The communion of the Christian with God : a discussion in agreement with the view of Luther

Front matter

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PREFACE TO THE First EDITION : = : v

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION z ‘ B Seravite TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE = : 2 5 aie EN EKO DUG PLO N: PAGE.

CuHapTer I.—The Present Theological Position.

SECTION 1. Ritschl’s appearance - - - - . - 3 Ap 2. The opposition divided - - - - - 3 5S 3. Ritschl’s influence and that of other teachers” - 3 ts 4. Is there a Ritschlian school ? - - - - 4 5. The real question of theology - - - . 4 6. Ritschl’s method - - - - . . 5 CuHapTer II.—The Common Life and Warfare.

SECTION 1. There is a bond in our common need - . 5 5 2. The want met by the Gospel - - - - 6 be 3. Life needs light - = = = - - = 6 a 4. Common personal Christianity - = = - 6 sf 5. Life real, while the theory of it may be wrong” - Ge a 6. This life must be set forth - = 3 : = a CHAPTER II].—Freedom of Life, and Need for Theological Statement.

SECTION 1. Doctrine must be various - - - - - 8 i 2. Preaching and doctrine < - - - - A 3. The New Testament and the rise of dogma - 8 CuapTeR 1V.—Of Doctrinal Unity.

SECTION 1. Its value not in mere average ideas” - - - 9 a 2. The real bond of unity - = - - 10 a 3. What is personal Christianity? - - - - 10

4. The Christian’s real and indispensable use of the New Testament - - - - - II

CHAPTER V.—Of Unity of Life.

SECTION I. Oy oe We) 1S)

Our study will lead to unity” - - - - The variety of doctrine will be a blessing - - The true confession of faith - - - - Faith needs an object - : - - - - The right course to pursue - - - . -

CHAPTER |.—Feligion as conceived by the Mystics.

SECTION I.

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The essential experience of all religion : - Roman Catholic mysticism not Christian - - The various forms of Roman Catholic Christianity The essence of mysticism - > - - : Mysticism must be independent of historical

reality - - - - - - - - Mysticism and the doctrine of the church - - The tendency towards mysticism among Pro-

testants = - : - “ = = The merits of medizval mysticism —_- - - The God of mysticism not one with Christ - Mysticism does not find God - sige = - Roman Catholicism and Christ - - - - God in Christ - - . - - - -

CuHapTeR [1.—Mysticism and Christian 1 heology.

SECTION I.

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Mysticism not Christian = - - - - - Does not the Church’s dogma exalt Christ and

the Trinity? - - - - - - - Mysticism and Church dogma are altogether

unsatisfactory - - - - - - The historical standpoint alone stands all tests The need for a clearer understanding of the

Christian’s relation to God - - - - What are revelation and doctrines of taith ? - Scholasticism and mysticism - - - - The evils of systems of theology _— - . - The mistaken method of the elder Protestant

theology - - - - - - Its result - . . - - Se arte: - The value and joy of the Holy Scriptures’ - -

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~CuHapTerR II].—Our Difficulties.

SECTION I.

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Does our method lead after all to mysticism? - The objective reality which must be studied - Is our method likely to be purely subjective? —- Points of agreement with the elder theology . Points of dissent from the elder theology : Jesus the only objective power; this alone is

true Protestantism - - - - -

CHAPTER LV.—Ouyr velation to Luther.

SEGDION I.

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Luther’s Protestantism observed our method - Luther’s doctrine of Scripture not necessarily

perfect - - : - - - - Luther’s acceptance of Catholic dogma not

necessarily right - - - - - - Luther’s Christianity v. Luther’s theology . The danger if reaction be demanded touching

Scripture - - - - - - - The similar danger touching dogma - - - Conservative theologians will admit this - - The real relation to Luther - - - .

BOOK Il.—GOD’S COMMUNION WITH US.

CHAPTER I1.—God communes with us through Jesus Chrst.

SECTION “I.

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God does not commune with us through mere grasp of the idea of theeternal - - - Nor through a set of doctrines which are first to be believed - - - - - - - God communes with us through a fact - - This simple matter is often obscured - - = Our idea of God and of communion with Him does not depend upon a general induction from the ideas of all sorts of men - - Our own position in history must be taken into account = = - - = = 5 Two classes of objectors - - - . - Is the first objection valid ? _ . - - - Analysis of the relation of story to fact. (1.) The effect of confidence in the narrator - xi xii

Boox II. Chap. I.—Continued.

SECTION Io.

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Analysis continued. Fact v. Report. (ii.) Careful critical estimate of reports - - - - Analysis continued. Narrative v. Historical reality. (iii.) Even the historian’s certainty is an insufficient basis for religious life - - Analysis continued. Narrative v. Reality. (iv.) All these results insufficient as a basis for religion The actual basis; the picture of Jesus’ inner life; how known - = - - - - - How certainty of this becomes absolutely ours - The value of historical study of records - - The Person of Jesus is and must be an element in the reality of our own life - - - Hence the prime importance of preaching Christ and nothing else instead - - - Redemption, not doctrine, the first thing to be obtained - - - - - - - What is redemption? - - - - - -

CuHaPTER I].—How we see God in Jesus.

SECTION I.

