This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... This Church was established also upon principles of Christian liberality. Its action, both in respect to the temporalities that pertain to religion, and in spiritual matters, has always been marked by a broad and comprehensive charity. I look in vain in its records for any thing to indicate that a ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1842 edition. Excerpt: ... This Church was established also upon principles of Christian liberality. Its action, both in respect to the temporalities that pertain to religion, and in spiritual matters, has always been marked by a broad and comprehensive charity. I look in vain in its records for any thing to indicate that a sectarian, exclusive, or denunciatory spirit ever influenced it members. It has never sought to put fetters upon the utterance of its pulpit, or the consciences of its members. It has always been ready to accord, nay, it has encouraged its ministers in the free and generous action of their minds in the pursuit of truth, in the investigation of that boundless field for inquiry which the Bible opens to human thought, and in the application, of what they might there discover, to individual character and the social condition of the community. But with this independence and liberality there has always mingled a spirit of moderation and conservatism. Within the field which the Bible opens, it has always favored the wise and diligent pursuit of truth; but has never encouraged rash speculation or wanton innovation. It has never countenanced those, who were disposed to turn from the waters of Jordan to the rivers of Egypt, or Greece, or Rome, or who contended that these streams were from the same sources and of equal purity and excellence. Several times since its establishment, a speculative and sceptical spirit has been abroad in the world, attacking the foundations of our faith; and at all these periods this Church has stood firm for the Scriptures as the hope of the world, the great fountain of religious knowledge, and been zealous for Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life." But it is not necessary for me to pursue these remarks. Let us...
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