A COURSE OF LECTURES, DELIVERED IN THE PARISH CHURCH

OF ST. MARY, ISLINGTON.

IN THE YEARS 1827, 8, 9, AND 30.

BY

DANIEL WILSON, D.D., VICAR,
NOW DISHOROFACALCUTTA.

OF THE
IN TWO VOLUMES

CA VOL. U.

CONTAINING THE LECTURES

ON THE AUTHENTICITY, CREDIBILITY, DIVINE
AUTHORITY, AND INSPIRATION OF THE

HOLY SCRIPTURES.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON:
STEVENS AND SONS, BELL YARD, TEMPLE BAR.

MDCCCXXXII.

V z 7

274

9

LECTURE XIV.

Page

SUITABLENESS OF CHRISTIANITY TO THE

STATE AND WANTS OF MAN.—1 Cor. xiv. 24, 25 1

The Christian Revelation is suited to man as it speaks a

DECISIVE LANGUAGE, and gives repose and satisfaction

to the mind in the greatest and most perplexing diffi-

culties

As it UNFOLDS ALL THE MYSTERIES OF HIS CONDITION

13

Accounts for the apparent contradiction of his state, and

addresses him in this condition, and no other

17

As it PROVIDES A REMEDY FOR ALL HIS WANTS

17

Proposes adequate motives

19

Places man in a new and more favourable state of pro-

bation

20

Sets before him a system of means

20

All agreeing with his outward circumstances in this world 21

This remedy is also calculated to draw out to the utmost,

all the powers and faculties of man

21

And carry him on to his true end

22

As it is CALCULATED for UNIVERSAL DIFFUSION under the

endless diversities of his state and character

23

Both as to the matter of Revelation

23

And the manner or form of it

25

ChristiANITY CONNIVES AT NO ONE VICE

27

This adaptation does not STRIKE the mind at once

27

Is A PROSPECTIVE SCHEME formed by the wisdom of God,

and revealed perfect and complete at once

28

And is viewED ARIGHT from the MIDST OF HUMAN WEAK-

NESS, MISERY, AND SORROW

29

.

40

LECTURE XV.

Page

THE EXCELLENCIES OF THE DOCTRINES OF

CHRISTIANITY.—1 John iv. 8–10

32

The chIEF DOCTRINES ENUMERATED

33

The being, perfection and providence of the one living

and true God

33

The guilt and condemnation of man

35

Redemption in the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of

God

37

The personality and operations of the Holy Spirit 39

The Sacraments, and other means of grace

The resurrection of the dead, and the last solemn judgment 40

The EXCELLENCY of the doctrines

They all emanate from the character of God

Possess simplicity

And a surpassing grandeur and sublimity

Their harmony

Meet all the necessities of man, and yet promote the ends

of God's moral government

48

Are deeply humiliating, and in the highest degree conso-

latory

50

The magnitude and sublimity of the great design of Al-

mighty God, of which the doctrines are the result 53

An APPEAL; whether the inward evidence of Christianity,

from its peculiar doctrines, does not shine brighter and

brighter

A correspondent love and gratitude to God on the part

of

the true Christian, ought to be produced

58

42
42
43
44
45

.

57

60

LECTURE XVI.

THE UNSPOTTED PURITY OF THE CHRISTIAN

MORALS.-Titus ii. 11-15.

The EXTENT and PURITY of the Christian morals

They embrace all that was really good in the ethics of

Heathen sages

Are complete

Erect the only true and unbending standard of duty to

God and man

Omit many false virtues of heathenism, and insist on

many real ones unknown to it

Dwell chiefly on the mild and retiring virtues

Require an abstinence from the proximate causes of evil

61

61

62

62

63

63

67

.

68
70

.

.

PECULIAR DOCTRINES

Page

Christian morality regards outward forms of devotion and

piety, as means to a higher end

64

All Christian precepts aid each other

64

And go to form a particular sort of character

65

The WAY THE GOSPEL PROCEEDS to make these precepts

practicable

66

Christianity begins with the heart

66

Aims at achieving its object by the formation of habits 66

Directs men to aim at the highest attainments, whilst she

encourages the weakest efforts

Keeps aloof from secular policy

68

Delivers her code in the form of maxims and prohibitions,

clear and decisive

Works by setting forth strong and affecting examples

Refers men to the ALL-SEEING EYE OF GOD

71

The connexiON OF THE MORALS of Christianity with EVERY

OTHER PART OF Revelation, and especially with its

71

The facts on which the doctrines rest, prepare for the

operation of motives

72

The doctrines are expressly designed, and admirably

adapted, to produce Christian obedience

72

They go to form that sort of character which the morals

require

73

The love of Christ constrains

The promises and privileges of the gospel are attached to

certain dispositions and states of mind

74

Christianity holds out to men further advances in holiness 75

The doctrine of the beavenly state

The manner in which the precepts are involved in all the

other parts of Revelation

76

The Sanctions by which the Christian morals ARE ULTI-

77

The will of God is the authority of moral obedience

The MORALITY of the gospel makes it. IMPOSSIBLE, in the

nature of things, that Christianity should be an IMPOS-

81

The above is strengthened by the wrETCHED SYSTEM

which modern infidels propose for the direction of man-

kind

Men ought, therefore, to hold Fast by the CHRISTIAN

83

71

MATELY ENFORCED

78

TURE

.

82

FAITH