The Christ of the Apostles' Creed

trines of the Cross, indicated by an increasing desire, in many non-prelatical communions, to make more prominent the doctrines of their ancient symbols, and to adhere more steadfastly to such a platform as the Apostles' Creed. This, with an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, is all we conceive to be necessary for the latter day glory.

The occasion of the following Discourses is easily described. In the midst of other excitements and a different style of preaching, the author felt a very great desire to hold up "the central figure of the universe" more prominently before the minds of his hearers. In casting around for a plan, he thought to make Witsius on the Creed the foundation of a series of Discourses on Christ, but he soon became convinced it would not be expedient to follow this great author as closely as he had intended to do; he therefore determined to adopt a plan of his own, more fitted, according to his judgment, to the necessities of the times. Accordingly, he applied himself to the study of Lightfoot, Baronius, Barrow, Hooker, Bingham, Lardner, Leland, Charnock, Bates, Leighton, Ridgely, Dwight, Hill, Dick, Calvin, and Hey, with a free use of lexicons and commentators on the points under examination. As, however, I did not find any one of these authors, great and learned as they are, altogether such as I thought just the kind of book I should like to put at this time into the hands of my congregation, I have attempted to interest them in the following discourses. I swear by no man's words, nor do I profess wholly to adopt any of the

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authors referred to in this volume; but I wish here to acknowledge the value I set upon and the use I have made of Witsius' "Dissertations on the Apostles' Creed;" Burnet's and also Rev. E. Harold Browne's "Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles;" Suicer de Symb.; Bull Def. Fid. Nic.; Pearson's "Great' Exposition of the Creed;" Bishop Forbes' "Explanation of the Nicene Creed ;" and Harvey's "History and Theology of the Three Creeds."

Although freely using these authors, I have followed my own plan, and endeavored to present THE CHRIST OF THE APOSTLES as the great Saviour of the world. And I hope I shall not be considered rash and presumptuous for venturing to preach and publish Discourses on subjects so profound and so mysterious, because so many other authors of the highest culture and finest intellectual powers have already put forth their best efforts in the same direction. It has seemed to me the specialities of the times laid this duty on me, at least as far as my own congregation was concerned. It is indeed not easy for us to realize the debt we owe to the able and learned defenders of our holy faith in past ages; and after all the slurs at, and attacks made upon our Creeds, on account of their stiffness, dry logic, and artificial and professional definitions, I am more than ever convinced that we are in greater need of an exact theology than at any time since the days of the Apostles. It is one of the many evidences of God's care over His Church, that He has raised up from age to age men qualified by learning and grace to explain, defend,

and propagate the great doctrines of the Cross, which have been most surely believed by the Church of God from the beginning. And as it has been, so we believe it will be. And as every age has its own characteristics, and calls for its own authors, so every man has his own anointing (charisma), and is called to do his own work in his own day, and to do it well and quickly, and with all his might, for the night of death cometh speedily, when no man can work. As the only way to get darkness out is to let light in, so my great desire in these Discourses has not been so much to find out novelties or to expose false doctrines in detail, as to explain the truth according to the Divine Word, and with the light of the interpretation put upon it in past ages by some of the ablest and most pious scholars, and thus to guide the mind to a wellgrounded faith in the "Redeemer of God's elect." For if Christ be formed in our hearts the hope of glory, then we are not so easily led astray by false doctrines. If the mind is full of the light of truth, error cannot enter.

If this volume should find its way into the hands of the learned critic, I beg he will remember that these Discourses are not sermons, but rather historical and expository Dissertations, delivered before large assemblies, consisting of persons of all ages and classes and conditions. in life; and being continued from week to week, some repetition was occasionally necessary, as also frequent amplifications and explanations that would not have been required before a body of theological students. And

they are now published as nearly as possible just as they were delivered, and at the desire of many who were interested in them as they fell from their author's lips. If otherwise qualified, it is well known that the absorbing cares and labors and sympathies of a city Pastor in our times do not allow leisure and strength for the pursuits of literature as he might desire. But God does not require every thing from any one man.

I beg also to invite the attention of kind readers, especially of liberally educated young men, to the "Aspect of Modern Thought concerning Christ," as seen in our examination of the theories of Strauss and Renan, in the Appendix to this volume. It is also hoped that the brief review of the early heresies and philosophical opinions advanced in the early ages concerning Christ, and the notice of the Arian controversy, as given in the Appendix, will be acceptable to the reader, and increase his interest in these Discourses. The volumes which I have ventured heretofore to offer to the public, have been chiefly historical expositions of Biblical characters, and designed mainly for the young. In this one, my earnest wish is to promote the sincere, intelligent, and humble belief of the Truth concerning Christ, and especially to present Him as He has been believed on in the world and received up into glory, an Almighty Saviour.

NEW YORK, February, 1867.