A Brief Compend of Bible Truth

Chapter 1

CHAPTER I

BEING OF GOD OF all conceptions of the human mind, the idea of God is the most sublime. It is not only sublime, but awful. Every thing else appears diminutive while the mind is occupied with this thought. Though the idea

Chapter 2

CHAPTER II

PERSONALITY AND PERFECTION OF GOD IT is admitted by all who believe that God exists, that he possesses all conceivable perfection; and right reason would lead us to the opinion, that as he is infinite he must possess att

Chapter 3

CHAPTER III

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES THE Bible is made up of many books written through a period of more than fifteen hundred years, by men who professed to have received their doctrines from God, and to have committed them to writing by

Chapter 4

CHAPTER IV

UNITY OF GOD -- 14 of 185 -- THE idea of God is forced upon the rational mind, to enable it to account for the innumerable marks of design manifest in the universe; but there is no necessity to suppose more than one gr

Chapter 5

CHAPTER V

SPIRITUALITY AND SIMPLICITY OF THE DIVINE NATURE THAT God is a pure Spirit, reason as well as Scripture requires us to believe. As God is an intelligent being, and the source of all intelligence, he must be a spirit; and

Chapter 6

CHAPTER VI

CHARACTER OF GOD GOD is the maker of all things. He is therefore almighty. He is also wise. Of this our own frame is evidence enough. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Our eyes and ears, our hands and feet, our mout

Chapter 7

CHAPTER VII

THE HOLY TRINITY THE Scriptural evidence of this doctrine would not be deemed insufficient by any one, were it not for the idea that there is -- 28 of 185 -- something in the doctrine repugnant to reason; or, which it

Chapter 8

CHAPTER VIII

DIVINITY OF CHRIST THE proof of the Deity of the Son of God is the main point in establishing the doctrine of the Trinity; for if it can be clearly shown that there is a second person in the divine essence, there will be

Chapter 9

CHAPTER IX

PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THE Divinity of the Holy Spirit may be established by arguments of the same kind as have been adduced in support of the Deity of the -- 42 of 185 -- Son; but it does not seem necessary to

Chapter 10

CHAPTER X

CREATION THE first information which the Bible gives us, is of the creation of all things out of nothing, in the space of six days. No other book gives any satisfactory account of the creation of the world, or of the ori

Chapter 11

Genesis.

But, as it was not judged to be good that man should be alone, his Creator, in great kindness, formed for him a suitable companion, a woman taken from his own side, a help meet for him, and the mother of all living. To t

Chapter 12

CHAPTER XI

GOOD ANGELS ALTHOUGH reason cannot assure us, that there are in the universe creatures of an order superior to man; yet all analogy is favourable to such a doctrine. As we find that below the human race, there is a grada

Chapter 13

CHAPTER XII

BAD ANGELS THERE is an evil being, often mentioned in Scripture both in the Old and New Testament, called Satan, the devil, and Beelzebub, and by other significant names. But he is always spoken of as one: the original G

Chapter 14

CHAPTER XIII

PROVIDENCE OF GOD THE providence of God is "his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions." All creatures are necessarily dependent on the Creator for their continued

Chapter 15

CHAPTER XIV

MAN'S PRIMEVAL STATE As man was created a free, moral agent, it is not only true that he was capable of being governed by a moral law, but such a law resulted necessarily from his relation to his Creator. It was his duty

Chapter 16

1. The goodness of God to the first man and to the race. Man was

indeed fearfully and wonderfully made, as to the structure and constitution of his body, and, also, as to the intellectual endowments of his mind, being enriched with the noble faculties of reason, -- 68 of 185 -- memo

Chapter 17

2. Comparing the condition of Adam in innocence with that of man

now, we may form some idea of the greatness of our loss. A withering curse has fallen upon the ground itself, man has lost his perfection of life and health, and has forfeited his immortality. But the heaviest part of th

Chapter 18

CHAPTER XV

LAW OF GOD FROM the relation which a rational creature sustains to his Creator, arises an obligation to perfect obedience. The right of the Author of our being to what he has made out of nothing, is the completest right

Chapter 19

1. The law is spiritual, and extends not only to the external acts of the

body, but to the thoughts, desires, and purposes of the heart or mind. Paul, in Rom. 7:14. testifies that the law is spiritual. "For we know that the law is spiritual." Rom. 7:7. "For I had not known sin, unless the law

