|
(page 281 thru 285)
As this subject is particularly interesting to the American Clergy,
I beg leave to present it to them in a point of view,
in which it appears to me of peculiar importance.
Fathers and Brethren,
While I see with pleasure your exertions
in opposition to prevailing infidelity,
permit me to direct your attention to a temptation,
by which, as we learn from the preceding historical sketches,
the German divines were ensnared,
viz. that of attempting to reconcile infidels to the gospel,
by reducing it to their taste;
either by explaining away, or keeping out of sight,
its offensive peculiarities.
From the foregoing recital it appears,
that the second branch of Illuminism,
the German Union,
was grafted on a mutilated system of Christianity.
In the history of the Christian church,
we are often reminded of the injuries Christianity has received
from the attempts of its advocates
to render the gospel palatable to its opposers.
Upon this principle, first the Oriental, then the Platonic,
afterwards the Aristotelian (print unclear)
systems of philosophy became, in different ages,
the standards for explaining the sacred writings;
and the doctrines of Infinite Wisdom
have been distorted into a compliance
with those systems of human weakness and folly.
Hence, also, arose the scheme of an hidden meaning,
and mystical interpretation,
so zealously adopted by Origen and others.
This doubtless has been sometimes done with a friendly design,
but the consequences have always been unhappy;
and unhappy they ever must be.
Besides the impiety of the attempt, it is very obvious,
that it is merely the corruptions, in these mutilated systems,
with which infidels harmonize.
Their hearts are no more reconciled to the Gospel than before;
all the advantage resulting to Christianity
consists in the external aid they afford the cause;
and this is incomparably overbalanced
by the injury done to the purity of its doctrines.
Nor is even this aid now to be expected;
for modern infidels,
renouncing their former pretended respect for natural religion,
have taken their proper ground,
which is absolute atheism.
"Thus did not Paul."
While fully sensible that the gospel he preached was,
"a stumbling block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek,"
he complimented neither the one nor the other,
either by adopting their sentiments, or relinquishing his own;
but with a resolution worthy the great defender of Christianity,
determined, in face of this opposition,
to assert the doctrine of a crucified Saviour;
nay, as if foreseeing the indirect measures
which some would take to recommend Christianity,
he pronounces
"him accursed who should preach another gospel,"
adding, that by another gospel, he meant
the gospel of Christ perverted, or corrupted.
In this he conformed to the will of his Divine Master,
who stated unalterably the terms of admission into his kingdom,
declaring with the greatest solemnity, that
unless they received the kingdom of God
(the scheme of doctrines he taught)
with the meekness, and teachableness of little children,
they should in no wise enter therein.
It will not be pretended that he was unmindful
of the opposition of the human heart to the doctrines he taught,
but under a full view of that opposition,
he demanded for them a ready reception,
and the unequivocal submission of mankind.
The triumph of the gospel is effected
not by relinquishing its demands,
in compliance with the corruptions and caprices of mankind,
but by subduing the pride, enmity, and opposition of the heart,
and "bringing into captivity every
thought to the obedience of Christ."
I have thus, my countrymen, expressed my sentiments
with the freedom which is yet one of the happy privileges of our country;
and with the faithfulness which becomes one
who sees his fellow men exposed to iminent dangers,
I have never covered a paragraph,
on any of the subjects here brought into view
by an anonymous publication.
By this observation I mean not to criminate, in the least degree,
those gentlemen, who, in this way
have enlightened and instructed the public;
but it is most agreeable to my feelings,
especially in present circumstances,
to make myself responsible to the public,
for my opinions on these subjects. *
* Had the proper names of the authors
been affixed to all the publications of the day,
it is to be presumed that the clergy would be found chargeable
with a small proportion of those which have been
so liberally palmed upon them without the least evidence,
and plainly with a design to injure their characters.
Considering the spirit of the times,
a meaning and design will doubtless be attributed to the writer
which never entered his mind.
With respect to himself, this is a circumstance of trifling consequence;
as it respects the success of his labors,
he is desirous to remove every obstacle;
and would therefore observe, that
nothing has been introduced into this work but what,
it was conceived,
would serve to give weight
to the directions suggested in this address.
In your attention to these sentiments consists your strength.
Your enemies must draw you from this ground before they can prevail.
Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established;
believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. *
* 2 Chronicles, xx. 20.
|
|
