The Greatest Thing in the World and Other Addresses
Drummond’s Addresses
Henry Drummond, Author
Hurst and Company, New York, Publishers
Scripture Texts:
1 Corinithians 13
1 Peter 4:8
1 John 4:8
Romans 13:10
Exodus 20
Look back in time and read a Christian inspirational book from the turn of the 20th century. Henry Drummond (1851-1897), brilliant scholar, was also a devout Christian and member the Free Church of Scotland, known today as the United Free Church of Scotland.
Within in his brief life he wrote several important Christian books, one being Natural Law in the Spiritual World about the relationship between the physical and spiritual worlds. What is evident in Henry Drummond’s writings is the love he felt for all people through his devotion and love for Jesus Christ.
Drummond’s Addresses is Christian inspirational writing through and through, and with just a little understanding of language not in use today, readers will find the text just as inspirational as it was over 100 years ago.
The book begins with the Holy Bible’s 1 Corinthians 13 chapter divided into three pages. I believe this gives time for thought on each of the three sections. Then follows the four writings of the books first section, the first of which I quote here.
The Greatest Thing in the World
Henry Drummond, author
Every one has asked himself the great question of antiquity as the of the modern world: What is the summum bonum — the supreme good? You have life before you. Once only you can live it. What is the noblest object of desire, the supreme gift to covet? We have been accustomed to be told that the greatest thing in the religious world is Faith. That great word has been the keynote for centuries of the popular religion; and we have easily learned to look upon it as the greatest thing in the world.
Well, we are wrong. If we have been told that we may miss the mark. I have taken you, in the chapter which I have just read (1 Cor 13), to Christianity at its source and there we have seen, “The greatest of these is love.” It is not an oversight. Paul was speaking of faith just a moment before. He says, “If I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” So far from forgetting he deliberately contrasts them, “Now abideth Faith, Hope, Love,” and without a moment’s hesitation the decision falls, “The greatest of these is Love.” And it is not prejudice. A man is apt to recommend to others his how strong point. Love was not Paul’s strong point. The observing student can detect a beautiful tenderness growing and ripening all through his character as Paul gets old; but the hand that wrote, “The greatest of these is love,” when we meet it first, is stained with blood. Nor is this letter to the Corinthians peculiar in singling out love as the summum bonum. The masterpieces of Christianity are agreed about it.
Peter says, “Above all things have fervent love among yourselves.”(1) Above all things. And John goes farther, “God is love.”(2) And you remember the profound remark which Paul makes elsewhere, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”(3) Did you ever think what he meant by that? In those days men were working their passage to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments,(4) and the hundred and ten other commandments which they had manufactured out of them. Christ said, I will show you a more simple way. If you do one thing, you will do these hundred and ten things, without ever thinking about them. If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law. And you can readily see for yourselves how that must be so. Take any of the commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” If a man love God, you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law. “Take not His name in vain.” Would he ever dream of taking His name in vain if he loved Him? “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Would he not be too glad to have one day in seven to dedicate more exclusively to the object of his affection?
Love would fulfill all these laws regarding God. And so, if he love Man, you would never think of telling him to honor his father and mother. He could not do anything else. It would be preposterous to tell him not to kill. You could only insult him if you suggested that he should not steal–how could he steal from those he loved? It would be superfluous to beg him not to bear false witness against his neighbor. If he loved him it would be the last thing he would do. And you would never dream of urging him not to covet what his neighbors had. He would rather they possessed it than himslef. In this way “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
It is the rule for fulfilling all rules, the new commandments, Christ’s one secret of the Christian life. Now Paul had learned that; and in this noble eulogy he has given us the most wonderful and original account extant of the summum bonum. We may divide it into three parts. In the beginning of the short chapter, we have Love contrasted; toward the end, we have Love defended as the supreme gift.
(1) 1 Peter 4:8(2) 1 John 4:8(3) Romans 13:10(4) Exodus 20
{ Note how Drummond always capitalizes the world Love. Might it be in “Love is fulfilling of the law that he equates Love as used with Jesus Christ?}
The Contrast
The Analysis : ” The Spectrum of Love has nine ingredients” Patience …. “Love suffereth long.” Kindness … “And is kind.” Generosity … “Love envieth not” Humility … ” Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” Courtesty … “Doth not behave itself unseemly.” Unselfishness … “Seeketh not her own.” Good Temper … “Is not easily provoked.” Guilelessness … “Thinketh no evil.” Sincerity … “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
The Defense
Part Two : Pax Vobiscum { Peace be with you. }Text : Matthew 11: 28-30
Pax Vobiscum
Effects Require Causes
What Yokes Are For
… He (Jesus) knew the difference between a smooth yoke and a rough one, a bad fit and a good fit; the difference also it make to the patient animal which had to wear it. The rough yoke galled and the burden was heavy; the smooth yoke caused no pain, and the load was lightly drawn. The badly fitted harness was a misery; the well-fitted collar was “easy.”How Fruits GrowThe True Vine
Drummond’s Addresses
Henry Drummond, Author
Hurst and Company, New York, Publishers
Scripture Texts:
1 Corinithians 13
1 Peter 4:8
1 John 4:8
Romans 13:10
Exodus 20
Look back in time and read a Christian inspirational book from the turn of the 20th century. Henry Drummond (1851-1897), brilliant scholar, was also a devout Christian and member the Free Church of Scotland, known today as the United Free Church of Scotland.
