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A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…
A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirmed, their excellence displayed, their usefulness improved; contrary errors & vices refuted & exposed, objections answered, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolved; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefaced by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirm'd, their excellence display'd, their usefulness improv'd; contrary errors & vices refuted & expos'd, objections answer'd, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolv'd; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefac'd by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green and S. Kneeland for B. Eliot and D. Henchman, 1726
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
SUCH wild Disorder our Author therefore was very solicitous to shun himself, and to warn others of also; at having a dangerous tendency to lead them first into irregular and repugnant Opinions, and then to perplex and puzzle their Minds, and at length to bring them into the sad Extremes of universal Scepticism and Infidelity. And in opposition to this he strictly improved his intellectual Powers, in finding out the true Contexture of Revealed Religion, and then in giving a methodical & just Description of his Discoveries of it: In which he showed a most eminent Talent in all his Writings; and in a more peculiar manner bent and employed his Powers in the comprehensive & regular Work before us.
SUCH wild Disorder our Author therefore was very sollicitous to shun himself, and to warn others of also; at having a dangerous tendency to lead them first into irregular and repugnant Opinions, and then to perplex and puzzle their Minds, and at length to bring them into the sad Extreams of universal Scepticism and Infidelity. And in opposition to this he strictly improv'd his intellectual Powers, in finding out the true Contexture of Reveal'd Religion, and then in giving a methodical & just Description of his Discoveries of it: In which he shew'd a most eminent Tallent in all his Writings; and in a more peculiar manner bent and imploy'd his Powers in the comprehensive & regular Work before us.
UPON these accounts & many more too numerous here to mention, we would earnestly Recommend the diligent & exact Perusal of this excellent Body of Divinity both to our younger and elder Students; and even to others of every Order, that would be well acquainted & concerned with things of everlasting moment, that would clearly see the Reasons & Foundations of the Sacred Truths we are instructed in, and that would desire to grow in the delightful Knowledge of them, in the Discoveries of their surpassing Symmetry & Beauty, and in the savoury Relish & Affection for them; In fine, that would feel their directive & quickening Influence both on their Hearts & Lives, & that would have a careful wise & knowing Guide, with the Light of Scripture, to keep them from the many dangerous Errors & Meanders of the present Age, and to lead them on in such a Path of Truth & Righteousness as will shine more & more unto the perfect Day: —That blessed & desired Day! when all Obscurity on the beautiful Face of Truth shall vanish, seeming Inconsistencies entirely disappear, we shall behold the universal System with all it's admirable adjusted Members, with intuitive & amazing Views, and be eternally transported with the Contemplation of their transcendent Beauties, and with the most delightful Sense of their transforming & perfective Influence on us.