Christian Sects in the Nineteenth CenturyCornwallis, Caroline Frances
Religion
Christian Sects in the Nineteenth Century
Cornwallis, Caroline Frances
Christian sects -- History -- 19th century
{5b} “No national prejudices, no religious differences could hinder our
Saviour from doing good. We should consider that men’s understandings
naturally are not all of the same size and capacity, and that this
difference is greatly increased by different education, different
employments, different company, and the like. No man is infallible. We
are liable to errors perhaps as much as others. The very best men may
sometimes differ in opinion, as St. Paul ‘withstood St. Peter to the
face;’ and if there was such a difference between two of the chiefest of
the Apostles, well may there be between inferior mortals. About modes of
faith there will always be dispute and difference; but in acts of mercy
and kindness all mankind may and should agree.”—_Newton_.
{8} “In fact, all the religious persecutions in the world, all the
penalties and inflictions upon those who differ from ourselves, however
conscientiously, take their rise from an imperfect and erroneous notion
of what really constitutes the glory of God, and the manner in which we
best can assist its display and extension. The angels at the birth of
Christ sang that the glory of God was in unison with ‘Peace on earth, and
good will towards men.’—‘No!’ said the Schoolman, ‘the glory of God
consists in thinking of the Deity as we think.’—‘No!’ said the
Inquisitor, ‘the glory of God consists in worshiping as we
prescribe.’—‘No!’ said the Covenanters, ‘the glory of God consists in
exterminating those whom we call his enemies.’ Mistaken men! who _thus_
propose to honour the God and Father of the universe, the merciful God,
and the gracious Father of all his rational creatures! Instead of
perusing with delight and conviction the plain declaration contained in
our Sacred records, too many Christians have in almost every age passed
over the characteristics of kind design throughout nature: they have
mistaken or forgotten the clear delineations of Divine Mercy and Goodness
in the Book of Grace, and have had recourse to the narrowed circle of
their own prejudices.”—_Maltby’s Sermons_.
{10} It would be well if Rom. xiv. were more attentively studied and
more universally practised among Christians.
{14} They have in consequence been sometimes called “Seekers.”
{15a} Gough’s History of the Quakers. Vol. i. p. 139.
{15b} Probably their resolute refusal to pay tithes and other dues
brought on them some of these punishments.
{20} “Keep the Sabbath holy,” says Luther, “for its use both to body and
soul; but if any where the day is made holy for the mere day’s sake; if
any where any one sets up its observance upon a _Jewish_ foundation, then
I order you to work on it, to ride on it, to dance on it, to feast on it,
to do any thing that shall remove this encroachment on the Christian
spirit and liberty.” This is language which may be easily misunderstood
and perverted from Luther’s meaning; but it was uttered by him from a
jealousy of Sabbatical superstition.
{21} Matt. v.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account