A Body of Divinity, Vol. 4 (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

We shall now consider how they are to be made use of in order to our direction and encouragement in prayer. And here it may be observed, that the promises either respect outward...

What is farther observed concerning this duty, is, that we are to persevere in prayer; resolving not to desist from waiting on God therein, whatever seeming discouragements may,...

1. That the thoughts of having to do with an absolute God, cannot but fill us with the utmost distress and confusion, when we consider ourselves as guilty sinners, and God, out...

Moreover, we are to confess the sins we have committed against the engagements or grace of the gospel; the low thoughts we have sometimes had of the person of Christ, his love t...

In order to our understanding this petition, we must first consider what is meant by _bread_. Some have thought that our Saviour hereby intends spiritual mercies, as denoting th...

(8.) We are, at the Lord’s supper, to renew our covenant with God. That this may be rightly understood, we must consider what it is for a believer to enter into covenant with Go...

There is another duty preparatory to the Lord’s Supper, mentioned in this answer, _viz._ serious meditation, that so we may not engage in it without considering the greatness of...

[2.] That injuries are only to be forgiven by us, as they are against ourselves; whereas God alone can forgive them as they are against him; and the reason hereof is, because no...

Again, in Psal. ii. he speaks concerning the _rage_ of the _Heathen_, against Christ and his church, and that disappointment and ruin that they should meet with for it. And, in...

This degree of honour in the world, we ought first to endeavour to gain, especially so far as it is necessary to our honouring God, and being useful to others. And then we must...

(3.) The relation which God stands in to his people, as a Father, is sometimes taken in the highest sense, as implying in it discriminating grace, or special love, which he is p...

[2.] That they may have the special presence of God with them in all his ordinances, which will be a visible testimony of his regard to them, and an honour put on his own instit...

(_6th_) Are they afraid that they shall fall away after having made a long profession of religion? There is a promise which our Saviour himself took encouragement from, though n...

_5thly_, The word of God is to be preached zealously, with fervent love to God, and the souls of his people. Thus it is said, in Acts xviii. 25. concerning Apollos, that _being...

(1.) Repentance: This is necessary, because we are sinners; and as such, are to come into the presence of God with confession, joined with supplication which must be made with a...

2. We shall now consider those temptations that arise from Satan, who is, for this reason, called _the tempter_, Matt. iv. 3. 1 Thess. vi. 3. and he is also said to _enter into_...

We might here observe something concerning our doing it for others, for whom we are to pray, that they may have the highest esteem for God in all those respects and consequently...

1. The holiness of God was glorified, or he sanctified his great name, in the dispensations of his providence towards fallen man, before he gave him any hope of salvation. It ca...

Again, when we are reviled for the sake of Christ and religion, let us take encouragement from hence, that herein we have the same treatment that he, and all his saints, have me...

[1.] That his fear seems to have been altogether groundless; for, why should he suppose that the king of Gath would break through all the laws of arms and honour, since Goliah h...

And here we may farther observe, that they who bring these and such-like objections, with a design to open the door of the church so wide, that all may be received into it, and...

3. We are to examine ourselves, before we come to the Lord’s table, what particular wants we have to be supplied. Our Saviour is to be considered in this ordinance, not only as...

(2.) We adore him as a God of infinite power, _Thine is the power_. Dominion without power will not be sufficient to maintain its rights; therefore, since God is described as ha...

Moreover, when we are assaulted, and, as it were, wounded with Satan’s fiery darts, whereby great discouragements are thrown in our way, the guilt of sin magnified, as though it...

(8.) We are to pray for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, at his second and glorious coming; when the work of grace shall be brought to its utmost perfection; and all the ele...

If he pretends to extenuate his crimes, it will not avail him; and if his own conscience does not come in as a witness against him, as having been a party concerned in the rebel...

But, on the other hand, a seal, according to the most common acceptation of the word, imports a confirming sign[54]: Yet we must take heed that we do not, in compliance with cus...

Again, the administring the Lord’s supper privately, as the Papists and others do, to sick people, seems to be contrary to the design of its being a church-ordinance; and when,...

1. It is observed that they differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once; whereas, the Lord’s supper is to be administered often. This appears from two different circu...

Besides these, there were others who were styled _chief-priests_, as being the heads of their respective classes, and presided over them when they came to Jerusalem, to minister...

There is one scripture more that I cannot wholly pass over, which, to me, seems a plain prohibition of polygamy, in Levit. xviii. 18. _Thou shalt not take a wife to her sister,...

