At this point a digression is inserted on the corruption of theology by the admixture cf secular philosophy. This corruption began at an early period, and to this source must be ascribed the heresies of the Gnostics and Valentinians. The nature of divine truth is peculiar and distinct from philosophy, while the mode of communication differs from the teaching adopted in the schools. The practice, therefore, of digesting the truths of revelation into systematic order, and of reducing them into articulate pro positions, according to the forms and methods of philosophy, has given rise to a philo sophic theology injurious to evangelical doctrine. The plainest truths of the gospel have been so encumbered with the intricacies of speculation, that the apostle Paul him self could not have understood them unless he had been instructed in the philosophy of Aristotle. The heretics who asserted Christ to be a phantom or a mere man were unhappily met, by such writers as Clemens, Origen, and Tertullian, with arguments taken from secular philosophy. The fondness for philosophical subtilties in theologi cal discussion increased, to the manifest injury of divine truth. Quotations from Jansenius, and Lord Bacon, and Erasmus, are adduced in confirmation of this view. At the Reformation this tendency received a check. It had again revived, strife pro ducing strife, distinction being met with opposing distinction, and every new term en gendering a multiplicity of others. — Chap. VIII.
The last chapter of the work is occupied with advices regarding the study of theology and Scripture. Theology is to be viewed as saving light renewing the mind, and the
14 ANALYSIS OF THE FOLLOWING WOKK.
gifts of the Spirit enable men to arrange the articles of truth into a natural order and system, and qualify them to teach ; but the use of theology is chiefly considered in reference to the ministry of the gospel : — 1 . To prosecute the study of it aright, some knowledge of grammar, logic, rhetoric, and the sacred languages, is presupposed. 2. The true object of theological knowledge should be kept uniformly in view, — saving acquaintance with the mystery of the gospel. The student must seek to grow in spiritual and saving wisdom. 3. The Scriptures must be habitually studied in a spirit of devout meditation. Four different errors must be avoided, if we would study Scrip ture aright : — (1.) The notion that it is so obscure, that the best mode of acquiring a knowledge of its contents is the perusal of systems of divinity ; (2.) The preference of subtile speculation to the heavenly wisdom contained in Scripture ; (3.) Neglect of prayer for the promised and necessary aid of the Holy Spirit ; (4.) Disinclination to close fellowship with (rod.
The following practical directions are supplied : — 1. The student should feel God to be near to him in studying the Word ; 2. His principal end should be his own im provement in personal godliness ; 3. He should cultivate the religious subjection of his conscience to the authority of the Word in all things ; 4. He should study Scrip ture in the original languages ; 5. Constant and fervent prayer should begin, accom pany, and follow, all his use of these and other means. In addition to all such studies, fellowship should be maintained with those who attend strictly to the duties of religion, according to the principles of evangelical theology. — ED.
AD LECTOREM EPISTOLA.
LECTORI BENEVOLO ET VERITATIS EVANGELICJS SINCERE STUDIOSO
ET nPATTEIN:
NISI persuasum haberem, erudite lector, tua interesse eorum nonnulla saltern qusB libello hoc in disquisition em veniunt accurate nosse, ipsum potius veris inje- cissem flammis, quam memet eis, quas istiusmodi conatibus minitantur multorum prsejudicia. Quae enim res alio quocunque, singulatim quemvis ab hisce studiis deterrere soleant, eae omnes hoc tempore confertim se nobis offerunt. Verum cum a multis jam retro annis, votis et cogitationibus vita ista mihi prsesumpta fuerit, qua ccelestis sapientiae et veritatis divinee studiosis aliquo modo prodesse, adversus pop{to*.vxtia ista, quorum alias promptus est ad mentes hominum minime malorum aditus, animum obfirmandum duxi. Novi vires immanis illius in via leonis, (cujus meminit divinae pariter ac humanse sapientiae prsestantissimus), quipigros ab officio terret ; eisque eo minus commoveor, quo magis eas jamdudum sum exper- tus. Neque unius loci, aut etiam setatis, quibus iste omnem suam ferociam accep- tam refert, res agitur, ubi de augmentis lucis spiritualis indies in diem perfectum pergentis, serio deliberatur. Quamvis ideo quo minus laudabilis cujuscunque incoepti fructus percipiant plurimorum mentes tardaverint praejudicia, istis tamen saltern apud posteros sublatis, ea quse ope et auxilio divino ad illustrandam verita- tem freti aggredimur, optatis haud destituta iri, summa potest esse spes et exspecta- tio. Suus cuique in hoc opere aetati labor est; neque rare- evenit, ut ex eorum lucubrationibus, qui e medio excesserunt, ad quas, invidiae, aemulationis, odii, studii partium causas procul habentes, accedunt, uberiorem messem homines demetant, quam illorum qui in eos eorumque commodum solum intuentes, ipsi etiam sint pene inscientes posteris profuturi. Non enim novum est ut factorum cequitas homini esset inmdiae a proximo suo. Verum enim vero, infinita ilia sapientia qua} cunctis moderatur, mortalium vitiis suavissima rerum omnium et seculorum inter se dispositione et nexu impervestigabili ita occurrere statuit, ut ne quo modo praestitutis divinae veritatis increments iter praecluderent. Non est igitur cur quisquam studiis hisce sincere versatus, inccepto alias rite institute desistat, vel for- midans obtrectatores. vel cedens prsejudiciis. Neutiquam in istis officii nostri cardo vertitur. Neque esset Christi semis, cui unice constitutum esset, hominibus placer e. Id quoque bona Dei providentia ita disponente, ad laborantium in agro Domini solamen commode sscpius accedit, ut semen in terram projectum, sarritum calum- niis, et obductum conviciorum fimo felicius et uberius adolescat, eo cui ex utri pu- tidissima u//,&Tf>ius <rrt? KvfaXxvs, blandissime adspirat popularis aura. Cum autem ipse ex eo tempore quo animum ad haac scribenda appuli, nihil prius habu- erim quam ut orationes hominum prasterfluere sinerem, modo eis qui aX»hvuv lv serio expetunt prodessem, ea omnia quae quorundam ^axynriffo^ia,, aliorum iunxos pertimiscenda predicant aut portendunt, et cogitatione praecepi, et insuper habenda duxi. Neque vero sane, uti spero, rem invidiosam, et obtrecta- tionibus opportunam suscepi, aut a munere, quod Dei gratia, jam aliquamdiu in ecclesia sustineo, alienam. Operis instituti rationem, me tacente, indicabit ipse libri titulus. Verae scilicet theologiae investigat naturam; et quomodo ab aliis