The GOSPEL TRUTH

 

Lectures Entitled:

POPULAR CHRISTIANITY

By

CATHERINE BOOTH

1887

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION

IN committing these addresses to the press, I would like to say to my readers that although for months after their delivery I was continually pressed to publish them by many of my hearers, I steadily refused, chiefly because I feared that in cold type they might produce an impression of censoriousness, which was not possible when, as I believe, assisted by the Spirit of God, I dealt with my hearers face to face on these burning topics.

During my late illness, I became deeply convinced that it was my duty to let these utterances, such as they are, go forth irrespective of consequences, in the hope of reaching a greater number of persons similarly circumstanced with those to whom they were originally spoken, many of whom professed to have received great personal blessing, with increased light and power for usefulness.

Having come to this conclusion, I submitted the MSS. to my friend Commissioner Railton, who not only strongly urged me to publish them, but favoured me with some most valuable suggestions and emendations.

May He whose kingdom and glory alone I seek fill every reader with grace to receive whatever truth he may find in these pages applicable to himself in the love of it.

CATHERINE BOOTH LONDON, July, 1887

LECTURE I:

THE CHRISTS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY COMPARED WITH THE CHRIST OF GOD -- FALSE CHRISTS -- THE CHRIST OF GOD.

FIRST: THE CHRIST OF GOD IS DIVINE.

SECOND: THE CHRIST OF GOD OFFERED HIMSELF AS A SACRIFICE FOR THE SIN OF MAN.

THIRD: THE CHRIST OF GOD IS AN ACCEPTED SACRIFICE.

FOURTH: THE CHRIST OF GOD IS AN EMBODIMENT OF HIS FATHER'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.

FIFTH: THE CHRIST OF GOD CLAIMS TO BE THE SOVEREIGN OF ALL WHOM HE SAVES.

 

LECTURE II:

A MOCK SALVATION AND A REAL DELIVERANCE FROM SIN -- DELIVERANCE FROM SIN.

FIRST: SALVATION IMPLIES RESTORATION.

SECOND: SALVATION IMPLIES PRESERVATION.

THIRD: THE SALVATION OF GOD EMBRACES ALSO GLORIFICATION.

 

LECTURE III:

SHAM COMPASSION AND THE DYING LOVE OF CHRIST -- THE SHAM COMPASSION

THE FIRST SCHEME

FIRST: WE HAVE THE EDUCATIONALISTS.

SECOND: NEXT THIS LIST, FOR THE REGENERATION OF SOCIETY, WE HAVE THE HOUSE-BUILDERS.

THIRDLY: NEXT COMES THE TOTAL ABSTINENCE PLAN FOR THE SALVATION OF THE PEOPLE.

FOURTHLY: ANOTHER SCHEME OF TEMPORAL SALVATION MAY BE REPRESENTED AS RESCUING WORK.

FIFTHLY: ANOTHER PLAN OF TEMPORAL SALVATION IS THE PROVIDING FOR NEEDY CHILDREN.

SIXTH: ANOTHER SCHEME, PERHAPS THE LOWEST OF THESE MATERIAL SYSTEMS OF SALVATION, IS THE FEEDING SYSTEM.

THE SECOND SCHEME

FIRST COMES UNIVERSALISM.

SECOND IN THIS SCHEME COMES WHAT I SHALL DESIGNATE AS THE ALL LOVE THEORY.

THIRD. NEXT IN THIS CATALOGUE OF MODERN SALVATIONS COMES THE THEORY OF DOUBT.

FOURTH. "THE CHRISTIAN FREE-THINKERS" NEXT CLAIM OUR ATTENTION.

THE DYING LOVE OF CHRIST.

FIRST: BY ITS CLEAR PERCEPTION OF THE WORST FEATURE OF MAN'S CONDITION.

SECOND: CHRIST'S COMPASSION IS DISTINGUISHED FROM ALL OTHER COMPASSIONS BY ITS PLAIN, CUTTING, PERSONAL DEALING.

THIRD: CHRIST'S COMPASSION WAS IN DIRECT CONTRAST WITH ALL MERE HUMAN BENEVOLENCE IN ITS "OTHER WORLDLINESS."

FOURTH: CHRIST'S COMPASSION STANDS OUT IN ITS SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP.

FIFTH: THE COMPASSION OF JESUS IS YET FURTHER DISTINGUISHED BY ITS DIVINE FAITH, AND HOPE, AND ACTION.

SIXTH: THE COMPASSION OF JESUS IS FURTHER DISTINGUISHED BY HIS EVER GOING STRAIGHT TO THE ONE END.

SEVENTH: THE COMPASSION OF JESUS STANDS OUT IN CONTRAST WITH ALL OTHER IN ITS DEVOTION UNTO DEATH.

 

LECTURE IV:

POPULAR CHRISTIANITY: ITS COWARDLY SERVICE vs. THE REAL WARFARE

THE REAL WARFARE.

FIRST: CHRIST'S SOLDIERS MUST BE IMBUED WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE WAR.

SECONDLY: THE SOLDIERS OF CHRIST MUST BE ABANDONED TO THE WAR.

THIRD: CHRIST'S SOLDIERS MUST UNDERSTAND THE TACTICS OF WAR.

FOURTH: THE SOLDIERS OF CHRIST MUST BELIEVE IN VICTORY.

 

LECTURE V:

THE SHAM JUDGMENT IN CONTRAST WITH THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

THE SHAM JUDGMENT

THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT WHITE THRONE.

 

LECTURE VI:

HOUSEHOLD GODS

GOD OF FASHION.

THE GOD OF GAIN

GOD OF EDUCATION.

 

LECTURE VII:

THE SALVATION ARMY FOLLOWING CHRIST:

BY COMMISSIONER RAILTON

 

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