A Brief Review of Ancient and Modern Philosophy, in Its Connection with Scepticism and Religion, Containing Also a Correspondence Betwixt the Author and G. Combe. Together with Criticisms on Modern Theologians, &C (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. 1864. Excerpt: ... Dr John Brown. The U. P. Church is one of progress. She renounced those bonds which had been taken as securities for stipends. She next adopted, as an article of her creed, the universality of the atonement, "Christ died for all men," yea, for the "whole world." Dr Brown was the means of establishing this true ground of faith, and when on his trial for heresy, said he would rather resign his professorial chair than retract one hair'sbreadth of this confession of his faith. The Established and Free Churches hold this to be an open question. Christ said, "I give my flesh for the life of the world," hence Paul, Peter, and John held it to ba a sine qua non, i. e., without keeping which fact in memory men believe in vain, 1 Cor xv. 2, 3, 1 Tim. ii. 1-6, 2 Pet. ii. 1, John ii. 2. Spurgeon On Election. "God," said he in a late sermon, "is absolute sovereign, therefore he has a right to do as he will with all his works." (Who ever doubted this? But the question necessarily arises, Does God act arbitrarily? that is, without assigned reasons or without just judgments, based on principles clearly or inferentially expressed.) "He acts," says Spurgeon, "not intentionally and despotically in putting to pain any of his creatures." He does not "arbitrarily, and without cause or necessity, cause its existence to be one of misery." "It is incompatible with his goodness that he should have made a creature, and as a creature have condemned it to misery." (Here Spurgeon contradicts Calvin's notion of eternal decrees, viz, "God's decrees are his eternal purpose, by which he ordains whatsoever comes to pass." Sin comes to pass But who dare say that God is the author and cause of sin?) Again, "all have sinned." "If the Lord willeth to shew mercy, it shall be so." (True, and by ...