A Bible hand-book

Preface

This work has engaged the author's attention, at intervals, for several years; and is the result of the labor of such leisure moments as could be snatched from the more pressing duties of an active pastorate.

It will be found a time saver to all students of the Bible, and a convenient help to young ministers and Sunday-School teachers. Trusting that the Divine blessing will rest upon this humble effort to make the Bible its own expositor on the topics herein presented, the author submits it to

the public.

F. C. HOLLIDAY.

Indianapolis, Ind., Bept, 1, 1869.

Chapter II. Attributes

1. Unity 27

2. Spirituality 28

3. Eternity 28

4. Immutability 29

5. Omnipotence 29

(1.) Shown by the Fact of Creation, 29. (2.) By the Vastness and Variety of His Works, 30. (3.) The Ease with which He is said to Create and Uphold All Things, 30. (4.) Terrible Descriptions of Divine Power, 31. (5.) By the Universality of His Dominion, as well over Intelligent Beings as over the Material Universe, 32. (6.) Direct Scriptures, 33.

6. Omnipresence 34

7. Omniscience..... 34

8. Wisdom 36

9. Goodness 36

10. Holiness 38

11. Justice and Truth 39

12. Majesty and Glory 40

Chapter III. Persons Of The Godhead

PAGE.

1. Trinity 44

2. Three Persons, and three only, are spoken of under Divine

Titles 44

3. Baptism is in the Name of Three Divine Persons 45

4. The Apostolic Benediction is in the Name of Three Divine

Persons 45

Chapter IV. Divinity Of Christ Proven

1. By His Pre-Existence 45

2. He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament 46

3. Divine Titles ascribed to Christ 48

(1.) He is called God, 48. (2.) He is called Lord, 48. (3.) He is called the Son of God, 50. (4.) Christ, as the Son of God, calls God Father, 51. (5.) Christ, as the Son of God, is distinguished from Created Beings by the Phrase, "Begotten, Only Begotten," etc. (6.) Christ is One with the Father, 52. (7.) The Same Things are spoken of God the Father and of Christ, 52. (8.) Equal with God, 53. (9.) Styled God's Fellow, 53. (10.) Called Word of God, 53.

4. Divine Attributes Possessed by Him 53

(1.) Eternity, 53. (2.) Omniscience, 54. (3.) Omnipotence, 54.

5. Divine Acts are attributed to Him 64

(1.) Creation, 54. (2.) Preservation, 55. (3.) The Final Destruction of the Material Universe is attributed to Christ, 55. (4.) Christ claimed to perform the Works of His Father, and to possess Original Miraculous Power, 55. (5.) He promised to send the Holy Ghost, 56. (6.) He gave the Holy Ghost, 56. (7.) He forgave Sins, 56.

6. Divine Worship paid to Him 57

(1.) Before His Ascension, 57. (2.) After His Ascension, 57. (3.) Adored by Angels, 58. (4.) Doxologies to Christ, 58. (5.) But to Worship any Being or Thing but God is Idolatry, 58.

Chapter V. The Person Of Christ

1. His Humanity 59

2. The Union of Two Natures in One Hypostasis 59

CONTENTS. y

Chapter VI. The Holy Ghost

PAGE.

1. Proceeds from the Father and Son 60

2. His Personality 60

3. His Deity 62

(1.) The Subject of Blasphemy, 62. (2.) Divine Titles ascribed to Him, 62. (3.) Possessed of Divine Attributes, 62. a. Eternity, 62. 6. Omnipresence, 62. c. Omniscience, 62. d. Holiness—He is styled the Holy Ghost, 63. e. Goodness, 63. /. Grace, 63. g. Truth, 63.

4. He is the Source of Inspiration 63

5. He is the Source of Life 63

6. He is the Author of the Kew Creation — Regeneration 63

7. He is the Source of Religious Comfort 63

Chapter I

man's primeval state.

