Part 1
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
_Note on imputation_ 85, 94
_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
_A note_ 394, 397
_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
THE _DOCTRINES_ OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION EXPLAINED AND DEFENDED.
Quest. LXV., LXVI.
QUEST. LXV. _What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?_
ANSW. The members of the invisible church, by Christ, enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory.
QUEST. LXVI. _What is that union which the elect have with Christ?_
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 head and husband, which is done in their effectual calling.
We have, in the foregoing part of this work, considered man as made upright at first; but not continuing in that state, plunged into those depths of sin and misery, which would have rendered his state altogether desperate, without the interposition of a Mediator; whose designation to this work, his fitness for, and faithful discharge thereof, have been particularly considered in several foregoing answers, wherein we have had an account of his Person as God-man; his offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, his twofold estate, to wit, of humiliation and exaltation; and the benefits which accrue to the church thereby. This church has also been considered as _visible_ or _invisible_; and the former of these, as enjoying many privileges which respect, more especially, the ordinary means of salvation.
We are now led to consider the benefits which the members of the _invisible_ church, to wit, the whole number of the elect, who have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, their head, enjoy by him. And these are contained in two general heads; namely, union and communion with him in grace and glory; which comprise in them the blessings of both worlds, as the result of their relation to, and interest in him. First, they are united to him, and then made partakers of his benefits. All grace imparted to us here, is the result thereof; as the apostle says, _Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption_, 1 Cor. i. 30. And elsewhere our Saviour says, _He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit_, John xv. 5. And the contrary hereunto is inconsistent with the exercise of any grace: _Without me ye can do nothing_.
Moreover, that communion which the saints have with Christ in glory, whereby they who are brought to a state of perfection, participate of those graces and comforts which flow from their continued union with him; and the first fruits, or foretastes of glory, which they have in this world, are also founded on it. Thus the apostle calls Christ in his people, _The hope of glory_, Colos. i. 27. and speaking of his giving eternal life to them, he considers them as being _in his hand_, from whence _none shall pluck them out_, John x. 28. or separate them from him. So that they shall enjoy everlasting happiness with him, inasmuch as they shall _be found in him_, Phil. iii. 9. which leads us more particularly to consider,
What this union with Christ is. The scripture often speaks of Christ’s being, or abiding in his people, and they in him; and assigns it as an evidence of their interest in the blessings he has purchased for them: and, indeed, it is from hence that all internal and practical godliness is derived.
This privilege argues infinite condescension in him, and tends to the highest advancement of those who are the subjects thereof. Now that we may understand what is intended thereby, let us take heed that we do not include in it any thing that tends to extenuate it on the one hand; or to exalt those who are made partakers of it above the station or condition into which they are brought thereby, on the other.
It is not sufficient to suppose that this union contains in it no more than that his people have the same kind of nature with him, as being made _partakers of flesh and blood_; he having _himself taken part of the same_, Heb. ii. 14. He is indeed allied to us, as having all the essential perfections of our nature: and this was an instance of infinite condescension in him, and absolutely necessary to our redemption: nevertheless, this similitude of nature; abstracted from other considerations, accompanying or flowing from his incarnation, contains in it no other idea of union, between Christ and his people, than that which they have with one another; nor is it a privilege peculiar to believers, since Christ took on him the same human nature that all men have, though with a peculiar design of grace to those whom he came to redeem. This I the rather take notice of, because the Socinians, and others, that speak of this privilege, inasmuch as it is often mentioned in scripture, appear to have very low thoughts of it, when they suppose nothing more than this to be intended thereby.
Again, this union includes in it more than what is contained in that mutual love that is between Christ and believers, in that sense in which there is an union of affection between those who love one another; as it is said, _The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul_, 1 Sam. xviii. 1. In which respect believers are united to one another; or, as the apostle expresses it, their hearts are _knit together in love_, Col. ii. 2. _being like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind_, Phil. ii. 2. or, as he adds, _Let this mind also be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus_, ver. 5. I say it includes more than this, which is rather the fruit and consequence of our union with Christ, than that wherein it principally consists.
Moreover we must take heed that we do not, in explaining this union between Christ and believers, include more in it than what belongs to creatures infinitely below him, to whom they are said to be united: therefore we cannot but abhor the blasphemy of those who speak of an essential union of creatures with God; or, as though they had hereby something derived to them in common with Christ the great Mediator.[1]
But passing by this method of accounting for the union between Christ and believers, there are two senses in which it is taken in scripture; one is, that which results from Christ’s being their federal head, representative, or surety; having undertaken to deal with the justice of God in their behalf, so that what he should do, as standing in this relation to them, should be placed to their account, as much as though it had been done by them in their own persons: this is what contains in it their concern in the covenant of grace, made with him in their behalf; of which something has been said under a foregoing answer;[2] and it is the foundation of their sins being imputed to him, and his righteousness to them; which will be farther considered, when we treat of the doctrine of justification under a following answer.[3]
Therefore this union with Christ, which is mentioned in the answer we are now explaining, is of another nature, and, in some respects, may be properly styled a _vital union_, as all spiritual life is derived from it; or a _conjugal union_, as it is founded in consent, and said to be by faith. Now there are two things observed concerning it.
1. It is expressed by our being spiritually and mystically joined to Christ: it is styled a _spiritual_ union, in opposition to those gross and carnal conceptions which persons may entertain concerning things being joined together in a natural way; and, indeed, whatever respects salvation is of a spiritual nature.