A Homiletic and Illustrative Treasury of Religious Thought (Being a New Edition of "Thirty Thousand Thoughts"), Vol. 1

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Excerpt from A Homiletic and Illustrative Treasury of Religious Thought (Being a New Edition of "Thirty Thousand Thoughts"), Vol. 1: Or, Twenty Thousand Choice Extracts, Selected From the Works of All the Great Writers, Ancient and Modern, With Copious IndicesOne author, for instance, with much charming simplicity, confesses how he attempted to build his literary house without a plan, and consequently what after-thoughts and hopeless defects mar his labours. "After a work, " says he, "is finished, imperfections often show themselves where they were hid in the plan and in the process of workmanship." But he tries to console himself with the thought that others beside himself act first and think afterwards. "There are, " continues he, in a slightly cynical and desponding undertone, "however, many who, while they can point out a fault in a work complete, would have made greater faults had they been the workmen in carrying out the design."2. Its Departments.To avoid, then, this radical defect in the construction, an index of subjects was at the outset made, and four leading and more or less clearly defined departments were fixed. These were - 1st. Theology, 2ndly, Scripture, including the Mosaic Economy, and Bible History generally, Biography, Natural History, and Geography, 3rdly, the Church, and, 4thly, Man and the Laws of his Being, including Man's Nature and Constitution, Ethics, Logic, Mental Philosophy, and Sociology, and lastly, the Practical Themes of life. Under these leading departments sections were formed.3. Its Main Sections, its Relief Sections, and its Topics.Under Theology will be found the principal section of Christian Dogmatics. This, in one sense, might have included the whole subject. But "Relief" sections are made to take up certain themes which are best treated as distinct, partly on account of their size and importance, and partly on account of their special nature. Such relief sections are formed as Christian Evidences, Controverted Points, Prophecies, Dreams and Visions, Miracles and Parables, the Divine Attributes, Names and Titles of the Three Persons of the Trinity, figurative appellations of the Church, Ministers, and Saints, also of Satan and the Wicked, as well as Sins and Superstitions.Under Scripture "History" are sections for Leading Events, Sieges, and Conspiracies, for the Tabernacle, Jewish Holy Times and Seasons, Sacrifices, Rites and Ceremonies, and Laws of Purity, and, as connected with Jewish worship, another section is allotted to Musical Instruments. Under Scripture "Biography" are sections for Scripture Characters, both Men, Women, and Children, and also for Sects. Under Scripture "Natural History" are sections for Animals, Birds, Fishes, Insects, and Reptiles, Trees, Plants, and Flowers. Under Scripture "Geography" are sections for Natural Phenomena, Mountains, Valleys, Lakes and Seas, Rivers, Towns and Villages, Earthy Substances and Metals. The Natural History and Geographical sections have been chiefly prepared with a view to the pastoral instruction of younger hearers, but are valuable aids for lectures and incidental pulpit remarks.Under The Church are sections for Church Seasons, Church or Parochial Associations, Liturgical Subjects, Canticles, Hymns, and Ascriptions, as well as Courses of Sermons commonly chosen, such as the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Seven Churches, and the like.Under the title Man are sections relating to his Nature and Constitution, Traits of Character, Responsibility, Actions, Influences, and Motives. There are also furnished other sections dealing, on an extensive scale, with Logical, Metaphysical, and Philosophical terms. And, lastly, some sections are occupied with Sociological subjects, such as Education, Dress, and Social Usages, Periods of Time, Classes and Stages of Life, and a very interesting and practical one illustrating life in its darker, quieter, and...