Book Description

The sermons which make up this volume were spoken in the Church of the Messiah during the season of 1897-98. They are printed as delivered - not as literature, but for the sake of preaching to a larger congregation than can be reached on Sunday morning. "Contains sermons given in the Church of the Messiah during the first year of Dr. Savage's pastorate in New York. They are characterized by the qualities which have made him an attractive and influential preacher. The constructive purpose which underlies the incisive criticisms of orthodox formularies appears in the claim that 'we liberals of the modern world are the ones who come nearer to preaching the gospel of Christ than any other part of the so-called Christian Church." -New Outlook "Another of the volumes in which the accomplished and courageous preacher discusses the various leading questions of religion in the light of modern science and criticism. Probation, atonement, prayer, worship, evolution, are some of the subjects taken up; and in the chapter entitled 'Why Are Not All Educated People Unitarians?' he presses very energetically the inquiry why all men do not look at these subjects in the modern way. There is no man in the American pulpit who is exercising greater influence than Mr. Savage in the directions here indicated, and this new work is one of the best and most compendious volumes he has given us." -New England Magazine "He is an evolutionist, and shows the influence of such men as Darwin and Spencer in his sermons. His chief characteristic is a rare combination of poetic gifts with a mind that is keenly logical....Rev. M. J. Savage has devoted the last quarter century of his life to the work of harmonizing science and religion." -Boston Home Journal CONTENTS. UNITARIANISM "WHAT DO YOU IN PLACE OF WHAT YOU TAKE AWAY?" ARE THERE ANY CREEDS WHICH IT IS WICKED FOR US TO QUESTION? WHY HAVE UNITARIANS NO CREED? THE REAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS DISCUSSION DOUBT AND FAITH - BOTH IS LIFE A PROBATION ENDED BY DEATH? SIN AND ATONEMENT PRAYER, AND COMMUNION WITH GOD THE WORSHIP OF GOD MORALITY NATURAL, NOT STATUTORY REWARD AND PUNISHMENT THINGS WHICH DOUBT CANNOT DESTROY EVOLUTION LOSES NOTHING OF VALUE TO MAN WHY ARE NOT ALL EDUCATED PEOPLE UNITARIANS? WHERE IS THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH?