On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
than their doctrine and discipline , their characters , their tempers and lives , are agreeable to the pure word of God , as it lies in the Bible ; and no claims of authority , no antiquity of date , no pomp of worship , no popularity of character , no dignity of patronage , no number of members , no orthodoxy of creeds , no
splendour of outward profession or appearance of religion , constitute auy such a true church , or the true people of God . Others call those exclusively the people of God , who attend on the particular ordinance of the Lord ' s Supper , who solemnly , publicly , and frequently commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus
Christ . But this likewise is no infallible mark of the true church ; because an attendance there is of no farther consequence and advantage , than as accompanied with inward discerning of the Lord ' s body , or the design of the ordinance ; and a feeding , by faith and love and hope , on Christ , as the bread of life and Saviour of souls . Who then are
the true church and people of God ? Why , all , of every class , who believe in Christ to the regeneration and salvation of the soul , who love him in sincerity , who are of the same mind and temper with him , who do not live to themselves , but love and live to God and their fellowcr ^ atiires . "
Mr . r . shews , in the second place , why , to such individuals , the Divine Omnipotence becomes a theme of joy and praise . Such it is , because the great interests of the church are absolutely secure . Under this head , he asks and resolves another question :
" What are the great interests of the church ? Not the prosperity of any particular party or community , as such ; not the prosperity of the Church of Rome , or of England , or of Geneva , or of Scotland , or of Dissenting congregations , separately considered : the great
interests of the church might flourish , though any or all of these , as to the external form of them , were perished and forgotten . Not the prosperity of pontiffs , of forms and ceremonies , of inquisitions and spiritual courts , of
dictators and lords over conscience : the iuterests of the church are very different from all these . Not the . spread of the sentiments of any particular person ; as Luther , or Calvin , Arius , or Socinus , ArmiuiUs , or Baxter : the interests of
the church might flourish , though these names were all abolished and buried in oblivion . The real interest of the church lies iu the reign of pure scriptural truth and love , righteousness and grace , in the minds , tempers and lives of men .
Untitled Article
So far as this is the case , and no farther , does the church flourish . " ^ The Omnipotence of God , moreover , is a subject of joy and praise to the church , because all truly humble and sincere endeavours to promote the true interests of Christ must prosper ; and because the spiritual and ever lasting welfare of every individual soul , is as perfectly easy to the Divine Being as the general prosperity of the church at large . As to the inquiry , Where and how it is desirable that this joy and praise should be expressed—Mr . T . answers —publicly and unitedly , evangelically , perpetually and eternally . And , for
the improvement of his subject , he observes , " What a capital point it is to be the objects of the gracious omnipotence of God ! How groundless and unreasonable are all unbelief and
despondency respecting the real interests of Christ ' s church and people ! What reason have we to admire and be thankful , if God has made us witnesses , in any measure , of his power in his church ! " On the second of these remarks he thus enlarges : u Those , of whatever denomination aud description , who are much disposed to be alarmed , and cry out , The church is in danger ! The church is in dauger ! strongly insinuate a consciousness that their church , whatever it be , is not the church of Christ ; for that never is in danger nor can be : it is the church of the living , Omnipotent God : it is founded upon a rock , * and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it . ' And all churches that are not a part of this church , are in danger , and ought to be in danger , however propped up by civil
magistrates , by emoluments , by pompous worship , and outward splendour . They must fall at last , in proportion as the pure church of Christ prospers : * Every plant , ( said our Lord , ) which my heavenly Father hath not planted , shall be rooted up / sfmen , say all the true friends of the church of Christ . ' *
The title of the Third Sermon is , " The Richness and Beauty of the Vegetable World , an Argument for Providential Interpositions in Behalf of Rational Beings ; " the text l > ein £ Matt . vi . 28—30 . Our Lord ' s hint in this passage , may be illustrated by a general view of nature , and by ja minute and particular attentkm to any of its specific productions , Jesus Christ intimates ,
Untitled Article
290 Review . — Toller ' s Sermons on Farfous Subjects *
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1824, page 290, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2524/page/34/
-