CHAPTER II.

DOCTRINAL KNOWLEDGE.

It is common for persons to speak of doctrine with aversion, as though it were something abstract and dry, having no connection with practical life. This notion, however, is founded on a misapprehension, not only of the meaning of the term, but of the connection of actions with established principles of the mind. The general signification of the word doctrine is, the principles upon which any system is founded. As applied to Christianity, it means divine truth; for this is the foundation upon which the Christian religion rests. Although the truths of God's word are not reduced to a regular system in the Bible, yet, when brought together, they make the most beautiful and perfect of all systems. It is proper, therefore, that we should contemplate them in a body, as they appear with the most perfect symmetry in the plan of God's moral government. There is a disposition, with many, to undervalue doctrinal knowledge. They think it of little consequence what they believe, if they are only sincere, and manifest much feeling on the subject of religion. This is a ruinous mistake. There is an intimate connection between faith and practice. The principles which are believed, and received into the

DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE.

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heart, govern and control the conduct. The doctrines which God has revealed in his word are the principles of his moral government. If we mistake these principles, we may be found in open rebellion, while we think we are doing God service. For example, God commands us to keep holy the Sabbath day. But, if we do not believe that he has given this commandment, we shall feel under no obligation to obey it. And every truth which God has revealed is as intimately connected with practice as this, although the duty enjoined may be, in itself considered, of less consequence. Christianity is called a spiritual building. "Ye are built up a spiritual house." "Whose house are we." "Ye are God's building." The foundation and frame-work of this building are the doctrines or truths of the Bible. Some of these doctrines are called fundamental, or essential, because they lie at the foundation of the whole building, and are so essential to it, that, if taken away, the edifice would fall to the ground. These are, the existence of God in the mysterious union of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the fall, and consequent depravity and condemnation, of man; the atonement of Christ; justification by faith in him alone; the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and the eternal punishment of those who finally reject the gospel. If any one of these were taken away, it would overturn the whole building. These may, therefore, well be called the foundation. But there are many other important parts of a frame besides the foundation. So there are many very important truths of Christianity besides

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A GOOD COMPARISON.

its essential doctrines. But some of these are of more consequence than others. If a post or a beam is taken away, the building is greatly marred, and in danger of falling; yet, if well covered, it may still be a comfortable dwelling. Again, although a brace or a pin is of service to strengthen the building, yet either may be taken away without very serious injury. But a frame may be complete in all its parts, and yet be no building. Without a covering, it will not answer a single design of a house; and in proportion as it is well covered, will it be a comfortable residence. Just so with Christianity. The covering of the house is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, producing gracious affections, which manifest themselves in a holy life. But the covering of a house cannot exist without some kind of frame-work. So experimental and practical piety cannot exist without a belief of the fundamental doctrines of the gospel. The Holy Spirit operates upon the heart through the truth. He gives it a personal application, brings it home to the heart and conscience, and exerts an efficacious influence in connection with it, changing the heart and life. "Of his own will begat he us, with the word of truth." "Seeing ye have purified your souls, in obeying the truth through the Spirit." Thus the agency of the Spirit is generally acknowledged in connection with the truth. Any religious feeling or experience, therefore, which is not produced by the truth, made effectual by the Holy Spirit, is not genuine. There is a kind of indefinite religious feeling, which many mistake for Christian experience. They feel, and,

GENUINE AND SPURIOUS FEELING. 27

perhaps, deeply; but they know not why they feel. Such religious feeling is to be suspected as spurious. It may be a delusion of Satan. By persuading people to rest upon this spurious religious feeling, he accomplishes his purpose as well as if he had kept them in a careless state. The clearer our views of truth, the more spiritual and holy will be our religious affections. Thus godly sorrow arises from a sight of our own depravity, with a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, as committed against a holy God, and against great light and mercy. Faith is produced by a view of the atonement of Christ, and of his infinite fulness as a complete and perfect Savior. Love is excited by a discovery of the excellence of God's moral perfections. Holy fear and reverence arise from a sight of the majesty and glory of his natural attributes, and a sense of his presence. Joy may come from a sense of the infinite rectitude of his moral government, from the sight of the glory of God in his works of providence and grace, or from a general view of the beauty and excellence of divine truth. Comfort may be derived from evidence of the divine favor; and confidence, from an appropriation of God's promises to ourselves.

But all religious feeling produced by impulse, without any rational view of the truth, is to be suspected. Every religious affection has its counterfeit. Thus sorrow may be produced by the fear of hell, without any sense of the evil of sin. A presumption of our own good estate may be mistaken for faith; and this will produce joy. We may exercise a carnal or

selfish love to God, because we think he loves us, and has made us the objects of his special favor; and this may excite the natural passions to a high degree of fervor, without any spiritual affection. The promises of God, also, so far as they concern the personal good of the believer, may administer as much comfort to the self-deceived as to the real saint.

But as the frame-work of a building, though complete in all its parts, would be no house without a covering, so we may have a speculative knowledge of the doctrines of the Christian religion, and be no Christians. It is the experimental and practical application of these doctrines to the heart and life that makes the building complete. By regarding ourselves as subjects of God's moral government, and the doctrines of the Bible as the laws of his kingdom, we feel such a personal interest in them, that we cannot rest in abstract speculation. Let us, therefore, study these doctrines, that we may know how to live to the glory of God.

Directions for acquiring Doctrinal Knowledge.

I. Become a little child. "As new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word." 66 Except ye

be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." A little child believes the words of his father. "My father says so," is reason enough for him. He does not say, “I will not believe it, because I cannot understand it." In like manner should we submit to the teachings of God's holy word. We cannot expect to comprehend