CONTENTS.

LECTURE I. p. 3.

ORIGIN OF SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY.

NATURE of the Inquiry proposed, the force of Theory on Theo-

logical language-the Scholastic Philosophy an important branch

of this General Inquiry-its connexion with the philosophy of

Aristotle Neglect of consideration of its influence in comparison

with that of Platonism-the greater extent of its influence-its

more immediate interest.

The Scholastic Philosophy the result of a struggle between

Reason and Authority-its history to be traced to the ascendancy

of the Latin Clergy-contrast between the Greek and Latin

Fathers-Practical character of the Latins exemplified in their

leading men-strict correspondence sustained among them-Con-

trast of state of Society in the East and the West-Civil disturb-

ance and misery of the West favourable to the power of the Latin

Church-Rhetorical character of the Latin theological writers-

Fruitless attempt of Jerome to improve the Latin literature of his

time-Monastic Institutions of the West less enthusiastic than

those of the East-Origin of the Scholastic System more deve-

loped in the progress of the Church, after the middle of the Vth

century. The principle of liberty of reason which had led to the

power of the Church, operating within the Church, leads at once

to heresy and ecclesiastical coercion-Extent of jurisdiction over

opinion claimed by the Latin Clergy evidenced in the predes-

tinarian Controversy of the IXth century-Subsequent history a

continuance of the struggle between Reason and Authority in the

West. Subjugation of the intellect leads to its insurrection—

Character of its efforts at this period.

The argumentative theology at length sanctioned by the Church

itself in its authoritative capacity-The Book of the Sentences-

Albert the Great, and Thomas Aquinas, perfect the method

established-Success of Scholasticism owing to its combination of

unlimited discussion with deference to authority.

LECTURE II. p. 51.

FORMATION OF THE SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY.

GENERAL statement of the evil of a Logical Theology-The

Church sanctions the use of Logic only as an art of defence-

Platonism the established Philosophy of the Church-An art of

Logic indispensable to the speculating Christian in the West-

Division of the Sciences in the middle age-Tendency of the

age to blend all into a metaphysical Logic, or Dialect-Logic

perverted into a Science of Investigation-Obstructions to the

real improvement of Logic-Ignorance of Aristotle's writings in

themselves-Importance of the writings of Boethius-Effect of

the Crusades in opening fresh sources of knowledge-Progress

of Scholasticism illustrated in the division of parties into Nomi-

nalists and Realists-Triumph of Realism.

Realism, the scientific basis of Scholasticism-Nominalism,

the resource of the more liberal speculators-Opposition between

Duns Scotus and Ockam-Ascendancy of a Logical Philosophy

evidenced in the subsequent state of knowledge.

Theology erected into an exact demonstrative Science-its

Principles drawn from the incomprehensible nature of the Divine

Being-Regard to Authority maintained, by assigning Faith as

the preliminary to the whole Speculation-Aristotle's Philosophy

applied as a method of eliciting the Divine truths involved in the

Scripture This resulted in a combination of the Ideal Theory

of Platonism with the Sensualism of Aristotle's Philosophy-

Logic the instrument in effecting this result-Union of Mysticism

and Argumentation in the Scholastic writings-Abuse by the

Schoolmen of the disputatious form of Aristotle's writings.

Fundamental errors of Scholastic Theology, 1. its neglect of

the Historical Nature of the Christian Scriptures-consequent

loss of the real instruction contained in them-2. their Rhetorical

nature also overlooked in an exclusive attention to the mere

words of revelation-3. their Ethical lessons also disparaged in

the pursuit of theoretic truth.

LECTURE III. p. 97.

THE TRINITARIAN CONTROVERSIES.

QUESTIONS On the Trinity naturally the first to engage the
attention of disputants-Their ecclesiastical and political import-
ance in the early ages-Maintenance of the orthodox doctrine
chiefly owing to the Latin Church-Controversies on the subject
assume a scientific form in the Scholastic writings-Promiscuous
character of ancient Philosophy exemplified in the discussion-
Scholastic system applies the philosophy of mind to the inves-
tigation of God from his Effects in the world-Doctrine of the
Trinity, in its principle, the ideas or reasons of all existing things,
traced to the Intellect of God-Description of the Scholastic
mode of rationalizing the doctrine-Orthodox theory of the
Divine Procession the exact view of the principle of Causation—
Extremes of Sabellianism and Arianism traced to their miscon-
ception of this principle-Mischievous effect of the notion, that
doctrines must be defended from their speculative consequences—
Influence of Materialism-Rise of a technical phraseology—
Logical principles employed in settling the precise notions of the
different terms introduced-Popular illustrations of the Trinity
examples of this mode of philosophizing-Controversies turn
principally on the views taken of sameness, unity, diversity, &c.
-Differences between the orthodox and the Sabellians and Arians
in regard to the Divine Unity-Difficulties produced by the word
Persona, obviated by logical distinctions.

