Christian's Reasonable Service, The - Volume 1: God, Man, and Christ

First published in 1700, The Christian’s Reasonable Service (De Redelijke Godsdienst) ran through twenty Dutch editions in the eighteenth century alone! The title is derived from Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” It expresses what God requires from man, and particularly from the Christian, that he serve Him in Spirit and in truth—intelligently, rationally, and in harmony with and response to God’s revelation of Himself, His Word.

With a decidedly Puritan flavor and representing Reformed experiential religion at its best, Wilhelmus à Brakel systematically moves through the major doctrines of the Bible in hopes of seeing the minds of God’s people renewed for the purpose of promoting godliness. Throughout his work, but particularly in the practical application of each doctrine, à Brakel strives unceasingly to exalt the name of Jesus as the name that the Father has given above every other name—there being no other name given under heaven among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). 

784 pages

Table of Contents: 

Theology: The Doctrine of God 

1. The Knowledge of God from Nature 

2. The Word of God 

3. The Essence of God 

4. The Divine Persons

5. The Decrees of God: General Observations 

6. Eternal Predestination: Election and Reprobation 

7. The Covenant of Redemption Between God the Father and God the Son Concerning the Elect; or, the Counsel of Peace 

8. The Creation of the World 

9. Angels and Devils 

Anthropology: The Doctrine of Man 

10. Concerning Man, Particularly the Soul 

11. The Providence of God

12. The Covenant of Works 

13. The Breach of the Covenant of Works

14. Original and Actual Sin 

15. Man’s Free Will or Impotency and the Punishment Due upon Sin 

Christology: The Doctrine of Christ 

16. The Covenant of Grace 

17. The Necessity of the Atonement by the Surety Jesus Christ

18. The Divinity, Incarnation, and Union of the Two Natures in the One Person of Our Lord Jesus Christ 

19. The Three Offices of Christ, and Particularly His Prophetic Office 

20. The High Priestly Office of Christ 

21. The Kingly Office of Jesus Christ 

22. The State of Christ’s Humiliation by Which He Made Atonement for the Sins of the Elect 

23. The State of Christ’s Exaltation