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. IV._
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 FOURTH VOLUME.
QUEST. CXXXVII, CXXXVIII, CXXXIX. An Explication of the Seventh Commandment. _Page_ 9
_THE government of the affections_ 10
_All uncleanness forbidden_ ibid
_Polygamy was ever unlawful_ 11
_The aggravations of uncleanness_ 13
_The occasions of it_ 14
_Of Theatres—a note_ 15
QUEST. CXL, CXLI. An Explication of the Eighth Commandment 16
_Of frugality and diligence_ 17
_Of justice in our dealings_ 19
_Of charity to the poor_ 20
_To whom to be extended_ ibid
_And in what proportion_ 21
QUEST. CXLII. The Sins forbidden in the Eighth Commandment 22
_Of theft and breach of trust_ 23
_Of borrowing and not paying_ ibid
_Whether_ Israel _was guilty of it_ 24
_Of plunder in war and oppression_ 25
_Of unjust law-suits_ 26
_Of sinful usury_ 27
_Restitution a duty. Objections answered_ ibid
QUEST. CXLIII, CXLIV, CXLV. An Explication of the Ninth Commandment 28
_The duties required_ 29
_Sins forbidden_ 31
_Of bearing false witness_ 32
_Of lying. The definition of a lie_ 33
_Its various kinds_ ibid
_The midwives report, in_ Exod. i. 19. _no lie_ 34
_Of_ Rahab’s _lie_, Josh. ii. 4, 5. ibid
_Of_ Jacob’s _deceit, in_ Gen. xxvii. 19. 35
Elijah’s _treatment of the_ Syrian _host_ 36
Paul’s _answer relating to the high priest_ 37
David’s _lie to_ Ahimelech, _in_ 1 Sam. xxi. 2. 38
_His feigned madness at_ Gath, _ver._ 13-15. ibid
_Of hypocrisy_ 39
Paul _and_ Daniel _vindicated_ 40
_Of reproach. It differs from reproof_ 42
_Things unjustly made the matter of it_ 43
_Aggravations thereof_ 44
Elisha _reproached at_ Bethel Ibid
_Of backbiting. Instances of it_ 48
QUEST. CXLVI, CXLVII, CXLVIII. An Explication of the Tenth Commandment 50
_Contentment required in every state_ 50
_Motives to it under various troubles_ 51
_The corruption of Nature forbidden_ 56
_Of covetousness and its aggravations_ 58
_Excuses for it answered_ 59
_Remedies against discontent_ 61
QUEST. CXLIX. Of man’s inability to keep the Commandments of God 62
_How man sins daily_ 63
_Of sinful thoughts_ 64
_The kinds, causes and cure of them_ ibid
_Of sinful words and actions_ 66
QUEST. CL. All sins not equally heinous 67
QUEST. CLI. The aggravations of sin, and whence they arise 67
_From the parties offending or offended_ 68
_From the nature and quality of the offence_ 70
_From the circumstances of it_ 72
QUEST. CLII, CLIII. Of the Desert of Sin, and of the means of escaping God’s wrath 74
_Wrath of God not passion_ 75
_How faith and repentance are the means of salvation_ 76
_Note on procrastination_ 78
QUEST. CLIV. Of the Ordinances, or outward means of grace 79
_Ordinances described_ ibid
_By what ordinances Christ communicates his benefits_ 81
_Singing God’s praises of divine institution_ 82
_A gospel ordinance_ 83
_To be public and united_ 84
_Of musical instruments, a note_ 85
_It is necessary to sing with understanding_ ibid
David’s _Psalms still proper to be sung_ 89
_Imprecations therein how used_ 91
_Of hymns of human composure_ 95
_Scripture Psalms and hymns preferable_ 96
QUEST. CLV. How the Word is made effectual to salvation 99
_It enlightens and convinces of sin_ 101
_It humbles and drives out of self_ 102
_It draws to Christ_ 103
_Other instances of its efficacy_ 104
QUEST. CLVL, CLVII. The Word of God to be read by all 106
_The Word is to be read publicly_ 107
_In families also, and in private_ 108
_How the Papists oppose this_ 109
_Their objections answered_ 110
_Translation of scripture vindicated_ 112
_How the scripture should be read_ 113
_Expositions to be consulted_ 117
_And various translations_ ibid
_Of marginal references_ 118
_Of supplemental additions_ 119
_Texts to be compared with their contexts_ 121
_One part of scripture illustrates another_ 122
_Parallel scriptures to be compared_ 124
_Rhetorical figures used in scripture_ 130
_References there to different governments_ 135
_To the civil affairs of_ Jews _and others_ 136
_To civil and religious officers_ 139
_Of_ Publicans, Pharisees, Sadducees, Samaritans 140
_General rules for explaining scripture_ 144
QUEST. CLVIII, CLIX, CLX. Of preaching and hearing the Word 146
_The qualifications of ministers_ 147
_How the word is to be preached_ 151
