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Dr . Rees says very truly ,, - ' *• There is hardly any charge more common , in the present day , against preachers of a particular description , than this * that they do not preach Christ . The charge is received with avidity , and
inculcated with industry ; and . it is scarcely possible to refute it . The clamour is raised , and serves a purpose ; the unchristian and obnoxious preachers are avoided ; and thus have no opportunity of exculpating themselves before their accusers ,
or of bringing the charge to a fair hearing and trial . And yet there is not a more reproachful and atrocious charge , if it were founded in truth , that can be alleged against the character of any person who ass nines the appellation and exercises the office of a Christian minister . " IV . 131 . He explains " preaching Christ , " as follow ^ :
" To preach Christ is , m other words , to . preach Christianity , or to preach those doctrines of faith , and rules of life , ami motives of obedience , and objects of expectation and prospect , which are set before u ^ nby Jesus Christ , and contained in the revelation of the New Testament . Christ
is often used , by a well known figure , for the whole of Christianity , of which he was the Author ; and in this sense the appellation is used in the verse preceding the text : Christ in youy that is , the Christian doctrine declared amongst you ,
and received by you , as the hope &f glory ; whom 9 says the Apostle , we preach : * aml in this large and comprehensive extent the phrase of preaching Christ must be understood , whenever it occurs . " "—IV , 132 , 133 .
He discusses the subject by a series of observations , as , 1 st . " That those preach Christ who occasionally recite , illustrate and enforce the various evidences of Christianity . " 2 dly . " Those
who preach Christ will often recur to the peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of Christianity . " 3 dly . u That Christianity is a system of doctrine in reference to the duties which it
inculcates ; and therefore , those who preach Christ must constantly recommend and enforce a practical observance of the Christian precepts / ' 4 thly . " Preaching Christ implies , that every personal and social duty ahould be principally
enforced by evangelical motives : —motives derived from the example and character of Christ ; from a regard to his authority , as a divine teacher ; from the consideration of his love , manifested in his sacrifice and sufferings fox our redemption , and of the
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vajiou ^ benefits vvhkk hQ kas pr # s » iee < J from tl ^ e efficacy of his mediation ; from the promise of Ills assistance ; from a view to the government with which he is intrusted and which he
exercises for our welfare ; from those benevolent offices which he is jjerforrja ing on our behalf , and that righteous ju <} gB » e&ft wlvieii the Father Ims deferred to his conduct , because he Is the Son ofmaii . *
Under the second bead , relating to " the peculiar and distinguishing doctrines of Christianity / ' Dr . Rees . says , that he omits disquisitions concerning the person of Christ , not because he has not a decided opinion concerning
the nre-existent di&nita of our Lord '' s the pre-existent dignity of our Lords person , but because he apprehends , that , as far as they do not interfere with the unity of God , they seem to be more suitable subjects for private than for public discussion . Of jthe
doctrines that he conceives to be practically evangelical , he enumerates , 1 st . That of Divine forgiveness , originating in the free grace © f God , and ascertained to mankind by the eiSeacy of our Saviour ' s mediation . 2 nd . That of Divine
assistance . 3 yd . These of immortality and a future judgment . After he has gone through his explanatory observations , the preacher says " , It must also appear , that preaching Christ is a rational kind of preaching ; it
does not consist in mere sound and gesture , in uninstmctire addresses to the senses and passions of men ; but in a sober appeal to the judgment as well as to the heart ; in an attempt to inform the understanding , iu order thus to influence the . affections and will . When God
condescends to speak to mankind , by his Son , or by any of his inspired and merely human messengers , he treats them as beings endowed with understanding , capable of reflection , and expects from them a rational tribute of affection , homage and obedience . But how common is it
for men , when they address one another on the subject of religion , to set faith and reason at variance , ami to . treat religion in a manner which , were it not for ( he solemnity of the subject ,, would be truly ludicrous ! And yet , sa far have some
persons proceeded in this way , degrading the understanding in thinking and judging , and even speaking concerning religion , that it may be doubted whether our Lord ' s Sermon on the Mount , excluding all knowledge of the Divine Speaker , would command uny considerable degree
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Review .- ~ &r . flees s PractketlSevmens . 6 $ 9
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1821, page 539, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2504/page/35/
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