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A Body of Divinity, Vol. 1 (of 4) / Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism cover

A Body of Divinity, Vol. 1 (of 4) / Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the Assembly's Larger Catechism

Chapter 10: Quest. VI.
By Thomas Ridgley
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About This Book

A systematic exposition and defense of Christian doctrine drawn from the Assembly’s Larger Catechism, delivered as a series of lectures with explanatory notes. It treats the being and attributes of God, the Trinity, eternal generation and procession, decrees, providence, and the problem of moral evil while rejecting any implication that God authors sin. It argues for election, particular redemption, and efficacious grace while emphasizing the freeness of divine grace, the covenant of grace, and the inseparable link between true belief and practical holiness to rebut charges of licentiousness. Supplemental commentary clarifies technical terms and makes complex theological issues accessible to ordinary readers.

Quest. VI.

Quest. VI. What do the scriptures make known of God?

Answ. The scriptures make known what God is, the persons in the Godhead, the decrees, and the execution of his decrees.

It is an amazing instance of condescension, and an inexpressible favour which God bestows on man, that he should manifest himself to him, and that not only in such a way as he does to all mankind, by the light of nature, which discovers that he is; but that he should, in so glorious a way, declare what he is, as he does in his word: this is a distinguishing privilege, as the Psalmist observes, when speaking of God’s shewing his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel, Psal. cxlvii. he mentions it, as an instance of discriminating grace, in that he has not dealt so with any other nation. This raised the admiration of one of Christ’s disciples, when he said, Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not unto the world! John xiv. 22. And it is still more wonderful, that he should discover to man what he does, or rather what he has decreed or purposed to do, and so should impart his secrets to him; how familiarly does God herein deal with man! Thus he says concerning the holy patriarch of old, Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do? Gen. xvi. 17. However, it is one thing to know the secret purposes of God, and another thing to know the various properties thereof; the former of these, however known of old, by extraordinary intimation, are now known to us only by the execution of them; the latter is what we may attain to the knowledge of, by studying the scriptures.

Now as the scriptures make known, First, What God is; Secondly, The persons in the Godhead; Thirdly, His decrees; And Fourthly, The execution thereof; so we are directed hereby in the method to be observed in treating of the great doctrines of our religion; and accordingly the first part of this Catechism,[47] which treats of doctrinal subjects, contains an enlargement on these four general heads; the first whereof we proceed to consider.