Chapter IV. The Works Of God; Or The Execution Of The Decrees.

Section I.—Creation. I. Definition Of Creation. II. Proof of the Doctrine of Creation. 1. Direct Scripture Statements. 2. Indirect evidence from Scripture. III. Theories which oppose Creation. 1. Dualism. 2. Emanation. 3. Creation from eternity. 4. Spontaneous generation. IV. The Mosaic Account of Creation. 1. Its twofold nature,—as uniting the ideas of creation and of development. 2. Its proper interpretation. V. God’s End in Creation. 1. The testimony of Scripture. 2. The testimony of reason. VI. Relation of the Doctrine of Creation to other Doctrines. 1. To the holiness and benevolence of God. 2. To the wisdom and free-will of God. 3. To Christ as the Revealer of God. 4. To Providence and Redemption. 5. To the Observance of the Sabbath. Section II.—Preservation. I. Definition of Preservation. II. Proof of the Doctrine of Preservation. 1. From Scripture. 2. From Reason. III. Theories which virtually deny the doctrine of Preservation. 1. Deism. 2. Continuous Creation. IV. Remarks upon the Divine Concurrence. Section III.—Providence. I. Definition of Providence. II. Proof of the Doctrine of Providence. 1. Scriptural Proof. 2. Rational proof. III. Theories opposing the Doctrine of Providence. 1. Fatalism. 2. Casualism. 3. Theory of a merely general providence. IV. Relations of the Doctrine of Providence. 1. To miracles and works of grace. 2. To prayer and its answer. 3. To Christian activity. 4. To the evil acts of free agents. Section IV.—Good And Evil Angels. I. Scripture Statements and Imitations. 1. As to the nature and attributes of angels. 2. As to their number and organization. 3. As to their moral character. 4. As to their employments. A. The employments of good angels. B. The employments of evil angels. II. Objections to the Doctrine of Angels. 1. To the doctrine of angels in general. 2. To the doctrine of evil angels in particular. III. Practical uses of the Doctrine of Angels. A. Uses of the doctrine of good angels. B. Uses of the doctrine of evil angels.