A Body of Divinity, Vol. 3 (of 4) Wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are explained and defended, being the substance of several lectures on the — Story, Setting & Ideas

Polemical Exegesis and the Refutation of Purgatory

Ridgley's treatment of purgatory in the excerpts shows his method: he identifies the 'secular interest' behind the doctrine, then turns to scriptural arguments. He examines Isaiah 4:4, Zechariah 9:11, and 1 Corinthians 3:13–15, which Roman Catholics used to support purgatory. For each, he offers an alternative interpretation grounded in the original context. For instance, he reads Isaiah 4:4 as referring to 'judgments which God would inflict on people in this life,' citing Isaiah 48:10 and 31:9 to link 'fire' to affliction, not post-mortem purification. Similarly, Zechariah 9:11's 'pit wherein is no water' is interpreted as the Babylonian captivity, not a middle state. Ridgley's exegesis is consistent: he insists that Old Testament prophecies of deliverance apply to temporal or eternal salvation, not an intermediate purgatorial state. This pattern—citing a prooftext, offering a counter-interpretation, and marshaling cross-references—characterizes his apologetic approach throughout the volume.

The Structure of Effectual Calling and Human Agency

The table of contents for this volume lists detailed subheadings on effectual calling, including 'The nature of human liberty,' 'In what respects the will acts freely,' and 'Man merely passive therein / But active after it.' These headings indicate that Ridgley devotes careful attention to the interplay between divine sovereignty and human agency. The excerpts do not reproduce this section, but the catalog subject 'Presbyterian Church -- Doctrines' aligns with the Reformed emphasis on irresistible grace. Ridgley's discussion likely distinguishes between the Gospel call (external) and effectual calling (internal), as suggested by the table of contents entry 'Its difference from effectual calling.' The presence of James P. Wilson's annotations, noted in the title page as 'Notes, Original and Selected,' adds a layer of commentary that may engage with later theological debates, though the excerpts do not reveal Wilson's specific contributions.

Justification and the Role of Faith

Questions 70–73 cover justification and justifying faith. The table of contents lists 'Justification. Its importance,' 'Wherein it consisteth,' and 'The privileges contained in it.' Ridgley grounds justification in Christ's role as surety, emphasizing that 'his righteousness imputed for our justification' is central. He argues that 'man cannot work out a righteousness for it,' a point consistent with Reformed soteriology. The catalog subject 'Theology, Doctrinal' is broad, but Ridgley's treatment is specifically anti-Pelagian: he rejects the notion that good works prepare for justification, as indicated by the heading 'Whether good works prepare for it.' The excerpts do not include the full argument, but the structure suggests a systematic progression from the nature of justification to the means by which it is received—faith alone. Ridgley's style is didactic, with numbered points and scriptural proofs, typical of early eighteenth-century Reformed divinity.

Readers approaching this volume should note that it is part of a larger series (four volumes) and assumes familiarity with the Westminster Larger Catechism. Ridgley's lectures are dense with scriptural citation and logical argument, often engaging opponents by name. The annotations by James P. Wilson, a Philadelphia Presbyterian minister, may reflect early American theological concerns. For those studying Reformed orthodoxy or eighteenth-century polemical theology, this volume offers a window into how catechism-based instruction doubled as apologetic defense.

There’s something steadying about Ridgley’s old arguments, even when they’re combative—they remind me of long afternoons with books that expect you to think slowly. I sometimes set one aside and reach for the wider sweep of Bible history and brief outline of church history — Inside the Classic, just to feel the whole story breathe around those sharp edges.