Historical Theology 
		Perspectives on the Christian Faith         
    This section is devoted to excerpts and articles by various authors who 
	have presented important observations on the Christian Faith, or analyses of 
	historical theological writings or theological perspectives.  Since there are many 
	sites on the web that contain the full text of many historical writings, 
	those presented here will normally be limited to short excerpts that have 
	particular relevance to ongoing discussions in the various forums, are not 
	easily available elsewhere, or are presented in digested or edited form to 
	make them more readable. See below for links to 
	additional resources.           
    
		John Wesley's sermon, “On a Catholic Spirit,” in 
		which he appeals for unity among Christians even when they differ on 
		non-essential points of doctrine; edited into modern English. 
		
		A concise description by John Wesley of what he 
		understood to be the ideal "shape" of the Christian life, as well as to 
		defend against unjust criticism.           
    
		 An excerpt from John Wesley's "Preface" to Sermons on 
		Several Occasions, 1771, dealing with conflicts between Christians. 
		
		 John Wesley's response to critics who had accused 
		him of heresy because he had expanded on James Arminius' idea of free 
		grace, which rejected the classic Calvinistic doctrine of 
		predestination.           
    
		An excerpt from The Institutes of the Christian 
		Religion (Book 4, Chapter 16) in which John Calvin defends the 
		practice of infant baptism, especially against the objections of the 
		Anabaptists and the position of believers-only baptism. 
		
		Excerpts from two letters written by C. S. Lewis in 
		which he discusses the nature of Scripture, especially in relation to 
		the issue of inerrancy.           
    
		       
    An article by Catherine Booth, co-founder of the Salvation Army, defending 
	the right and responsibility of women in ministry. 
	
		       
    A reference archive of creeds and confessions of the Christian Faith from 
	all periods of Church History, including the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian 
	Creed, the Scot's Confession, the Lutheran and Heidelberg Catechism, 
	Documents of Vatican 2, as well 
	as the Articles of Faith of a few modern denominations. 
		
		
		       
    An extensive archive of writings of the Ante-Nicene, Nicene, and Post-Nicene 
	Fathers from Clement of Rome to Gregory the Great; provided by the Christian 
	Classics Ethereal Library of Calvin College.          
    	-Dennis Bratcher, Copyright ©        
    2018, Dennis 
	Bratcher, All Rights Reserved           
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