1. Made Under Law 71

2. Created in the Image of God „,... 71

(1.) Dominion, 71. (2.) Spirituality, 72. (3.) Immortality, 72. (4.) Intellectual Powers— Knowledge, 73. (5.) Moral Image of God—Holiness, 74.

Chapter II

the FALL OF MAN.

1. The Temptation — The Serpent the Instrument — The Devil the

Real Tempter 74

2. The Transgression 75

3. The Results of the Fall— Physical Evil 75

(1.) The Ground Cursed for Man's Sake, 75. (2.) Man Doomed to Labor, 75. (3.) Physical Suffering caused by the Fall, 75. (4.) Temporal Death the Result of Sin, 76.

PAGE.

4. Results of the Fall— Moral Evil 77

(1.) Spiritual Death — Loss of the Divine Image, 77.

5. Man's Moral Nature Corrupted by the Fall 78

6. Depravity Hereditary 79

7. The Extent of Depravity is Total or Universal 80

(1.) The Will is Depraved, 80. (2.) The Understanding Darkened, 81. (3.) The Afifections Corrupt, 82. (4.) The Imagination Vitiated, 82. (5.) Man's Moral Powers Paralyzed, 83. (6.) Man's Utter Helplessness, 83.

BOOK III. Atonement or Redemption 87

CHAPTER I.

REDEMPTION.

1. Necessity for an Atonement..... 90

2. Bedemption by the Death of Christ 92

3. The Death of Christ a Sufficient Atonement for the Sins of

the Whole World 94

4. The Death of Christ the Procuring Cause of Man's Salvation.. 95

(1.) Justification, 96. (2.) Regeneration, 97. (3.) Reconciliation, 98. (4.) Adoption, 98. (5.) Peace, 99. (6.) Witness of the Spirit, 100. (7.) Sanctification, 101.

CHAPTER II.

BENEFITS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST — CONDITIONS OF

SALVATION.

1. Bepentance — Faith the Instrumental Cause of Man's Salva-

tion 104

2. The Holy Spirit the Efficient Cause of Man's Salvation 107

Chapter III. Further Benefits Of The Death Of Christ

1. The Bight to Pray 108

2. The Power of Prayer 110

PAGE.

3. Divine Providence — General and Special 112

4. Victory over Death 113

5. The Imnrediate Eeception of the Souls of the Pious into a

State of Blessedness 114

6. The Eesurrection of the Body 114

Chapter IV. Election, Decrees, And Free-will

1. Election 117

(1.) The Election of Individuals to perform some Particular Service, 117. (2.) Collective or National Election, 117. (3.) Personal Election, or the Choosing of Individuals to be the Heirs of Eternal Life, 119.

2. Scripture Doctrine of Divine Decrees 120

3. Freedom of the Human Will 121

Chapter V. The Doctrine Of A General Judgment

1. The Certainty of the JiJdgment 123

2. The Judgment Subsequent to Death 124

3. The Judgment Subsequent to the Eesurrection 124

4. Christ will be the Judge 126

6. The Decisions of the Judgment will be Final and Equitable.. 128

6. The Award to the Eighteous 129

7. The Doom of the Wicked 131

8. Heaven a Place of Eternal Happiness 133

9. HeU a Place of Endless Misery 136

BOOK IT.

THE MORAL LAW

Chapter I. The First Commandment

1. Idolatry Forbidden 146

2. God to be Worshiped 146

PAGE.