_Diligently, plainly, faithfully_ 152
_Wisely. Wherein this consists_ 154
_Zealously and sincerely_ 155
_Duties to be performed_ 157
_Before hearing_ 158
_In hearing, and after it_ 159
QUEST. CLXI, CLXII, CLXIII, CLXIV. Of the Sacraments 160
Sacrament. _Its meaning_ 161
_Its nature and matter_ ibid
_How a sign or seal_ 163
_To whom to be administered_ 166
_Benefits conveyed therein_ 167
_How effectual to salvation_ ibid
_By whom to be administered, in note_ 168
_Various sacraments of old_ 171
_Now but two_ 172
QUEST. CLXV. Of Baptism. 174
_Baptism a gospel ordinance_ ibid
_Instituted by Christ_ 177
_Note_, Βαπτιζω _a generic term_ 175
_In whose name to be performed_ 178
_What signified in it_ 179
_An expectation of privileges_ 181
_An acknowledgment of obligations_ ibid
_The right of children to it—in a note_ 182
QUEST. CLXVI. Of the subjects and mode of Baptism 183
_To whom Baptism is not to be administered_ ibid
_Infants of believers, their right to baptism_ 186
_By covenant—a note_ 187-193
_May be dedicated in faith_ 187
_Are included in the covenant_ 194
_Are termed holy_ 196
_Were circumcised_ 198
_And ought to be baptized_ 199
_Objections answered, taken_
_From infants’ want of grace_ 200
_From the want of precept or example_ 201
_From Christ’s own Baptism_ 206
_Infant baptism no novelty_ 207
_Practised by the ancient church_ ibid
_Baptism an ordinance of dedication_ 186
_An objection answered_ ibid
_How believers may dedicate their infants in faith_ 187
_An objection answered_ 194
_Of the mode of Baptism_ 216
Baptism, _the meaning of the word_ ibid
_To be performed by pouring or sprinkling_ 218
_Objections answered_ 219
_Persons going down into the water_ 220
John’s _baptizing at_ Ænon 222
_Our being buried with Christ_ 225
_Of the sign of the cross_ 228
_Of sureties in Baptism_ ibid
QUEST. CLXVII. How Baptism should be improved 229
QUEST. CLXVIII, CLXIX, CLXX. Of the Lord’s supper 234
_The Lord’s supper is a gospel ordinance_ 236
_It was instituted by Christ_ ibid
_By whom to be administered_ 237
_Of the elements, how consecrated_ ibid
_The actions to be performed_ 238
_The gesture to be used_ 239
_Of some Popish irregularities_ 240
_Things signified in the Lord’s supper_ 242
_What faith should then fix on_ 244
_Qualifications of communicants_ 245, 263
QUEST. CLXXI. Of preparation for the Lord’s supper 246
_Of self examination_ ibid
_Things to be enquired into. Our state_ 247
_How this may be known_ ibid
_Our sense of sin_ 248
_Our wants_ 249
_Our knowledge of divine things_ 251
_The truth and degree of our graces_ 253
_Our love to the brethren_ 255
_How this may be discerned_ 256
QUEST. CLXXII, CLXXIII. Who fit to be Communicants 258
_Doubting Christians, their case_ 259
_Encouragement for them_ ibid
_Promises made to them_ 260
_Advice offered them_ 262
_The wicked to be kept from the Lord’s table_ 263
_Objections answered_ 264
QUEST. CLXXIV, CLXXV. Of the duties required _in_ and _after_ receiving the Lord’s supper 268
_What meditations proper at this ordinance_ 269
_Graces to be then exercised_ 270
_We are to rejoice in Christ’s love_ 273
_Properties of his love_ ibid
_To renew our covenant, and how_ 275
_To express a love to all saints_ 276
_What behaviour unsuitable_ ibid
_Vows, how to be made there_ 278
_How to be fulfilled_ ibid
_A frequent attendance, how encouraged_ 280
QUEST. CLXXVI, CLXXVII. Wherein Baptism and the Lord’s supper agree, and wherein they differ 281-284
QUEST. CLXXVIII. Of Prayer 285
_Of the kinds and parts of prayer_ 287
_Confession of sin the duty of all_ 288
_An objection answered_ ibid
_How to be performed_ 290
_What sins to be confessed_ ibid
_The sin of our nature_ ibid
_And all actual transgressions_ 291
_Thankfulness for mercies, a duty_ 293
_In every age and condition of life_ ibid
_For relative and personal mercies_ 294
QUEST. CLXXIX, CLXXX, CLXXXI. To whom, and in whose name we must pray 298
_We are to pray to God only_ 299
_What it is to pray in Christ’s name_ 300
_Why we are to pray in his name_ 301
QUEST. CLXXXII, CLXXXIII, CLXXXIV. Of the Spirit’s help in prayer; for whom and for what we are to pray 302
_The Spirits assistance in prayer_ 303
_What this supposes_ ibid
_It respects the matter of prayer_ ibid
_The inward frame of heart_ 304
