N02384:350
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
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY's SHORTER CATECHISM: IN Two Hundred a… › Sermon 10 (Question 2 cont.)
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.
2. TO give an account wherein the Scripture appears to be plain and perspicuous, & in what respect it is so. I shall offer these Conclusions.
[1.] THERE are various matters and methods contained in the several writings of the Scriptures. They are not penned after the mode in which men are wont to compile their systems of Arts; but there are histories, prophesies, precepts, promises, threatenings, commentaries, &c. interwoven in them, and hereby God hath accommodated them to all sorts of men; and they are filled with all that variety of matter, which answers •ll the ends of Religion. Sometimes to inform the understanding: Sometimes to engage the will; and sometimes to move upon the affections: in each of which they are serviceable to help man to the attainment of his chief end.
[1.] THERE are various matters and methods contained in the several writings of the Scriptures. They are not penned after the mode in which men are wont to compile their systems of Arts; but there are histories, prophesies, precepts, promises, threatnings, commentaries, &c. interwoven in them, and hereby God hath accommodated them to all sorts of men; and they are filled with all that variety of matter, which answers •ll the ends of Religion. Sometimes to inform the understanding: Sometimes to engage the will; and sometimes to move upon the aflections: in each of which they are serviceable to help man to the attainment of his chief end.
[2.] WE must distinguish between those things which are necessary to Salvation, and such matters which are of lesser concernment. It is certain that all theological truths are not equally necessary, though all have their excellent usefulness. There are diverse prophetical Scripturee, which contain in them predictions of things to come, which are dark, as to the assigning of the persons and times of their Accomplishment. But yet there is the matter of Instruction, either for awakening or encouragement easily to be gathered from them. And there is much of God's Wisdom appears in their obscurity, both respecting his children, and his enemies: But the teachings of them are plain; and to this head may that be referred,