Table Of Contents: Original Order
John Gill’s “Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity” was originally published in four volumes.
The first two volumes were published in 1769, and were entitled, “A Body Of Doctrinal Divinity”. They were divided into seven “Books”, each of which dealt with a particular branch of doctrinal theology—Book 1: Of God, His Word, Names, Nature, Perfections And Persons; Book 2: Of The Acts And Works Of God; Book 3: Of The External Works Of God; Book 4: Of The Acts Of The Grace Of God Towards And Upon His Elect In Time; Book 5: Of The Grace Of Christ In His States Of Humiliation And Exaltation, And In The Offices Exercised By Him In Them; Book 6: Of The Blessings Of Grace, And The Doctrines Of It; Book 7: Of The Final State Of Men.”
The last two volumes were published in 1770, and were entitled, “A Body Of Practical Divinity”. They were divided into four “Books”, each of which dealt with a particular branche of practical theology—Book 1: Of The Worship Of God; Book 2: Of External Worship, As Public; Book 3: Of The Public Ordinances Of Divine Worship; Book 4: Of Private Worship, Or Various Duties, Domestic, Civil And Moral.” The last volume includes an Appendix with a dissertation concerning the baptism of Jewish Proselytes.
The order in which these “Books” and chapters appear are as follows:
“A Doctrinal Body Of Divinity”
Book 1: Of God, His Word, Names, Nature, Perfections And Persons
Chapter 1—Of The Being Of God
Chapter 2—Of The Holy Scriptures
Chapter 3—Of The Names Of God
Chapter 4—Of The Nature Of God
Chapter 5—Of The Attributes Of God In General, And Of His Immutability In Particular
Chapter 6—Of The Infinity Of God, His Omnipresence And Eternity
Chapter 7—Of The Life Of God
Chapter 8—Of The Omnipotence Of God
Chapter 9—Of The Omniscience Of God
Chapter 10—Of The Wisdom Of God
Chapter 11—Of The Will Of God, And The Sovereign Of It
Chapter 12—Of The Love Of God
Chapter 13—Of The Grace Of God
Chapter 14—Of The Mercy Of God
Chapter 15—Of The Longsuffering Of God
Chapter 16—Of The Goodness Of God
Chapter 17—Of The Anger And Wrath Of God
Chapter 18—Of The Hatred Of God
Chapter 19—Of The Joy Of God
Chapter 20—Of The Holiness Of God
Chapter 21—Of The Justice Or Righteousness Of God
Chapter 22—Of The Veracity Of God
Chapter 23—Of The Faithfulness Of God
Chapter 24—Of The Sufficiency And Perfection Of God
Chapter 25—Of The Blessedness Of God
Chapter 26—Of The Unity Of God
Chapter 27—Of A Plurality In The Godhead; Or, A Trinity Of Persons In The Unity Of The Divine Essence
Chapter 28—Of The Personal Relations; Or, Relative Properties Which Distinguish The Three Divine Persons In The Deity
Chapter 29—Of The Distinct Personality, And Deity Of The Father
Chapter 30—Of The Distinct Personality, And Deity Of The Son
Chapter 31—Of The Distinct Personality, And Deity Of The Holy Spirit
Book 2: Of The Acts And Works Of God
Chapter 1—Of The Internal Acts And Works Of God; And Of His Decrees In General
Chapter 2—Of The Special Decrees Of God, Relating To Rational Creatures, Angels, And Men; And Particularly Of Election
Chapter 3—Of The Decree Of Rejection, Or Some Angels, And Of Some Men
Chapter 4—Of The Eternal Union Of The Elect Of God Unto Him
Chapter 5—Of Other Eternal And Immanent Acts In God, Particularly Adoption And Justification
Chapter 6—Of The Everlasting Council Between The Three Divine Persons, Concerning The Salvation Of Men
Chapter 7—Of The Everlasting Covenant Of Grace, Between The Father, And The Son, And The Holy Spirit
Chapter 8—Of The Part Which The Father Takes In The Covenant
Chapter 9—Of The Part The Son Of God, The Second Person, Has Taken In The Covenant
Chapter 10—Of Christ, As The Covenant Head Of The Elect
Chapter 11—Of Christ, The Mediator Of The Covenant
Chapter 12—Of Christ, The Surety Of The Covenant
Chapter 13—Of Christ, The Testator Of The Covenant
Chapter 14—Of The Concern The Spirit Of God Has In The Covenant Of Grace
Chapter 15—Of The Properties Of The Covenant Of Grace
Chapter 16—Of The Complacency And Delight God Has In Himself, And The Divine Persons In Each Other, Before Any Creature Was Brought Into Being
Book 3: Of The External Works Of God
Chapter 1—Of Creation In General
Chapter 2—Of The Creation Of Angels
Chapter 3—Of The Creation Of Man
Chapter 4—Of The Providence Of God
Chapter 5—Of The Confirmation Of The Elect Angels, And The Fall Of The Non-Elect
Chapter 6—Of Of The Honor And Happiness Of Man In A State Of Innocency
Chapter 7—Of The Law Given To Adam, And The Covenant Made With Him In His State Of Innocence; In Which He Was The Federal Head And Representative Of His Posterity
