INTRODUCTION. Writers. Christian Fr. Walch, Thoughts on the history of religious opinions, (in German) 2d edition. Gottingen, 1764, 8vo. Chr. Fried. Roesleri Diss. de Theoria Historiæ Dogmatum. Tubing. P. I. 1796. P. II. 1798. 4to. Ideas on the extent and mode of treating Dogmatical History, (in German) by W. K. L. Ziegler-in Gabler's Neuesten Theol. Journal. AD. 1798, vol. II. p. 325-58. SEC. 1. Doctrines. By the word doctrines, the ancient writers understood sometimes, religious truths in general, and sometimes, the theoretical principles of the christian religion, in opposition to its practical precepts. The word has also been used to denote explanations and opinions respecting religious truths. The modern use of the term, makes it equivalent to articles of faith. Received doctrines (kirchliche Dogmen) are those which are admitted by some entire christian community. References. Suicer, Thesaur. Eccles. tom. I. p. 932. Cyrilli Hieros. Catech. IV. Sec. 2. p. 52. Gregorii Nyss. Ep. VI. in Gallandi Bibliotheca Patrum, tom. VI. p. 631. A peculiar use of the word occurs in Basil. Opp. tom. III. p. 54—56. SEC. 2. Changes in regard to Doctrines. The christian doctrines have undergone innumerable changes, since their first appearance; in regard to the matter of them, the manner of stating and defending them, the degree of importance attached to them, and the arrangement and exhibition of them. The causes of these changes are to be traced to the diversities of genius and education among christians, especially among the teachers, and to the peculiar circumstances and necessities of the church in different ages. The constitution of the church, the freedom of opinion, and the state of learning, have ever had great influence in shaping articles of faith. SEC. 3. Dogmatic History. The christian faith, like every other branch of knowledge, has both its external and its internal history. The former, which respects the mode of arranging and exhibiting articles of faith, is called the History of Dogmatics; the latter, which states the revolutions in the various articles of faith, is called Dogmatic History. Both, however, so run into each other, that it may be expedient to combine them. A dogmatic history may either embrace all ages and all articles of faith, or may be limited in one or both respects. Strict impartiality and truth, and a judicious selection and instructive development of facts, must ever be its first and most imperious laws. Note. It is a question, whether dogmatic history should detail the doctrines inculcated by Christ and the Apostles, or confine itself to the received doctrines of the church. SEC. 4. Value of dogmatic history. The uses of dogmatic history are, that it is indispensable, to the attainment of a thorough knowledge and correct judgment of systematic theology; that it teaches us to distinguish the original christianity, from the subsequent spurious additions and corruptions; that it serves to awaken and animate a spirit of inquiry; that it promotes liberality, moderation, and independence; and that it warns us against the perversions of christianity in the past ages. It likewise affords the mind high intellectual pleasure, to contemplate in the mirror of history, the efforts and struggles of men after clearness and solidity of views on reli gious subjects; in which both the dependence and the the independence of the mind are clearly seen. References. J. A. Ernesti Prolusio de Theologiæ historicæ et dogmaticæ conjungendæ necessitate. Lips. 1759. 8vo. and in his Opuscul. Theol. ed. Lips. 1792. 8vo. Lud. Wachleri, Prolusio de theologia et historia dogmatum emendanda. Rintel, 1794. 4to. Chr. Fried. Illgen, The value of christian dogmatic history, (in German.) Lips. 1817. 8vo. SEC. 5. Sources. The sources, from which dogmatic history must be drawn, are not indeed equally copious and lucid in every period, yet they are considerably numerous and rich in all the periods. Among them, the public confessions of faith, the decrees and acts of ecclesiastical councils, the writings of persons in high authority in the church, and the public liturgies, hold the first rank; because they are public documents. Next to them, must be ranked the writings of the christian teachers in general, yet with discrimination, for all are not of equal authority; likewise the accounts of the credible historians, are important and useful. Reference. C. W. Fr. Walch's critical Account of the Sources of church history; (in German,) Lips. 1770. 8vo. is applicable to dogmatic history. SEC. 6. Use to be made of these sources. To deduce history from these sources, requires extensive knowledge and great care. A discerning criticism must discriminate the spurious works from the genuine ; and must correct the falsified and incorrect passages, which occur in works that are for the most part genuine. A good knowledge of languages, and dexterity in nterpreting, must disclose the true meaning of different ac counts. A sound judgment must, without partiality, estimate the value of all statements; exclude fables and groundless conjectures; and induce caution, not to infer the opinions of a writer from insolated passages of his works, nor to bend his words to a conformity with our own system of belief; nor to confound the opinions of a particular writer, with the general creed of the church. Civil and ecclesiastical history, and the history of the sciences, particularly of philosophy, and even scientific theology itself, are necessary auxiliaries to the study of dogmatic history. References. J. Daillé, de usu Patrum ad definienda religionis capita quæ hodic sunt controversa. I. II. Geneva, 1686. 4to. Matth. Scrivener, Apologia pro S. ecclesiæ Patribus adversus J. Dallaeum. Lond. 1672. SEC. 7. Literature of dogmatic history. In former times dogmatic history was either neglected, or occasionally touched upon, in treatises on theology and in ecclesiastical histories; but was used almost exclusively for polemical purposes. John Solomon Semler was the man, who especially awakened attention to its importance; and he wrote on some parts of it, with accumen and independence. Afterwards others labored to advance this branch of history. LIST OF WORKS ON THE SUBJECT. I. Works embracing the whole compass of dogmatic history; or commenced with that design. A. Works by Catholics. Dion. Petavii, Opus de theologicis dogmatibus. Paris, 1644-1650. V. tomi, Fol. with notes by Theophilus Alethinus (John le Clerc) Antw. (Amstel.) 1700. VI. tomi, Foì. Dogmata theologica, authore Ludov. Thomassino. Paris, 1684-89. III. vol. Fol. Doctrina et Disciplina ecclesiæ ex ipsis verbis sacrorum codicum, conciliorum, Patrum et veterum genuinorum monumentorum secundum seriem temporis digesta et exposita, studio et opera R. P. Ludovici Dumesnil. Tom. I. -IV. Colon. 1730, Fol. B. Works by Protestants. |