An Epitome of Systematic Theology Author:Marcus Smith 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: INTRODUCTION. It is no more than justice to state, that 1 am induced to give to my people this course of lectures on Systematic Theology, from motives which h... more »ave stood the test of long and matured reflection, and which, I trust, will abide the decisions of that day, when 1 must review the spirit in which I have written, and tho influence of my writings on the sentiments and conduct of my fel- loiv creatures. 1 have not entered on this work, with the vain conceit, that my talents and acquisitions are pre-eminent. Nor am I at liberty to conceal from a people, the dearest to me on earth, the beauties which I have discovered in that volume of truth given to us by the Father of lights. I cannot betray so much ignorance of human nature, as to believe that this, or any other production, without the influence of the Spirit, will change the sentiments of him who is so fixed in his opinions, by education or prejudice, by ignorance or interest, as to be impatient of in- vestigation, and the application of sound reasoning and rules of interpretation, to the sacred oracles. To the braced and bigoted mind, an infant in the science of humane nature, knows that scripture reasoning and moral demonstration are as unavailing as the fables of antiquity. I have several objects in view. I wish to exhibit truth as systematic and harmonious; and to show its relations, dependencies and symmetry. I wish to place before the candid and enquiring mind, that faith which was given to the church, and has been perpetuated, without mutilation or corruption; and which will, when cordially embraced, exert an elevating and happy influence on the whole features of the moral affections and religious character. I wish to show, that faith and feeling are inseparably connected; and consequently, that belief is as im...« less