Systematic theology...

Preface

TO THE FIRST EDITION,

This work is an enlarged and amended edition of the author's " Lectures on Theology/' printed in 1876, for the use of students in the Rochester Theological Seminary. It contains nearly four times the amount of matter embraced in the former volume. The main text remains substantially the same, although important additions have been made to the treatment of the intuition of the divine existence, the classification of the attributes, the statement of the doctrine of decrees, the teaching as to race-sin and race-responsibility, ability or inability, the ethical theory of the atonement, and the final state of the wicked. The section on the moral nature of man ( conscience and will ) is new ; a few minor paragraphs of the older book have been omitted ; and the work has been somewhat altered in arrangement.

The author's aim has been not so much the writing of a theology for theologians as the construction of a hand-book for the use of students for the ministry. The main text is intended to serve as the basis for daily recitation ; the matter in smaller print is added by way of proof, explanation, or illustration. To save labor to the reader, Scripture passages referred to in the text have been printed in full in the appended notes, — the Revised English Version, except where otherwise indicated, being used, and the readings of the American Committee being generally preferred. Minute references are given, under each head, to the various books which may serve

Vlll PKEFACE.

as additional sources of information or suggestion. The writers referred to are not mentioned as authorities : it has been the aim, in general, to indicate not only the authors whose views are favored, but also those who best represent the views combated, in the text. The editions used are those found in the Library of the Seminary for whose students the text-book was originally written ; fortunately these editions are, in general, the latest.

It has been thought well not only to give references to the best writers on the subjects treated, but also to introduce brief quotations from them, with a view to familiarize the reader with their general doctrinal position and to stimulate him to further reading of the works themselves. Many of these quotations are followed by explanatory or critical remarks, and in the smaller print considerable space is not unfrequently given to notes upon matters that could not be fully treated in the text, such as the history of systematic theology, the authorship of the Pentateuch, heathen systems of morality, heathen trinities, the Mosaic history of creation, the Sabbath, objections to the evolutionary theory of the origin of man, a tabular view of theories of imputation, notes on depravity, guilt, and penalty, the humanity of Christ, the Old Testament sacrifices, the doctrine of election, union with Christ, ordination to the ministry, the immortality of the soul, and the second coming of Christ.

It will be noticed that books are sometimes referred to which can hardly be called the best sources of information : in such cases the intention has often been to help the theological student to use intelligently the books he has; in other words, to enable the possessor of few books, and those not the best, to get from them all the good he can.

Attention is called to the element of Scriptural exposition that has been admitted. Under each of the chief doctrines, the main passages relied upon for proof are somewhat fully explained ; while

PKEFACE. IX

the attempt has been made to condense the results of the best modern exegesis into the few words of explanation immediately following many of the minor passages cited. Although much material for private study is thus added, the author does not regard the work, even in its present form, as more than an outline which needs to be filled in by the fuller expositions and discussions of the classroom. It is to be judged by its aim — to provide a basis and starting-point, a source of elementary knowledge and a stimulus to thought, in preparation for the oral instruction of a Theological Seminary.

To three living persons the author desires to express his peculiar obligation. Two of these are his former teachers : President Noah Porter, of Yale College, and President Ezekiel G-. Robinson, of Brown University ; to the former he owes his first insight into philosophy ; to the latter his first insight into theology. The third name is that of Professor William G. T. Shedd, of the Union Theological Seminary, from whose various writings the author has for many years derived constant stimulus and suggestion. The sincerity and warmth of this threefold recognition are not lessened by the fact that the views presented in this volume are in some respects peculiar to the author.

The usefulness of the work, it is hoped, will be greatly increased by the very copious Indexes of subjects, of authors, and of Scripture passages. For the preparation of these, thanks are due to the Rev. Robert Kerr Eccles, M. D., recently a student of the Rochester Theological Seminary, but now pastor of the Baptist Church in Salem, Ohio, with whom the work has been a labor of love.