Illustration of the doctrine of the Incarnation from the prin-
ciples of the established logical philosophy-It accounts for the
differences between the orthodox, the Nestorians, and Eutychians.

Application of this philosophy in the Controversies on the
Procession of the Holy Spirit-The words Filioque added to the
Nicene Creed-This addition ultimately maintained on logical
grounds.

General practical reflections-Difficulties on the subject of the
Trinity metaphysical in their origin-Popular misapprehension of
the Divine Unity an instance of this-The various theories all
Trinitarian in principle-Simplicity of belief in Scripture facts,
the only escape from perplexity.

LECTURE IV. p. 153.

THE PELAGIAN CONTROVERSIES.-PREDESTINATION AND

GRACE.

SCHOLASTIC nature of controversies relative to Divine and Hu-
man Agency-State of the West disposes the Latin Christians
to the discussion of such questions-Importance of the questions
in order to Church-government-The disputes here at first, less
philosophical in comparison with the Trinitarian - Consequent
laxity in the terms of the Pelagian theories, occasions more con-
tinual disputes-The Schoolmen the first to systematize these
doctrines-Connexion of them with the previous theory of the
Trinity Scholastic view of Predestination an application of
the Principle of Activity in the Divine Being to human actions—
Importance of excluding reference to the Divine Intelligence, in
our estimate of Predestination-Mode in which the notions of
Contingency and Necessity, Time and Eternity, were employed in
Scholastic reasonings.-The only proper difficulty on the subject
is, the prevalence of Evil-Notions of Optimism influential on
such speculations-The term Good in ancient philosophy coin-
cident with an object of will - Reprobation consequently, as
implying evil willed, unknown to Scholastic system-Illustration
to be derived to our article on the subject from the theories
opposed by the Schoolmen-Dread of Manicheism in the Latin
Church.

Scholastic notion of Grace as the effect of Predestination, both
physical and logical-The term Grace designates properly a
general fact of the Divine conduct-Application of Aristotle's
physical doctrines in the scholastic account of the process of
Grace-The theory of Transmutation-Instinctive Principle of
motion attributed to the System of Nature-Approximation to
Pantheism in this system.

Practical reflections-Truths of Grace and Predestination con-
cern the heart principally-Theoretic statements of them must
always be peculiarly open to difficulty-The difficulties, evidently,
chiefly metaphysical-The doctrines, practically taken, full of
real comfort and peace.

LECTURE V. p. 207.

THE PELAGIAN CONTROVERSIES.-JUSTIFICATION.

TRUTHS of Divine and Human Agency necessarily qualify each
other-Human Agency, as viewed in the Scholastic system, the
continued action of the First Cause-Justification, the law of
Divine Operation in the Salvation of Man-Sketch of the Chris-
tian scheme involved in this principle-Theory of Human Agency
concerned first in accounting for Resistance to the Divine Will-
Difficulty, as felt in ancient philosophy, was to reconcile the fact
with the certainty of Science-Schoolmen adopt Aristotle's prac-
tical views of human nature-Application of the term Corruption
founded on his physical philosophy-Theory of the Propagation
of Sin maintains the universality of the principle of Corruption-
Objections of Pelagius and Celestius to this theory-Error, both
of the Orthodox and of the Pelagians, in speculating on the nature
of Original Sin-Concupiscence-the application of this term to
Original Sin, derived from ancient divisions of the soul-Mate-
rialism involved in the Speculation.-Doctrine of Original Sin,
the counterpart to the doctrine of the Incarnation-Disputes
between the Orthodox and the Pelagians turn on the force of the
terms Nature and Person-Connexion between the heresies of
Nestorius and Pelagius-Distinction between the effect of Adam's
sin, and the sin of subsequent parents on their posterity-View
of the Christian life, as a change, coincides with this theory of
Original Sin-Faith, the infused element of the new life-Doc-
trinal statements of Justification by Faith, to be interpreted by
the light of Scholastic notions involved in it-Scholastic Notion
of Free-will, not opposed to Necessity, but to the Force of sin, in
enslaving the will—Introduction of the theory of Justice into the
Christian Scheme-Notion of Merit to be understood in connexion
with this theory; as also of Merit of Condignity, Merit of Con-
gruity-Peculiar views of Repentance, as a compensation for
offence of Punishment and Satisfaction, as applied to the Sacri-
fice of Christ-of Self-Mortification and Supererogation-drawn
from this theory of Penal Justice.

Inefficacy of Repentance to remove guilt, and need of Atone-
ment, illustrated by these speculations-Debasing effect of Scho-
lastic theory of Expiation-True view of Human Agency to be