Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ... ADDRESS--REV. J. L. DILLARD, D.D. "The Distinctive Doctrine* which form the Theological Basil upon which our Denomination uxu Organized." Dear Brethren: --With much hesitation and self-distrust, I accepted the part assigned me by the committee appointed by the last General Assembly to prepare a programme for the celebration of the semi-centennial General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The part assigned me was to pronounce a discourse upon the doctrines which impelled the founders of this Church to organize a distinctive denomination. Tn preparing such a discourse I found it impossible, within the limit of the time prescribed, after condensing the subject and cutting off all extraneous matter, to present anything like a full discussion of these doctrines. 1 shall, however, attempt, by Divine assistance, to set forth these doctrines in close connection with some of those taught in the Westminster Confession of Faith. Bearing upon my head the frosts of eighty-seven winters, my physical weakness, indistinctness of articulation ana slowness of utterance, will make an appeal to your patience and forbearance, which I feel assured the tender hearts of my brethren will most readily accord. Dear brethren, I love the Church of my early choice as my ecclesiastical home. This attachment began sixty-eight years ago, and from that until the present it has suffered no abatement. But my love stops not here: I love the catholic, the universal, Church of Christ, and first of all, love Him, I trust, who purchased it . 2 Cor., Ch. iv. Vkrsb 13: "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it ia written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak." This text includes a quotation from the 116th Psalm. It...