LECTURE 38. Value of the Atonement. In what its value consists; How great its value is; For whose benefit it was intended. LECTURE 39. Influence of the Atonement. LECTURE 40. Objections answered. Page. 223 229 231 LECTURE 41. Human Governments a part of the Moral Government of God. Human Governments a necessity of human nature; This necessity will continue as long as men exist in the present world; Human Governments recognized in the Bible as a part of the Government of God; Whose right and duty it is to govern; In what cases human legislation imposes moral obligation; It is the duty of all men to aid in the establishment and support of Human Government; The supposition that Human Government can ever be dispensed with in this world, a ridiculous and absurd dream; Objections answered. LECTURE 42. Human Governments a part of the Moral Government of God. Reasons why God has made no particular form of Church or State Governments universally obligatory; Particular forms of Church and State Government must and will depend upon the intelligence and virtue of the people: True basis on which the right of Human Legislation rests; That form of Government is obligatory, that is best suited to meet the necessities of the people; Revolutions become necessary and obligatory, when the virtue and intelligence, or the vice and ignorance of the people demand them; In what cases Human Legislation is valid, and in what cases it is null and void; In what cases we are bound to disobey Human Governments. 235 244 THEOLOGY. I. Define the study upon which you are about to enter. II. Notice some of the requisite personal qualifications for this study. III. Some of the advantages to be derived from the study of Systematic Theology. IV. Some things to be avoided. I. Define the study upon which you are about to enter. 1. Theology is the science of God, and of divine things. It teaches the existence, natural and moral attributes, laws, government, and whatever may be known of God, and of our relations, duties, and responsibilities to him and to the universe. In its most comprehensive sense it embraces all knowledge. 2. It may be and generally is divided into Natural and Revealed Theology. This distinction does not imply that natural Theology is not revealed. (1.) NATURAL THEOLOGY is that which derives its evidence from the works of God, or from nature, as it is commonly, but erroneously expressed. (2.) REVEALED THEOLOGY is that which derives its doctrines and evidence from the Bible. 3. Theology is again subdivided into Didactic, Polemic, and Pastoral. DIDACTIC, is the system of theological doctrines with their evidences, both of Natural and Revealed Religion. POLEMIC, is controversial. It relates to the disputed doctrines of Theology. It consists in the controversial maintaining of them, in opposition to their opponents. PASTORAL, relates to the relations, duties, and responsibilities of Pastors. It consists in a judicious application of the great principles of the government of God to the Pastoral relation and office. II. Notice some of the requisite personal qualifications for this study 1. The ardent love of truth for its own sake. 2. The supreme and disinterested love of God. 3. An intense desire to know more of him. 4. Strong desire to make him known to others. 5. A willingness to make any personal sacrifice for this end. 6. A sense of ignorance and dependence upon divine teaching. 7. A willingness to practice as fast as you learn. 8. A fixed purpose to know and do the whole truth. 9. A state of mind that will not be diverted to make provision for the flesh. 10. Docility of mind. 11. Such humility as to be willing to expose your ignorance. 12. The love of study. 13. Sound education. 14. Industrious habits. 15. Patience and perseverance in investigation. 16. A mind so balanced as to be duly influenced by evidence. 17. Knowledge of the laws of evidence. 18. Knowledge of correct rules of biblical interpretation. 19. Knowledge of the limits of human research and investigation. III. Some of the advantages to be derived from the study of Systematic Theology. 1. A constantly increasing sense of your own ignorance. 2. The highest advantages for growth in personal holiness. 3. The habit of rapid, correct, and consecutive thought. 4. System in thinking and communicating thought. 5. Facility in preparations for the pulpit. 6. Exactness in the statement of the doctrines of Christianity. 7. Facility in proving them. 8. Consistency of views and statements. 9. A settled state of mind in regard to religious truth. 10. Ability to teach the doctrines and duties of religion. IV. Some ongs to be avoided. 1. Tempting God, by demanding an impossible or unreasonable kind or degree of evidence. 2. A caviling state of mind. 3. Defending error for the sake of argument. 4. Committing yourself to an opinion. 5. Avoid calling in question first truths. 6. Avoid attempting to prove them. 7. Avoid begging the question. 8. Avoid impatience at the ignorance or stupidity of your class mates. 9. Avoid an ambition to excel them in study and argument. 10. Avoid a disputatious spirit. 11. Avoid stating one thing and proving another in your skeletons. 12. Avoid the use of weak and inconclusive arguments. 15. Avoid leaving your propositions, until fully supported by: evidence or argument. 16. Avoid the accumulation of evidence or argument after your proposition is fully established. 17. Avoid prolixity in the statement of your propositions. 18. Avoid the great error of supposing that truths which are selfevident to some minds, are so to all. REMARKS. 1. The study of Theology demands much prayer. 2. You will never get any effectual knowledge of Theology without the illumination of the Holy Spirit. 3. Take care that your hearts keep pace with 4. Grieve not the Holy Spirit. 1 intellects. your 1 LECTURE II. INTRODUCTORY LECTURE.-No. 2. I. Some things implied in the study of Theology. II. Some things that we know of man, independently of any revelation or knowledge of God. I. Some things implied in the study of Theology. 1. All reasoning implies the existence of a reasoning faculty. Hence, 2. Of a reasoner, possessing such attributes as are suited to the exercise of reasoning. 3. All study therefore assumes, or presupposes the existence and attributes of a student. 4. The study of Theology implies and assumes the existence and attributes of a student capable of knowing God. 5. Our first inquiry then is, on what evidence are these assumptions based? 6. That they are no mere unsupported assumptions will appear if we glance at. II. Some things that we KNOW of man, independently of any revelation or knowledge of God. 1. The existence of man. (1.) The fact of our existence is not an assumption without proof. (2.) It is a direct and positive affirmation of reason, founded |