The student's handbook to Scripture doctrines: comprising an analysis of Rev. J. Garner's theological dissertations on the doctrines of the Bible, a summary of Christian theology, and numerous illustrative figures, facts, and incidents

Front matter

THE

STUDENTS HANDBOOK

TO

Preface

HE strength and perpetuity of Primitive Methodism, as of every other section of the Christian Church, depend, under the gracious influences of the Holy G-host, upon three things : (1) The scripturalness of its objective and subjective theology ; (2) its pure morality; and (3) its power to enfore discipline. When some one said to Mr. Wesley, towards the close of his life, " What must be done to keep Methodism alive when you are dead ? " he immediately answered " The Methodists must take heed to their doctrine, their experience, their practice, and their discipline. If they attend to their doctrines only, they will make the people Antinomians ; if to the experimental part of religion only, they will mako them enthusiasts ; if to the practical part only, they will make them pharisees; and if they do not attend to their discipline, they will be like persons who bestow much pains in cultivating their garden, and put no fence round it to save it from the wild boar of the forest." The Established Church, for instance, has been for years past suffering from a divided theology and from an imperfect discipline. And now that God is calling us, as a community, to nurse a very large ii. Preface.

dumber of souls and to take charge of a considerable portion )f the general flock of Christ, " which he hath purchased kvith his own blood," it is vastly important and indispensably necessary that the Connexion provide them with suitable nstruction in " righteousness and true holiness."

A recent writer, in giving a very one-sided view of the *reat Methodist family, of which we form no small portion, lays : " The theology of the Methodists seems to us far two subjective; indeed, for real objective theology they seem to lave but little regard." Now, if this charge were true it ivould be a fact to be deeply deplored ; for while it is possible, as Paul says, to " hold the truth in unrighteousness," to possess a scriptural creed in connection with a wicked life, it s yet of the highest importance that our people be well nstructed and firmly established in '• the faith." Attempts mve been made, from time to time, to form what were called ' Free Churches," whose banners bore the strange device, ' No definite creed, because all creeds are undesirable ! " But the attempts have been as vain as it would be to erect a nansion on the crest of a foaming billow. Time has demonstrated that the members forming these so-called " churches " lad a creed ; aye, and in many instances a creed as narrow, is bigoted, as it was possible for the minds of men to make. Their cry was, " No creed," and yet, forsooth, their creed was to denounce the great cardinal verities of our holy religion. The fact is, we are so constituted that we must have a creed if we have a religion ; for a creed is to us what |he main-spring is to a time-piece, which directs the motion 3f the hands. We always dread the " no creed " men, by whatever name they are called, for they generally turn out to have very fixed sentiments, and these often very unscripjjural. " Latitudinarianism is closely allied to scepticism .md infidelity, and indeed is but another side of the same rhing." A creed we must have, and it is our duty to see that the one we hold is based on the Word of Grod.

Preface. £ii.

That the Primitive Methodists have insisted, with delighted reiteration, upon the importance of experimental theology, is a fact we rejoice to admit. And may God forbid that we should ever speak with bated breath on this point. We have occasionally heard some of our honoured brethren boast of our being absolutely safe from all heterodoxy, because we have doctrines accurately defined in our consolidated minutes, and connexional courts to enforce the holding and promulgation of these doctrines. But there is a law of spiritual life in connection with the Gospel which, if acted upon and perpetuated, will furnish a greater security than can be found in the best catechism or system of doctrine, or in the purest and best constituted church courts. There is what Paul calls " the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," and if we always recognised and acted in accordance with this we should, as a people, be perfectly safe, because we should be under a Divine law. Such a state of religious experience pervading our churches would furnish a better guarantee for orthodoxy than the most logical and accurately defined system of doctrine, or the most elaborate catechism that any synod, assembly, or conference ever constructed. It is the lack of experimental piety that renders thousands such an easy prey to Unitarianism, Socinianism, Scepticism, Eationalism, and that silliest of all errors, Tractarianism. And is it not a fact that, the best systems of theology, the richest and most reliable commentaries, and the ablest expositions of God's word have been written by men of deep experimental piety? For example — the holy Baxter; the heavenlyminded Owen ; the saintly Henry : the seraphic Fletcher ; the pious Dr. Clarke and the equally devout Eichard Watson ; and our own humble-minded John Petty : — these men will be held in everlasting remembrance for their deep-toned piety and active exertions in the cause of God, and yet their objective theology was of the most decided character.

iv. Preface.

But while the grace of God thus elevates and purifies the understand and fills the heart

" With the calm sunshine and the heartfelt joy,"

it will ever manifest itself in practical conformity to the Divine precepts. " Hereby we know that we love God, if we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." " If ye Tcnoiv these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

We believe that the doctrinal, experimental, and practical theology of Primitive Methodism is Scriptural, clear, outspoken, and decided, and deserving a much keener scrutiny than many, even of our own people, have hitherto bestowed upon it. And we believe that the practical piety of our people, in the different relations of life, will bear comparison with that of any existing community.

The following pages are the result of an honest endeavour to place the*, doctrinal, experimental, and practical features of Primitive Methodism in a form adapted to meet the requirements of the great mass of our people. The book, while passing through the press in monthly parts, has obtained a very wide circulation, and has been highly recommended by ministers and reviewers as pre-eminently fitted to aid young men, ministerial students, local preachers, and Sabbath-school teachers, in the discharge of their important duties.

The analysis of the Eev. James Garner's " Theological Dissertations " has been prepared by the Eev. Eobert Harrison, and the remainder of the work by the Rev. Henry "Woodcock. Each writer must therefore be held

responsible for his own department.

H. W.

15, Williamson Street, Hull, Feb. 5th, 1875.