Chapter 20

2. In affirmative precepts, negative must be considered as included;

and vice versa, negative in affirmative. In many passages of Scripture much more is meant, than is explicitly expressed. But in the application of this rule, caution and sound judgment are requisite, lest we make the law

Chapter 21

3. In each of the commandments it is necessary to suppose, that, for

brevity's sake, a part is put for the whole; a specimen which may be said to represent all duties or sins of the same class: and the prohibition of any sin, includes all things which would tend toward it, and all inclina

Chapter 22

4. The cause must be considered as included in the effect, the genus

in the species, and the correlative in the relative. Thus, in the prohibition of stealing, covetousness, its cause, is forbidden. In the prohibition of murder, cherished anger is included. Under the head of theft, every

Chapter 23

5. The one is, that the duties of the first table, or those which have

God for their object, should have preference above those of the second table, which have our fellow men for their object. But, if a man be in danger of perishing, and we can save his life, by omitting prayer, or the wors

Chapter 24

6. The second rule, commonly laid down, and which is not of

universal application, is, that moral duties take the preference over positive; mercy must be preferred to sacrifice. For this we have the authority of the prophets and our Saviour himself: "I will have mercy and not sac

Chapter 25

7. Another rule which has been given for the interpretation of the

moral law is, "That affirmative precepts are always obligatory, but do not require a constant performance; whereas negative precepts are not only always obligatory, but must be constantly observed." This rule, though tru

Chapter 26

5. The beginning, middle and end of obedience, is love out of a pure

heart, and faith unfeigned. But under the term love is comprehended as was said before, every virtuous feeling and holy purpose and emotion. When the word is thus taken, "love is the fulfilling of the -- 79 of 185 -- l

Chapter 27

CHAPTER XVI

FALL OF MAN How long our first parents continued in innocence we are not informed, and it would be in vain to conjecture; but the common opinion has been that the time was short. Already an enemy of God existed; a fallen

Chapter 28

CHAPTER XVII

COVENANT OF GRACE; OR, PLAN OF REDEMPTION IN this treatise, the word "covenant" is used in a wide sense, to correspond with the latitude which belongs to the original terms, of which this is a translation. Without attemp

Chapter 29

CHAPTER XVIII

THE INCARNATION CHRIST did not come into the world until about four thousand years from the creation had elapsed. By this delay it clearly appeared how deep was the depravity of fallen man, as all nations, the Israelites

Chapter 30

CHAPTER XIX

THE EXPIATORY SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST; OR, THE ATONEMENT -- 95 of 185 -- AN atonement is that which expiates sin; which reconciles an offended party; which makes satisfaction for offences committed. The reason why an aton

Chapter 31

CHAPTER XX

RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION OF CHRIST THE blessed Redeemer, having been three days in the grave, according to his own oft repeated prediction; that is, a part of three days, which, according to the usual method of computi

Chapter 32

CHAPTER XXI

MEDIATORIAL OFFICES OF CHRIST THE offices of Christ have long been divided into three; the prophetical, sacerdotal, and regal; and this is not an arbitrary distinction, but is founded in the wants of men; for he who unde

Chapter 33

CHAPTER XXII

JUSTIFICATION CORRECT ideas on the subject of a sinner's justification are exceedingly important; because this is a cardinal point in the Christian system. A mistake here will be apt to extend its pernicious influence to

Chapter 34

CHAPTER XXIII

REGENERATION AND CONVERSION THE necessity of a change of moral character in man, arises from the fact, that by nature all men are "dead in trespasses and sins," and, therefore, if any of the human race are ever saved, th

Chapter 35

CHAPTER XXIV

REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD AND FAITH IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST PAUL gives "repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ," as a summary of his preaching, during his two years' ministry at Ephesus; and, as comprehend

Chapter 36

CHAPTER XXV

SANCTIFICATION; OR GROWTH IN GRACE IN regeneration, spiritual life is communicated; but this incipient principle is in its infancy, when first implanted. The vigour of spiritual life seems to be analogous to natural life