Chapter 8—Of The Sin And Fall Of Our First Parents
Chapter 9—Of The Nature, Aggravations, And Sad Effects Of The Sin Of Man
Chapter 10—Of The Imputation Of Adam’s Sin To All His Posterity
Chapter 11—Of The Corruption Of Human Nature
Chapter 12—Of Actual Sins And Transgressions
Chapter 13—Of The Punishment Of Sin
Book 4: Of The Acts Of The Grace Of God Towards And Upon His Elect In Time
Chapter 1—Of The Manifestation And Administration Of The Covenant Of Grace
Chapter 2—Of The Exhibitions Of The Covenant Of Grace In The Patriarchal State
Chapter 3—Of The Exhibitions Of The Covenant Of Grace Under The Mosaic Dispensation
Chapter 4—Of The Covenant Of Grace, As Exhibited In The Times Of David, And The Succeeding Prophets, To The Coming Of Christ
Chapter 5—Of The Abrogation Of The Old Covenant, Or First Administration Of It, And The Introduction Of The New, Or Second Administration Of It
Chapter 6—Of The Law Of God
Chapter 7—Of The Gospel
Book 5: Of The Grace Of Christ In His States Of Humiliation And Exaltation, And In The Offices Exercised By Him In Them
Chapter 1—Of The Incarnation Of Christ
Chapter 2—Of Christ’s State Of Humiliation
Chapter 3—Of The Active Obedience Of Christ In His State Of Humiliation
Chapter 4—Of The Passive Obedience Of Christ, Or Of His Sufferings And Death
Chapter 5—Of The Burial Of Christ
Chapter 6—Of The Resurrection Of Christ From The Dead
Chapter 7—Of The Ascension Of Christ To Heaven
Chapter 8—Of The Session Of Christ At The Right Hand Of God
Chapter 9—Of The Prophetic Office Of Christ
Chapter 10—Of Priestly Office Of Christ
Chapter 11—Of The Intercession Of Christ
Chapter 12—Of Christ’s Blessing His People As A Priest
Chapter 13—Of The Kingly Office Of Christ
Chapter 14—Of The Spiritual Reign Of Christ
Book 6: Of The Blessings Of Grace, And The Doctrines Of It
Chapter 1—Of Redemption By Christ
Chapter 2—Of The Causes Of Redemption By Christ
Chapter 3—Of The Objects Of Redemption By Christ
Chapter 4—Of Those Texts Of Scripture Which Seem To Favor Universal Redemption
Chapter 5—Of The Satisfaction Of Christ
Chapter 6—Of Propitiation, Atonement, And Reconciliation, As Ascribed To Christ
Chapter 7—Of The Pardon Of Sin
Chapter 8—Of Justification
Chapter 9—Of Adoption
Chapter 10—Of The Liberty Of The Sons Of God
Chapter 11—Of Regeneration
Chapter 12—Of Effectual Calling
Chapter 13—Of Conversion
Chapter 14—Of Sanctification
Chapter 15—Of The Perseverance Of The Saints
Book 7: Of The Final State Of Men
Chapter 1—Of The Death Of The Body
Chapter 2—Of The Immortality Of The Soul
Chapter 3—Of The Separate State Of The Soul Until The Resurrection, And Its Employment In That State
Chapter 4—Of The Resurrection Of The Body
Chapter 5—Of The Second Coming Of Christ, And His Personal Appearance
Chapter 6—Of The Conflagration Of The Universe
Chapter 7—Of The New Heavens And Earth, And The Inhabitants Of Them
Chapter 8—Of The Millennium, Or Personal Reign Of Christ With The Saints On The New Earth A Thousand Years
Chapter 9—Of The Last And General Judgment
Chapter 10—Of The Final State Of The Wicked In Hell
Chapter 11—Of The Final State Of The Saints In Heaven
“A Practical Body Of Divinity”
Book 1: Of The Worship Of God
Chapter 1—Of The Worship Of God, Or Practical Religion Of The Object Of Worship
Chapter 2—Of Internal Worship, And Of Godliness The Groundwork Of It
Chapter 3—Of The Knowledge Of God
Chapter 4—Of Repentance Towards God
Chapter 5—Of The Fear Of God
Chapter 6—Of Faith In God And In Christ
Chapter 7—Of Trust And Confidence In God
Chapter 8—Of The Grace Of Hope
Chapter 9—Of The Grace Of Love
Chapter 10—Of Spiritual Joy
Chapter 11—Of Peace And Tranquility Of Mind
Chapter 12—Of Contentment Of Mind
Chapter 13—Of Thankfulness To God
Chapter 14—Of Humility
Chapter 15—Of Self-Denial
Chapter 16—Of Resignation To The Will Of God
Chapter 17—Of Patience
Chapter 18—Of Christian Fortitude
Chapter 19—Of Zeal
Chapter 20—Of Wisdom Or Prudence
Chapter 21—Of Godly Sincerity
Chapter 22—Of Spiritual Mindedness
Chapter 23—Of A Good Conscience
Chapter 24—Of Communion With God
Book 2: Of External Worship, As Public
Chapter 1—Of The Nature Of A Gospel Church, the Seat Of Public Worship
Chapter 2—Of The Duties Of The Member Of A Church To Each Other
Chapter 3—Of The Officers Of A Church, Particularly Pastors
Chapter 4—Of The Duties Of Members Of Churches To Their Pastors
Chapter 5—Of Of The Office Of Deacons
Chapter 6—Of The Discipline Of A Church Of Christ
Book 3: Of The Public Ordinances Of Divine Worship
Chapter 1—Of Baptism
Chapter 2—Of The Lord’s Supper
Chapter 3—Of The Public Ministry Of The Word
Chapter 4—Of The Public Hearing Of The Word
