A Synopsis of Theology, Synopsis
A SYNOPSIS of THEOLOGY or DIVINITY. Drawn up by FRANCIS ROBERTS, M. A. Miniſter of the Goſpel, for the benefit of his Flock.
EOLOGY is a (a) divine doctrine,COMMON PLACES. according to the (b) Scriptures, of religious (c) living unto God, in order to Mans (d) happineſſe, and Gods (e) glory. (a) 1 Tim. 6. 3. Rom. 6. 17. with 2 Tim. 1. 13. Heb. 5. 12. with 6. 1. Eſay 51. 4. John 9. 29. Matth. 21. 25. John 6. 45. Galat. 1. 11, 12. (b) Eſay 8. 20. John 5. 39. Rom. 15. 4. 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. (c) John 6. 68. Acts 5. 20. (d) Rom. 6. 11, 22, 23. John 3. 36. with 5. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 15. (e) 1 Cor. 10. 31. 2 Cor. 4. 10, 11. Phil. 1. 20.
THEOLOGY, (or the Doctrine of Divinity, thus deſcribed) may, for the clearer underſtanding of it, be conſidered according to all the foure cauſes of it, viz. The
I. Efficient Cauſe, or firſt Principle of this Doctrine of Theologie, whereupon it is firmly grounded, wherein it is clearly revealed, and whereby it is fully proved, is the divine revelation of it in the
1. Holy Scripture.
II. Formall Cauſe of this Doctrine of THEOLOGIE, is either
1. Inward, viz. That ſweet harmony betwixt the ſenſe of this Doctrine, and the true ſenſe of Scripture, and ſo conſequently, the mind and meaning of God himſelfe.
2. Outward, viz. The method or diſpoſition of this ſyſtem or body of divine Doctrine, which may be variouſly drawne up, according to the various rules of Art and Method: Provided alwaies, that the order of divine diſpenſations, clearly obſerved in Scriptures, be not thereby inverted or obſcured.
III. Materiall cauſe, compriſing all the ſubject matters, wherein our religious living to God conſiſts: which are handled in Divinity; and may be reduced to two heads (whence the two parts of Divinity reſult) viz.
1. Matters to be known and beleeved concerning God: and they reſpect Gods
1. Nature, wherein are conſiderable
1. What God is in himſelfe: So he may be conſidered
1. Eſſentially, as One in Eſſence
2. God.
3. Vnity of Eſſence.
2. Perſonally, as Three in Subſiſtence
4. Trinity of perſons.
2. Who, or what manner of God he is; both according to the divine
1. Titles, by which he is named, viz. the
5. Names of God.
2. Properties, which are to him attributed, viz. the divine
6. Attributes
1. Eſſentiall.
2. Perſonall.
2. Works, which are either
1. Internall, eternall and immanent in GOD himſelfe, viz. His Decree it ſelfe.
7. Works of God in generall.
8. Decree.
2. Externall, temporall, and tranſient from God to the creature, viz. his actuall excution of his Decree, which he doth two waies, by
1. Originall production of all things out of nothing, exceeding good: which may be conſidered
1. More generally, in reference to the whole world; by
9. Creation.
2. More ſpecially, in references to the principall parts of the world, intellectuall creatures in
1. Heaven
10. Angels.
1. State of Creation.
2. Earth
11. Men.
2. Actuall proviſion for all things created, by his actuall providence, both in his
1. Diſpenſations naturall, for the generall good of all the creatures naturall beings and well beings: and this by his
12. Providence
1. Generall.
2. Particular.
2. Diſpenſations ſupernaturall, for the ſpeciall good of the intellectuall creatures in their ſupernaturall beings and well beings, partly by his
1. Confirmation of the elect Angels, that kept their firſt eſtate, which the reprobate Angels left
13. Confirmation of Angels.
II. State of Corruption.
2. Reſtauration of man, that loſt his firſt eſtate: herein are compriſed the
1. Malady, into which man was plunged, and from whence he was to be reſtored, viz. his firſt apoſtacie from God by his
14. Fall into
1. Sin.
2. Miſery.
III. State of Reſtitution.
2. Remedy, whereby man was reſtored from this malady, viz. REDEMPTION by Jeſus Chriſt. In this Redemption are to be obſerved three things, viz. the
1. Publication or Revelation of it to mankind, in the glad tidings of the
15. Goſpell.
2. Operation or Preparation of it for man: herein conſider
1. The Perſon that wrought mans redemption, viz. only that Immanuel, GOD-MAN
16. Redemption.
17. IESUS CHRIST.
2. The Office laid upon him, whereby he accompliſhed this work
18. Office of Chriſt.
3. The States wherein he diſcharged this office, viz. His
19. State of
1. Humiliation.
2. Exaltation.
3. Application of it unto man. This application may be conſidered
1. Abſolutely in it ſelf; and ſo it containes Gods
1. Salvificall benefits, themſelves, which in Chriſt are applied by ſeverall ſteps and degrees; tranſlating man from miſery to mercy, from ſin to grace, from grace to glory: and this by advancing man to