In the view of the author, the aim of a course of theological study is not to crowd upon the pupil a ready-made system, but rather to put him in possession of the most important Biblical and scientific materials of theology, to cultivate in him the habit of theological thinking, and to enable him for himself to master certain of the

X PREFACE.

strategic points of doctrine, from which he may afterwards advance his lines with safety and success. In the hope that the present work may, in these respects, be serviceable to those who are preparing for the ministry of the gospel, it is now, with all its imperfections, committed to the care and blessing of Christ, the great head of the church, — to whom, as the author and perfecter of our faith, be eternal glory !

Rochester Theological Seminary, Rochester, May 1, 1886.

PEEFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

Grateful for the favor with which the first edition of his Systematic Theology has been received, the author has subjected it to a thorough revision, and now sends it out with its errata so far as possible corrected, with many slight improvements of statement, and with more than seven hundred new references, quotations, or brief additions to the substance of the work. Notwithstanding these changes, the paging of the old edition, except in the Indexes, has been almost uniformly preserved. The credit of the proofreading is due to Mr. H. K. Phinney, to whom the author expresses his great obligation. He trusts that this new edition may be more useful than the old.

Rochester Theological Seminary, Rochester, May 1, 1889.

Table Of Contents

Preface, vii-x

Table of Contexts, xi-xxiii

PART L— PROLEGOMENA, 1-28

Chapter I. — Idea of Theology, 1-13 I. — Definition of Theology, 1

II.— Aim of Theology, 1-2

III. — Possibility of Theology — grounded in, 2-9

1. The existence of a God, 2-4

2. Man's capacity for the knowledge of God, 4-7

3. God's revelation of himself to man, 7-9

IV. — Necessity of Theology, 9-11

V.— Relation of Theology to Religion, 11-13

Chapter I. — Origin of our Idea of God's Existence, 29-38 I.— First Truths in General, 30-31

II.— The Existence of God a First Truth, 31-34

1. Its universality, * _._ 31-32

2. Its necessity, 32-33

3. Its logical independence and priority, 33-34

III. — Other supposed Sources of the Idea, 34-36

IV.— Contents of this Intuition, 37-38

• b xi

Xll TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I. — Preliminary Considerations, 58-71 I. — Reasons a 'priori for expecting a Revelation from God, 58-59

II. — Marks of the Revelation man may expect, 60-61

III. — Miracles as attesting a Divine Revelation, _ _ 61-67

1. Definition of Miracle, 61-62

2. Possibility of Miracles, 62-63

3. Probability of Miracles,. 63-64

4. Amount of Testimony necessary to prove a Miracle, 64-65

5. Evidential Force of Miracles, 65-66

6. Counterfeit Miracles, 66-67

IV. — Prophecy as attesting a Divine Revelation, 67-69

V. — Principles of Historical Evidence applicable to the Proof of

a Divine Revelation, 69-71

1. As to Documentary Evidence, 69-70

2. As to Testimony in General, 70-71

Chapter II. — Positive Proofs that the Scriptures are a Divine Revelation, 72-94

I. — Genuineness of the Christian Documents, 72-82

1. Genuineness of the Books of the New Testament, 72-80

1st. The Myth-theory of Strauss, 76-77

2d. The Tendency -theory of Baur, 77-79

3d. The Romance-theory of Renan, 79-80

2. Genuineness of the Books of the Old Testament, 80-82

The Authorship of the Pentateuch, 81-82

II.— Credibility of the Writers of the Scriptures, 82-84

III. — Supernatural Character of the Scripture Teaching, 84-91

1. Scripture Teaching in General, 84-86

2. Moral System of the New Testament, 86-89

Heathen Systems of Morality, 86-89

3. The Person and Character of Christ, 89-91

4. The Testimony of Christ to himself, 91

IV. — Historical Results of the Propagation of Scripture Doctrine, 91-94

Chapter III. — Inspiration of the Scriptures, 95-114 I. — Definition of Inspiration, 95-96