Chapter 5—Of Public Prayer
Chapter 6—Of The Lord’s Prayer
Chapter 7—Of Singing Psalms, As A Part Of Public Worship
Chapter 8—Of The Circumstances Of Public Worship, As To Place And Time
Book 4: Of Private Worship, Or Various Duties, Domestic, Civil And Moral
Chapter 1—Of The Respective Duties Of Husband And Wife
Chapter 2—Of The Respective Duties Of Parents And Children
Chapter 3—Of The Respective Duties Of Masters And Servants
Chapter 4—Of The Respective Duties Of Magistrates And Subjects
Chapter 5—Of Good Works In General
Chapter 6—A Compendium Or Summary Of The Decalogue Or Ten Commandments
Appendix: A Dissertation Concerning The Baptism Of Jewish Proselytes
Chapter 1—A Dissertation Concerning The Baptism Of Jewish Proselytes Of The Various Sorts Of Proselytes Among The Jews
Chapter 2—The Occasion Of This Dissertation
Chapter 3—The Proof Of The Baptism Of Jewish Proselytes Inquired Into; Whether There Is Any Proof Of It Before, At, Or Quickly After The Times Of John And Christ
Chapter 4—The Proof Of This Custom Only From The Talmuds And Talmudical Writers
Chapter 5—The Reasons Why Christian Baptism Is Not Founded On, And Taken From, The Pretended Jewish Baptism Of Israelites And Proselytes
The four volumes of Gill’s “Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity” contains a total of eleven “Books”, or, branches of doctrinal and practical theology, with one hundred fifty-six chapters combined.
Jared Smith
John Gill (1697-1771) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher and theologian. He was appointed the Pastor of Goat Yard Chapel, Horsleydown, Southwark, serving this position for fifty-one years. He was the first Baptist to write an exhaustive systematic theology, setting forth High-Calvinistic views and a clear Baptist polity which became the backbone for the churches subscribing to them. John Hazelton wrote of him:
”[Augustus] Toplady held in high regard Dr. John Gill (1697-1771), and applied to him and to his controversial writings what was said of the first Duke of Marlborough—that he never besieged a town that he did not take, nor fought a battle that he did not win. Gill's book on the Canticles is a beautiful and experimental exposition of Solomon's Song; his "Cause of God and Truth" is most admirable and suggestive; and his "Body of Divinity" one of the best of its kind. His commentary upon the Old and New Testament is a wonderful monument of sanctified learning, though it has been so used as to rob many a ministry of living power. It is the fashion now to sneer at Gill, and this unworthy attitude is adopted mostly by those who have forsaken the truths he so powerfully defended, and who are destitute of a tithe of the massive scholarship of one of the noblest ministers of the Particular and Strict Baptist denomination. The late Dr. Doudney rendered inestimable service by his republication, in 1852, of Gill's Commentary, printed at Bonmahon, Waterford, Ireland, by Irish boys. Gill was born at Kettering, and passed away at his residence at Camberwell, his last words being: "O, my Father! my Father!" For fifty-one years, to the time of his death, he was pastor of the Baptist Church, Fair Street, Horselydown, and was buried in Bunhill Fields. His Hebrew learning was equal to that of any scholar of his day, and his Rabbinical knowledge has never been equalled outside Judaism. His "Dissertation Concerning the Eternal Sonship of Christ" is most valuable, and this foundation truth is shown by him to have been a part of the faith of all Trinitarians for about 1,700 years from the birth of our Lord. In His Divine nature our blessed Lord was the co-equal and co-eternal Son of God, and as such He became the Word of God. The Scriptures nowhere intimate that Christ is the Son of God by office, or that His Sonship is founded on His human nature. This is not a strife about words, but is for our life, our peace, our hope. Dr. Gill's pastoral labours were much blest; to the utmost fidelity he united real tenderness, and at the Lord's Supper he was always at his best.
"He set before their eyes their dying Lord—
How soft, how sweet, how solemn every word!
How were their hearts affected, and his own!
And how his sparkling eyes with glory shone!"
John Gill, (1) Commentary On First Thessalonians (Complete)
John Gill, (2) Commentary On Second Thessalonians (Complete)
John Gill, (3) Commentary On First Corinthians
John Gill, A Biography By George Ella
John Gill, A Lecture By George Ella
John Gill, Doctrinal And Practical Body Of Divinity
John Gill, Extracts
John Gill, Identifying The Biblical Covenants (Complete)
John Gill, The Cause Of God And Truth