In the former of these answers, we have an account of then demerit of sin; in the latter, we have the character and disposition of those who have ground to conclude that they sh...

2. To consider how he endeavours to prevent our being brought under conviction of sin; or, if we are convinced thereof, to hinder its making any deep or lasting impression on us...

Here I cannot but take notice of the method which the learned Dr. Lightfoot takes to account for the silence of scripture, as to this matter[78], which is, for substance, as fol...

_Answ._ To this it may be replied; that lust may be distinguished from sin, as the habit or corrupt principle is from the act which it produces; and therefore, the apostle’s mea...

6. The word is farther said to be made effectual to salvation, as hereby we are strengthened against temptation, and corruption. By the former, those objects are presented to us...

3. It is farther supposed, that God may suffer his people, though their sins are pardoned, and their souls sanctified, to be tempted, and sometimes even foiled and led captive f...

[2.] As to that part of the objection, which respects the congregation’s joining in the heart, with one that sings with the voice, in like manner as we do in prayer; let it be c...

1. Concerning the qualifications which are necessary, in those that are employed in preaching the gospel. Here it is to be observed in general, that they must be sufficiently gi...

2. We must, in reading the word of God, be sensible that he alone can enable us to understand it. To read the scriptures and not understand them, will be of no advantage to us;...

_7thly_, There are several hyperbolical ways of speaking in scripture, whereby more is expressed than what is generally understood. Thus the vessel in the temple, in which thing...

[4.] It also contains in it a rejecting of Christ and the known truth, out of envy, and this attended with reviling, persecuting, and using their utmost endeavours to extirpate...

_First._ If there were no unchangeable, omniscient Being, there would be no God, no proper object of worship. A being who is capable of change, is necessarily imperfect, and may...

_Answ._ To this it may be replied, that though John removed to Jordan and Ænon, that he might be well supplied with water, as he daily wanted large quantities thereof; yet it do...

(3.) It follows, from the last head, that parents, who have a right to their infant-seed, may devote them to God in baptism, provided they can do it by faith; and therefore a pr...

The Church of _England_ herself had formerly no very good opinion of these musical instruments; as may appear by her Homilies: “Lastly, God’s vengeance hath been, and is daily p...

But, on the other hand, blasphemous thoughts are not always to be charged on us as a sin. Sometimes they are chargeable on Satan, who herein acts according to his character, as...

Now the main thing to be considered, is, how baptism is a sign and seal thereof? To this it may be answered, that we are not to suppose that this, or any other ordinance, confer...

And it may be observed, that how much soever the use of musical instruments, which were in this worship may be concluded to be particularly adapted to that dispensation, as they...

[2.] He farther argues, that because they have lived a great while in a _course of sin_, and their hearts are _very much hardened thereby_; therefore they cannot be broken, or t...

(4.) We are now to consider, with what frame of spirit works of charity are to be performed? To which, it may be answered, that they are to be performed prudently, as our own ci...

The Bishop, in whose defence an appeal is made to antiquity, is not related, by his office, to a single congregation of christians only, with one or more Presbyters belonging to...

He also observes, that though the original and natural signification of the word imports, to _dip_, to _plunge_, to _dye_; yet it also signifies to _wash_ or _cleanse_: Neverthe...

Dr. Gill says, that Tertullian is the first man who _mentions_ infant-baptism, and speaks against it; and infers that it had not come into use before his time. To this, Mr. Clar...

That the covenant or divine charter, first given to Noah, _included_ the preceding; it was the _same covenant_ with _additional grants_: for the Lord says, “I will _establish_ m...

Christ, typified by Melchizedec, _b_ 264 his humiliation, _b_ 396 betrayed, denied, condemned, slain, _b_ 424. 426. 429. 433 descent into hell _b_ 440 1 Pet. iii. 18. explained,...

It may be said, “If we resign this maxim, that a positive precept or duty excludes all moral reasoning, analogy and inference, we open a door to numberless innovations, and depr...

ANSW. The duties required in the seventh Commandment, are, chastity in body, mind, affections, words, and behaviour; and the preservation of it in ourselves and others; watchful...

2. That though God be the only supreme and lawful Sovereign, yet there are some who pretend to stand in competition with, and usurp that dominion which belongs only to him. Acco...

_CONFESSION OF FAITH_, or, the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America; containing the Catechism, and the Directory for the worship of God: toget...