II.— Proof of Inspiration, . 96-97

HI.— Theories of Inspiration, • 97-102

1. The Intuition-theory, 97-98

2. The Illumination-theory, 99-100

TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii

3. The Dictation-theory, 100-102

4. The Dynamical theory, 102

IV. — The Union of the Divine and Human Elements in Inspiration, 102-104

V. — Objections to the Doctrine of Inspiration, 105-114

1. Errors in matters of Science, 105-107

2. Errors in matters of History, 107-1C8

3. Errors in Morality, 108-109

4. Errors of Reasoning, 109-110

5. Errors in Quoting or Interpreting the Old Testament, 110

6. Errors in Prophecy, 111

7. Certain Books unworthy of a Place in inspired Scripture,. 111-112

8. Portions of the Scripture Books written by others than the

Persons to whom they are ascribed, 112-113

9. Sceptical or Fictitious Narratives, 113-114

10. Acknowledgment of the Non-inspiration of Scripture Teachers and their Writings, 114

Chapter I. — The Attributes of God, 115-143 I. — Definition of the term Attributes, 115

II. — Relation of the Divine Attributes to the Divine Essence, ... 116-118

III. — Methods of Determining the Divine Attributes, 118

IV. — Classification of the Attributes, 118-120

V. — Absolute or Immanent Attributes, 120-130

First Division. — Spirituality, and Attributes therein involved, 120-122

2. Personality, 121-122

Second Division. — Infinity, and Attributes therein involved, 122-125

1. Self-existence, 123-124

2. Immutability, 124-125

Third Division. — Perfection, and Attributes therein involved, 125-130

VI. — Relative or Transitive Attributes, 130-140

First Division. — Attributes having relation to Time and Space, 130-132

Second Division. — Attributes having relation to Creation, 132-137

1. Omnipresence, 132-133

2. Omniscience, 133-136

3. Omnipotence, 136-137

Third Division.— Attributes having relation to Moral

* 1. Veracity and Faithfulness, or Transitive Truth,.. 137

XIV TABLE OF CONTENTS.

2. Mercy and Goodness, or Transitive Love, 137-138

3. Justice and Righteousness, or Transitive Holiness, 138-140 VII. — Rank and Relations of the several Attributes, 140-143

1. Holiness the Fundamental Attribute in God, 140-141

2. The Holiness of God the Ground of Moral Obligation, 141-143

Chapter II. — Doctrine of the Trinity, 144-170

I. — In Scripture there are Three who are recognized as God,.__ 145-155

1. Proofs from the New Testament, 145-151

A. The Father is recognized as God, 145

B. Jesus Christ is recognized as God, 145-150

C. The Holy Spirit is recognized as God, 150-151

2. Intimations of the Old Testament, 152-155

A. Passages which seem to teach Plurality of some

sort in the Godhead, 152-153

B. Passages relating to the Angel of Jehovah, 153

C. Descriptions of the Divine Wisdom and Word, _ _ _ 153-154

D. Descriptions of the Messiah, 154-155

H. — These Three are so described in Scripture, that we are compelled to conceive of them as distinct Persons, 155-157

1. The Father and the Son are Persons distinct from

each other, 155

2. The Father and the Son are Persons distinct from

the Spirit, 155

3. The Holy Spirit is a Person, 155-157

III. — This Tripersonality of the Divine Nature is not merely economic and temporal, but is immanent and eternal, 157-159

1. Scripture Proof that these distinctions of Personality

are eternal, 157-158

2. Errors refuted by the Scripture Passages, 158-159

A. The Sabellian, 158-159

B. TheArian, 159

IV. — While there are three Persons, there is but one Essence, 159-161

V.— These three Persons are Equal, 161-166

1. These Titles belong to the Persons, 161-162

2. Qualified Sense of these Titles, 162-164

3. Generation and Procession consistent with Equality, . . 164-166 VI. — The Doctrine of the Trinity inscrutable, yet not self -contradictory, but the Key to all other Doctrines, 166-170

