CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. 305 Mine is an humble attempt to promote the prevalence of the true spirit of Christianity. In recommending the doctrine which this book particularly enforces, I know that I am justified by the holy Scriptures,' by the church, by the tenets of the most learned and virtuous of the dissenters, and the greatest divines of this country, who have displayed their abilities either by the press or the pulpit. I claim no merit, but that of endeavouring to rescue the true and most momentous doctrine of the gospel from the neglect and contempt in which it has been involved, during this century, unaccompanied with divine grace; and says, that it is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth.' (1 Tim. vi. 4; 2 Tim. ii. 14.) He therefore bids him put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord, not to strive with words to no profit, but to the perverting of the hearer; for they will increase into more ungodliness, (they will cause infidels to grow more obstinate and disputatious in defence of their unbelief,) and their words will eat as cankers; (they will, by submitting the claims of Christianity to human reason only, eat up and destroy its very essence, which is divine.) Therefore he again dissuades foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they do gender strifes;' that instead of settling disputes, and confirming men in the faith, they provoke controversy, multiply doubts, and are ultimately a fruitful cause of infidelity. "If you are determined to rely on reasoning," said the Tindals, Collinses, Morgans, Chubbs, and Paines, we will accept your challenge, and fight you with the weapons of your own choice." They fought; and, in the opinions of many deluded persons, were often victorious. 66 It is a sad instance of imprudence in the leaders of our Christian warfare, when they give up the sword of the Spirit, and rely entirely on the povηua σapкоç for protection and defence. The doctrine of grace furnishes a panoply. "He who doubts it, quarrels not with our creed, but our grammar; and instead of going to church to be instructed better, he ought to be sent to school." Bishop Hickman. 306 CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. by false policy and partiality, expressing their rancorous hatred to sects, deemed, at various times, injurious to certain worldly interests, and temporary purposes of state. Christianity itself has been wounded by weapons aimed only at men whose political sentiments might perhaps be wrong, though their religious were, for the most part, strictly conformable to Scripture,' and beneficial to every community. I confess myself, in this attempt, to be only the pupil of those great masters whose opinions I have copiously cited, that they may be both an ornament and defence to my imperfect manual of Christian Philosophy. Some of the greatest deceased divines of the church of England, next to the Scriptures, are my chief authority. Happy am I to sit at the feet of such instructors; men, whose learning and abilities were of the very first magnitude, and whose piety and goodness of heart seem to have vied, for excellence, with their vigorous understandings, and accurate knowledge of Scriptural theology. It is honour enough to be merely instrumental in republishing their salutary doctrines, and giving them the inconsiderable sanction of my public, though single vote. If they were now alive, they would be most anxiously diligent, in the present state of Christianity, in exciting the true spirit of vital and experimental religion. Never was there more occasion for their zeal and activity than now; and it appears to me, that their mode of recommending Christianity 'Many who dislike the discipline and communion of our church, firmly adhere to the articles of it. CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. 307 was a right mode, because, among other reasons, it has the test of experience in its favour. The fact is incontrovertible, that in their times it was greatly successful. The true spirit of Christianity, during their ministry of the gospel, mightily grew and prevailed. Infidelity was uncommon and infamous; and the mild, meek, placid temper of the gospel was deemed, even in the highest ranks of society, not only conducive to happiness, but ornamental. Religious grace was valued above all graceful accomplishments. Men gloried in maintaining, openly and consistently, the Christian character; and the force of truth, not weakened by false politics, made it even a fashion. I have laboured to revive the principles of those times; not without a hope that they may have similar success in our day, if duly encouraged by high example. Men are doubtless, now as well as ever, susceptible of religious impressions, if properly enforced on evangelical authority. The times, it is said, are altered; but let it be remembered, that men make the times, and that men are very much modelled by books and all public in struction. It is certainly unwise, in the present adverse circumstances of Christendom, to neglect or discountenance any mode of effectually disseminating and confirming the Christian faith, more especially any mode which has in past times been found successful, and is authorized by Scripture. For myself, I must beg leave to say, what is indeed sufficiently evident, that I have been in search of truth, not of favour or advantage. I have deemed religion lovely enough to be wedded 308 CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY. without a dowry. I have had no sinister view, but have employed my hours of leisure in a way which I thought might be most beneficial to my fellow-creatures and my country. If I am wrong in my doctrine, if my great masters have instructed me erroneously, I am open to conviction, and shall rejoice to be better informed. I will say with the poet, addressing the Father of Lights: "If I am right, thy grace impart, Still in the right to stay; If I am wrong, O teach my heart In the mean time, I make this offering to my fellow-mortals, labouring, like myself, in pursuit of happiness, though, many of them, in a different mode; and I dedicate it, with sincere devotion, to truth, piety, and peace. THE END. J. Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane, London. Under the Patronage of Her Majesty. NOW PUBLISHING In Monthly volumes, small 8vo. Morocco cloth, 3s. 6d. averaging 350 pages in each Volume, THE SACRED CLASSICS; OR, Cabinet Library of Divinity. EDITED BY THE REV. R. CATTERMOLE, B.D. PUBLISHED BY HATCHARD AND SON; WHITTAKER AND CO.; AND SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL, LONDON; OLIVER AND BOYD, EDINBURGH; AND CUMMING, DUBLIN. IT is intended to comprise in this collection,-Treatises on the DOCTRINES, MORALITY, and EVIDENCES OF CHRISTIANITY, which have received the permanent stamp of general approbation;-Select SERMONS of the most eminent DIVINES;-the most interesting Specimens of RELIGIOUS BIOGRAPHY;-and the choicest examples of DEVOTIONAL and SACRED POETRY. They will succeed each other in the order which may be judged most conducive to the benefit and gratification of the reader. To the productions of each Author, or to each separate production, as the case may seem to require, will be prefixed AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY, pointing out their characteristic excellencies; and, in some instances, comprehending a Biographical Sketch of the Author, with remarks on the State of Religion in his times. Each work will be published without abridgement, and most carefully revised and collated with the oldest editions extant. The following Works have already appeared, and may be had together The first Fourteen Vols. may also be had in purple calf, gilt edges, price 6s. each. I. THE LIBERTY OF PROPHESYING; shewing the Unreasonableness of Prescribing to other Men's Faith; and the Iniquity of Persecuting differing Opinions. By JEREMY TAYLOR, D. D.; with an Introductory Essay, by the REV. RICHARD CATTERMOLE, B.D. "Ardently do we entreat all parties to read this splendid work of Jeremy Taylor. If it be studied in the charitable, yet searching spirit that every Christian should bring to the perusal, how much the cold mists of uncharitableness will be dispelled! What a flood of heavenly light will be shed upon the path of all who are travelling the same way, though apparelled in the various costumes of different formalities a light that shall increase brotherly love without diminishing faith, and prove triumphantly to the world, that one glorious assurance of redemption was formed, not only for all nations, but also for all natures."-Metropolitan Mag. II. and III. CAVE'S LIVES OF THE APOSTLES; to which are added Selections from the Lives of the Apostolic Fathers; with Notes, and an Introductory Essay, by the Rev. HENRY STEBBING, M. A. "It is delightful to think that one of Dr. Cave's most instructive and useful works has, in the present instance, been snatched from comparative obscurity, and presented to the public in a form which, being so attractive, will we trust tend, in connexion with the real inherent merits of the work, to render it as popular as it ever was, and as it justly deserves to be."-Glasgow Free Press. |