The Key To Unlocking John Gill’s “Body Of Doctrinal And Practical Divinity”
John Gill understood the Sublapsarian view on the logical order of God’s decree to fit within the Supralapsarian view, thereby subscribing to both positions. This scheme of teaching is diagramed in the “Framework of Sovereign Grace”, which serves as the key to unlocking Gill’s “Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity” (Systematic Theology). Although Gill himself never diagramed his framework of teachings, it was a method used by William Perkins (a Supralapsarian) and by John Bunyan (a Sublapsarian) during the 16th and 17th centuries. The “Framework of Sovereign Grace” is a diagram drawn up by Jared Smith in 2012, incidentally but conveniently aligned with the teachings of John Gill.
There are many of the Lord’s people who are “scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.” Some are alone and isolated. Others live near each other, but cannot find a local church to join. In time, these poor dejected souls become accustomed to their deprivation of church life, landing them in a dry and thirsty land, surviving on “locusts and scratching the earth for water.”
To meet this need, I have started preparing online worship services. While the alone and isolated believer should find encouragement and edification through this provision, it is hoped those believers who live near each other will be prompted to organize themselves into new churches. Where two or three of the Lord’s people are gathered together in His name, there is He in the midst of them. In such circumstances, it is likely the new churches will be without a preacher. They may therefore continue following these online worship services, in lieu of a preacher, until the Lord is pleased to supply the vacancy. Nevertheless, even if a group of believers choose to not organize themselves into a church, I pray they will use the online services and find enrichment to their souls through the worship of God and gospel edification.
Jared Smith
Jared Smith served twenty years as pastor of a Strict and Particular Baptist church in Kensington (London, England). He now serves as an Evangelist in the Philippines, preaching the gospel, organizing churches and training gospel preachers.
Jared Smith's Online Worship Services
Jared Smith's Sermons
Jared Smith on the Gospel Message
Jared Smith on the Biblical Covenants
Jared Smith on the Gospel Law
Jared Smith on Bible Doctrine
Jared Smith on Bible Reading
Jared Smith's Hymn Studies
Jared Smith on Eldership
Jared Smith's Studies In Genesis
Jared Smith's Studies in Romans
Jared Smith on Various Issues
Jared Smith, Covenant Baptist Church, Philippines
Jared Smith's Maternal Ancestry (Complete)