_And the success of the duty_ 306
_Of raised affections in prayer_ 308
_Persons to be prayed for, are_
_The whole church militant_ 309
_The ministers of Christ_ 311
_Our enemies, and all men living_ 312
_Purgatory a fiction_ 315
_The dead are not to be prayed for_ 314
_The opinion of the ancients about it_ 315
_Nor they who have sinned the sin unto death_ 318
_What that sin is_ ibid
_Whether now committed_ 319
_Doubts about it resolved_ 320
_What things we are to pray for_ 322
QUEST. CLXXXV. How we are to pray 323
_With a suitable frame_ ibid
_In the exercise of grace_ 324
_What necessary thereunto_ 334
_Of faith in prayer_ 329
_Promises of help in prayer_ 330
_Promises of God’s hearing prayer_ 331
_Objections against praying answered_ 332
_Love to God to be exercised in prayer_ 333
_Discouragements from praying removed_ 336
QUEST. CLXXXVI, CLXXXVII. Of the Rule for our direction in prayer 338
_How the word of God directs herein_ 339
_What expressions equivalent to promises_ 342
_Promises of outward blessings_ 344
_Of spiritual and temporal_ 345
_Promises to the afflicted_ 346
_To the depressed in prayer_ 347
_Respecting ordinances_ 349
_Of grace and peace_ 350
_How these are of use in prayer_ 351
_Reproofs are of use in prayer_ 353
_So are prayers recorded in Scripture_ 354
_Inferences from these directions_ 355
_The Lord’s prayer a special direction_ 356
QUEST. CLXXXVIII, CLXXXIX. The Preface of the Lord’s Prayer explained 359
_God, how a Father to men_ 360
_First known, then addressed as such_ 362
_How to be prayed to as being in heaven_ 365
_Child-like dispositions required in us_ 364
QUEST. CXC. The first Petition explained 368
_God’s name, what meant by it_ 369
_How he sanctifies it himself_ ibid
_How sanctified in redemption_ 370
_How under the legal dispensation_ 371
_How under the gospel_ 373
_What intended by_, Hallowed be thy Name 375
_What to be prayed for, that we may do it_ 376
_What to be deprecated to that end_ 379
_When God’s name is hallowed_ 381
_How, when things are disposed to his glory_ 382
QUEST. CXCI. The second Petition explained 384
_Of God’s providential kingdom_ 385
_Of his kingdom of grace_ 386
_Satan’s kingdom, how to be destroyed_ 387
_How we are to pray for its destruction_ 388
_Christ’s kingdom, how to be advanced_ 389
_How we are to pray for its advancement_ 390
_And that his kingdom of glory may come_ 394
QUEST. CXCII, The third Petition explained 396
_Of prayer to an unchangeable God—in note_ 397-402
_Our averseness to the will of God_ 402
_Of praying that his will may be done_ 403
QUEST. CXCIII. The fourth Petition explained 407
_What supposed in praying for daily bread_ 407
_What intended in praying for bread_ 409
_Why we call it ours_ 410
_What we are to understand by_ this day 411
_This petition respects ourselves and others_ 412
QUEST. CXCIV. The fifth Petition explained 414
_The case of man when charged with guilt_ 415
_Pardon, none but God can give it_ 417
_All are to pray for it_ 418
_How God is to be considered when we pray thus_ 420
_Of our forgiving others_ 425
_What meant thereby_ 424
_Arguments to induce thereunto_ 426
_Of doing it without satisfaction_ ibid
_An objection answered_ 428
_When a sign of God’s forgiving us_ 429
QUEST. CXCV. The sixth Petition explained 431
_What this Petition supposes_ 432
_How God tempts, and why_ 433
_God not the cause of sin—in note_ 433-435
Deliver us from evil, _how understood_ 438
_Temptations arise from prosperity_ 439
_From adversity_ 441
_From the flesh_ 442
_From Satan_ 443
_When from him, and when from ourselves_ 445
_Remarks upon Satan’s temptations_ 446
_They increase sin_ 448
_Are suited to every age_ 449
_And to the tempers of men_ 451
_He endeavours to prevent conviction_ 452
_To hinder preaching the gospel_ 453
_To prevent closing with Christ_ 454
_He injects blasphemous thoughts_ 457
_He tempts to despair_ 458
_How we are to pray against temptation_ 461
QUEST. CXCVI. What the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teacheth 465
_The Doxology explained_ 466
_The pleas contained in it_ 467
_The meaning of the word_ Amen 468
_Whether all should say aloud_, Amen 471
THE _DOCTRINES_ OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION EXPLAINED AND DEFENDED.