1. Union to Chriſt, ſeparating man unto himſelf from the common corrupt maſſe of mankind, by
20. Vocation effectuall.
2. Communion with Chriſt,
1. In his ſpotleſſe Righteouſneſſe, by
21. Communion with God in Chriſt.
22. Iuſtification actuall.
2. In his matchleſſe Sonſhip, by
23. Adoption.
3. In his true Holineſſe, by
24. Sanctification reall.
IV. State of Perfection.
4. In his endleſſe Happineſſe, by
25. Glorification eternall.
This Glory is communicated
1. Particularly & incompletely to every elect ſoul only at his particular
26. Death.
2. Generally & completely to both ſouls & bodies of all the elect at the generall
27. End of the world.
2. Inſtrumentall meanes, whereby theſe ſaving benefits are effectually applied, viz. the outward Ordinances of God: which are either
1. Ordinary uſed upon all occaſions: and theſe are either
1. Primary Ordinances, made more principally prevalent for the breeding and nouriſhing union and communion with Chriſt; Theſe are to be conſidered
1. Eſſentially, according to their ſubſtance and peculiar operation, both to our
1. Confederation with GOD in Chriſt, as the diſpenſation and preaching of the
28. Word.
29. Promiſes.
30. Covenant of Grace.
2. Confirmation in that confederation, as the adminiſtration of the ſeales of the Covenant, viz.
31. The Sacraments.
2. Accidentally, according to their circumſtance and manner of adminiſtration in the times before and under the Old and New Teſtaments
32. Manner of adminiſtration of the Covenant and Sacraments before and under the old and New Teſtaments.
2. Secondary Ordinances, ſubſervient unto the former, in promoting the birth and growth of grace in the ſoule, viz.
33. Reading, or hearing the word read.
34. Catechiſing.
35. Religious conference.
36. Meditation.
37. Prayer.
38. Singing of Pſalmes.
39. Communion of Saints.
2. Extraordinary, uſed only upon ſpeciall & extraordinary occaſions, for the advancement & improvement of our intereſts in Chriſt: and theſe are religious
40. Faſts.
41. Feaſts.
42. Vowes or Covenants.
2. Relatively, in reference to the
1. Proper Inſtrument, whereby on our part this application is ſavingly received, viz.
43. True Faith.
2. Peculiar Subject, unto which theſe benefits of redemption are applied by theſe meanes, viz.
44. The Church.
2. Matters to be done and obſerved in obedience unto God. Herein are to be obſerved.
1. The Rule of Obedience, laid downe more generally in the word of God; more ſpecially in the Law of God, which regulateth Obedience, in
1. Politicall and Civill matters. Thus the Jewes Common-wealth was regulated by the
45. Law.
46. Iudiciall Law.
2. Eccleſiaſticall and Religious matters, which are either
1. Typicall, peculiar to certaine times and perſons only. Thus the Jewiſh Church, during the Old Teſtament, was under the Pedagogy of the
47. Ceremoniall Law.
2. Morall, appertaining to all perſons at all times. Thus both Jewes and Gentiles, before and under both the Old and New Teſtaments, are under the
48. Morall Law.
2. The nature of this Obedience, which is conſidered
1. More generally, here are conſiderable the generall nature of
49. Obedience and
50. Good works.
2. More ſpecially, & ſo it comprehends
1. The inward Principle of Obedience whence all obedientiall Acts do flow, viz. the infuſed Habit or Habits of true
51. Vertue
1. Theologicall.
2. Philadelphicall.
I. Table.
2. The inward and outward acts or exerciſe of Obedience, flowing from this Principle of vertue, to be expreſſed
1. Towards God, in an holy worſhip of him, which is ſtiled RELIGION and Piety. This Piety is exerciſed
1. In the having and worſhipping of the true God, and him alone, for our God in Chriſt; which is the proper ſcope of the
52. Religion, Piety.
53. I. Commandement.
2. In the true worſhip of this true God. And herein are contained
1. The true and pure worſhip it ſelfe, which is to be performed to this one onelyonly true God, meerly according to his owne will: as is preſcribed in the
54. II. Commandement.
2. The Adjuncts of this worſhip, viz.
1. The true manner How this true God will alwaies be worſhipped by us, viz. ſo Reverendly, Holily, Sincerely, &c. as may be moſt honourable to his great and holy Name, as is required in the
55. III. Commandement.
2. The ſpeciall Time When God will be more ſolemnly and publickly worſhipped, viz. on his Day of Sabbath, oth under the Old and New Teſtament, which Sabbath is ſanctified by him authoritatively, and is to be ſanctified by us obedientially, as is enjoyned in the
56. IV. Commandement.
II. Table.
2. Towards Man, in righteouſneſs, brotherly love and ſobriety, which are to be performed
1. In deed, word and thought towards our neighbour, conſidered either
1. Relatively, in reference to that relation, order or degree of his condition, wherein God hath ſet him amongſt men, by giving reſpective honour to him, according to the
57. Righteouſneſſe, Brotherly love, Sobriety.
58. V. Commandement.
2. Abſolutely, in regard of
1. His perſon, preſerving his
1. Life and Health, by offices of Humanity, enjoyned in the
59. VI. Commandement.
2. Purity, by offices of Chaſtity, required in the
60. VIII. Commandement.
2. His Goods and Poſſeſſions, by acts of Juſtice commutative, preſcribed in the
61. VIII. Commandement.
3. His good name, by acts of truth and veracity, commanded in the
62. IX. Commandement.
2. In the very firſt motions of the heart (even thoſe motions that go before a complete and deliberate aſſent) towards our neighbour, in reference to all and every one of the fore-going Commandements of the ſecond Table. The well ordering of which motions is charged upon us in the
63. X. Commandement.
IV. Finall cauſe, or the end whereunto our religious living unto God tends, is either
1. Subordinate, and leſſe Principall, reſpecting man, viz. The preſent and future
64. Happineſſe of Man.
2. Ultimate, and moſt principall, reſpecting God himſelfe, viz. The preſent and eternall
65. Glory of God.
London, Printed by James Young, for John Bartlet, at the Signe of the Gilt-Cup, under Auſtins Gate. An. Dom. 1645.
End of the text · Francis Roberts, A Synopsis of Theology (1645)