1. The Mode of this Triune Existence is inscrutable, 166-167

2. The Doctrine of the Trinity is not self-contradictory,. 167-168

3. The Doctrine of the Trinity has important Relations to

other Doctrines, 168-170

Chapter III. — The Decrees of God, 171-182 I. — Definition of Decrees, 171-172

II. — Proof of the Doctrine of Decrees, 172-176

1. From Scripture, 172-173

A. From the Divine Foreknowledge, 173-175

B. From the Divine Wisdom, 175

C. From the Divine Immutability, 175

TABLE OF COXTE^TS. XV

D. From the Divine Benevolence, 175-176

III. — Objections to the Doctrine of Decrees, 176-181

1. That they are inconsistent with the Free Agency of Man, 176-178

2. That they take away all Motive for Human Exertion, . . 178-179

3. That they make God the Author of Sin, 179-181

IV.— Concluding Remarks, 181-182

1. Practical Uses of the Doctrine of Decrees, 181

2. True Method of Preaching the Doctrine, 181-182

Or

^v Chaptek IV. — The Works of God, or the Execution of the

Section I. — Creation, 183-202 I. — Definition of Creation, 183

II— Proof of the Doctrine, 184-186

1. Direct Scripture Statements, 184-186

2. Indirect Evidence from Scripture, 186

III. — Theories which oppose Creation, 186-191

2. Emanation, 189

3. Creation from Eternity, 190-191

4. Spontaneous Generation, 191

IV.— The Mosaic Account of Creation, _ _ . 191-195

1. Its Twofold Nature, .. _ 191-193

2. Its Proper Interpretation, 193-195

V.— God's End in Creation, 195-198

1. The Testimony of Scripture, 195-196

2. The Testimony of Reason, 196-198

VI. — Relation of the Doctrine of Creation to other Doctrines, 198-202

1. To the Holiness and Benevolence of God, 198-199

2. To the Wisdom and Free Will of God, 199-200

3. To Providence and Redemption, 200-202

Section II. — Preservation, 202-207 I. — Definition of Preservation, 202

II. — Proof of the Doctrine of Preservation, 202-204

1. From Scripture, 202-203

2. From Reason, 203-204

III. — Theories which virtually deny the Doctrine of Preservation, 204-206

2. Continuous Creation, 205-206

IV. — Remarks upon the Divine Concurrence, 206-207

Section III. — Providence, 207-220 I.— Definition of Providence, 207-208

II.— Proof of the Doctrine of Providence, 208-211

1. Scriptural Proof, 208-210

2. Rational Proof, 210-211

III. — Theories opposing the Doctrine of Providence, 211-214

3. Theory of a merely General Providence, 213-214

IV. — Relations of the Doctrine of Providence, 215-220

XVI TABLE OF CONTENTS.

1. To Miracles and Works of Grace, 215

2. To Prayer and its Answer, 215-219

3. To Christian Activity, 219-220

4. To the Evil Acts of Free Agents, 220

Section IV. — Good and Evil Angels, 221-233 I. — Scripture Statements and Intimations, ' 221-230

1. As to the Nature and Attributes of Angels, 221-223

2. As to their Number and Organization, 223-224

3. As to their Moral Character, __ _■ 225

4. As to their Employments, 225-230

A. The E mploy ments of Good Angels, _ _ . . 225-227

B. The Employments of Evil Angels, 227-230

II.— Objections to the Doctrine of Angels, 230-232

1. To the Doctrine of Angels in General, 230-231

2. To the Doctrine of Evil Angels in Particular, 231-232

III. — Practical Uses of the Doctrine of Angels, 232-233

1. Uses of the Doctrine of Good Angels, 232-233

2. Uses of the Doctrine of Evil Angels, 233

Chapter I.— Preliminary, 234-260 I.— Man a Creation of God and a Child of God, 234-238

II.— Unity of the Race, 238-243

1. Argument from History, 239-240

2. Argument from Language, 240

3. Argument from Psychology, 240-241

4. Argument from Physiology, 241-243

III.— Essential Elements of Human Nature, 243-248

1. The Dichotomous Theory, 243-244

2. The Trichotomous Theory, 244-248

IV.— Origin of the Soul, 248-254

1. The Theory of Preexistence, 248-250

2. The Creatian Theory, 250-252

3. The Traducian Theory, 252-254

V.— The Moral Nature of Man, 254-260

1. Conscience, 254-257

Chapter II.— The Original State of Man, 261-272 I. — Essentials of Man's Original State, 261-267