Within in his brief life he wrote several important Christian books, one being Natural Law in the Spiritual World about the relationship between the physical and spiritual worlds. What is evident in Henry Drummond’s writings is the love he felt for all people through his devotion and love for Jesus Christ.
Drummond’s Addresses is Christian inspirational writing through and through, and with just a little understanding of language not in use today, readers will find the text just as inspirational as it was over 100 years ago.
The book begins with the Holy Bible’s 1 Corinthians 13 chapter divided into three pages. I believe this gives time for thought on each of the three sections. Then follows the four writings of the books first section, the first of which I quote here.
The Greatest Thing in the World
The Contrast
The Analysis
The Defense
The Greatest Thing in the World
Henry Drummond, author
Every one has asked himself the great question of antiquity as the of the modern world: What is the summum bonum — the supreme good? You have life before you. Once only you can live it. What is the noblest object of desire, the supreme gift to covet? We have been accustomed to be told that the greatest thing in the religious world is Faith. That great word has been the keynote for centuries of the popular religion; and we have easily learned to look upon it as the greatest thing in the world.
Well, we are wrong. If we have been told that we may miss the mark. I have taken you, in the chapter which I have just read (1 Cor 13), to Christianity at its source and there we have seen, “The greatest of these is love.” It is not an oversight. Paul was speaking of faith just a moment before. He says, “If I have all faith, so that I can remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing.” So far from forgetting he deliberately contrasts them, “Now abideth Faith, Hope, Love,” and without a moment’s hesitation the decision falls, “The greatest of these is Love.” And it is not prejudice. A man is apt to recommend to others his how strong point. Love was not Paul’s strong point. The observing student can detect a beautiful tenderness growing and ripening all through his character as Paul gets old; but the hand that wrote, “The greatest of these is love,” when we meet it first, is stained with blood. Nor is this letter to the Corinthians peculiar in singling out love as the summum bonum. The masterpieces of Christianity are agreed about it.
Peter says, “Above all things have fervent love among yourselves.”(1) Above all things. And John goes farther, “God is love.”(2) And you remember the profound remark which Paul makes elsewhere, “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”(3) Did you ever think what he meant by that? In those days men were working their passage to heaven by keeping the Ten Commandments,(4) and the hundred and ten other commandments which they had manufactured out of them. Christ said, I will show you a more simple way. If you do one thing, you will do these hundred and ten things, without ever thinking about them. If you love, you will unconsciously fulfill the whole law. And you can readily see for yourselves how that must be so. Take any of the commandments. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” If a man love God, you will not require to tell him that. Love is the fulfilling of that law. “Take not His name in vain.” Would he ever dream of taking His name in vain if he loved Him? “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Would he not be too glad to have one day in seven to dedicate more exclusively to the object of his affection?
Love would fulfill all these laws regarding God. And so, if he love Man, you would never think of telling him to honor his father and mother. He could not do anything else. It would be preposterous to tell him not to kill. You could only insult him if you suggested that he should not steal–how could he steal from those he loved? It would be superfluous to beg him not to bear false witness against his neighbor. If he loved him it would be the last thing he would do. And you would never dream of urging him not to covet what his neighbors had. He would rather they possessed it than himslef. In this way “Love is the fulfilling of the law.”
It is the rule for fulfilling all rules, the new commandments, Christ’s one secret of the Christian life. Now Paul had learned that; and in this noble eulogy he has given us the most wonderful and original account extant of the summum bonum. We may divide it into three parts. In the beginning of the short chapter, we have Love contrasted; toward the end, we have Love defended as the supreme gift.
(1) 1 Peter 4:8(2) 1 John 4:8(3) Romans 13:10(4) Exodus 20
{ Note how Drummond always capitalizes the world Love. Might it be in “Love is fulfilling of the law that he equates Love as used with Jesus Christ?}
The Contrast
The Analysis : ” The Spectrum of Love has nine ingredients” Patience …. “Love suffereth long.” Kindness … “And is kind.” Generosity … “Love envieth not” Humility … ” Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” Courtesty … “Doth not behave itself unseemly.” Unselfishness … “Seeketh not her own.” Good Temper … “Is not easily provoked.” Guilelessness … “Thinketh no evil.” Sincerity … “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.”
The Defense
Part Two : Pax Vobiscum { Peace be with you. }Text : Matthew 11: 28-30
Pax Vobiscum
Effects Require Causes
What Yokes Are For
… He (Jesus) knew the difference between a smooth yoke and a rough one, a bad fit and a good fit; the difference also it make to the patient animal which had to wear it. The rough yoke galled and the burden was heavy; the smooth yoke caused no pain, and the load was lightly drawn. The badly fitted harness was a misery; the well-fitted collar was “easy.”How Fruits GrowThe True Vine
2 comments:
how do I find the value of an early edition
I suggest going to www.used.addall.com and searching for your edition using the criteria choices provided to find out what current sellers are asking for the particular copy that you have.
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