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John Henry Newman: Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. 1

John Henry Newman · 1834–1843

The sermons Newman preached as an Anglican at St Mary's, Oxford: the classic English sermons on holiness, faith and the unseen world.

Edition: Internet Archive · archive.org

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From the opening: Holiness Necessary for Future Blessedness

Hebbews xii. 14.

'* Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord**

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JN this text it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit to convey a chief truth of religion in a few words. It is this circumstance which makes it especially impressive; for the truth itself is declared in one form or other in every part of Scripture. It is told us again and again, that to make sinful creatures holy was the great end which our Lord had in view in taking upon Him our nature, and thus none but the holy will be accepted for His sake at the last day. The whole history of redemption, the covenant of mercy in all its parts and provisions, attests the necessity of holiness in order to salvation; as indeed even our natural conscience bears witness also. But in the text what is elsewhere implied in history, and enjoined by precept, is stated doctrinally, as a momentous and necessary fact, the result of some awful irreversible law in the nature of things, and the inscrutable determination of the Divine Will.

Now some one may ask, " Why is it that holiness is — [i] * b

Holiness Necessary for

a necessary qualification for our being received into heaven? why is it that the Bible enjoins upon us so strictly to love, fear, and obey God, to be just, honest, meek, pure in heart, forgiving, heavenly-minded, selfdenying, humble, and resigned? Man is confessedly weak and corrupt; why then is he enjoined to be so religious, so . unearthly? w%y is he required (in the strong language of Scripture) to become f a new creature'? Since he is by nature what he is, would it not be an act of greater mercy in God to save him altogether without this holiness, which it is so difficult, yet (as it appears) so necessa^r for him to possess? "

Now we have no right to ask this question. Surely it is quite enough for a sinner to know, that a way has been opened through God's grace for his salvation, without being informed why that way, and not another way, was chosen by Divine Wisdom. Eternal life is "the gift of God." Undoubtedly He may prescribe the terms on which He will give it; and if He has determined holiness to be the way of life, it is enough; it is not for us to inquire why He has so determined.

Yet the question may be asked reverently, and with a view to enlarge our insight into our own condition and prospects; and in that case the attempt to answer it will be profitable, if it be made soberly. I proceed,…

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Contents (56 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. Preface
  4. Sermon I
  5. Contents
  6. Contents (continued)
  7. The Eeligious Use of Excited Feelings
  8. The Eeligious Use of Excited Feelings (continued)
  9. The Eeligious Use of Excited Feelings (continued)
  10. Contents
  11. Contents (continued)
  12. Contents (continued)
  13. Contents (continued)
  14. Contents (continued)
  15. Contents (continued)
  16. Contents (continued)
  17. Contents (continued)
  18. The Re8ubbection of the Body
  19. Contents
  20. Contents (continued)
  21. The Bbligion of the Day
  22. The Bbligion of the Day (continued)
  23. Contents
  24. Holiness Necessary for Future Blessedness
  25. Sermon II
  26. Knowledge Op God's Will Without Obedience
  27. Psalm XIX
  28. Self-Denial the Test Op Religious Earnestness
  29. Sermon VI
  30. Sins of Ignorance and Weakness
  31. Sermon VIII
  32. Sermon IX
  33. Sermon X
  34. Sermon XI
  35. Sermon XII
  36. Sermon XIII
  37. Sermon XIV
  38. Sermon XV
  39. Sermon XVII
  40. Psalm XX
  41. Sermon XIX
  42. Sermon XX
  43. Sermon XXI
  44. Sermon XXII
  45. Psalm II
  46. Psalm II (continued)
  47. Sermon XXIV
  48. Scripture a Record Op Human Sorrow
  49. Sermon XXVI
  50. Sermon XXVI (continued)
  51. Sermon XXVI (continued)
  52. Tol Iii.— the Suffering Life, and the Glorified Life, of Our Lord. y
  53. Part II — Baptismal and Confirmation Services
  54. The First Book of Common
  55. The First Book of Common (continued)
  56. The First Book of Common (continued)

How to cite it

Chicago
John Henry Newman. John Henry Newman: Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. 1. Internet Archive, 1834–1843. https://archive.org/details/WorksOfCardinalNewmanParochialV1
MLA
John Henry Newman. John Henry Newman: Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. 1. Internet Archive, 1834–1843. https://archive.org/details/WorksOfCardinalNewmanParochialV1
APA
John Henry Newman (1834–1843). John Henry Newman: Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. 1. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/WorksOfCardinalNewmanParochialV1

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