1. Natural Likeness to God, or Personality, 262

2. Moral Likeness to God, or Holiness, 262-263

A. The Image of God as including only Personality, 264-265

B. The Image of God as consisting simply in Man's

Natural Capacity for Religion, 265-267

II.— Incidents of Man's Original State, 267-272

1. Results of Man's Possession of the Divine Image, 267-268

2. Concomitants of Man's Possession of the Divine Image, 268-269

1st. The Theory of an Original Condition of Savagery, 269-271 2nd. The Theory of Comte as to the Stages of Human

Progress, 271-272

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XV11

Chapter III. — Sin, or Man's State of Apostasy, 273-357 Section L— The Law op God, 273-282

I.— Law in General, 273-275

II— The Law of God in Particular, " 275-281

1. Elemental law, 275-279

2. Positive Enactment, 279-281

III.— Kelation of the Law to the Grace of God, 281-282

Section II.— Nature op Sin, 283-295

I.— Definition of Sin, 283-289

II. — The Essential Principle of Sin, 289-295

1. Sin as Sensuousness, ._ 289-291

2. Sin as Finiteness, 291-292

3. Sin as Selfishness, 292-295

Section III.— Universality of Sin, : 295-301

I. — Every human being who has arrived at moral consciousness has committed acts, or cherished dispositions, contrary to

the Divine Law, 296-298

II. — Every member of the human race, without exception, possesses a corrupted nature, which is a source of actual sin,

and is itself sin, 299-301

Section IV. — Origin of Sin in the personal Act of Adam, 302-308 I. — The Scriptural Account in Genesis, 302-304

1. Its General Character not Mythical or Allegorical, but

Historical, 302

2. The Course of the Temptation, and the resulting Fall, 302-304 II. — Difficulties connected with the Fall, considered as the personal Act of Adam, 304-308

1. How could a holy being fall ? 304-305

2. How could God justly permit Satanic Temptation ?_._ 305-306

3. How could a Penalty so great be justly connected with

Disobedience to so slight a Command ? 306

III. — Consequences of the Fall — so far as respects Adam, 306-308

A. Physical Death, or the Separation of the Soul

from the Body, 306-307

B. Spiritual Death, or the Separation of the Soul

from God, 307

2. Positive and formal Exclusion from God's Presence, __ 307-308 Section V. — Imputation of Adam's Sin to his Posterity,. 308-334

Scripture Teaching as to Race-sin and Race-responsibility, 308-310 I.— Theories of Imputation, 310-334

1. The Pelagian Theory, or Theory of Man's Natural

Innocence, 310-313

2. The Arminian Theory, or Theory of voluntarily appro-

priated Depravity, 314-318

3. The New-School Theory, or Theory of uncondemnable

Vitiosity, 318-322

XViii TABLE OF CONTENTS.

