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ICD 13273

HARVARD

COLLEGE
LIBRARY

66 BEYOND THE NARROW SPHERE WITHIN WHICH

THE POWER

AND ACTIONS OF MAN ARE RESTRAINED, IT IS GOD WHO REIGNS

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PREFACE.

MR. GLADSTONE says that revealed religion derives its strength "from the fact that it not merely presents to us a body of abstract truths, but carries with it the executory powers neccessary to procure their acceptance, the vital influences without which we cannot receive, digest, and assimilate these truths."* The true history of our religion must, therefore, consist in tracing the working of these powers, and influences, in successive generations of good men. By excluding from this narrative, so far as is practicable, the consideration of all collateral history, it is not intended to deny that secular public events have an

*

"The State in its Relations with the Church," p. 292.

influence on the progress of the Kingdom of Christ. But the specific task which I have proposed to myself is, to discover and follow the single line of evangelical doctrine and practice. Doubtless, when larger fields of view shall open upon us, and fuller powers of vision, brighter faculties, and larger hearts shall be given to us, we shall perceive how the whole web of worldly affairs, so tangled in appearance now, has been pervaded by the one beautiful design of Divine mercy.

The Papal Church is constructing a biographical history of enormous dimensions. It is framed on the basis of the Romish calendar, and consists of an exhaustive life of every canonized Saint. All the famous libraries of the world have been laid under contribution in order to its accomplishment. For nearly two hundred years, a succession of learned men have given their lives to the task as a religious duty. The Bollandists, the most diligent and devoted compilers, have given a name to the colossal undertaking. It is still progressing; its steps are

measured by decades, and its least utterances are folios. The fresh-looking volume published in 1863

is the continuator of a series of which the first members already bear the venerable hue of past ages.

My aim is vastly more restricted than this, and may well be expressed by the Latin proverb, "Melius est petere fontes, quam sectari rivulos."

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