A Comparative View of Christianity (Volume 1); And of the Other Forms of Religion Which Have Existed, and Still Exist, in the World, Particularly with Regard to Their Moral Tendency (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. 1826. Excerpt: ... Thus, the memorable facts above stated, as recorded in the New Testament, are both closely connected with each other, and supply a solid foundation for the doctrines which are built on them. These doctrines I proceed now briefly to state. CHAP. II. OF THE DOCTRINES OF CHRISTIANITY. The fundamental doctrine of Christianity, as well as of Judaism and of natural religion, is, that there is only one God, the creator of heaven and earth, a being of infinite perfection, the supreme governor of the world, who exercises a constant, wise, and beneficent providence, and is the sole object of religious regard and worship; that he has prescribed to his intelligent and moral creatures, laws adapted to their respective constitutions and faculties; that he exacts their obedience to these; that he will judge them according to the rules of unalterable justice; and that their happiness or misery will depend on their conformity to these rules, or on their departure from them. But, to the dictates both of natural religion and of the Jewish dispensation, the religion of Christ has superadded several most important informations concerning the character and proceedings of the Deity in regard to the human race. The religion of nature discovers the unity and attributes of God merely as the Creator, the Governor, and the Judge of the world, and as exacting from rational creatures complete obedience to his laws. But it cannot make, and never has attempted to make, any provision for the pardon and recovery of sinners, any farther than the general notions of the divine clemency might lead to expect. Nor has it ever afforded accurate and definite notions of that moral rectitude which could lay claim to the divine favour, or been able to prescribe to man a just and comprehensive standa...