ESSAYS, LECTURES, ETC. UPON SELECT TOPICS IN REVEALED THEOLOGY. BY NATHANIEL W. TAYLOR, D.D. LATE DWIGHT PROFESSOR OF DIDACTIC THEOLOGY "FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST; FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD NEW YORK: PUBLISHED BY CLARK, AUSTIN & SMITH, 3 PARK ROW & 3 ANN STREET. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by NOAH PORTER, SAMUEL G. BUCKINGHAM, AND WALTER T. HATCH, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. RENNIE, SHEA & LINDSAY, STEREOTYPERS AND ELECTROTYPERS, 81, 83, and 85 Centre-street, NEW YORK PRINTED BY C. A. ALVORD, 15 Vandewater-st., 270291 OCT 12 1923 CF 521 INTRODUCTION. THIS volume, as its title imports, consists of Essays, &c., from the pen of Dr. Taylor upon various topics in Revealed Theology. Dr. Taylor did not leave a fully written system or course of Theological lectures. The notes and briefs from which he lectured are so full indeed, that it would not be difficult to give to the public his views in the form of a complete system of Revealed Theology. But this would involve the necessity of expanding, by another hand, the heads of argument which were sketched by him. In many of these views there is little that is original with him, except the arrangement and development of the reasoning. There seems therefore, to be no sufficient reason for publishing arguments with which theologians are already familiar. It would not however be just to the memory of the deceased, nor to the cause of truth, to withhold any discussions which may promise to throw light upon important scriptural doctrines, or to advance in any way the science of Christian Theology. The volume contains papers on the Trinity, Human Sinfulness, Justification, Election, and Perseverance. The Essays on the Trinity were written after the discussions and controversy on this subject, which are not yet forgotten. The matter is somewhat different from that which Dr. Taylor was accustomed to read to his students in his earlier years. Whatever may be thought of the views expressed, they were carefully considered, and embody the results of earnest and honest thinking. It is to be regretted, that the Scriptural argument was so far unfinished that it is deemed unwise to publish any part of it. The papers on Human Sinfulness com prise all the lectures which the author was accustomed to read on this subject, with some additional matter. The Essays on Justification are but a fragment of an extended series of papers, upon which Dr. Taylor bestowed much earnest investigation and careful study for two or three of the last years of his life. But though they are a fragment, they treat with great fullness of one topic under this general head. Were there no other reason for publishing this fragment, one might be found in the earnestness with which the author prosecuted his inquiries, and the importance he attached to the discussion of the subject in the present state of theological opinion. The sermons on Election and Perseverance were prepared with great care, after the author had been for many years a theological instructor, and were always read in the place of lectures to his students, it being a favorite opinion with him that no truth of the Scriptures could be exhibited with so much effect by the preacher as the doctrine of Election; and that in no truth, when rightly exhibited, was the gospel made so glorious as "the power of God unto salvation." The sermon "What is Truth" is a condensed summary of his views upon the principal doctrines of Theology,-unfolding them also in their practical relations. It is to be regretted that the lectures of Dr. Taylor on the Atonement were in so fragmentary and unfinished a state as to make it unadvisable to publish them. His views on its necessity and nature can be gathered from the lectures on Moral Government, the appendix on Justice, and from section third of the Essay on the Trinity in the present volume. N. P. YALE COLLEGE, July, 1859. CONTENTS. Not presumptuous to attempt to define the doctrine.-Prevalence of the opposite view.-We may believe an unintelligible proposition to be true; but what we do believe, we under- stand. The proposition that there are three persons in one God, in the ordinary signifi- cation of the terms, is absurd.-The meaning of the words may be limited.-Different state- ments of the doctrine.-Remarks upon them.-The Scriptural doctrine stated.-Plan of the discussion, in five divisions.-1. The import of the doctrine does not involve the use of the words being and person in the same meaning.-The peculiar meaning of each de- fined.-General form in which Trinitarians hold their doctrine.-More particular form may IL-THE POSSIBILITY OF ONE GOD IN THREE PERSONS. The real question at issue between the Unitarian and the Trinitarian.-Opinions of philoso- phers in respect to the definition of Being.-The opinions of common men, and their au- thority. Rules for interpreting the words Being and Person.-The ordinary conception denoted by the word Being.-Is it possible that God, in some authorized use of the lan- guage, should exist in three persons?—(I.) Is it possible in the nature of things?—The terms are used in a modified meaning, and ought so to be understood.-So understood, they involve no contradiction, even when used by those who cannot define the sense in which they use the terms.-(II.) Is it possible, stated in its particular forin, argued by showing (1.) that several modes of the divine subsistence are possible, which are not self- contradictory. Various modes supposed.—(4) The doctrine of Spinoza.-(B) The doc- trines of Sherlock and Howe.-(C) That of Leibnitz.-(D) The doctrine of one nature and three forms of action.-(E) The doctrine of three self-active natures in one substance.-No necessary self-contradiction in these theories.-Prop. II. argued still further, by showing (2.) the human mind can not know that this mode of subsistence is impossible.--Various suppositions for illustration.-The subject-matter is such, that knowledge a priori is im- possible. What we do know, considered.-The assumption that more than this is impossi- III-NO PRESUMPTION AGAINST, BUT RATHER A PRESUMPTION FOR THE No such presumption in what man knows to be true of himself, nor in that we judge all other beings besides God to be like ourselves in this respect.-No presumption from divine reve- lation; none from the Unity of God.-The presumption for its truth is founded on the fact, that God is administering a Moral Government under an economy of grace. This requires an Atonement.-An Atonement seems to be most easily furnished and explained on the supposition of this mode of the Divine subsistence.-Nature of the Atonement incidentally explained.-Temporary sufferings and death of the Divine-man a sufficient evil....... IV. THE MANNER IN WHICH LANGUAGE IS USED IN THE SCRIPTURES RESPECTING THE MODE OF THE DIVINE SUBSISTENCE AND THE PER- Language of the Scriptures peculiar or self-contradictory.-The result of Unitarian and Trini- tarian attempts to explain it.-The sacred writers give no indications of embarrassment.— Natural inference.-Positions stated.—(I.) Important to decide whether the language is PAGE |