ON THE

Doctrines of the Bible;

FORMING A

CONCISE AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM

OF

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.

BY

JAMES GARNER,

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL

"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness
of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."-ACTS xvii. 11.

LIVERPOOL:

GABRIEL THOMSON, 108, LONDON ROAD.

LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT.
AND R. DAVIS, SUTTON STREET, COMMERCIAL ROAD.

MAY BE HAD OF THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST MINISTERS,
AND ALL BOOKSELLERS.

LIVERPOOL:

GABRIEL THOMSON, 108, LONDON ROAD.

BODLE

PREFACE.

IN perusing the following Dissertations the theological student will perceive that the Author, in illustrating the Divine Attributes, neither affects nice metaphysical distinctions, nor makes pretensions to such an elaborate analysis of the perfections of Deity as is generally adopted by professors of theology in a course of lectures on these subjects. Those who wish to gratify their critical curiosity therein, may consult the philological and exegetical disquisitions of Dr. Pye Smith, Dwight's and Stackhouse's Body of Divinity, the various Systems of Theology by Dr. Wardlaw, Dr. Leonard Woods, and Professor Finney, R. Watson's and Dr. Chalmers' Institutes, and other learned authors, who have discussed these subjects with great care and philosophical nicety.

The design of the Author in publishing his views on the Doctrines of Christian Theo

logy, is to contribute assistance to junior Ministers, and those especially, who belong to the same religious community as himself, and other theological readers, in obtaining a correct knowledge of the Christian System; more particularly in relation to doctrine and religious experience.

The necessity of such a work may be questioned by many, seeing there are already in the market a large supply of works of a kindred character, many of which possess considerable merit, and are suitable to almost every class of mind. The Author begs, notwithstanding, distinctly to remark that many Systems of Divinity are too learned and elaborate for common readers. They are the productions of classic and highly cultivated minds, and, of course, are of high literary merit; but they are suitable for such theological students only as are graduating under the tuition of able professors. To such they afford considerable facility in the attainment of sacred knowledge; but they are not suitable either for general readers, or for young men who have laboured under the disadvantages of a limited education, and are called, before going through a series of studies,

to minister in holy things, and to explain the sublime mysteries of revealed religion. An easy method of obtaining a correct knowledge of the rudiments and essential principles of the Christian religion is to them of great importance; and to afford them ready assistance is the principal design of the Author.

With this object in view he has endeavoured to bring out a plain and comprehensive system of Christian Theology. At the same time he has endeavoured to provide for the intellectual and religious improvement of the many thousands of "LOCAL PREACHERS" whose opportunities of mental cultivation and advancement in the science of Theology are generally limited.

With regard to the originality of the work it may be remarked,

1. That the Author has availed himself of the assistance of many eminent divines, to whom his obligations are acknowledged in the usual way. In other instances he has adopted their sentiments, but has expressed them in his own language.

2. Many sentiments may be expressed in language similar to that which is found in