Alexander Street: Religion

Release 4 of The Digital Karl Barth Library is live

We are excited to announce the latest release of The Digital Karl Bath Library.  The collection now features the English translation of Barth's 14-volume magnum opus, The Church Dogmatics.  This landmark translation accompanies the original German version, Die Kirchliche Dogmatik.

Speaking in tongues

The Digital Library of the Catholic Reformation includes many English texts whose authors invariably had a gift for turning a phrase, as in this example from a devotional work by John Gother, a recusant priest of the last 17th century.

from Instructions for the whole year. For Sundays. Being practical thoughts upon the Gospels of all the Sundays, and movable feasts, of the year. By John Gother, 1698, London.

Monday in Whitsun-Week

Lesson.

Acts X. 42. ends Verse 48.

"THEY heard them speaking in divers Tongues, and glorifying God."

Amongst the many wonderful Effects of the Holy Ghost, the first and most remarkable was in the Tongue. . . . But in the first Place, the Apostles speak in different Tongues, and all Nations hear them in their own Language. . . .

The Apostles speak in different Tongues, and in these tell their Successors, they are to learn all Languages, that so, like St Paul, they may become all to all, in being able to give Assistance to their Flock, according to their different Necessities.

There is one Sort of Language requisite to reprehend the Faulty, another to correct the Insolent, another to sweeten the Furious, another to encourage the Dejected, another to soften the Obstinate, another to quicken the Slothful: One for those above us, another for Equals, another for Inferiors: One for the soft Temper, another for the rough: One for the Candid and Sincere, another for the Flatterer, the Pretender, or Designer: One for the Mistaken or Misled, another for the Ignorant, another for the Affected and Obstinate. Thus are Pastors to speak all Languages, to be enabled to discharge their Duty: It being for want of this Skill they fail many Times in very considerable Parts of it; whilst there needs no other Reason for their being often disappointed in the Fruits of their Endeavours, than their not suiting their Discourse, and speaking the Language that is proper. Is it not often hence that a Sinner, instead of being reclaimed, is hardened; a Quarrel, instead of being made up, is inflamed; a Penitent, instead of being encouraged, is driven into Despair; a Seeker, instead of being helped, is put out of his Way?