The Substance of a Sermon Preached in Liverpool, on the 30th of July, 1820, before the Conference of the Ministers late in Connexion with the Rev. John Wesley, by John Emory, the Representative of the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America [2/2]
Anon
Genre: | Sermon, Abstract, Serial |
Publications abstracted: | John Emory |
Subjects: | Reason, Biblical Authority, Natural History, Astronomy |
The second part of the sermon focuses on 'The means by which it pleases God to enlighten and save the world' (83), but continues to make reference to the inadequacy of human reason for religious knowledge. Observes that the Bible is 'in many respects, a learned book', and that 'to be acquainted with its learning, is not only desirable and ornamental, but highly useful'. Observes that learning is required to understand its 'natural history, its philosophy, its astronomy, and all those incidental branches of science which tend either to solve its difficulties, or to elucidate its history'. However, such learning is unnecessary to understand the gospel. Draws an analogy between the gospel and the natural world: 'The earth on which we tread,—the waters which encompass it,—the sun, the moon, and stars, which sine above us, and shed their rays around us,—all these have mysteries and glories to exercise the utmost learning. But, thanks be to God, this is not essential to the enjoyment of their substantial benefits'. (86) | |
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