BY DR. AUGUSTUS NEANDER, ORDINARY PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN, Translated from the Third Edition of the Original German, BY J. E. RYLAND. COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME. PHILADELPHIA: JAMES M. CAMPBELL & CO., 98 CHESTNUT STREET. SAXTON & MILES, 205 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 1844. 97. 11-28-1923 TO THE RIGHT REVEREND DR. F. EHRENBERG, ROYAL CHAPLAIN, MEMBER OF THE SUPREME CONSISTORY, ETC., ETC. MY DEEPLY REVERED AND VERY DEAR FRIend, I trust you will receive this work with all its defects as the offering of a sincere heart; as a small token of my cordial veneration and love, and of that sincere gratitude which I have long felt impelled to express, for the edification I have derived from your discourses. May a gracious God long allow you to labour and shine among us for the welfare of his church, with that holy energy which he has bestowed upon you, with the spirit of Christian wisdom and freedom, the spirit of true freedom exalted above all the strife of human parties,-which the Son of God alone bestows, and which is especially requisite for the guidance of the church in our times, agitated and distracted as they are by so many conflicts! This is the warmest wish of one who with all his heart calls himself yours. Thus I wrote on the 22d of May, 1832, and after six years I again repeat with all my heart, the words expressive of dedication, of gratitude, and of devout wishes to the Giver of all perfect gifts. Since that portion of time (not unimportant in our agitated age) has passed away, I have to thank you, dear and inmostly revered man, for many important words of edification and instruction, which I have received from your lips in public, as well as for the precious gift* which has often administered refreshment to myself and others. Yes, with all my heart I agree with those beautiful sentiments which form the soul of your discourses, and bind me with such force to your person. God grant that we may ever humbly and faithfully hold fast the truth which does not seek for reconciliation amidst contrarieties, but is itself unsought the right mean. God grant (what is far above all theological disputations,) that the highest aim of our labours may be to produce the image of Christ in the souls of men, that to our latest breath we may keep this object in view without wavering, fast bound to it in true love, each one in his own sphere, unmoved by the vicissitudes of opinion and the collisions of party! Let me add as a subordinate wish, that you would soon favour us with a volume of discourses, to testify of this "one thing that is needful.” BERLIN, 30th May, 1838. A. NEANDER. From the fulness of my heart I once more repeat the wishes and thanks before expressed, and rejoice that it is in my power to dedicate the third edition of this work to you, my inmostly dear and revered friend. BERLIN, 2d August, 1841. A. NEANDER. * Alluding probably to a volume of Sermons already published.—TR. |