Theology and Life, Sermons Chiefly on Special Occasions (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.1866 Excerpt: ... VI. THE PROPHETS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.1 'We have also a more sure word of prophecy.'--2 Pet. I. 19. WE are so familiar with these words, and with the corresponding passages in the First Epistle that bears the name of the same apostle, as applied to the prophetic writings of the Old Testament; they offer, as it seems, so ready and powerful a weapon for the apologist who maintains the authority and inspiration of those writings, that one who has been led to take a different view is almost tempted to shrink back into silence. To declare the conviction that the words in both cases refer not to the written words of the older prophets, but to the spoken words of the prophets who were living and working when the apostle wrote, may seem to many so likely to disturb and rmsettle an inherited belief, the conviction itself Jo much at variance with the consensus, almost unanimous, of interpreters, that it would be natural enough to veil the conviction with a prudent reticence, and to avoid this as one would avoid any other occasion of offence. 1 Preached before the University of Oxford, November 13, 1864. Every truer and better feeling, however, enters its protest against such an unworthy and timorous wisdom. To seek safety rather than truth, to repeat old words as applicable to that to which we have ceased to think that they apply, to ignore and avoid a question because it is difficult and hazardous--this is not the way to enter into the secret treasure-chambers of the House of the Interpreter. It wellnigh vitiates all other gifts which help men to appropriate those treasures. Elaborate accuracy, vivid illustration, logical subtlety, an almost prophetic earnestness, --all these may be so marred and trammelled by the fear of forsaking the beaten track, and entering on a...