Chapter 37

CHAPTER XXVI

-- 120 of 185 -- GOOD WORKS; OR, CHRISTIAN DUTIES "TRUTH is in order to goodness;" and the great touchstone of truth, is, its tendency to promote holiness, according to the Saviour's rule, "By their fruits shall ye know

Chapter 38

CHAPTER XXVII

PRAYER PRAYER is a duty dictated by reason. If a child is hungry and wants bread, nature impels it to go to its parent for a supply; and the natural affections of parents to their offspring render them prompt to answer s

Chapter 39

CHAPTER XXVIII

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION WE read in the Epistle to the Hebrews, both of the "assurance of faith," and the "assurance of hope." As faith is itself a belief of the truth, the assurance of faith can signify nothing else than

Chapter 40

CHAPTER XXIX

PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS THIS subject is intimately connected with the assurance of salvation. For if true believers may lose their faith, and totally and finally fall away, then, manifestly, there can be no such thing

Chapter 41

CHAPTER XXX

THE SACRAMENTS SACRAMENTS are visible signs of invisible grace. They are also seals of God's covenant with men; just as in more solemn transactions among men, besides the words in which the substance of the compact, or t

Chapter 42

CHAPTER XXXI

BAPTISM THERE has always been a tendency to make too much of these external rites, and to depend unduly upon them, as a ground on which to hope for salvation. Thus, the Jews so exalted the importance of the rite of circu

Chapter 43

CHAPTER XXXII

THE LORD'S SUPPER WHEN Christ celebrated the passover for the last time with his disciples, at the close of the feast, he instituted another sacrament, bearing a strong analogy to this Jewish festival, to be perpetually

Chapter 44

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE LORD'S DAY AND DIVINE WORSHIP REASON teaches that there is a God, and that He ought to be worshipped. Had man remained in his primeval state of integrity, social worship would have been an incumbent duty. But, from a

Chapter 45

1. Let the whole day be consecrated to the service of God, especially

in acts of worship, public and private. This weekly recess from worldly cares and avocations, affords a precious opportunity for the study of God's word, and for the examination of our own hearts. Rise early, and let you

Chapter 46

2. Consider the Lord's day an honour and delight. Let your heart be

elevated in holy joy, and your lips be employed in the high praises of God. This day more resembles heaven, than any other portion of our time; and we should endeavour to imitate the worship of heaven, according to that

Chapter 47

3. Avoid undue rigour, and Pharisaic scrupulosity, for nothing

renders the Lord's day more odious. Still keep in view the great end of its institution; and remember that the sabbath was instituted for the benefit of man, and not to be a galling yoke. The cessation from worldly busin

Chapter 48

4. Whilst you conscientiously follow your own sense of duty in the

observance of the rest of the sabbath, be not ready to censure all who may differ from you in regard to minute particulars, which are not prescribed or commanded in the word of God. The Jews accused our Lord as a sabbath

Chapter 49

5. As, undoubtedly, the celebration of public worship and gaining

divine instruction from the divine oracles, is the main object of the institution of the Christian sabbath, let all be careful to attend on the services of the sanctuary on this day. And let the heart be prepared by prev

Chapter 50

CHAPTER XXXIV

DEATH ALL the doctrines and duties of religion have relation to a future state. All religion is founded on the supposition that man will live after the death of the body. The importance of any doctrine or religious insti

Chapter 51

CHAPTER XXXV

THE RESURRECTION LEAVING, therefore, the intermediate state between death and judgment, in that obscurity in which revelation has left it, let us proceed, briefly to contemplate those important events connected with our

Chapter 52

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE JUDGMENT IMMEDIATELY after the resurrection, comes the judgment of men and devils. The time of this event is called, the "LAST DAY," and the "DAY OF JUDGMENT," (2 Pet. 3:7.) "For he hath appointed a day in which he w

Chapter 53

CHAPTER XXXVII

HEAVEN; OR, THE STATE OF GLORIFICATION SOME things are hard to be believed, they are so good and glorious. That such poor, ignorant, imperfect, and unworthy creatures, should -- 176 of 185 -- ever arrive at a state, in

Chapter 54

CHAPTER XXXVIII

HELL; OR, THE STATE OF FUTURE MISERY THE most incomprehensible of all mysteries is, that moral evil should have a place in the universe of an infinitely wise, holy, and powerful God. We could construct a very plausible a