An Essay on the Philosophy of Faith, and the Economy of RevelationD. Cock and Company, 1815 - 221 pages |
Other editions - View all
An Essay on the Philosophy of Faith, and the Economy of Revelation John Fearn No preview available - 2020 |
An Essay on the Philosophy of Faith, and the Economy of Revelation John Fearn No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
Abra actually ages al low analogy Apostles appears argument assertion Atheists attributes believe Bishop Butler Bishop of Landaff cause certainty of revelation CHRIST Christianity command conceive consider consideration CREATOR defend deistical deists demand deny diffused proof divine doctrine doubt evidence evil fact farther favor given promise Grotius ground highest honor human Hume Idolatry impiety inquiry JESUS Jewish Jews Law of Nature ligion mand manifest mankind matter mind miracles miracles of Jesus MORAL CONSTITUTION namely nations neral object observe obvious ordinary PASSOVER Patriarch perhaps persons philosopher popular proof present PRINCIPLE of faith probability proof or certainty prove question racter reason recognise regard religion religionists render repose reve Sceptics Scripture Scripture-faith seems shewn species spirit of revelation story of Abraham suppose thing tion true trust tural ture unbelievers usage usually virtue whole writer
Popular passages
Page 128 - I say that a miracle can never be proved so as to be the foundation of a system of religion. For I own that otherwise there may possibly be miracles or violations of the usual course of nature, of such a kind as to admit of proof from human testimony, though perhaps it will be impossible to find any such in all the records of history.
Page 67 - For we are saved by hope : but hope that is seen is not hope : for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Page 216 - I am the better pleased with the method of reasoning here delivered, as I think it may serve to confound those dangerous friends or disguised enemies to the Christian Religion, who have undertaken to defend it by the principles of human reason. Our most holy religion...
Page 10 - ... and learning as to secure us against all delusion in themselves; of such undoubted integrity as to place them beyond all suspicion of any design to deceive others; of such credit and reputation in the eyes of mankind as to have a great deal to lose in case of...
Page 128 - ... no human testimony can have such force as to prove a miracle, and make it a just foundation for any such system of religion.
Page 203 - Lustrations and processions were much easier than a clean conscience, and a steady course of virtue; and an expiatory sacrifice, that atoned for the want of it, was much more convenient than a strict and holy life.
Page 10 - ... all delusion in themselves ; of such undoubted integrity, as to place them beyond all suspicion of any design to deceive others ; of such credit and reputation in the eyes of mankind, as to have a great deal to lose in case of their being detected in any falsehood ; and at the same time attesting facts, performed in such a public manner, and in so celebrated a part of the world, as to render the detection unavoidable : all which circumstances are requisite to give us a full assurance in the testimony...
Page 212 - Examine the religious principles which have, in fact, prevailed in the world. You will scarcely be persuaded, that they are...
Page 192 - It is certain, that, in every religion, however sublime the verbal definition which it gives of its divinity, many of the votaries, perhaps the greatest number, will still seek the divine favour, not by virtue and good morals, which alone can be acceptable to a perfect being, but either by frivolous observances, by intemperate zeal, by rapturous extasies, or by the belief of mysterious and absurd opinions.
Page 19 - ... things we perceive by our senses, and by demonstration ; but only so far as is sufficient to procure the belief, and persuade a man of the thing, who is not obstinately bent against it : So that the gospel is, as it were, a touchstone, to try men's honest dispositions by.