An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine

I have said above, that, whereas all great ideas are found, as time goes on, to involve much which was not seen at first to belong to them, and have developments, that is enlarg...

1. If Christianity is a fact, and impresses an idea of itself on our minds and is a subject-matter of exercises of the reason, that idea will in course of time expand into a mul...

It follows now to inquire how much evidence is actually producible for those large portions of the present Creed of Christendom, which have not a recognized place in the primord...

I have been engaged in drawing out the positive and direct argument in proof of the intimate connexion, or rather oneness, with primitive Apostolic teaching, of the body of doct...

It appears then that there has been a certain general type of Christianity in every age, by which it is known at first sight, differing from itself only as what is young differs...

Christianity has been long enough in the world to justify us in dealing with it as a fact in the world's history. Its genius and character, its doctrines, precepts, and objects...

Since religious systems, true and false, have one and the same great and comprehensive subject-matter, they necessarily interfere with one another as rivals, both in those point...

It seems, then, that we have to deal with a case something like the following: Certain doctrines come to us, professing to be Apostolic, and possessed of such high antiquity tha...

It is the characteristic of our minds to be ever engaged in passing judgment on the things which come before us. No sooner do we apprehend than we judge: we allow nothing to sta...

It has been set down above as a fifth argument in favour of the fidelity of developments, ethical or political, if the doctrine from which they have proceeded has, in any early...

It is the general pretext of heretics that they are but serving and protecting Christianity by their innovations; and it is their charge against what by this time we may surely...

Logical Sequence has been set down above as a fourth test of fidelity in development, and shall now be briefly illustrated in the history of Christian doctrine. That is, I mean...

We have arrived at length at the seventh and last test, which was laid down when we started, for distinguishing the true development of an idea from its corruptions and perversi...

[17:2] "Levia sunt," says Maran in his defence, "quæ in Sanctissimam Trinitatem hic liber peccare dicitur, paulo graviora quæ in mysterium Incarnationis."--_Div. Jes. Christ._ p...

Genuine Developments contrasted with Corruptions 169 Section 1. First Note of a genuine Development of an Idea: Preservation of its Type 171 Section 2. Second Note: Continuity o...

Instances in Illustration 122 Section 1. Instances cursorily noticed 123 § 1. Canon of the New Testament 123 § 2. Original Sin 126 § 3. Infant Baptism 127 § 4. Communion in one...

Application of the First Note of a true Development to the Existing Developments of Christian Doctrine: Preservation of its Type 207 Section 1. The Church of the First Centuries...

The Antecedent Argument in behalf of Developments in Christian Doctrine 55 Section 1. Developments to be expected 55 Section 2. An infallible Developing Authority to be expected...

Application of the Second: Continuity of its Principles 323 § 1. Principles of Christianity 323 § 2. Supremacy of Faith 326 § 3. Theology 336 § 4. Scripture and its Mystical Int...

Application of the Fifth: Anticipation of its Future 400 § 1. Resurrection and Relics 401 § 2. The Virgin Life 407 § 3. Cultus of Saints and Angels 410 § 4. Office of the Blesse...