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-
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       any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
       Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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