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
from that example to lote otle another ? Why , th&ij be is preaching Christ * who bids them cherish a kind and brotherly spirit , who appeals to all th £ inotives * rhich they have to mutual help anxf charity , who exhorts atid persuades them to bear « ach others * burthens , who teaches them how to make their speial intercourse , their friendships , their dohiestic relations , most abundant in p £ a < & dnd joy , tnost pleasant , profitable * and blessed .
For what did Christ live and die ? Was it not that nier * might have everlasting ; lire ?—that thfey might live now in the light of the world to come , tod amidst things seen and temporal , be sustained and cheered by the stedfest hops of things unseen arid eternal ? Why , then , he is preaching Christ , wao reminds them of the change and uncertainty belonging to their condition her e * who points out to them the evident intention of their Maker , that they should not build all their trust on earthly foundations ; who teaches them to consider their earthly existence as a season of probation and discipline ; wtfo bids them lay up treasures in heaven *
Thinking ihm of ttoe preacher's varied objects and extensive province , I am shw * I confess , to understand the distinction , about which so much is often said , between moral and Christian preaching . That which is called , and sometimes with a degree of contempt , ( but surely of a very misplaced contempt , ) moral preaching , I find making a large part of Christ ' s own discourses—I find , also , largely intermingled with all the writings of that very
apostle who determined not to know any thing save Jesus Christ , arid him crucified * Surel y * Paul ' s preaching , and Christ's own preaching , must be entitled to the name of Christian preaching . In fact * all truly Christian preaching must have a moral object ) and a moral bearing , tt must , to be 6 f any value * produce some effect upon the temper and conduct , upon the principles that lie at the root of men ' s dispositions towards God and one another . It must furnish inferences and motives for a certain ordering of their thoughts and desires , their words and actions * Instead * then , of endeavouring to prove in any single class of subjects , or style x > f preaching , an exclusive claim to the ttarne of Christian , Would it not be better , would it not be more honourable to the true and comprehen sive genius of Christianity , to « ay that whatever tends to make men wise , virtuous , benevolent , and happy ^ whatever tendg to make theft * stibli as
Christ desired that they should become , whatever harmonises in its practical influences With hrs doctrine arid his ex&rtple , w a editable stibject of Christian preaching ? Oh ! yes ; let the mirVteter of Christ be at liberty to use etey power aiw ! -every atminmeaJt of his mttid m the ^ ser ^ ce of Cfarist * Let him not be told , that a determination not to know any thing in his ^ reachittg , save Jesus Christ and him crucified , ties him down to a limited
range of subjects , or of thoughts and illustrations wherewith to recomntend tbe subjects of his exhortations . Let him be encouraged rather to glory in the belief , that God iias made the whole prorince of die human mind , the whole freld of knowledge ^ capable rf being rendered tribdtaify to Christ subservient to the proof , or recommendation , or enforcement , ot Itp ^ licatidn , of Christian doctrine * , and to the promotion of Christian objects * . Yes , let the « oidier of Christ be at liberty to choose from the whble artnoiiry of God the weapon that be&t fits his hand or suits his purpose . If he assails ignorantee mid error , if he beats down vice , if he nra ^ wss succmsful warfare with uiiholy and unkkdiy possioms , let it be acknowledged that he is en- * gaged in a Christian contest * and that his spirit aitid exertions are alsb Chrisfewai .
Untitled Article
062 Pterwhingr CMst .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1829, page 662, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2576/page/62/
-