The Church Member's Guide Author:John Angell James Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. THE GENERAL DUTIES OF CHURCH MEMBERS Ilf THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. I. They should seek to acquire clear and enlarged views of divine truth. ... more » It is a fact which cannot be questioned, that a very large proportion of those whom we believe to be real Christians are mere babes in knowledge. They have just enough instruction to know that they are sinners, and that salvation is all of grace through Christ Jesus. But ask them to state, prove,and defend, in a scriptural manner, any one of the leading doctrines of. the gospel, and you would immediately discover, how contracted is their view, and how feeble is their perception of divine truth. Instead of walking amidst the splendid light and varied scenery of revelation, with the confidence and joy of men whose vision is clear and strong, they are groping along with the fear and hesitation of those who are partially blind. This, in most cases, is their fault, and not their misfortune merely. We are commanded to grow in knowledge ; and the apostle in the following very severe language, reproved the believing Hebrews for their ignorance. " When for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God." After this he exhorts them to leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and go on to perfection. How earnestly, in other parts of his writings, did he supplicate for the churches, an increase of their religious knowledge ! Eph. i. 17, 18. Colos. i. 9. It is very common for ministers to complain that they are almost afraid to ascend to the loftier parts of revealed truth, lest a great portion of their hearers, instead of eagerly following them, should reproach them with ascending to barren and almost inaccessible summits. particular church, but a...« less