By Archibald. A. Alexander
Thoughts on Religious Experience.
By Archibald A. Alexander.
About the book: Thoughts on Religious Experience:
The topic of spiritual experience is both intriguing and challenging in Christian literature. It encompasses all aspects of human life from infancy to death and encompasses all emotions and behavior possible in a person who has been transformed by the Holy Spirit. However, adequately addressing this subject requires immense knowledge and expertise from the author. It requires a solid biblical theology, a spiritual mindset, and broad pastoral knowledge to interpret the various types of sanctification and backsliding that occur in human consciousness.
The Chapters in the book:
Chapter 1. Early religious impressions—Different results—Classes of people least impressed—Examples of ineffectual impressions
Chapter 2. Piety in children—Comparatively few renewed in childhood—Soul awakened in different ways—Legal conviction not a necessary part of true religion— Progress of conviction
Chapter 3. The new birth an event of great importance—The evidences of the new birth—Diversities of experience in converts—Examples—Causes of diversity
Chapter 4. Causes of diversity in experience continued—Effect of temperament— Melancholy—Advice to the friends of people thus affected—Illustrative cases—Causes of melancholy and insanity
Chapter 5. Effect of sympathy illustrated—Cautions in relation to this subject—A singular case in illustration
Chapter 6. Erroneous views of regeneration—The correct view—The operation of faith—Exercises of mind, as illustrated in Jonathan Edwards’s Narrative—The operations of faith still further explained
Chapter 7. Considerations on dreams, visions, etc. Remarkable conversion of a blind infidel from hearing the Bible read
Chapter 8. Religious Conversation—Stress laid by some on the knowledge of the time and place of conversion—Religious experience of Halyburton
Chapter 9. Christian experience of R__ C__. Narrative of Sir Richard Hill’s experience
Chapter 10. Imperfect sanctification—The spiritual warfare
Chapter 11. The spiritual conflict—Various exhibitions of it—Evil thoughts
Chapter 12. Growth in grace—Signs of it—Practical directions how to grow in grace
—Hindrances to it
Chapter 13. Backsliding—The backslider restored
Chapter 14. The rich and the poor—The various trials of believers
Chapter 15. Deathbed of the believer
Chapter 16. Remarks on deathbed exercises
Chapter 17. Preparation for death—The state of the soul after death
Chapter 18. A prayer for one who feels that he is approaching the borders of another world
About Archibald Alexander:
Archibald Alexander, a pastor and preacher for twenty years during a revival era, and later a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary for forty years, poured the best wisdom of his life into this volume. Using his own observations and case histories from Christian biography, he masterfully explores the subject. Dr. Theodore Woolsey once called him ‘The Shakespeare of the Christian heart.’ Alexander is primarily concerned with how scriptural truths should impact one’s life and does not rely on vague devotionalism of religious mystics. However, within this biblical context, a wide range of experiences are reviewed, along with practical issues involved in understanding the new birth, Christian growth, spiritual conflict, and related topics.
Looking for a Hardcover or Paperback?
For those who want to have a hardcover or a paperback of this book, I want to suggest you to look here.