The Theology of the Intellect and that of the Feelings. By Edwards A. Park. [pp. 642-674]

Professor Park's Sermon.
sort. We only say that this undue dissevering the human
faculties underlies his whole doctrine, and is implied in the
theory which he has advanced. Both scripture and conscious ness teach that the soul is an unit; that its activity is one
life. The one rational soul apprehends, feels and determines.
It is not one faculty that apprehends, another that feels, and
another that determines. Nor can you separate in the com plex states of mind of which we are every moment conscious,
the feeling from the cognition. From the very nature of af fection in a rational being, the intellectual apprehension of its
object, is essential to its existence. You cannot eliminate the
intellectual element, and leave the feeling. The latter is but
an attribute of the former, as much as form or colour is an
attribute of bodies. It is impossible therefore that what is
true to the feelings should be false to the intellect. It is impossible that a man should have the feeling (i. e. the consciousnhss) of inability to change his own heart, and yet the conviction that he has the requisite power. The mind cannot
exist in contradictory states at the same time. Men may
indeed pass from one state to another. They may sometimes
speak under the influence of actual experience; and sometimes
under the guidance of a speculative theory; and such utterances may be in direct conflict. But then the contradiction
is real and not merely apparent. The intellectual conviction
expressed in the one state, is the direct reverse of that expressed in the other. These are the vacillations of fallible
men, whose unstable judgments are determined by the varying conditions of their minds.' We have known men educated
under the influence of a sceptical philosophy, who have becomo
sincere Christians. Their conversion was of course, a supernatural process, involving a change of faith as well as feeling.
But as this change was not effected by a scientific refutation of their former opinions, but by the demonstration of the
Spirit revealing to them the truth and power of the gospel;
when the hearts of such men grow cold, their former sceptical
views rise before them in all their logical consistence, and
demand assent to their truth, which for the time is reluctantly
yielded, though under a solemn protest of the conscience.
When the Spirit returns revealing Christ, these demons of
VOLE. XX.-NO. IV. 43
1850.]
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