ELEMENTS OF DIVINITY:

or,

A COURSE OF LECTURES,

COMPRISING A CLEAR AND CONCISE VIEW

of the

SYSTEM OF THEOLOGY

as taught in the

HOLY SCRIPTURES;

WITH APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS APPENDED TO EACH LECTURE

BY REV. THOMAS N. RALSTON, A. M.

“Search the Scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.”—Jesus Christ.

LOUISVILLE KY.:

PUBLISHED BY E. STEVENSON

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH

MORTON & GRISWOLD, PRINTERS

1851

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by

morton & griswold,

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Kentucky.

ADVERTISEMENT

The design of this work is to present a clear and comprehensive outline of the General System of Bible Theology, in a smaller compass, and a form less intricate and perplexing to private christians, young ministers, and students of Divinity, than the more critical and voluminous works heretofore published on the subject admit. It is hoped that the appropriate Questions appended to each Lecture will tend greatly to facilitate the study of young persons, and render the work a valuable auxiliary to senior Bible Classes and Sunday Schools, as well as a pleasing introduction to the critical study of Divinity, for junior ministers, private Christians, and young persons in general.

To the preparation of this work, the author has devoted the assiduous toil of several years. He has carefully examined the most reputable human authorities on the several subjects embraced; but has endeavored, in the formation and defence of his opinions, impartially to submit to the guidance of the Inspired Volume.

Should the perusal of these lectures prove as pleasing and profitable an exercise to the young student of Divinity as their preparation has been to the author, he will feel much comforted in the assurance that his labor has not been “in vain in the Lord.” Where he has been under peculiar obligations to the labors of others, the necessary acknowledgment is generally made in the body of the work. It may, however, be proper here to state, that, while many other writers have been consulted, he feels greatly indebted to the labors of Baxter, Goodwin, Howe, Pearson, George Hill, Macknight, George Campbell, Doddridge, Adam Clarke, John Dick, and more especially, Wesley, Fletcher, and Richard Watson.

It is hoped that the extensive Scripture quotations will be found appropriate, and agreeable to the taste of the lover of sacred truth.

Relying upon the indulgence of a generous public, the work is submitted, notwithstanding its acknowledged imperfections, with the hope, that, through the Divine blessing, it may serve as an efficient, though humble, instrument in promoting the love and knowledge of “the truth as it is in Jesus.”