answer to which, it may be observed, that it was not a small inoffensive error that these prophets of Baal were punished for; but apostasy from God. And that the persons who...

To make this appear, we might consider some promises which, when first made, had a particular relation to God’s dealings with his people in those circumstances in which they wer...

And to this we may add, that the apostle elsewhere speaks of some who were _sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise; which is the earnest of our inheritance_: and these are desc...

But before we dismiss this head, we shall enquire, why God does not bring this work to perfection at once, which he could easily have done, and, as it is certain, will do, when...

We cannot, then, know God without loving him. And thus a communication of ideas leads to a communication of love. But this communication of love will render us _like_ the God, w...

Others, who will allow that sin is of a far larger extent, and includes in it that which prevails in the heart, as well as renders itself visible in the life, or contains in it...

II. This loving our neighbour as ourselves is farther illustrated in this answer, by doing to others what we would have them to do us. This is one of the most undeniable, and se...

(3.) They are admitted to the greatest intimacy, and have sweet communion with Christ; _the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him_, Psal. xxv. 14. he deals with them as...

2. Another consequence hereof, is his falling into many sins. By which we are not to suppose that he shall be so far left as to fall into a state of unregeneracy, or lose the pr...

As to the time when Christ shall come to judgment, or when this glorious day shall begin, that is also considered, not only as a matter kept secret from us, but from all creatur...

We have an instance of this, as the historian observes[202], in Agricola, who was Luther’s towns-man, and great admirer; who, as it is probable, did not thoroughly understand wh...

I do not say, that natural religion can give sinful men a full and satisfying assurance of pardon upon their repentance; for the deepest degrees of penitence cannot oblige a pri...

_James._ I apprehend then that many important mistakes have arisen from considering the interposition of Christ under the notion of _paying a debt_. The blood of Christ is indee...

[1.] That when that which is in itself a blessing, is turned into a curse, this may be looked upon as a punishment inflicted by God, for the iniquity of a people. Thus he says,...

2. That idolatry which is sometimes found among Christians; who, though they abhor the thoughts of giving divine worship to a creature, yet, if they look into their own hearts,...

[3.] There is another opinion which is subversive of the doctrine contained in this answer; namely, that the soul, at its separation from the body, sleeps till the resurrection;...

This is certainly a doctrine of the highest importance, inasmuch as it contains in it the way of peace, the foundation of all our hope, of the acceptance both of our persons and...

ANSW. The reasons annexed to the second Commandment, the more to enforce it, contained in these words, [_For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the...

There are some who oppose this doctrine, by calling it a putative righteousness, the shadow or appearance of that which has in it no reality, or our being accounted what we are...

But supposing this scripture be not reckoned sufficient to evince the truth of this doctrine, there is another which has more weight in it, _viz._ that in Job xix. 25-27. _I kno...

3. They shall be made perfectly holy and happy, both in body and soul. The soul shall be unspeakably more enlarged than it was before, as to all the powers and faculties thereof...

1. As to the former of these, namely, that which is inconsistent with the doctrine of justification by Christ’s righteousness. This is maintained by those who plead for justific...

It may be also farther considered, that it is not an easy matter to keep the Commandment, because of the spirituality and vast extent thereof, and the many graces that are to be...

4. There are some who suppose that a believer may fall totally, though not finally from grace. And their reason for it is this; because they conclude, as they have sufficient wa...

I. The character of those who are effectually called antecedent thereunto. They have nothing that can recommend them to the divine favour; for being considered as fallen, guilty...

However, I cannot see sufficient reason to set aside our translation, it being equally just to render the words, _if any man draw back_[96]; since the supplying the words _any m...

It is moreover called a _mystical_ union, which is the word most used by those who treat on this subject; and the reason is, because the apostle calls it _a great mystery_, Eph....

And elsewhere, he seems to be sensible of his sin, in heaping up vast treasures, which he calls _loving silver_; and adds, that such an one, which seems very applicable to his o...

As for that scripture which is sometimes brought in defence of this opinion, _viz._ the parable of the persons that were hired to work in the _vineyard_, in Matt. xx. 9. in whic...

2. He turns from sin unto God; he first hates sin, and then flies from it, as seeing it to be the spring of all his grief and fears, that which separates between him and his God...

Faith, according to the beloved disciple John, and the great St. Paul, is the _belief of the truth_; the _believing that Jesus is the Christ_; or a giving _credit to the record...

1. That if the knowledge of other things which are of less importance, be attainable, then certainly it is possible for us to attain that which is of the greatest importance. Th...

Thus we have endeavoured to explain and shew the force of those arguments which are contained in this answer to prove the doctrine of the saints’ perseverance. There are several...

_1st_, That it is not to be supposed, that it was universally observed by the church at random, or by accident, without some direction given them herein. For since the apostles...

As to what respects the fallen angels, they are to be brought as criminals before Christ’s tribunal, in order to his passing a righteous sentence upon them. Whether the charge o...

1. That such subjects as these, though they are not to be concealed, as being a part of the counsel of God, and a means ordained by him, to answer some valuable end; yet they ar...

_See his Exposition on the Creed, Artic._ xi. _and Tertull. de resur. Carn. cap._ xii. _Aspice nunc ad ipsa qunq; exempla divinæ potestatis: dies moritur in noctem, & tenebris u...

The invitations of the gospel are in universal terms, and although such terms are sometimes restricted by the sense, yet where no such restriction appears, they are to be taken...

And when we use endeavours to mortify sin, this is to be done by a fiducial view of Christ crucified; and when we encourage ourselves to hope that the indictment brought against...

It is in this _latter_ sense that I understand the term when applied to justification. “Abraham believed God, and it was _counted_ unto him for righteousness—To him that worketh...

(4.) Nevertheless we cannot approve of some expressions subversive of the doctrine of special redemption, how moving and pathetic soever they may appear to be; as when any one,...

The first scripture that may be brought to prove this, is what the apostle says in 2 Cor. xii. 2, 3, 4. when speaking concerning himself as _caught up into the third heaven_; an...

There are other scriptures which speak of assurance as a distinguishing character of Christians in general; which are usually brought to prove, that assurance is of the essence...

_Answ._ To this it may be replied, That though the apostle had as good ground to conclude that he had experienced the grace of God in truth, as any man, and was oftentimes favou...

And this leads us farther to enquire: Whether, supposing a man has this principle implanted in effectual calling, he then acts freely; or, what is the liberty of man’s will, whe...

However, we meet with several expressions in Rabbinical writers, which seem to speak of it as a peculiar privilege belonging to some, but not to all; and therefore they have a p...

ANSW. The union which the elect have with Christ, is the work of God’s grace, whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably joined to Christ, as their...