during the Diet. Testimony of other Reformers, Aurifaber, Spalatin. Testimony of the Romish Refutation of the Augsburg Confession. Internal evidence from the Augsburg Confession itself. Separate captions and articles for Mass and the Lord's Supper. The two kept distinct in Melancthon's translation; if you exchange the words the articles make nonsense. The Romanists understood the Confession to mean mass proper. Melancthon in the Apology to the Confession so understands it. Refutation of the proofs. Reference to the author's former works, the Popular Theology, the History of the American Lutheran Church.
CHAPTER VI.
PRIVATE CONFESISONAND ABSOLUTION.....97 Import of the phrase. Dr. Funck's early Lutheran Directories for Worship. Formularies for private Confession and Absolution, Luther's, that of Wolfgang, &c., in 1557. Proof that this rite is inculcated in the Augsburg Confession. Siegel, Prof. Jacobsen. Augsburg Confession admits the want of Scripture authority for it. God alone can forgive sin.
CHAPTER VII.
DENIAL OF THE DIVINE INSTITUTION AND OBLIGATION OF THE CHRISTIAN SABBATH.....107 Proofs of the Charge, Drs. Rucker, Hengstenberg, Walter, Murdock. Ground taken by the Plea. The same opinion taught by Luther in his Commentary, Larger Catechism, &c., and by Melancthon, in Loci Communes, or system of Divinity, &c., in Augsburg Confession, and in his Apology to it.
CHAPTER VIII.
GENERAL NATURE OF THE SACRAMENTAL INFLUENCE.....121 Doctrine of the Plea-not fully developed. Scriptural view of Sacramental Influence. Man a sinner by nature and practice, Divine truth the grand instrumentality of the Spirit in our spiritual renovation. The stage of progress in this renovation, morally requisite for pardon, is that of living faith, or entire surrender to God. Evidence of this pardon or justification, is internal; peace, love, joy, testimony of the Spirit, fruits of the Spirit, and not any outward rite-Sacraments therefore only mediate and not immediate conditions of pardon-proofs, Mosheim, Reinhard, Knapp.
CHAPTER IX.
BAPTISMAL REGENERATION.....135 Is taught in Symbolical books and by the Reformers and early Theologians, Hunnius, Gerhard, Buddeus. Influence of this doctrine on the pulpit-proofs against it.
CHAPTER X.
THE LORD'S SUPPER.....148 Extracts from the Symbols. Arguments. Supposed Sin-forgiving Power of the Eucharist.
CHAPTER XI.....
155 EXORCISM. Altered interpretation of this rite. Proofs that it was regarded as symbolic and was practised in different parts of the Lutheran Church. Testimony of Drs. Guericke, Koellner, Baumgarten-Crusius, Augusti, Siegel, Sigismund, Baumgarten. At some periods regarded as a test of orthodoxy.
CHAPTER XII.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.....161 What is our duty under these circumstances? Erroneous reasonings of the rigid Lutherans. Four different remedies considered--the true one.
APPENDIX.....169
EXAMINATION OF THE LUTHERAN SYMBOLS.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
Religious controversy, though it often degenerates from that calm and dignified character, which it should ever sustain as a mutual search after truth, seems sometimes to be necessary and proper. It springs out of the nature of that moral evidence, never amounting to demonstration, by which religious doctrines are sustained, and from the fact, that whilst the word of God reveals what is necessary to salvation with entire distinctness, it leaves undecided, or to be deduced from clearer passages of Scripture, many points which are both interesting and important, as well as naturally sought for by the constitutional, systematizing tendencies of the human mind. Discussions on such topics of practical utility, are alike pleasing to God and beneficial to the church, if conducted in a Christian spirit, and if the parties have truth and not victory for their aim. Truth is the will of God, exhibited in the diversified creations of his hand, either physical, intellectual, or moral, and the revelations of his word, correctly apprehended by the human mind. Since truth, therefore, is of God, it need fear no investigation. The divinity that is in it, will secure its ultimate triumph. Though it may for a season be obscured, or crushed to earth by passion, prejudice, or irresponsible authority, it will sooner or later assert its rights, and secure the homage of all upright minds. No friend of truth should dread impartial investigation. If he has unconsciously imbibed erroneous opinions, he will thus be conducted to the truth; and if his views are correct, they will be confirmed by investigation. "Eternal vigilance has been styled the price of civil 'liberty;'" and to "search the Scriptures daily," to "prove all things and hold fast that which is good," is the grand safeguard of religious truth and ecclesiastical purity. No new enterprise of Christian benevolence has ever been achieved, no reformation of established institutions or doctrines ever been accomplished in the church of Christ, without discussion and controversy either oral or written; because error when assailed by the truth, will always make more or less resistance. The life of the greatest moral hero of the sixteenth century, to whom Christianity is so hugely indebted, was almost entirely expended in controversial efforts; and even the mild and peace-loving Melancthon, though he advised his aged mother not to trouble herself about religious controversies, himself felt it his duty to
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