by John Gill
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
HAVING completed an exposition of the whole Bible, the books both of the Old and of the New Testament, I considered with myself what would be best next to engage in for the further instruction of the people under my care; and my thoughts led me to enter upon a scheme of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity, first the former and then the latter; the one being the foundation of the other, and both having a close connexion with each other. Doctrine has an influence upon practice, especially evangelical doctrine, spiritually understood, affectionately embraced, and powerfully and feelingly experienced; so true is what the apostle asserts, that the grace of God, that is, the doctrine of the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, the good news, the glad tidings of salvation by Christ, which is peculiar to gospel doctrine, hath appeared to all men, Gentiles as well as Jews, in the external ministry of the word; teaching us, to whom it comes with power and efficacy in the demonstration of the Spirit, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. Where there is not the doctrine of faith, the obedience of faith cannot be expected. Where there is not the doctrine of the gospel, and men have not learned Christ, they live for the most part as if there was no God in the world, and give themselves up to work all sin with greediness. And on the other hand, doctrine without practice, or a mere theory and speculative knowledge of things, unless reduced to practice, is of no avail; such are only vainly puffed up in their fleshly minds, profess to know God in word, but in works deny him, have a form of godliness without the power of it, a name to live but are dead. Doctrine and practice should go together; and in order both to know and do the will of God, instruction in doctrine and practice is necessary; and the one being first taught will lead on to the other. This method of instruction the apostle Paul has pointed out to us in some of his epistles, especially in the Epistle to the Ephesians; in which he first treats of election, predestination, adoption, acceptance in Christ, redemption, and pardon of sin, regeneration and other doctrines of grace, and of the privileges of the saints under the gospel dispensation; and then enforces the several duties incumbent on them as men and Christians, respecting them in their several stations, in the church, in their families, and in the world. So the apostle instructed Timothy, first to teach the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus, the doctrine that is according to godliness and productive of it, and then to exhort and press men to the duties of religion from evangelical motives and principles. And he also enjoined Titus to affirm the doctrines of the gospel with constancy and certainty, to this end, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.
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Table of Contents
OF THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP
OF INTERNAL WORSHIP
OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
OF REPENTANCE
OF THE FEAR OF GOD
OF FAITH IN GOD AND CHRIST
OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD
OF HOPE
OF LOVE
OF SPIRITUAL JOY
OF PEACE OF MIND
OF CONTENTMENT
OF THANKFULNESS TO GOD
OF HUMILITY
OF SELF-DENIAL
OF RESIGNATION TO THE WILL OF GOD
OF PATIENCE
OF CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE
OF ZEAL
OF WISDOM AND PRUDENCE
OF GODLY SINCERITY
OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS
OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE
OF COMMUNION WITH GOD
PUBLIC WORSHIP
OF THE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH
DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS OF A CHURCH TO EACH OTHER
PASTORS OF CHURCHES
DUTIES OF CHURCHES TO THEIR PASTORS
OF THE OFFICE OF DEACONS
OF THE DISCIPLINE OF CHURCHES
OF THE PUBLIC ORDINANCES
OF BAPTISM
OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
OF THE PUBLIC MINISTRY
PUBLIC HEARING OF THE GOSPEL
OF PUBLIC PRAYER
OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
OF SINGING PSALMS
PLACE AND TIME OF PUBLIC WORSHIP
OF PRIVATE WORSHIP, RELATIVE DUTIES
DUTIES OF HUSBAND AND WIFE
DUTIES OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN
DUTIES OF MASTERS AND SERVANTS
DUTIES OF MAGISTRATES AND SUBJECTS
OF GOOD WORKS
OF THE DECALOGUE