Ryle describes this book as '... a series of papers, systematically arranged, on the leading truths of Christianity which are "necessary to salvation".' (p.v). First published in 1878 this is a collection of tracts most of which '... were written separately, and at long intervals of time, in some cases of as much as twenty years. On clam reflection, I have thought it better to republish them, pretty much as they originally appeared.' (p.x).
Contents
Preface
1. Inspiration
1.1.The Bible is given by inspiration of God.
1.2. The extent to which the Bible is inspired.
'I abhor the “mechanical” theory of inspiration. I dislike the idea that men … were no better than organ pipes … or ignorant secretaries … who wrote by dictation what they did not understand. … I believe that in some marvellous manner the Holy Ghost made use of the reason, the memory, the intellect, the style of thought, and the peculiar mental temperament of each writer of the Scriptures. But how and in what manner this was done I can no more explain than I can the union of two natures, God and man, in the person of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ. I only know that there is both a Divine and a human element in the Bible … [which] is really and truly the Word of God. I know the result, but I do not understand the process. … I can no more explain the process than I can explain how the water became wine at Cana, … or how a word raised Lazarus from the dead.' (p.18).
1.3. A “few words of plain application”
'… it is not want of time, but waste of time that ruins souls!' (p.32)2. Our souls
3. Few saved
4. Our hope
5. Alive or dead
6. Our sins
7. Forgiveness
8. Justification
9. The Cross of Christ
....
19. Perseverance [of the Saints]
All quotes etc from Old Paths, 2005 ed, Banner of Truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment