Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub
[ocr errors]

ERRATA.

Page 27, line 6, for "marks," read "works."

Page 73, line 6, for "unutterable," read "unalterable."

Page 88, line 3 from bottom, for "ingenious,” read “ingenuous.”

CHAPTER I.

RELIGIOUS LIFE, AND HOW IT SHOULD BE TREATED.

CONTENTS.

GENERAL DESIGN STATED. THE TASK UNDERTAKEN NOT AGREE-
ABLE-IN THE VIEW OF SOME, NOT WISE-EVILS INCIDENT TO THE
INQUIRY-NOT CONCLUSIVE AGAINST IT-DUTY TO BE GATHERED FROM
THE DISPENSATION UNDER WHICH WE LIVE-THIS THE OBJECT OF
THE PRESENT CHAPTER-CHRISTIANITY, A LIFE-SUPPOSES ASSIMILA-
TION-THE NATURE OF RELIGIOUS LIFE-GROWTH-MODE OF DIVINE
MANIFESTATION-DEMANDS SELF-ACTION OR EFFORT-EFFORT NECES-
SARY TO A SENSE OF PROPRIETORSHIP-GOD'S ARRANGEMENTS WITH
A VIEW TO THIS LIFE-AIM AT THE INCREASE OF ITS POWER-THE
SHARPENING OF ITS SENSES-THE MULTIPLYING OF ITS MANIFESTA-
TIONS-THE CHURCH AN AGGREGATE EMBODIMENT OF THE SAME
SPIRITUAL LIFE. HENCE OUR DUTY TO IT SHOULD BE DEDUCED-
NOT TO BE PETTED INTO DELICACY-EDUCATED BY FREE UTTERANCE
OF OPINION, CORRECT AND INCORRECT-NO OCCASION FOR "THE
DOCTRINE OF RESERVE." BEARING OF THESE OBSERVATIONS ON THE
PRESENT INQUIRY-UNSOUND STATE OF THE CHURCH-EVIL OF
SILENCE ON THE SUBJECT.

USELESSNESS-CONCLUSION.

B

CHAPTER I.

Ir is my purpose, in the following pages, to call attention to the character of British churches, as instruments for preserving and extending Christianity amongst the British people. With this view, I shall attempt to convey a clear notion of the spiritual power given them to wield, and contrast with it the meagre and unsatisfactory results which by means of it they have achieved. I shall endeavour to detect those subtle influences which, in this country, and in these times, mingle with the religious spirit and enervate it-to point out those methods of practically expressing it which cumber its action-and to survey the more important of those social obstructions which prevent its success. With greater diffidence, but in the hope of prompting other minds to pursue the subject, I shall glance at some remedial measures adapted to lessen the evils which will be brought under notice, and shall enforce a prudent applica

tion of them by those arguments and appeals the persuasiveness or pungency of which have prevailed with my own conscience and heart.

The region of observation over which such an inquiry, if faithfully pursued, will necessarily lead us, is far from attractive. The kindliest tone cannot convert matters of lamentation into ministers of pleasure-nor can we listen with satisfaction to a description of our own defects or faults, even from the lips of the tenderest and purest love. I do not, therefore, indulge a hope of leaving upon the mind of the reader an agreeable impression. The task undertaken may be necessary, timely, serviceable, - but can hardly be grateful to a rightly constituted nature. "Comparisons are proverbially" odious"—and it is natural that we should shrink from comparing what we are and do, as the friends of Christ, with what we might be and do, if thoroughly imbued with his spirit. The interval between the actual and the possible which it will be my chief business to measure and account for, in order to lessen, cannot be passed over deliberately and wakefully, without exciting feelings of shame and pain. My conviction of this would arrest me at starting, were the object I have in view one terminating upon myself. But, fully persuaded that the further progress of Christianity as modified by the spirit of the age cannot reasonably be anticipated, and that religion must get

« AnteriorContinuar »