Palmer, supply this defect: the latter work, indeed, though containing much valuable information, is by no means calculated to introduce the reader to an acquaintance with the essential points of difference between Romanists and Protestants. Abroad the case has been different. The labours of the philosophical school of Romanists, represented by Moehler, De Maistre, and others, have had the effect, especially in Germany, of calling into the field many eminent theologians of the opposite party; among whom may be mentioned Baur, Neander, and Nitzsch. No one can peruse the writings of either side without profit; and to Nitzsch's excellent reply to Moehler, in particular, the present writer desires to acknowledge his obligations for some of the profoundest remarks on the opposite systems which this age has produced. A copious table of contents or rather analysis of the workhas been prefixed, which, it is hoped, will also serve the purpose of an index. CONTENTS. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. The Protestant conception of the Church, the natural consequence of the doctrine of justification by faith Historical sketch of the formation of Luther's views on the nature and In the Romish System, the idea of the Church gives a shape to all other doctrines in Protestantism this governing influence belongs to its doc- Hence in the dogmatic systems of the one party, the topic of the Church usually stands first; in those of the other, that of Justification 33, 34 Reasons for deviating, in the present instance, from the ordinary procedure Council of Trent gives no formal definition of the Church Statements of the Romish Catechism Statements of the Protestant confessions. 1. Lutheran. Confession of Augsburg. Observation on Art. 19 of the English Confession. Ar- 2. Reformed. The Helvetic, Scotch, Belgie, Tetrapolitan, and Polish Confessions. Nowel's catechism Summary of Protestant teaching on the subject of the idea of the Church POINTS OF AGREEMENT AND FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM AS REGARDS THE IDEA OF THE CHURCH. Importance of first ascertaining how far the parties are agreed. Instances 1. That the Christian life is essentially a social one. Scriptural notices - 67-69 3. That the Church is a means to bring men to Christ. This evident from the confessional statements on each side. Bellarmin's - - A mere relative difference may give rise to systems of a very opposite Bellarmin's statement of the difference Both parties accept the statements of the three creeds on this article; but 75, 76 Romanists and Protestants differ on the previous question :-What is the 77, 78 In this point lies the principal distinction between the Church system of 79 Nor that of à priori argument. Arguments of this kind, commonly urged Reasons for making the Jewish dispensation the starting point of the in- Reasons of the delay of the Saviour's appearance Preparation for his coming: among heathens negative merely, among Jews The main principle on which the Jewish polity was constructed, that of law. True import of the term legal, as applied to a religious system 87-89 Illustrations of such a system. From political government. From the work Such a system necessarily appeals to the baser motives of our nature 91 The Jewish economy of the nature just described. An external Theocracy The law, when first promulgated, inculcated nothing beyond the national worship of Jehovah, as the tutelary God of the nation This observation, however, applies rather to the form, than to the sub- stance, of the original enactment. Substance of the moral law the same in every age. But to unfold its full meaning was the work of subsequent 96-99 The law worked chiefly, though not exclusively, by the agency of fear Under such a system, a visible symbol of the Divine presence, a consecrated 99, 100 100, 101 Sanctions of the Mosaic covenant exclusively temporal Elementary nature of the Mosaic system accounted for by the imperfect state of religious knowledge among the Jews at that time 102, 103 The same circumstance explains the length of time during which the nation Modern advocates of the Church system here coincide with Rome 106—108 104-106 |