4. The Federal Theory, or Theory of Condemnation by

Covenant, 322-325

5. Theory of Mediate Imputation, or Theory of Condem-

nation for Depravity, 325-328

6. Augustinian Theory, or Theory of Adam's Natural

Tabular View of the various Theories of Imputation, 334

II. — Objections to the Augustinian Theory of Imputation, 335-340

Section II.— The Person of Christ, 360-380

I. — Historical Survey of Views respecting the Person of Christ, 360-363

1. The Ebionites, 360-361

2. TheDocetse, 361

4. The Apollinarians, 362

5. The Nestorians, 362

6. The Eutychians, 362-363

7. The Orthodox Doctrine, 363

II.— The two Natures of Christ,— their Reality and Integrity,.. 364-368

1. The Humanity of Christ, .... 364-367

A. Its Reality, 364-365

B. Its Integrity, 365-367

2. The Deity of Christ, ._ 367-368

III. — The Union of the two Natures in one Person, 368-380

1. Proof of this Union, 368-370

2. Modern Misrepresentations of this Union, 370-374

A. The Theory of Gess and Beecher, that the Humanity of Christ is a Contracted and Metamorphosed Deity 370-372:

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XIX

B. The Theory of Dorner and Rothe, that the Union between the Divine and the Human Natures is

not completed by the Incarnating Act, 372-374

3. The Real Nature of this Union, 374-380

Section IIL— The Two States op Christ, 380-387

I.— The State of Humiliation , 380-384

1. The Nature of Christ's Humiliation, 380-382

A. The Theory of Thomasius, Delitzsch, and Crosby,

that the Humiliation consisted in the Surrender

of the Relative Attributes, 380-382

B. The Theory that the Humiliation consisted in the

Surrender of the Independent Exercise of the Divine Attributes, 382

2. The Stages of Christ's Humiliation, 382-384

Exposition of Philippians 2 : 5-9, 384

II.— The State of Exaltation, 384-387

1. The Nature of Christ's Exaltation, 384-385

2. The Stages of Christ's Exaltation, 385-387

Section IV. — The Offices of Christ, 387-425 L— The Prophetic Office of Christ, 388-490

1 . The Nature of Christ's Prophetic Work, 388

2. The Stages of Christ's Prophetic Work, 388-390

II.— The Priestly Office of Christ, 390-424

1. Christ's Sacrificial Work, or the Doctrine of the Atone-

A. Scriptural Methods of Representing the Atonement, 390-393

B. The Institution of Sacrifice, especially as found in

the Mosaic System, 393-397

C. Theories of the Atonement, 397-418

1st. The Socinian, or Example-Theory of the

2nd. The Bushnellian, or Moral-influence Theory

of the Atonement, 400-403

3rd. The Grotian, or Governmental Theory of

the Atonement, 403-405

4th. The Irvingian Theory, or theory of gradually extirpated Depravity, 405-407

5th. The Anselmic or Commercial Theory of the

6th. The Ethical Theory of the Atonement, 409-418

First, The Atonement as related to Holiness in God, 410-412

Exposition of Romans 3 : 25, 26, 411

Secondly, The Atonement as related to

Humanity in Christ, 412-416

Exposition of 2 Corinthians 5 : 21, 415

D. Objections to the Ethical Theory of the Atonement, 418-421

E. The Extent of the Atonement, 421-422

2. Christ's Intercessory Work, 422-424

III.— The Kingly Office of Christ, 424-425

XX TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Section I. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in

its Preparation, 426-436

L— Election, 427-434

1. Proof of the Doctrine of Election, 427-431

2. Objections to the Doctrine of Election, _ . 431-434

A. Is God's General Call Sincere ? 435-436

B. Is God's Special Call Irresistible ? 436

Section II. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in

its Actual Beginning, 436-483

I.— Union with Christ, 438-447

1. Scripture Representations of this Union, 438-441

2. Nature of this Union, 441-444

3. Consequences of this Union, 444-447

II.— Regeneration, 447-460

1. Scripture Representations, 448-449

2. Necessity of Regeneration, 449-450

3. The Efficient Cause of Regeneration, 450-454

4. The Instrumentality used in Regeneration, 454-456

5. The Nature of the Change wrought in Regeneration, __ 456-460 III.— Conversion, 460-470

1. Repentance, 462-464

Elements of Repentance, 462-463

Explanations of the Scripture Representations, 463-464

Elements of Faith, ,_._ 465-466

Explanations of the Scripture Representations, .__._. 466-470 IV.— Justification, . 471-483

1. Definition of Justification, _ . 471

2. Proof of the Doctrine of Justification, 471-474

3. Elements of Justification, 474-477

4. Relation of Justification to God's Law and Holiness, . . 477-478

5. Relation of Justification to Union with Christ and the

Work of the Spirit, 478-480

6. Relation of Justification to Faith, 480-482

7. Advice to Inquirers demanded by a Scriptural View of

Section III. — The Application of Christ's Redemption, in

its Continuation, 483-493

I. — Sanctification, 483-490

1. Definition of Sanctification, 483-484

2. Explanations and Scripture Proof, 484-487

3. Erroneous Views refuted by the Scripture Passages, . _ 487-490

A. The Antinomian, 487-488

B. The Perfectionist, . 488-490

II. — Perseverance, 491-493

1. Proof of the Doctrine of Perseverance, 491-492

2. Objections to the Doctrine of Perseverance, 492-493

TABLE OF CONTENTS. XXI

PART VII.— ECCLESIOLOGY, OR THE DOCTRINE OF THE Chapter I. — The Constitution of the Church, or Church

