The Hidden Life: holy deliberation

Showing posts with label holy deliberation. Show all posts

Friday, January 15, 2016

Holy Deliberation

What is done hastily, is not likely to be done well. There is need, therefore, of HOLY DELIBERATION; especially when we consider, that the results of an eternity may depend on the movements of a single moment.

— Religious Maxims (1846) CLI.

THOMAS COGSWELL UPHAM

Thomas C. Upham (1799–1872) was an American psychologist, author, teacher, poet, social activist, pacifist, and spiritual writer. Though trained as a Congregationalist pastor, he spent his life as an academic, serving as Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy at Bowdoin College from 1825-1868. He not only taught this subject, he wrote the primary textbook on the subject: Elements of Mental Philosophy (2 Volumes). (Mental Philosophy is what we would today call Psychology.) His textbook on Mental Philosophy was reprinted more than 50 times, going through various editions, over a period of more than 70 years. Thus, Upham's thinking was extremely influential in its day. At the urgings of his wife, Upham attended some of the meetings led by Phoebe Palmer for the promotion of Christian holiness. Here he encountered the message and experience of entire sanctification by faith. After this, he wrote several books explaining, and defending this experience. He also wrote spiritual biographies of Madame Guyon and Catherine of Genoa. I recommend (if you can find a copy) Darius Salter's 1986 book Spirit and Intellect: Thomas Upham's Holiness Theology. More information can be found here: The Writings Of Thomas C. Upham.

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Friday, January 15, 2016

Holy Deliberation