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A New Obsession: An Updated Edition of 'The Expulsive Power of a New Affection'
Thomas Chalmers' classic sermon, "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection," in updated language for the modern reader. Includes a biographical introduction to Thomas Chalmers written by Mark Shockley.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 23, 2014
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About the author
Thomas Chalmers
824 books16 followersThomas Chalmers FRSE was a Scottish presbyterian minister, professor of theology, political economist, and a leader of both the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church of Scotland. He has been called "Scotland's greatest nineteenth-century churchman".
Chalmers found himself at the head of the party in the Church of Scotland which stood for "non-intrusionism": the principle that no minister should be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation. Cases of conflict between the church and the civil power arose in Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Marnoch. The courts made it clear that the Church, in their opinion, held its temporalities on condition of rendering such obedience as the courts required. The Church then appealed to the government for relief. In January 1843 the government put a final negative on the church's claims for spiritual independence. The non-intrusionist movement ended in the Disruption: on 18 May 1843, 470 clergy withdrew from the general assembly and constituted themselves the Free Church of Scotland, with Chalmers as moderator.
In 1844, Chalmers announced a church extension campaign, for new building. In 1846 he became the first principal of the Divinity Hall of the Free Church of Scotland, as it was initially called.
Chalmers served as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1835 to 1842.
Chalmers found himself at the head of the party in the Church of Scotland which stood for "non-intrusionism": the principle that no minister should be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation. Cases of conflict between the church and the civil power arose in Auchterarder, Dunkeld and Marnoch. The courts made it clear that the Church, in their opinion, held its temporalities on condition of rendering such obedience as the courts required. The Church then appealed to the government for relief. In January 1843 the government put a final negative on the church's claims for spiritual independence. The non-intrusionist movement ended in the Disruption: on 18 May 1843, 470 clergy withdrew from the general assembly and constituted themselves the Free Church of Scotland, with Chalmers as moderator.
In 1844, Chalmers announced a church extension campaign, for new building. In 1846 he became the first principal of the Divinity Hall of the Free Church of Scotland, as it was initially called.
Chalmers served as Vice-president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1835 to 1842.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 9, 2017
A short must-read classic
Through sanctified logic and compelling application Chalmers makes a watertight case for lauding the desirableness of God as the only real pathway to true conversion. It is always the task of evangelism to proclaim the superior desirableness of Jesus Christ rather than merely denouncing sin and worldliness. Highly recommended!
Through sanctified logic and compelling application Chalmers makes a watertight case for lauding the desirableness of God as the only real pathway to true conversion. It is always the task of evangelism to proclaim the superior desirableness of Jesus Christ rather than merely denouncing sin and worldliness. Highly recommended!
November 15, 2016
Short and impactful!
This has some great content and is very poignant. I would recommend to anyone who has ever been addicted to anything. The power is in finding something (someone) better.
This has some great content and is very poignant. I would recommend to anyone who has ever been addicted to anything. The power is in finding something (someone) better.
April 28, 2022
Slightly Updated
I really enjoyed rereading this famous lecture by Thomas Chalmers. It has been a while since I last read it. This version said updated but it seems to be pretty lightly updated as it is a very dense but amazing essay. Perhaps the best on the nature of the heart and our desires. I’m not sure if it was worth the extra price. Free PDF versions can be found online.
I really enjoyed rereading this famous lecture by Thomas Chalmers. It has been a while since I last read it. This version said updated but it seems to be pretty lightly updated as it is a very dense but amazing essay. Perhaps the best on the nature of the heart and our desires. I’m not sure if it was worth the extra price. Free PDF versions can be found online.
July 24, 2024
“We know of no other way by which to keep the love of the world out of our heart, than to keep in our hearts the love of God”
This is now one of my favorite sermons. It should be considered required reading in the discipleship of every Christian. I’m so glad I found this when I did because it so clearly diagnoses the condition of the human heart and offers a method by which we can be set free of every addiction, idol, and unworthy desire of the heart.
To summarize:
All us sinners either once or currently considered what Christ offers without knowledge of its glories and thought it a wilderness, void of all which we found lovely in this world. But upon receiving a glimpse at the surpassing greatness of heaven and the glories of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the world we knew at once became the wilderness to us and our longing and preeminent desire became for the Father and his eternal home. Now, even if our existing desires for visible things are strong, a truly greater love has been revealed, freeing us to gladly die to the present world and live for exclusively the lovelier place that is promised.
This is now one of my favorite sermons. It should be considered required reading in the discipleship of every Christian. I’m so glad I found this when I did because it so clearly diagnoses the condition of the human heart and offers a method by which we can be set free of every addiction, idol, and unworthy desire of the heart.
To summarize:
All us sinners either once or currently considered what Christ offers without knowledge of its glories and thought it a wilderness, void of all which we found lovely in this world. But upon receiving a glimpse at the surpassing greatness of heaven and the glories of God in the face of Jesus Christ, the world we knew at once became the wilderness to us and our longing and preeminent desire became for the Father and his eternal home. Now, even if our existing desires for visible things are strong, a truly greater love has been revealed, freeing us to gladly die to the present world and live for exclusively the lovelier place that is promised.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews