The Expulsive Power Of A New Affection

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By Thomas Chalmers on January 1, 2010 ,

The Expulsive Power Of A New Affection

THERE are two ways in which a practical moralist may attempt to displace from the human heart its love of the world - either by a demonstration of the world's vanity, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it; or, by setting forth another object, even God, as more worthy of its attachment, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon not to resign an old affection, which shall have nothing to succeed it, but to exchange an old affection for a new one.

My purpose is to show, that from the constitution of our nature, the former method is altogether incompetent and ineffectual and that the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart from the wrong affection that domineers over it. After having accomplished this purpose, I shall attempt a few practical observations...

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Thomas Chalmers

Professor of Theology

Thomas Chalmers, Professor of Theology, (1780-1847) held the divinity chair in the University of Edinburgh. At the age of nineteen Chalmers received his license to preach from the University of St. Andrews. After two years of studying mathematics and chemistry he accepted the vacant chair of assistant to the professor of mathematics at St. Andrews. In 1813, his article on Christianity appeared in the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, and his review was published of Cuvier's Essay on the Theory of the Earth. In 1832 he published his Political Economy, and his contribution to the Bridgewater Treatises, On the Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Constitution of Man. His posthumous works include Daily Scripture Readings and Sabbath Scripture Readings.

 

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