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The limits which the story of Jesus imposes upon the historian - - - - - - The admitted features of the story of Jesus - Jesus’ perfect confidence in His success’ - - Jesus’ perfect moral strength and His consciousness of it - - - - - - Jesus claimed to give and to be God’s greatest gift to men - - - - - - - Jesus not a teacher concerning redemptive powers other than Himself - - - - Jesus brings men into the Kingdom of God - We see in Jesus the Almighty God - - - God in Jesus Christ frees us from sin, from its condemnation and from its power - - The revelation of God is thus complete in Christ mae - - - - - How shall we secure the rise of faith ? - - The objective grounds of the Christian faith - The Christian cannot leave this Impregnable Rock for any customary beliefs - - -

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Book II. Caap. Il.—Continued

SECTION 14. The quicksands of the customary ‘‘ foundations”’ socalled - - - - - - -

» ¥5. Jesus Christ Himself is the vital principle of

our religion - - - - - - -

» 16. Objections considered - - a - -

a iy. ,oummary - = = = = = = =

CuaPTER II1.—Goad’s Increasing Communion with us.

SECTION I. Jesus’ gift is ever unfolding afresh for us - - The revelation of God in Christ to children - The later needs, in maturer years - - ~ The rise of the sense of the need of God. Jesus ee meets it - - - - - - -

‘ 5. What is Jesus’ redemption of us? - = = 5a 6. He transforms the old world for us and brings in a new one - - - - - - -

és 7. Doctrines concerning Jesus cannot do this; they may do the opposite - . - - -

5 8. _He who would confess the Deity of Christ must first know Jesus, and Jesus’ influence upon

His life - - - - - - -

is 9. Hewho would confess that Jesus is God, must also have recognised God - - - -

min, 10.) Lhe injury done to’ mens by -the customary doctrine of the atonement - - - -

, 11. The merits and defects of the Reformers’ doctrine of the atonement - - - -

» 12. The doctrine of vicarious suffering; its real significance ; and its mistaken use - -

» 13. Luther’s idea of vicarious satisfaction - - 14. Forgiveness: the Socinian and_ rationalistic doctrine of it; the orthodox doctrine of it;

the truth concerning it - - - -

ets. How we see God in Christ - : < = » 16. The words, ‘‘Deity of Christ,” simply express accurately what we experience in such redemption - - - - - - -

CHAPTER I1V.—Luther and Chust.

SECTION 1. Luther’s reverence for dogma; and his advance from the older view of it - - - - xiii PAGE. 85 87

88 99

95. 97

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Boox III. Chap. II.—Continued.

SECTION 6. The true nature of faith | - é - - =

7. Faith impels to historical study ; not historical study to faith - - - . - -

8. Faith gives birth to fearless criticism - - - g. Such faith distinguishes the Person of Jesus clearly from the miracles - - - -

10. Of the tendency to make religion as easy as possible; as seen (i.) in systems of theology

11. Of the same tendency as seen (ii.) in the so-called but false loyalty to the sacred Scriptures -

12. Conclusion. Such faith needs no supplementa-

CuHaPpTeR II].—Of the Inney Contents of Christian Faith.

SECTION 1. Entire submission to God = - - - -

2. Our communion with God means also recognition of His actual creative power - - - 3. Our communion with God means also certainty that our sins are forgiven - - - - 4. Forgiveness is not the momentary act of an official - - - - - - - - 5. The experience of forgiveness comes as an astounding revelation - - . - - 6. Luther’s view of the matter - - - - 7. Such trust towards God is perfect communion with Him in all our daily affairs - - - 8. What is the true separation from the world? - g. Of freedom and grateful joy as communion with God - - - - - : - - 10. The kingship of the believer - - - - 1r. Christian humility - . - - - - 12,. The fear of God - - - - - - - 13. The Christian’s love to God as shown in love to his neighbour - - - . - - 14. The Christian's love to God; its immediate manifestation - - - - - - 15. Luther’s view of sensuous love to God - - 16. Of sensuous contemplation of Christ - - - 17. Sensuous contemplation of Christ insufficient in view of the future; and as a theory of Christ’s Redemption - . . . -

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Cuapter 1V.—Of Christ's Eternal Life.

SECTION 1. How do we come to this conception ? - - ‘a 2. Communion with God is possible, but not with

the Exalted Christ - - - - -

7” 3. The real channel for our relationship to the Exalted Christ - - - - - -

Cuapter V.—Of Faith as both a Gift and an Act.

SECTION I. Faith is real in activity - - - - - mn 2. The Christian communes with God in right occupations - - - - - - -

i 3. Luther’s view of communion with God in our daily callings - . - - - :

te 4. Faith gives the power needful for moral conduct -

As 5. Of the victory over temptation - - - -

6. Faith gives more than the power to be good: it gives also the impulse - - - -

<; 7. This motive overcoming all painful hindrances - 8. The readiness to bear the cross - - - - f g. Of necessary advance on Luther - - -

Cuapter VI.—Of Chmistian Prayer.

SEcTION 1. It must spring from faith - - : z : is 2. And real faith will necessarily cause prayer * 3. Of directions for prayer. It isa thanksgiving -

4. The misuse of prayer - - 2 2 : :

CuapterR VII.—Of New Life.

SEcTION 1. Of the Christian’s definite valuation of himself. He is bornanew - - : - -" a

2. We do not experience new birth; we are born again - - - - - - - :

e, 3. Mistaken ideas concerning the act and article of new birth - - - - - - -

, 4. Is this rightly to be called a new birth? - - 5 5. The real service done by baptism - - : 6. The thoughts of faith do not come by any sensuous experiences” - - : : 2

7. Scientific demand is duly met at the right place -

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