PREFACE. THE following Discourse' was delivered at Sheffield, in October last, before the ministers and delegates, convened at the autumnal meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. It is published in accordance with a vote of that assembly; and there are some circumstances of which the author may make brief mention as having disposed him to comply with the request so presented to him. We hear much, now-a-days, about the doctrine of development,' and a 'progressive theology.' The theological doctrine contained in the Sacred Scriptures consists of truth that may not change, and embraces the utmost truth of that nature accessible to man in the present world. But in our judgment concerning the doctrine really set forth in those writings, we are all liable to err, more or less, and this both in the way of excess and in the way of defect. The causes which dispose us to such error are continuous and manifold, and in so far as progress consists in an unlearning of the error thus derived, we covet progress. But in an age so restless as our own, in which no religious principle is allowed to pass unquestioned, it is not easy to put a stop to change at the right point. The body of Christians to which the author deems it his honour to belong, has been charged with departing from the wise course in this respect in opposite extremes. If one section of our censors is to be credited, we are all fast tending towards a cold and dreary Rationalism; while according to another section, we are so spell-bound by antiquated prejudices, as to be the preachers of a theology which the moral discernment of the age has manifestly outgrown. The Discourse now printed, as approved, in its substance, by the auditory who listened to it, may suffice to indicate whereabouts the English Congregationalists of 1849 really are, both as regards a scriptural theology, and the philosophical thinking of our times as bearing upon that theology. Every man competent to judge on this subject will be aware, that if we differ at all from the more illustrious of our predecessors, it is less in the matter of our opinions, than in our mode of presenting them. We cleave to the Old Truth, subject to such shades of discrimination or modification only, as the Scriptures themselves, when largely viewed, abundantly warrant. The error to which the ensuing argument is opposed, is the most potent of the age. It will not prevail in this country as in some others. Its adherents will be beaten-thoroughly beaten, in the field of fair discussion, but not immediately. In the meanwhile, it behoves every man to contribute such influence as he may, however small, towards the coming result. In this spirit the present publication is commended to the devout attention of the reader, and especially to the more thoughtful youth of our time. College, Moss-side, Near Manchester, Nov. 15th, 1849. |