AFTER THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. DISCOURSES BY JAMES MARTINEAU. "Je sais que Dieu a voulu que les vérités divines entrent du cœur dans l'esprit, et PREFACE. A GLANCE at the contents of this Volume will show that it does not fulfil the intentions avowed in the preface to the former volume. It does not refer specially to the Ministry of Christ, or to the Pauline gospel: much less does it pretend to investigate the proper definition of Christianity. The hope of treating these subjects, in a manner at all suitable to my estimate of them, still recedes into the distance. The materials indeed are not wholly unprovided; or I should not have ventured on the pledge which still waits to be redeemed but a growing sense of their inadequacy makes me wonder that I could ever think them worthy of my readers' acceptance; and induces me to withhold them, till the deficiencies can be in some measure supplied. Should the needful leisure never arrive, or should I finally esteem myself not qualified for the task to which, perhaps with presumptuous earnestness, I once aspired, I shall indeed regret my inconsiderate promise, but be clear of reproach for less considerate performance. |