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

Professor Park's Serm[n.
must of course be different. Every Christian is familiar with
this fact. He knows what it is to contemplate the divine perfections, for the purpose of understanding them, and to mediate on them to appreciate their excellence and feel their power. He sometimes is called on to form a clear idea of what the
Bible teaches of the constitution of Christ's person, or the nature of his work; but much more frequently his mind turns
towards the Son of God clothed in our nature, to behold his
glory, to rejoice in his divine excellence, and amazing condescension and love. In all such cases, the intellectual apprehension is the same. It is the very truth and the very same
form of that truth which is arrived at, by a careful exegesis,
which is the subject of devout meditation. A Christian does
not understand the Bible in one way when he reads it as a
critic, and in another way when he reads for spiritual edificationI. His thoughts of God and Christ when endeavouring to
discover the truth revealed concerning them, are the same as
when he is engaged in acts of worship. Nay more, the clearer
and more extended this speculative knowledge, the brighter
and more undisturbed is the spiritual vision, other things being
equal One man may indeed be a better theologian but a less
devout Christian than another; but the devout Christian is
only the more devout with every increase in the clearness and
consistency of his intellectual apprehensions. It may be
further admitted, that the language of speculation is different
from the language of emotion; that the terms employed in
defining a theological truth, are not always those which would
be naturally employed in setting forth that truth as the object
of the affections. But these representations are always consistent. All hymns to Christ express precisely the same doctrine concerning his person, that is found in the Athanasian
creed. The same remarks may be made in reference to all
departments of theology. The doctrines concerning the condition of men by nature, of their relation to Adam; of their
redemption through Christ; of the work of God's Spirit; may
be examined either to be understood or to be felt. But in
every case it is the truth as understood that is felt. The understanding does not take one view and the feelings a different; the former does not pronounce for plenary power, and
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