OR THE MOTHER OF OUR LORD. A SERMON ON THE SONG OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A CANDID AND HISTORICAL DISCUSSION OF The Question, "IS MARY TO BE CALLED THE MOTHER OF GOD?" BY CHARLES AUGUSTUS HULBERT, M. A. OF SIDNEY SUSSEX COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, AND FORMERLY TYRWHITT HEBREW AND CROSSE THEOLOGICAL PERPETUAL CURATE OF SLAITHWAITE, YORKSHIRE. LONDON: PUBLISHED BY HENRY WASHBOURNE, 1842. 964. PREFATORY DEDICATION. TO THE VENERABLE CHARLES MUSGRAVE, D.D. ARCHDEACON OF CRAVEN, VICAR OF HALIFAX, AND LATE FELLOW OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. REVEREND AND DEAR SIR, In availing myself of your permission to dedicate to you the following publication, I can only wish that it were more adequate to the subject, and worthier of the sanction of your name. You will at least accept it as an expression of the obligation which I feel for the uniform kindness and courtesy I have experienced at your hands, as well as for the share you have had in the institution of the Crosse Scholarship, which has proved so great an encouragement in the pursuit of Theological learning. The circumstances, moreover, which led to this publication, and which took their origin at a Meet ing over which you presided, are also well known to yourself. And whilst they form an apology for thus troubling one so much occupied for the good of the Church, may justify a retired Presbyter, engaged in a laborious Pastoral Charge, and at a distance from public libraries, in venturing on the field of polemic discussion, with only a few pebbles from the stream of Scripture and antiquity. The following Sermon was preached at the Parish Church of Almondbury, on Thursday, September 15th, 1842; and is published at the desire of several of the Clergy who were present. In acceding to their kind request, I have felt it necessary to be more explicit on the peculiar topic of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, than the limits or objects of a Discourse from the pulpit allowed. I have, therefore, added a disquisition on that subject, in preference to either lengthening the Sermon itself, or embarrassing it with critical notes. I have endeavoured in both compositions to avoid allusions to personal and passing circumstances; and to handle the Theological question on its own merits, with as little as possible of the spirit of controversy. Having remained for some months a spectator of a painful and still protracted conflict, it has appeared to me that each party from the outset laboured under a misapprehension of the other's meaning, in either maintaining or rejecting a doubtful expression" the MOTHER of GOD," as applied to the Holy Virgin. And while peace and unity have been broken for its sake, the real limits of truth and heresy, for which either party is equally zealous, have not been defined. It will give me the sincerest pleasure, if, as I am encouraged to hope, I am able to remove any misunderstanding among brethren on this mysterious subject, by the elucidation of Catholic and Evangelical doctrine and language; and thereby promote the great ends for which the Son of GOD became incarnate," Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." I beg to remain, Reverend and dear Sir, Your very faithful and obliged servant, Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield, November 14th, 1842. C. A. HULBERT. |