Quest. CXXXVII., CXXXVIII., CXXXIX.
QUEST. CXXXVII. _Which is the seventh Commandment?_
ANSW. The seventh Commandment is, [_Thou shalt not commit adultery._]
QUEST. CXXXVIII. _What are the duties required in the seventh Commandment?_
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; watchfulness over the eyes, and all the senses; temperance, keeping of chaste company, modesty in apparel, marriage by those that have not the gift of continency; conjugal love, and cohabitation, diligent labour in our callings, shunning all occasions of uncleanness, resisting temptations thereunto.
QUEST. CXXXIX. _What are the sins forbidden in the seventh Commandment?_
ANSW. The sins forbidden in the seventh Commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy, and all unnatural lusts, all unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections, all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening thereunto; wanton looks, impudent, or light behaviour; immodest apparel; prohibiting of lawful, and dispensing with unlawful marriages, allowing, tolerating, keeping of stews, and resorting to them; intangling vows of single life; undue delay of marriage, having more wives or husbands than one, at the same time; unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, unchaste company, lascivious songs, books, pictures, dancings, stage plays, and all other provocations to, or acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others.
This Commandment respects, more especially, the government of the affections, and the keeping our minds and bodies in such an holy frame, that nothing impure, immodest, or contrary to the strictest chastity, may defile, or be a reproach to us, or insinuate itself into our conversation with one another. And, in order thereunto, we are to set a strict watch over our thoughts and actions, and avoid every thing that may be an occasion of this sin, and use those proper methods that may prevent all temptations to it. Therefore we ought to associate ourselves with none but those whose conversation is chaste, and such as becomes Christians, to abhor all words and actions that are not so much as to be named among persons professing godliness. As for those who cannot, without inconveniency, govern their affections, but are sometimes tempted to any thing that is inconsistent with that purity of heart and life, which all ought religiously to maintain, it is their duty to enter into a married state; which is an ordinance that God has appointed, to prevent the breach of this Commandment. And this leads us to consider the sins forbidden therein, together with the occasions thereof.
I. Concerning the sins forbidden in this Commandment. And,
1. Some are not only contrary to nature, but inconsistent with the least pretences to religion; which were abhorred by the very Heathen themselves, and, by the law of God, punished with death; which punishment, when it has not been inflicted, God has, by his immediate hand, testified his vengeance against sinners, by raining down fire and brimstone from heaven, as he did upon the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrha, Lev. xviii. 22,—25. chap. xx. 13, 15, 16. Rom. i. 24, 26, 27, 28. Gen. xix. 24. These sins are called in this answer, incest, sodomy, and unnatural lusts. To which we may add, offering violence to others, and thereby forcing them to do what they could not even think of, but with abhorrence; this is called rape; and, by the law of God, the guilty person was punished with death, Deut. xxii. 25.
