286 J411 PREFACE. In no spirit of controversy is this volume sent forth. Its aim is not to kindle strife, but to impart truth. Every religious denomination, perhaps, that wields a very extensive influence among men, has a formulated creed. The Mohammedans have their Koran; the Catholics, their long-established ritual; the Episcopalians, their Book of Common Prayer; the Methodists, their Discipline; the Presbyterians, their Confession of Faith; and the Baptists, the Gospel of their Lord. While Baptists have no rule of faith other than the Scriptures, and while they point every inquirer after divine truth to the Word of God as the ground of his belief, it has, nevertheless, been deemed expedient to give prominence to those great truths which sepa rate them, more or less widely, from the rest of mankind. To further this end, an endeavor has been made to secure talent and learning second to none in the denomination. How far the effort has met with success, let others judge. 712397 As to the desirability of such a work, there can be but one opinion among those who love the coming of their Lord, and believe the Gospel of Christ to be the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. The tendency to ignore doctrinal teaching is too sadly prevalent; and hence, the rich instruction contained in the doctrines is lost to many. It is hoped, however, that thousands of Baptists, by reading these pages, may be brought to rejoice in the faith once delivered to the saints, and to realize fully that their creed is from heaven. All the articles, with the exception of two, have been obtained from the authors expressly for this Work. Spurgeon's Sermon on Baptismal Regeneration and Fuller's discourse on Predestination are taken by permission from their published Sermons. If, under the direction and blessing of the Great Head of the Church, this book shall prove the humble means of establishing those whose faith is Scriptural, and of bringing many who are in error to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, the editor will not regret the anxiety it has caused him. FRANKLINTON, N. C., Jan. 1880. C. A. JENKENS. |