Christ the True Altar, and Other Sermons; With the Charge the Christian Ministry Not Sacerdotal, But Evangelistic (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1875 Excerpt: ... by the labours of such men as Wesley and Whitfield. There were points in the doctrine and the practice of these men to which we might well demur; but were they to rise up again amongst us we could not forget the words of our Lord: "Forbid "him not, for he that is not against us, is for us." But when some "forbid" us, when they denounce our system as unscriptural, sinful, noxious, then, without retorting the charge, it is our duty to test their allegations by facts and by Scripture. As to facts, I might tell you how things are in. America, the very head-quarters of Voluntaryism. I might point out how Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Congregationalists, --all unite in telling of hundreds of rural flocks, of thousands and tens of thousands of sheep scattered in the wilderness, for whom it is impossible to make permanent pastoral provision. Again, I might show how, where such provision is made, the dependence of the shepherd for his temporal sustenance upon the good will of the flock, puts his fidelity to the Shepherd and Bishop of souls to a test under the strain of which that fidelity too often breaks down. But I forbear, for I desire to bring the theory, apart from facts, to the simple test of Scripture. Place it side by side with my text. Hearken to that text again: "The sons of strangers shall build "up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto "thee," "because, forsooth, I am angry with thee, --"because, forsooth, my good will is departed from "thee, --because, forsooth, I purpose to inflict a "chastisement upon thee, to visit thee with a blight, "to smite thee with a curse?" No indeed " The "sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and "their kings shall minister unto thee: for in My "wrath I smote thee, but in My favour have I had, "merc...