PREFACE.

It has fallen to the lot of a son to see these volumes through the press. On February 7th of the present year the hand and brain so long active were suddenly stilled in death, and the author passed from his labors in the Church on earth to the rest and joy of the Church above. It so happened that he was engaged with the subject of Eschatology when the summons came, and that while his mind was thus intent on the things that lie behind the veil, he fell asleep to awaken into the personal experiences of the everlasting life. The point he had reached in the discussion is indicated in the text. It will be found under the topic, “The Resurrection of the Dead.”

It is the natural desire of an author not only to complete his work, but to issue it under his personal direction and supervision. He covets the opportunity of giving the text a final revision, of further elaborating it at various points, and, perhaps, of introducing additional matter where he may feel that a fuller discussion would be helpful. The manuscript of this work bears evidence, in the form of many marginal notes, that such was the desire of the author. This privilege, however, was denied him. Nor was it deemed advisable that another hand should undertake to carry out the suggestions of these marginal insertions. They looked to no change or modification of the teachings herein set forth, but only to amplifications. The work is issued, therefore, as it came from the author's pen, with only such minor changes and corrections as are
incidental in all proof-reading.

These volumes are the outgrowth and expansion of
the author's “Outlines of Theology," which formed the
basis of his lectures to successive classes during his in-
cumbency, for nineteen years, of the chair of Systematic
Theology in the Seminary of the General Synod of the
Lutheran Church, at Gettysburg, Pa. His plan of the
Introduction included a chapter on the Authority of the
Scriptures, involving the discussion of Inspiration, but
its preparation was deferred to the latest moment that he
might have the benefit of the most recent literature of
this burning question. But death intervened before the
chapter could be written.

He is no longer here to voice any general acknowledg-
ments of help and suggestion he might have wished to
make, but the notes and references scattered through the
pages indicate at least some of the sources upon which
he has drawn. Grateful appreciation is due Dr. Charles
E. Hay, of Baltimore, for the Index.

If these volumes shall magnify the glorious Gospel of
the Son of God, and serve the cause of truth and right-
eousness, and the Church in which he labored for so many
busy years and which he loved so deeply, they will real-
ize the author's desire and purpose in their preparation.

M. H. VALENTINE.
PHILADELPHIA, November 10, 1906.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

PAGES

1-2

6-10

22

Necessity of Correctly Formulating the Presuppositions of

Christian Theology,.....

CHAPTER I.—THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THEOLOGY,.

3-21

The Term and its Scope,.

3-6

Theology a Science-Its Method Scientific,

Natural and Revealed,.

IO-14

Religion-Generically considered,..

14-21

CHAPTER II.—THE SOURCES OF THEOLOGY,

22-41

Source of Natural Theology-Nature,.

Source of Christian Theology-Revelation,..