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. 1883 Excerpt: ...and technical, and so of losing truth while it is gaining knowledge. For truth is universal; it is the conclusion derived from those facts the possession of which we call knowledge. Truth, I say, is universal; and religious truth possesses this character as much as any other. What is true in religion is true in ...
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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. 1883 Excerpt: ...and technical, and so of losing truth while it is gaining knowledge. For truth is universal; it is the conclusion derived from those facts the possession of which we call knowledge. Truth, I say, is universal; and religious truth possesses this character as much as any other. What is true in religion is true in everything else to which such truth is capable of being applied; true in the law, true in moral, philosophy, true in the prudence of life, true in all human action. From this position results the use of an instrument for religious investigation, to which 1 wish to invite your attention. The instrument I refer to is comparison. I invite you to compare religion with other things, to which it is analogous. Fairly to put this instrument into your hands, to give some examples of its use and application, will require a course of Lord Littleton. three or four lectures, which I shall give on Sunday evenings. Let it not be supposed that there is anything new in this mode of investigation. On the contrary, it is so familiar that it enters more or less into almost every religious discourse. It is justified by the practice of all sorts of religious and moral teachers. It is the only instrument used in that great work of Bishop Butler entitled his Analogy. All I wish to do is, for a little time, to fix attention upon it. It is not pretended that this instrument is infallible. The degree of proof to be gathered from any comparison depends on the closeness of the analogy. To this point, the closeness of the analogy, the main point in this kind of inquiry, I shall give the most discriminating attention that I am capable of, and shall wish my hearers constantly to judge, as wise men, what I say. The instrument, I confess, is liable to abuse. To give an instance of th...
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