I. — Definition of the Church, 494-497

1. The Church, like the Family and the State, is an Insti-

tution of Divine Appointment, 496-497

2. The Church, unlike the Family and the State, is a

Voluntary Society, 497

II.— Organization of the Church, 497-503

1. The Fact of Organization, ._. 497-500

2. The Nature of this Organization, 500-501

3. The Genesis of this Organization, 502-503

III. - Government of the Church, 503-517

1. Nature of this Government in General, 503-509

A. Proof that the Government of the Church is

Democratic or Congregational, 504-506

B. Erroneous Views as to Church Government, re-

futed by the Scripture Passages, 507-509

( a ) The World-church Theory, or the Ro-

manist View, 507-508

(b) The National-church Theory, or the

Theory of Provincial or National Churches, 508-509

2. Officers of the Church, 509-516

A. The Number of Offices in the Church is two, . - _ 509-510

B. The Duties belonging to these Offices, 510-512

C. Ordination of Officers, 512-516

(a) What is Ordination? 512-513

(b) Who are to Ordain? 513-516

3. Discipline of the Church, 516-517

A. Kinds of Discipline, 516-517

B. Relation of the Pastor to Discipline, 517

IV. — Relation of Local Churches to one another, 517-519

1. The General Nature of this Relation is that of Fellow-

ship between Equals, 517-518

2. This Fellowship involves the Duty of Special Consulta-

tion with regard to Matters affecting the common Interest, 518

3. This Fellowship may be broken by manifest Departures

from the Faith or Practice of the Scriptures on the

part of any Church, 518-519

Chapter II. — The Ordinances op the Church, 520-553

1. Baptism an Ordinance of Christ, 520-522

2. The Mode of Baptism, 522-527

A. The Command to Baptize is a Command to Im-

B. No Church has the Right to Modify or Dispense

with this Command of Christ 526-527

XX11 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

3. The Symbolism of Baptism, 527-530

A. Expansion of the Statement as to the Symbolism

of Baptism, , 527-528

B. Inferences from the Passages referred to, 528-530

4. The Subjects of Baptism 530-538

A. Proof that only Persons giving Evidence of being

Regenerated are proper subjects of Baptism, __ 530-531

B. Inferences from the Fact that only Persons giving

Evidence of being Regenerate are proper Subjects of Baptism, 531-534

C. Infant Baptism, 534-538

(a) Infant Baptism without Warrant in the

(b) Infant Baptism expressly Contradicted

by Scripture, 535-536

(c) Its Origin in Sacramental Conceptions

of Christianity, 536

( d ) The Reasoning by which it is supported

Unscriptural, Unsound, and Dangerous

in its Tendency, 536-537

(e) The Lack of Agreement among Pedo-

baptists, 537

( f ) The Evil Effects of Infant Baptism, 537-538

II.— The Lord's Supper, 538-553

1. The Lord's Supper an Ordinance instituted by Christ,. 539

2. The Mode of Administering the Lord's Supper, 539-541

3. The Symbolism of the Lord's Supper, 541-543

A. Expansion of the Statement as to the Symbolism

of the Lord's Supper, 541-542

B. Inferences from this Statement, 542-543

4. Erroneous Views of the Lord's Supper, 543-546

A. The Romanist View, 543-545

B. The Lutheran and High Church View, 545-546

5. Prerequisites to Participation in the Lord's Supper,. __ 546-553

A. There are Prerequisites, . . 546

B. Laid down by Christ and his Apostles, 546

C. The Prerequisites are Four, . 546-550

First, — Regeneration, 546-547

Secondly,— Baptism, 547-548

Thirdly,— Church Membership, 548-549

• Fourthly,— An Orderly Walk, 549-550

D. The Local Church is the Judge whether these

Prerequisites are fulfilled, 550-551

E. Special Objections to Open Communion, 551-553