CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

Importance of the subject-Cause and Effect-Proof from
the creation-From the evidences of design in crea-
tion-From our sense of moral obligation-Folly of
atheism-Reasonableness and value of a firm faith in
the Divine Existence.

CHAPTER II.

NATURAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

God a living and infinite Spirit-His natural attributes-
Self-existence--Eternity-Omnipotence-Omnipres-
ence-Omniscience-Wisdom-Unchangeableness.

CHAPTER III.

MORAL ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

All resolvable into holy benevolence-Mercy-Grace-

Long-suffering---Goodness--Truth-Forgiveness--

Justice.

CHAPTER IV.

CREATION AND POWERS OF MAN.

Order of creation-Peculiar endowments of man-A ra-
tional Mind-Conscience-Moral Will-Moral Affec-
tions-Immortality-Inference.

CHAPTER V.

DEPRAVITY.

The first sin-The doctrine defined-Disposition to sin
innate—moral—-universal--total-invincible-Impor-

tance of the doctrine.

12

27

49

71

87

CHAPTER VI.

NATURE OF ATONEMENT.

The Christian atonement defined-gracious-propitia-

tory-necessary-vicarious—moral-sufficient--unlim-
ited-Importance of right views.

Found in the religion of Adam after the fall—of the patri-
archs-of Moses and the prophets-of John the Baptist
—of Jesus Christ-of the apostles-of the millennium
and of heaven-Inference.

CHAPTER VIII.

ELECTION.

The doctrine stated-Illustrated-Proved-Objections-
makes God arbitrary-insincere-partial-makes Chris-
tians vain-discourages the use of means- -Subject
applied.

CHAPTER IX.

NATURE OF REGENERATION.

Various opinions-The change spiritual-voluntary-in-
stantaneous--generic-partial-permanent-Changes
our relations to Jesus Christ-to the law-to the Holy
Spirit to the truth-to Christians-to the cause of
Christ-to eternity.

CHAPTER X.

THE AUTHOR OF REGENERATION.

The operation of the Spirit gracious-rational-supernat-
ural--direct-special--unresisted--abundant-The

moral beauty of the work.

100

118

137

154

170

CHAPTER XI.

JUSTIFICATION.

Its nature-its ground-its condition-The superiority of
justification by faith in Christ over every other way—
Faith the generic grace-The antagonist of all sin-
The producer of all other graces-Gives all glory to
God-of universal practicability-Tested by its fruits. 191

CHAPTER XII.

ADOPTION.

Adoption an advance on justification-its nature-its ben-
efits-Confers the blessings of the filial spirit and of
the filial relation-How Christians should be regarded
-How Christians should live-How we should view
this subject.

213

CHAPTER XIII.

PERSEVERANCE.

Doctrine stated-Proved from the antecedence of grace-
Analogy-Covenant of redemption-Nature of the be-
liever's union with Christ-Prayer of Christ-Divine
expenditure upon this work-Promise and oath of God
-Objections answered-Moral value of the doctrine. 232

CHAPTER XIV.

INTERMEDIATE STATE.

Nature of that state-Importance of it-Its possibility
shown-Its certainty proved from the Scriptures-The
consequent nearness of eternal retributions.

CHAPTER XV.

RESURRECTION.

248

Philosophical objections-The doctrine stated-Proof of
the doctrine-The argument from science-The argu-
ment from the Scriptures-Application of the subject. 265

CHAPTER XVI.

PROOF OF THE JUDGMENT.

Nature of the judgment defined-Proved from our moral
constitution-The existence of a moral government—
The Scriptures-Our personal relations to it.

CHAPTER XVII.

FACTS OF THE JUDGMENT.

Its time Place-Judge-Universality-Extent-Princi-

ples of procedure-Position as a judicial transaction-

281

Concluding thoughts.

292

CHAPTER XVIII.

REWARD OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

Includes full communion with God-Exemption from sin
-Exemption from suffering-Congenial position-Ex-
alted service-Glorious worship—All these eternal.

CHAPTER XIX.

REWARD OF THE WICKED.

Contrasted with that of the righteous-Banishment from
God-Abandonment to sin-The full sufferings of sin-
Miserable social and relative state-Loss of the appro-
bation of all good beings-All this without end.

CHAPTER XX.

SYSTEM OF DOCTRINES.

Two ways of exhibiting truth-The analytical and syn-
thetical-The system of doctrines stated in their con-
nection and shown to be a system.

CHAPTER XXI.

PROOF OF THE SYSTEM.

They harmonize with each other—They harmonize with
the constitution and course of nature-They harmonize
with the human conscience-They harmonize with
human necessities-They are the most obvious teach-
ing of the Bible-Their crowning witness their fruits—
Their final triumph and glory.

CHAPTER XXII.

CONCLUSION.

Our personal interest in these truths-The distinction
between faith and bigotry-Evidences of a saving faith
found only in a good life.

304

315

326

337

349

CHAPTER I.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

THE value of our existence depends upon the existence of God. Unless there is a Being of infinite power and goodness on the throne of the universe, to sustain and bless us, we are mere shadows flitting by accident across the earth, and quickly vanishing away to nothing. Is there a God? How full of solemn and awful interest is this inquiry! The philosophical proof of the existence of God depends upon the validity of the axiom that every effect must have a cause. This axiom is an intuitive truth. It is as evident to a rational mind, without any process of reasoning, that an effect cannot take place without an adequate cause, as that the whole of a thing is more than half of it, or that equals added to equals make equal sums. It is the foundation of all the demonstrations of Bacon and of Newton in the moral and the natural world. It is also proved by our experience. Whether we direct our attention within or without us, we cannot detect a single change that takes place uncaused. All the movements of our minds are clearly referable to their