3. Threatenings against Idolatry 147

4. The Judgments of God inflicted upon the Violators of this

Commandment 147

5. Instances of God's Judgments upon Particular Transgressors

of this Commandment 148

6. Idolatry Punished with Death 152

7. Idols are but Vanity 153

8. Against Inquiring Concerning Future Events of False Gods

and of those professing to have Familiar Spirits 153

9. This Command requires us to have a God, and is therefore

against Atheism , 154

10. This Command requires Supreme Love to God 155

Chapter II. The Second Commandment

1. The Use of Images is Forbidden 156

2. Images are not Eepresentations of God 157

3. The Judgments of God upon the Violators of this Command.. 157

4. Images used by Apostates as Outward Symbols in the Wor-

ship of the True God 159

6. Images not to be Worshiped, though enjoined by Human

Authority 160

6. Threatenings against Idolatry 160

7. The Following Crimes, as partaking of the Nature of Idol-

atry, are Prohibited 161

(1.) Magic, 161. (2.) Sorcery, 163. (3.) Enchantments, 164. (4.) Soothsaying, 164. (5.) Observing of Times, 164. (6.) Witchcraft, 164. (7.) Divination, 166. (8.) Consulting Familiar Spirits, 166.

8. Idolatry is Debasing 167

Chapter III. The Third Commandment

1. Profane Swearing is Forbidden 168

2. False Swearing is Forbidden 169

3. Swearing by Creatures is Forbidden 171

4. Instances of Swearing to commit Sin or to encourage it... 172

5. Civil Oaths Lawful 173

6. Articles of Peace and Private Contracts ratified by an Oath.. 174

Chapter IV. The Fourth Commandment

PAGE.

1. The Sabbath must be observed as a Day of Eest from Sec-

ular Work 178

2. The Sabbath a Day for Eeligious Worship 181

3. Works of Necessity and Mercy may be done on the Sabbath

Day 182

4. The First Day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath 183

Chapter V. The Fifth Commandment

1. This Command requires Reverence and Obedience on the

Part of Children 185

2. It requires Reverence to the Aged, whether they are our

Parents or not 186

3. God's Judgments against Disobedient Children 186

4. It requires Reverence and Submission to Civil Rulers 187

Chapter VI. The Sixth Commandment

1. Murder is Prohibited 188

2. Threatenings against Murderers 189

3. Cases where Killing a Man is not to be punished with

Death 190

4. Human Life authorized to be taken by the Civil Govern-

ment 190

5. Hatred Forbidden 191

6. Malice Forbidden 191

7. Anger Forbidden 191

8. Wrath Forbidden !. 192

9. Contention Forbidden 192

Chapter VII. The Seventh Commandment

1. Statement of the Law 193

2. Threatenings against Fornication and Adultery 193

PAGE.

3. Impure Thoughts Condemned 197

4. Polygamy Forbidden 197

5. Against Divorce 198

Chapter VIII. The Eighth Commandment

1. Theft Forbidden 199

2. Threatenings against Theft 199

3. Threatenings against Robbery 200

4. Fraud and Cheating Forbidden 200

5. Precepts Concerning Landed Property 201

6. Precepts Concerning Things Found/ Loaned, or Intrusted to

Others 201

7. Eestitution to be made to the Injured 202

8. Threatenings against Oppressors 202

Chapter IX. The Ninth Commandment

1. False Swearing is Condemned ,rr,« 203

2. Lying is Forbidden 204

3. Evil Speaking is Condemned 205

4. Slander is Condemned 206

5. Tale-Bearing and Backbiting are Condemned 206

6. Reviling and Railing Condemned 206

7. Unprofitable Conversation Forbidden 207

8. Flattery Forbidden 207

Chapter X. The Tenth Commandment

1. Covetousness Condemned 208

2. Unjust Means of Acquiring Property Condemned 209

3. The Folly of Trusting in Riches 210

BOOK Y.

INSTITUTIONS OF CHRISTIANITY.

Chapter I. The Church

PAGE.

