MODERN DOUBT AND CHRISTIAN BELIEF. A Series of Apologetic Lectures addressed to BY THEODORE CHRISTLIEB, D.D., UNIVERSITY PREACHER AND PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY AT BONN. BLIC TRANSLATED, WITH THE AUTHOR'S SANCTION, CHIEFLY BY AND EDITED BY THE REV. T. L. KINGSBURY, M.A., VICAR OF EASTON ROYAL, AND RURAL DEAN. Fourth Edition, EDINBURGH: T. & T. CLARK, 38, GEORGE STREET. BOD TAN EDITOR'S NOTE. HE following translation is in part the work of Mr. G. THE H. Venables (translator of Schmid's Biblical Theology of the New Testament), and in greater measure that of the Rev. H. U. Weitbrecht,—the four last Lectures, and the last section (B) of Lecture IV. (from p. 266), having been translated by him. Mr. Weitbrecht, who has just received Deacon's orders in the diocese of Chester, studied for some years in Germany, and being the author's brother-in-law, and former pupil, has throughout been favoured with Professor Christlieb's special sanction and assistance, which have also been extended to other parts of the work. For the objects mainly kept in view in successive portions of this important Treatise, and for some changes made in the present translation, which may almost be regarded as a third edition of the original work, the reader is referred to the author's own account of them in the follow ing Preface. In addition to what is there said, the reader's attention may also be invited to the valuable Exposition of the Scriptural Doctrine of the Trinity in Section A (pp. 244265) of the Fourth Lecture. T. L K PREFACE. (OON after the appearance of the Second Edition (considerably enlarged) of the German original of these Lectures,' I received inquiries from various quarters, both in the United Kingdom and in America, requesting my permission for their translation into English. These inquiries convinced me that, though calculated in the first instance to meet the special needs of thinking people in Germany, my work might yet prove useful, and supply a want that was sensibly felt elsewhere. Nothing, indeed, can be more evident than that there is everywhere in the present day a certain community of interests in the ranks both of Christianity and Unbelief,-no noteworthy production appearing anywhere now on either side without soon being made, by means of translations, the common property of like-minded readers in all languages. We all know too well how much injury German Rationalism and Infidelity have done to the cause of Christ in other lands. It seems, therefore, to be a special obligation resting on faithful. orthodox theologians in Germany to endeavour to extend their influence beyond the limits of their own Fatherland, and to show to Christian students in other countries what weapons and tactics they have found most useful in repelling the assaults of Unbelief among themselves. In the present instance I had, moreover, peculiar motives for encouraging and aiding an English translation of my book. It is now ten years ago (the winter of 1863-4), that, being then pastor of the German congregation in Islington, I delivered (at the Albion Hall, London Wall) my first series of public lectures in defence of Christianity. These lectures were addressed to the educated Germans of London generally, and a portion of the groundwork of the present series was laid in that early Moderne Zweifel am Christlichen Glauben. Bonn: A. Marcus, 1870 |