Call number
Publication
(Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, n.d.)
Physical description
vi, 7-324 p.; 20 cm
Notes
A digital edition of this work may be accessed in several formats at https://archive.org/details/familiarletterst00dickuoft
From the Preface:
The irregular heats and extravagancies of some late pretenders to extraordinary attainments in religion, their imaginary divine impulses, and ecstatic raptures, with other effects of their disordered fancies, have cast such a blemish upon the Christian profession, in the eyes of unsettled and unthinking people, that it is well if too many are not in danger of calling Christianity itself into question, from the manifestly false pretences and enthusiastic flights of some, who have put in a claim to so eminent an experience in the divine life. It is therefore thought needful, as well as seasonable at this time, that a brief and plain confirmation of the Christian religion be sent abroad among our people, to establish them in the foundation of our eternal hope. This has been my special motive to the publication of some of the first of the ensuing Letters. . .
CONTENTS
Preface.
Letter I. The Danger of Infidelity briefly represented.
Letter II. A brief and general view of the Evidences of Christianity.
Letter III. A Historical Account of the Birth, Life, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Future Kingdom of our Blessed Saviour, collected from the Prophecies of the Old Testament.
Letter IV. The certainty of those facts, upon which the Evidences of Christianity depend.
Letter V. Some of the Internal Evidences of Christianity considered.
Letter VI. Some Objections against the Internal Evidences of Christianity considered and answered.
Letter VII. The Doctrine of God's Sovereign Grace Vindicated; and some Exceptions against it considered and answered.
Letter VIII. The Difference between a True Saving Faith, and a Dead Temporary Faith, distinctly considered.
Letter IX. The Difference between a Legal and Evangelical Repentance distinctly considered.
Letter X. The seventh chapter to the Romans contains the Description and Character of a Converted State.
Letter XI. The doctrine of a Sinner's Justification, by the imputed Righteousness of Christ, explained and vindicated.
Letter XII. Whether we are Justified by Faith and Obedience to the Gospel, as a New Law of Grace.
Letter XIII. The notion of a First Justification by Faith, and a Secondary Justification by Sincere Obedience, discussed and confuted.
Letter XIV. The Apostle James's Doctrine of Justification by Works, in his second chapter, distinctly reviewed, and set in its genuine light, by a comparison with the Apostle Paul's doctrine of Justification by Faith.
Letter XV. Wherein is considered in what respects Good Works are necessary; and our obligations to them represented and urged.
Letter XVI. The nature of the Believer's union to Christ briefly explained, and the necessity of it asserted and defended.
Letter XVII. Antinomian abuses of the doctrine of Believers' union to Christ or pleas from it for Licentiousness and security in sinning, considered and obviated.
Letter XVIII. Particular advice and direction for a Close and Comfortable Walk with God.
From the Preface:
The irregular heats and extravagancies of some late pretenders to extraordinary attainments in religion, their imaginary divine impulses, and ecstatic raptures, with other effects of their disordered fancies, have cast such a blemish upon the Christian profession, in the eyes of unsettled and unthinking people, that it is well if too many are not in danger of calling Christianity itself into question, from the manifestly false pretences and enthusiastic flights of some, who have put in a claim to so eminent an experience in the divine life. It is therefore thought needful, as well as seasonable at this time, that a brief and plain confirmation of the Christian religion be sent abroad among our people, to establish them in the foundation of our eternal hope. This has been my special motive to the publication of some of the first of the ensuing Letters. . .
CONTENTS
Preface.
Letter I. The Danger of Infidelity briefly represented.
Letter II. A brief and general view of the Evidences of Christianity.
Letter III. A Historical Account of the Birth, Life, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and Future Kingdom of our Blessed Saviour, collected from the Prophecies of the Old Testament.
Letter IV. The certainty of those facts, upon which the Evidences of Christianity depend.
Letter V. Some of the Internal Evidences of Christianity considered.
Letter VI. Some Objections against the Internal Evidences of Christianity considered and answered.
Letter VII. The Doctrine of God's Sovereign Grace Vindicated; and some Exceptions against it considered and answered.
Letter VIII. The Difference between a True Saving Faith, and a Dead Temporary Faith, distinctly considered.
Letter IX. The Difference between a Legal and Evangelical Repentance distinctly considered.
Letter X. The seventh chapter to the Romans contains the Description and Character of a Converted State.
Letter XI. The doctrine of a Sinner's Justification, by the imputed Righteousness of Christ, explained and vindicated.
Letter XII. Whether we are Justified by Faith and Obedience to the Gospel, as a New Law of Grace.
Letter XIII. The notion of a First Justification by Faith, and a Secondary Justification by Sincere Obedience, discussed and confuted.
Letter XIV. The Apostle James's Doctrine of Justification by Works, in his second chapter, distinctly reviewed, and set in its genuine light, by a comparison with the Apostle Paul's doctrine of Justification by Faith.
Letter XV. Wherein is considered in what respects Good Works are necessary; and our obligations to them represented and urged.
Letter XVI. The nature of the Believer's union to Christ briefly explained, and the necessity of it asserted and defended.
Letter XVII. Antinomian abuses of the doctrine of Believers' union to Christ or pleas from it for Licentiousness and security in sinning, considered and obviated.
Letter XVIII. Particular advice and direction for a Close and Comfortable Walk with God.