Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
desires and wishes; and what can satisfy these wishes must be infinite. God alone is that GOOD; and in him alone is this happiness to be found. If it be his will that the happiness lost by sin should be restored to believers in Christ, then it is his will that they should be made holy. Misery was never known till sin entered into the world; and happiness can never be known by any man, till sin be expelled from his soul. No holiness, no happiness;—and no plenary and permanent happiness, without plenary and permanent holiness. I repeat it, that to give true and permanent happiness to believers is the design of that God whose name is Mercy, and whose nature is love. True happiness consists in the knowledge of God, and in obedience to him. A man is not happy because he knows much; but because he receives much of the divine nature, and is, in all his conduct, conformed to the divine will. The happiness of a genuine Christian lies far beyond the reach of earthly disturbances, and is not affected by the changes and chances to which mortal things are exposed. The martyrs were more happy in the flames than their persecutors could be on their beds of down. God is the centre to which all immortal spirits tend, and in connection with which alone they can find rest. Every thing separated from its centre is in a state of violence; and, if intelligent, cannot be happy. All human souls, while separated from God by sin, are in a state of violence, agitation, and misery. From God all spirits come; to him all must return, in order to be finally happy. I knew a man who is distinguished among many for his writings, and who is still living, who thought that the saying of Christ, "Love your enemies," and the practice upon that saying, was the greatest insult that could be offered to human nature. "What!" said he, "rob men of those high feelings which are so common to them? No!" And then he blasphemed, and I shall not repeat his words. We may see whereabouts
that man was; and we may be sure that, if a man be a Christian, he cannot hate another without being miserable while he feels it. GOD IS BENEVOLENCE, and he forbids men to entertain any feelings of malice or ill will toward others; because if they do they cannot be happy. If I could hate the devil himself—if I could wish him more penal fire, or greater inflictions of God's wrath—I could not at that moment love Jesus Christ. COMMUNION OF SAINTS. A SERIOUS public profession of the religion of Christ has, in all ages of the church, been considered not only highly becoming, but indispensably necessary to salvation. He who consistently confesses Christ before men shall be confessed by him before God and his angels. A Jew wore his phylacteries on his forehead, on his hands, and around his garments, that he might have reverence in the sight of the heathen; he gloried in his law, and he exulted that Abraham was his father. Christian! with a zeal not less becoming, and more consistently supported, let the words of thy mouth, the acts of thy hands, and all thy goings show that thou belongest unto God; that thou hast taken his Spirit for the guide of thy heart, his Word for the rule of thy life, his people for thy companions, his heaven for thy inheritance, and himself for the portion of thy soul. And see that thou hold fast the truth, and that thou hold it in righteousness. It is not merely sufficient to have the heart right before God; there must be a firm, manly, and public profession of Christ before men. Be singular. Singularity, if in the right, can never be criminal. So completely disgraceful is the way of sin, that, if there were not a multitude walking in that way, who help to keep each other in countenance, every solitary sinner would be obliged to hide his head. A religious profession, supported by a consistent walk, produces both reverence and respect even in the wicked. And even while they ridicule religion, they will put confidence in its professors, credit their words, and
- Page 367 and 368: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXV
- Page 369 and 370: Human strength and human weakness a
- Page 371 and 372: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXV
- Page 373 and 374: It is no certain proof of the displ
- Page 375 and 376: own faith and obedience; and that h
- Page 377 and 378: vain; and at last, by the power of
- Page 379 and 380: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXI
- Page 381 and 382: adequate to their production; and b
- Page 383 and 384: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXX
- Page 385 and 386: wonder and eat it; and that is the
- Page 387 and 388: at last deny that he ever had it, a
- Page 389 and 390: Evil habits are formed and strength
- Page 391 and 392: The people who know not God are in
- Page 393 and 394: order," having no arrangements, no
- Page 395 and 396: his angels, but with God and his sa
- Page 397 and 398: to be effected cannot be proved to
- Page 399 and 400: e made to the damned, then we may e
- Page 401 and 402: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXX
- Page 403 and 404: God never removes any of his servan
- Page 405 and 406: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXX
- Page 407 and 408: 14. That no human being since the f
- Page 409 and 410: eucharist or Lord's supper, as comm
- Page 411 and 412: CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke XXX
- Page 413 and 414: unreservedly his all to God, and de
- Page 415 and 416: dogmatical systems of geology itsel
- Page 417: The soul was made for God; and noth
- Page 421 and 422: they could never have known, we fee
- Page 423 and 424: dimensions, situation, or colour of
- Page 425 and 426: against it, lose it, and perish eve
- Page 427 and 428: shipwreck herself has suffered, and
- Page 429 and 430: come:" I ask, "Why, then, is black
- Page 431 and 432: TOBACCO. EVERY medical man knows we
- Page 433 and 434: I grant that a person who is brough
- Page 435 and 436: smile at their own conduct? "Be ye
- Page 437 and 438: and hence, being turned out of thes
- Page 439 and 440: success in it: that in the evening,
- Page 441 and 442: 5. What underwood, hazel, furs, or
- Page 443 and 444: 3. Clothing.—Of what kinds? names
- Page 445 and 446: 7. What are the books used in educa
- Page 447 and 448: XIX.—Letting of Lands, Rents, Ten
- Page 449 and 450: more assiduity than formerly; looki
- Page 451 and 452: well, and speak comfortably, and ar
- Page 453 and 454: advantage of their neighbour's nece
- Page 455 and 456: God; if you get not this in time, y
- Page 457 and 458: [4] The following letter I received
- Page 459 and 460: as above, that no absolute necessit
- Page 461: duty, of the president of the confe
that man was; and we may be sure that, if a man be a <strong>Christian</strong>, he cannot<br />
hate another without being miserable while he feels it. GOD IS<br />
BENEVOLENCE, and he forbids men to entertain any feelings of malice or<br />
ill will toward others; because if they do they cannot be happy. If I could<br />
hate the devil himself—if I could wish him more penal fire, or greater<br />
inflictions of God's wrath—I could not at that moment love Jesus Christ.<br />
COMMUNION OF SAINTS.<br />
A SERIOUS public profession of the religion of Christ has, in all ages<br />
of the church, been considered not only highly becoming, but<br />
indispensably necessary to salvation. He who consistently confesses<br />
Christ before men shall be confessed by him before God and his angels.<br />
A Jew wore his phylacteries on his forehead, on his hands, and around his<br />
garments, that he might have reverence in the sight of the heathen; he<br />
gloried in his law, and he exulted that Abraham was his father. <strong>Christian</strong>!<br />
with a zeal not less becoming, and more consistently supported, let the<br />
words of thy mouth, the acts of thy hands, and all thy goings show that<br />
thou belongest unto God; that thou hast taken his Spirit for the guide of<br />
thy heart, his Word for the rule of thy life, his people for thy companions,<br />
his heaven for thy inheritance, and himself for the portion of thy soul.<br />
And see that thou hold fast the truth, and that thou hold it in<br />
righteousness.<br />
It is not merely sufficient to have the heart right before God; there<br />
must be a firm, manly, and public profession of Christ before men.<br />
Be singular. Singularity, if in the right, can never be criminal. So<br />
completely disgraceful is the way of sin, that, if there were not a<br />
multitude walking in that way, who help to keep each other in<br />
countenance, every solitary sinner would be obliged to hide his head.<br />
A religious profession, supported by a consistent walk, produces both<br />
reverence and respect even in the wicked. And even while they ridicule<br />
religion, they will put confidence in its professors, credit their words, and
Change language