God in Christ, 3 Discourses, with a Preliminary Dissertation on Language (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1850. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... A DISCOURSE ON DOGMA AND SPIRIT; OR THE TRUE REVIVING OF RELIGION: DELIVERED BEFORE THE PORTER RHETORICAL SOCIETY, AT ANDOVER, SEPTEMBER, 1848. It is a hope, cherished by many of the most thoughtful and earnest Christians of our time, that God is preparing the introduction, at last, of some new religious era. Here and there, in distant places and opposing sects, in private individuals and public bodies of disciples, we note the appearance of a deep longing felt for some true renovation of the religious spirit. As yet, the feeling is indefinite, as probably it will be, till its ideal, or the gift for which it sighs, begins to shape itself to view, under conditions of fact and actual manifestation. In some cases, expectation seems never to go beyond the re-production of old scenes, familiarly known as revivals of religion, and the reviving of revivals is regarded as tbe only admissible or highest possible hope to be entertained. But, more generally, there appears to be a different feeling. A degree of dissatisfaction is felt with benefits of a character so partial, so mixed with defect, and especially so little efficacious in producing the fruits of a deep and thoroughly established piety. Hence there is a secret hope, cherished by all such, that something may transpire of a different character and of far higher moment to the cause of God in the earth--something that will set us on a firmer ground of stability, produce a more acknowledged and visible Christian unity, and develop a more consistent, catholic, permanent, free and living exhibition of the renovating power of Christ and his truth. This is the subject which I now propose to discuss: --The True Reviving Op Religion. I meet you here as a body of Christian ministers, and candidates for the ministr...