2. There are other sins, whereby this Commandment is violated; which, though more common, are, nevertheless, such as are attended with a very great degree of guilt and impurity. These are either, such as are committed by those who are unmarried, _viz._ fornication, or by those who are married, as adultery; the latter of which, by the law of God, was punished with death, Lev. xx. 10. as contained in it several aggravating circumstances; inasmuch as hereby the marriage contract is violated; that mutual affection, which is the end of that relation broken; and thereby the greatest injury is done to the innocent as well as ruin brought on the guilty. However, both these sins agree in this, that they proceed from a corrupt heart; as our Saviour says, Mat. xv. 19. and argue the person that is guilty of them, alienated from the life of God. And to this we may add,
3. That, another sin forbidden in this Commandment is, polygamy, or a having more husbands, or wives, than one, at the same time; together with that which often accompanies it, _viz._ concubinage. It is beyond dispute, that many good men have been guilty of this sin, as appears by what is recorded, in scripture, concerning Abraham, Jacob, David, _&c._ and we do not find that they are expressly reproved for it, which has given occasion to some modern writers, to think that it was not unlawful in those ages, but was afterwards rendered so by being prohibited under the gospel-dispensation[1]. This, indeed, cuts the knot of a very considerable difficulty; but it contains another that is equally great; inasmuch as hereby it does not appear to be contrary to the law of nature; and therefore I would rather chuse to take another method to solve it, viz. that many bad actions of good men are recorded in scripture, but not approved of, nor proposed for our imitation. Of this kind I must conclude the polygamy and concubinage of several holy men, mentioned in scripture, to have been. And that it may appear that this practice was not justifiable, let it be observed,
(1.) That, some sin or other is often expressly mentioned, as the occasion hereof. Thus Abraham’s taking Hagar, was occasioned by Sarah’s unbelief; because the promise of her having a son was not immediately fulfilled, Gen. xvi. 1, 2. And Jacob’s taking Rachel to wife after Leah, and his own discontent arising from it, was occasioned by Laban’s unjust dealing with him, and his going in unto Bilhah, was occasioned by Rachel’s unreasonable desire of children; and his taking Zilpah, by Leah’s ambitious desire of having pre-eminence over Rachel, by the number of her children, chap. xxix, and xxx.
(2.) This was generally attended with the breach of that peace, which is so desirable a blessing in families, and many disorders that ensued hereupon. Accordingly, we read of an irreconcilable quarrel that there was between Sarah and Hagar; and Ishmael’s hatred of Isaac, which the apostle calls _persecution_, Gal. iv. 39. And to this we may add, the contentions that were in Jacob’s family, and the envy expressed by the children of one of his wives, against those of another; and the opposition which one wife often expressed to another as that of Peninnah, one of the wives of Elkanah, to Hannah, the other. Therefore we must conclude, that Isaac’s example is rather to be followed in this matter, who had but one wife, and he loved her better than many of the patriarch’s did theirs; whose love was divided among several.
_Object._ 1. If polygamy was a sin against the light of nature, it is strange, that it should be committed by good men; and, that they should live and die without repenting of it, nor be, in the least, reproved for it; as we do not find that they were, in scripture.
_Answ._ It was indeed, a sin, which they might have known to be so, had they duly considered it, in all its circumstances and consequences; but this they did not; and therefore it was not so great a sin in them, as it would be in us, who have clearer discoveries of the heinous nature of it. Therefore, if we suppose they repented of all sin agreeably to the light they had, they might be saved; and this, though unrepented of, was no bar to their salvation, supposing they knew it not to be a sin; and God’s not having explicitly reproved them for it, argues only his forbearance, but not his approbation of it.
_Object._ 2. It is farther objected, that God says, by Nathan, to David, _I gave thee thy master’s wives into thy bosom_, 2 Sam. xii. 8. therefore, that which God gives, it is not unlawful for man to receive.
_Answ._ The meaning of that scripture in general, is, that God made him king; and then, according to the custom of the eastern kings, he took possession of what belonged to his predecessor, and consequently of his wives. Therefore God might be said to give David Saul’s wives providentially, in giving him the kingdom; so that they were his property, that he might take them for his own, according to custom, if he was inclined so to do. And this the kings of Judah generally did; though it does not follow from hence that God approved of it; in like manner as tyrants may be said to be raised up by God’s providence and permission; nevertheless, he does not approve of their tyranny.
All that we shall add, under this head, to what has been suggested, concerning the disorders that polygamy has occasioned in families, is, that it is contrary to the first institution of marriage. God created but one woman as an help-meet for Adam; though, if ever there were any pretence for the necessity of one man’s having more wives, it must have been in that instance, in which it seemed necessary for the increase of the world; but he rather chose that mankind should be propagated by slower advances, than to give the least dispensation, or indulgence to polygamy, as being contrary to the law of nature, Gen. ii. 22,-24. And the prophet, in Mal. ii. 15. takes notice of God’s _making but one_; though he had _the residue of the Spirit_; and therefore could have given Adam more wives than one. And the reason assigned for this was, that _he might seek a godly seed_, i. e. that the children that should be born of many wives, might not be the result of the ungodly practice of their father, as it would be, were this contrary to the law of nature; which we suppose it to be. This I rather understand by _a godly seed_, and not that the character of _godly_ refers to the children; for these could not be said to be godly, or ungodly, as the consequence of their parents having one or more wives.