The Project Gutenberg eBook, Westminster Sermons, by Charles Kingsley

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Westminster Sermons
with a Preface

Author: Charles Kingsley

Release Date: May 10, 2006 [eBook #18369]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WESTMINSTER SERMONS***

Transcribed from the 1881 Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price,
ccx074@pglaf.org

WESTMINSTER SERMONS.

WITH A PREFACE.

BY
CHARLES KINGSLEY.

London:
MACMILLAN AND CO.
1881.

_The Right of Translation is Reserved_.

PREFACE.

I venture to preface these Sermons--which were preached either at
Westminster Abbey, or at one of the Chapels Royal--by a Paper read at
Sion College, in 1871; and for this reason. Even when they deal with
what is usually, and rightly, called "vital" and "experimental" religion,
they are comments on, and developments of, the idea which pervades that
paper; namely--That facts, whether of physical nature, or of the human
heart and reason, do not contradict, but coincide with, the doctrines and
formulas of the Church of England, as by law established.

* * * * *

Natural Theology, I said, is a subject which seems to me more and more
important; and one which is just now somewhat forgotten. I therefore
desire to say a few words on it. I do not pretend to teach: but only to
suggest; to point out certain problems of natural Theology, the further
solution of which ought, I think, to be soon attempted.

I wish to speak, be it remembered, not on natural religion, but on
natural Theology. By the first, I understand what can be learned from
the physical universe of man's duty to God and to his neighbour; by the
latter, I understand what can be learned concerning God Himself. Of
natural religion I shall say nothing. I do not even affirm that a
natural religion is possible: but I do very earnestly believe that a
natural Theology is possible; and I earnestly believe also that it is
most important that natural Theology should, in every age, keep pace with
doctrinal or ecclesiastical Theology.

Bishop Butler certainly held this belief. His _Analogy of Religion_,
_Natural a