1. The Church a Divine Institution 217

2. The Unity of the Church under all Dispensations 218

3. God's Dwelling-Place the Church 220

4. The Stability of the Church 220

5. The Church's Prosperity Dependent upon the Divine Bless-

ing 221

6. The Ultimate Universal Triumph of the Church 221

7. The Blessedness of Church Fellowship 223

8. The Duty of Christians toward Each Other 225

9. The Duty of Union with the Church 226

10. Heretics and Disorderly Persons to be Excluded 227

11. Prayers for the Church's Prosperity 228

12. Limits of Christian Fellowship 229

13. The Church Missionary in its Constitution 230

Chapter II. The Ministry

1. Ministers are called of God 231

2. The Preaching of the Gospel the Great Instrument of Human

Salvation 233

3. Ministers to be Supported 236

4. Different Orders in the Ministry 237

5. Ministers to be Examples to the Church 238

Chapter III. Christian Baptism

1. Baptism a Christian Duty 243

2. The Design of Baptism 244

PAGE.

3. Examples of Baptism 244

4. Baptism of Households .^ 245

5. The Spiritual Import and Scriptural Mode of Baptism 246

Chapter IV. The Lord^s Supper

1. Its Institution 250

2. The Obligation upon Christians to Observe It 251

3. The Elements to be Used 252

BOOK YI.

CHRISTIAN DUTIES AND PEIVILEGES.

Chapter I. Prayer

1. Prayer a Duty 255

2. Vocal and Audible , 256

3. With Faith and Submission to the Will of God 257

4. With the Spirit of Forgiveness 258

5. Should be Importunate 258

6. Should be in the Name of Christ 259

7. The Posture of the Body in Prayer 260

8. Secret Prayer 260

9. Public and Social Prayer 261

10. Prayer for Temporal Blessings 262

11. Examples of Answers to Prayer 263

Chapter II. Praise To God

1. Praise is a Christian Duty 265

2. Praise should be Earnest 266

Chapter III

FRUITS. OF THE SPIRIT.

PAGE.

(1.) Love to God, 267. (2.) The Love of God, 268. (3.) Love to the Brethren, 270. (4.) Love to all Men, 271.

(1.) Rejoice in God, 272. (2.) Rejoice Always, 274.

3. Peace 275

(1.) Peace with God, 275. (2.) Peace of Mind— Tranquillity, 277. (3.) Disposed to Promote Peace, 278.

4. Long-Suffering.. 279

(1.) Patience under Provocation, 279. (2.) Submission to the Will

of God, 280.

6. Gentleness 282

(1.) Must be Kind, 282. (2.) Not Contentious, 283. (3.) Should Help the Feeble, 284.

6. Goodness 285

(1.) The Right State of the Heart^Be Good, 285. (2.) Doing Good— Beneficence, 286.

7. Meekness 289

(1.) Christian Lowliness, 289. (2.) Humility, 290.

8. Temperance , 291

(1.) Self-Denial, 291. (2.) Christian Moderation, 292. (3.) Self- Go vernment, 294.

9. Faith 294

(1.) Belief in God's Word, 294. (2.) Trust in God, 296. (3.) Faith Exemplified, 298.

Chapter IV. Relative Duties Of Christians Toward Each Other

1. To Love One Another 302

2. To Live in Peace. 303

3. Christian Forbearance 303

4. Duty to Forgive One Another 304

6. True Friendship 304

6. To be Benevolent , 305

7. Liberality Eewarded 305

8. Encouragements to Liberality 307

Chapter V. Domestic Duties

PAGE.

1. The Marriage Relation Instituted and Recommended 308

2. Cautions against Improper Marriages 308

3. Mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives 308

4. Duty of Parents to their Children 309

(1.) To Provide for them, 309. (2.) To Administer Needful Correction, 309. (3.) Encouragements to Parental Faithfulness, 309.

6. Duty of Children to their Parents 310

6. Disobedient Children Punished 310

7. Divorce 310

8. Polygamy 311

BOOK YII.

CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE.

1. Conviction for Sin , 317

2. Sinners called upon to Repent 318

3. God Expostulates 320

4. Repentance Demanded 321

5. Repentance includes Sorrow for Sin and Confession 321

6. Genuine Repentance Acceptable to God 323

7. Repentance includes Reformation 324

8. Conversion, including Pardon and Regeneration 325

CHAPTER II.

1. Evidences of Regeneration 327

2. Christian Holiness 329