John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ Edited by C. F. W. Walther Published by: St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1877 [Translator's Preface. These are the major loci or topics of John William Baier's _Compendium of Positive Theology_ as ed- ited by Dr. C. F. W. Walther. These should be seen as the broad outline of Baier-Walther's dogmatics, but please don't assume that this is all. Each locus usually includes copious explanatory notes and citations from patristics and other Lutheran dogmaticians.] Appendix to the preceding chapter On predestination, by which is discussed about the inscription in the book of life. 1. A neighbor to the doctrine about predestination and election of humans to life eternal is the doctrine about the inscription of humans in the book of life, which Scriptures call by words accommodating to human matters, others simply written in the book, and again with a double addition written in the book of life of the lamb, and further they mention the name written in heaven. 2. However, the book of life is a series or a large number of them, by which life is given, in so far as it is regarded by the divine mind. However life in this place is not understood naturally, but spiritually, which is rightly discerned in the life of grace and glory. 3. The inscription in the book of life is the act of the divine will, by which one human or many of the living assembly reckons in addition the spiritual life, who enjoy this life of his good with others. 4. And this inscription in the book of life is double, in so far as humans by God either briefly in the number of the faithful, or certainly they are charged in the number of those being saved; the former with the decree of God about humans being regenerated, justified and adopted as sons, the latter coinciding with the act of election and predestination. However it is admitted, to the end of inscription in the book of life, absolutely understood, not however the former, rather the latter act is understood. 5. The efficient cause of this inscription in the book of life is the triune God. 6. The internal impulsive cause is the grace or benevolence of God, the external is the merit of Christ being apprehended by final faith and thus foreseen. 7. The object of inscription are humans finally believing, in so far as they are saved. 8. the form of the same inscription consists in an act of the divine will about those humans by divine practical knowledge, in order for the conferring of eternal salvation, constantly being regarded. 9. The end of those is the same contribution of eternal salvation and the glory of God. 10. The affectations of this inscription are (1.) infallibility, (2.) immutability. _________________________________.__________________________________ This text was translated by Rev. Theodore Mayes and is copyrighted material, (c)1996, but is free for non-commercial use or distribu- tion, and especially for use on Project Wittenberg. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 66000 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-2123 Fax: (260) 452-2126 _________________________________.__________________________________ file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/baier: cpt-3-12a.txt .