THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTIANITY: Book for the Busy. BY WILLIAM LANDELS, MINISTER OF REGENT'S PARK CHAPEL. Second Edition. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. 21 BERNERS STREET. MDCCCLVI. 141. d. 230. PREFACE. FOR the busy, many of whom are said to cherish an aversion to Christianity, because of its supposed hostility to their temporal interests, and, consequently, to the happiness of life, this little book is especially intended. Believing that such a supposition could only be induced by distorted representations of Christianity, the author has sought to supply an antidote by exhibiting Christianity as it is. Feeling assured that its nature furnishes the most convincing evidence of its Divine origin, and that we best secure its reception, when, by a faithful exposition, we give it an opportunity of commending itself, he has attempted to expound, in a general and popular manner, such as seemed best adapted to the class whom he has more particularly in view the peculiar creed of Christianity, its precepts; the representation it gives of, and the change it proposes to effect in, man's spiritual condition; its influence on his earthly life; and its final reward. How imperfect his exposition is, no one can feel more than himself. Powers such as he cannot pretend to would have failed to do justice to the subject, within the limits to which he was confined. And, though his exposition had been much more extended and minute, it must still have come far short of perfection; since it is not more impossible to paint the sun, than for any human representation of Christianity to do justice to the beauty of the original. Still it is due to himself to say, that he has endeavoured to render the representation accurate so far as it extends. To the best of his ability, while restricted by the conditions which he felt it necessary to observe, he has pourtrayed Christianity to others, as it appears to himself. He is not conscious of having attempted to soften any of its features, for the purpose of rendering it less repulsive to human prejudice and depravity. If he has dwelt at greater length on the more pleasing parts of its teaching, the less pleasing have not been lost sight of. This representation is, at least, free from the defects of some, which seek to commend Christianity to the unbelieving by denuding it of its peculiar features; and, with all its imperfections, he is convinced that its candid perusal will not fail to produce, on the mind of the reader, an impression favourable to its subject. To his candour, and to the Divine blessing, the writer now commends his humble effort, thankful for the degree to which it has already proved an instrument of good, and praying that now it may be rendered more extensively useful. |