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(5) [centered]
III How is it that Cs [Christ's] docts [doctrines] have power to evince themselves?
1. All religious truth have a self-com -mending power. Minds are made for truth – they have nat. [natural] relish for it – & when we are honest – we shall love it & do it.
Bible truths challenge our respect – security – obedience – our admiration – our love –!
2. Bible truths – when practiced – tend to make holy – Christlike – & are therefore of G. [God] – None reject them but those who wish to live in sin.
3. These truths cheer, – support, – sustain in every dark hour – & as such Xs. [Christians] cling to them as friends, supporters, deliverers. Never can give them up – never will part with them. (E. G. Peasant & Sophist. [Sophisticate])
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(6) [centered]
Men who have esoteric kn. [knowledge] of Gs [God's] truth, are never in fear & doubt & trembling – they have felt – they know. They have their hearts assured; they are unmoved can bide their time.
Error is always taking alarm – Ever anxious Ever distressed – Ever keeping in trepidation. Most listen patiently to what they – dislike – & even are obliged to prop themselves by going to their oracles – True is it – "Truth crushed to the earth."
4. Doing will of God he puts himself in good posture to get increasing light, & kn. [knowledge] of God's word & will – God's face shines on – there is a peace, a sunshine in his heart – his eye is single – & darkness & doubt flee away ~
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1. One test of true truth of Bible in first thing –
2. This is full mode of testing systems of doctrine
Effort to obey G. [God] best way to learn Bible ~
3. Are saying my hearers ready to make the Experiment Jesus proposes? No one has done it & doubted his religion Doesn't require great learning to be a Xn [Christian].
(vertical text)
At an Ecclesiastical Council convened by letter improve for persons in the South part of Malden deps on je to be forced into a Congregational Church, & assembly in the hall of the South West School, house in Malden, Mass 10 & 8 Le 8, were pressure, from the old South Al it on
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[written vertically across sermon notes] The Council was organized by the doc. [doctrine], It was opened with prayer by & lead
I Something to be done (a) Not simply to specu-late coolly about doc's [doctrines]
(b) Not to admit them to his intellect alone.
(c) But to perform the will of God in every form of wh. [which] we have mold any kn [knowledge] – or can have ~ II Shall know &c [etc.] 1 Familiarly Practically
2 In adaptation & beauty, Practically –
3 In fullness & Efficacy. Satisfactorily – Jesus to be lead, fitted to mans nat [nature] & condition but an honest mind – and right heart ~
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c This extends to each person It consists in the reigning power of disobed [disobedience] – to God – setting as naught his authority – & refusing to yield him supreme love & service.
IV. When does this begin – Dont [Don't] know precisely – but this we do know – often very early – surely not till intelligence enough to do evil. diff. [different] perhaps in individuals – if grace of God supreme not – begins with first mor [moral] action – certainly – not necessity of it.
V. What the extent of this mor. [moral] perverseness = depravity ~
(a) To all the inivid's [individuals] of the race – (xeps) [exceptions]
(b) To all the mor. [moral] char. [character] of each individ. [individual] One sin separates from God – a wrong purpose makes heart all wrong –