3,331 research outputs found

    Public worship and practical theology in the work of Benjamin Keach (1640-1704)

    No full text
    The late seventeenth century was a critical and fruitful period for the Particular Baptists of England. Severely persecuted following the Restoration, toleration in 1689 brought its own perils. Particular Baptists were fortunate in having several strong leaders, especially the London trio of Hanserd Knollys, William Kiffin, and Benjamin Keach. Such a small and severely persecuted group as the Baptists could afford little time for academic pursuits, thus of necessity most of their theology was practical in nature. Benjamin Keach (1640-1704) was the most outstanding practical theologian among the English Particular Baptists of the late seventeenth century. This dissertation is a study of Keach, in particular his writings on public worship and practical theology. Although Keach was a prolific author, he has been almost completely neglected by scholars. After a biographical sketch of Keach, this study considers his writings on public worship and practical theology. In the area of worship, Keach made two outstanding contributions: First, he was the most vocal apologist for Baptist views on Baptism of his period. Secondly, and more importantly, his hymn writing and defense of hymn singing broke new ground, not just for Baptists, but for English Protestantism, in general. In addition to his contributions in these areas, he also dealt with the laying on of hands and the sabbath day worship controversy. Keach's contributions to practical theology fall into two main groups: his writings that concern religious education and those that deal with polity. In addition to these, Keach's vigorous advocacy of a high Calvinist soteriology are also considered under the rubric of practical theology. Keach's most important (although not his most positive) contribution in this area were his soteriological writings. Although well within the bounds of orthodoxy, some of the tendencies in Keach's soteriology were taken up by the following generation of Baptist leaders and developed into a stultifying hyper-Calvinism that handicapped Baptist evangelism and missions. In the conclusion, Keach's contributions to a theory of practical theology are considered

    A Discourse Delivered at the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church of Bergen, in New Jersey, on Sabbath Morning, December 2nd, A.D. 1860, with a Manual of the Church

    No full text
    Sermon by pastor Benjamin C. Taylor from anniversary service details history of church, including names of early pastors and other prominent members. Church manual lists current officers, schedule of services, details of consistory and directory of members in full communion as of January 1, 1861

    Comparison of several author indices for gauging academic productivity

    No full text
    Background Many author indices exist to gauge academic productivity. Several of these indices are calculated based upon an author's scholarly publication record, but the measurement methodology to calculate each index varies considerably, and the precise function being used, as well as the end result, is often complex and difficult to assess. Method Two straightforward methods to weigh author productivity from the publication and citation record were evaluated as possible means for providing a clearer assessment of scholarly activity. The author characteristic index (termed c-index) assigns author rank for each publication based upon author position. The characteristic prime (c') -index normalizes author rank from author position, so that the total weight per publication is unity. The top 10 scholars with keyword 'celiac disease' in the Google Scholar database were then assessed using these metrics. Rankings according to total number of publications, h-index, and c- and c'-indices were compared, then tabulated along with total papers included for assessment, and mean values per paper for author position, number of authors, citations, and year of publication. Results The order of the top ten authors with keyword 'celiac disease' varied substantially depending upon whether the h-index, c-index, or c'-index was used as a gauge. The characteristic indices assign credit to authors according to their position in an author list. The affiliated metrics provided a more complete picture of scholarly activity. Conclusions Academic achievement by scholars, based upon quantitative publication characteristics, has recently become of interest for evaluating job candidates, for determining work performance, and for bestowing awards and honors. The characteristic indices as described herein are readily calculated and interpreted, and may improve the assessment of scholarly activity

    Sermon to Returning Civil War Soldiers, 1861

    No full text
    Sermon preached by Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, pastor, in Bergen Reformed Church on 2nd Samuel 10:12 - "Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth Him good." Compares Civil War with the conflict depicted in the biblical text, reflects on duty and courage

    Can We Tell Stories Out of Our Memories? The Contributions of Derrida and Benjamin

    No full text
    The author draws from Jacques Derrida’s and Walter Benjamin’s writings on memory in order to argue that as these two thinkers deal with the simultaneity of the diachronic and synchronic dimension of time they open up the possibility of thinking about the relation between memory and narrative in a more complex way. These two theorists affirm the discontinuity and the nonrecognition between past events and present discourses and show the danger of conflating memory and narrative without the awareness of its limits

    Learning curve for adoption of robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy: a systematic review of oncological, clinical, and efficiency outcomes

    No full text
    Background: robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) is gaining increasing popularity as an operative approach. Learning curves to achieve surgical competency in robotic-assisted techniques have shown significant variation in learning curve lengths and outcomes. This study aimed to summarize the current literature on learning curves for RAMIE. Methods: a systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library were searched, and articles reporting on learning curves in RAMIE were identified and scrutinized. Studies were eligible if they reported changes in operative outcomes over time, or learning curves, for surgeons newly adopting RAMIE. Results: fifteen studies reporting on 1767 patients were included. Nine studies reported on surgeons with prior experience of robot-assisted surgery prior to adopting RAMIE, with only four studies outlining a specified RAMIE adoption pathway. Learning curves were most commonly analyzed using cumulative sum control chart (CUSUM) and were typically reported for lymph node yields and operative times, with significant variation in learning curve lengths (18–73 cases and 20–80 cases, respectively). Most studies reported adoption without significant impact on clinical outcomes such as anastomotic leak; significant learning curves were more likely in studies, which did not report a formal learning or adoption pathway. Conclusion: reported RAMIE adoption phases are variable, with some authors suggesting significant impact to patients. With robust training through formal programmes or proctorship, however, others report RAMIE adoption without impact on clinical outcomes. A formalized adoption curriculum appears critical to prevent adverse effects on operative efficiency and patient care

    Past and future sea-level rise along the coast of North Carolina, USA

    No full text
    We evaluate relative sea level (RSL) trajectories for North Carolina, USA, in the context of tide-gauge measurements and geological sea-level proxy reconstructions spanning the last ∼11,000 years. RSL rise was fastest (∼7 mm/yr) during the early Holocene and slowed over time with the end of the deglaciation. During the pre-Industrial Common Era (i.e., 0–1800 CE), RSL rise (∼0.7 to 1.1 mm/yr) was driven primarily by glacio-isostatic adjustment, though dampened by tectonic uplift along the Cape Fear Arch. Ocean/atmosphere dynamics caused centennial variability of up to ∼0.6 mm/yr around the long-term rate. It is extremely likely (probability P = 0.95) that 20th century RSL rise at Sand Point, NC, (2.8 ± 0.5 mm/yr) was faster than during any other century in at least 2,900 years. Projections based on a fusion of process models, statistical models, expert elicitation, and expert assessment indicate that RSL at Wilmington, NC, is very likely (P = 0.90) to rise by 42–132 cm between 2000 and 2100 under the high-emissions RCP 8.5 pathway. Under all emission pathways, 21st century RSL rise is very likely (P > 0.90) to be faster than during the 20th century. Due to RSL rise, under RCP 8.5, the current ‘1-in-100 year’ flood is expected at Wilmington in ∼30 of the 50 years between 2050-2100.The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1451-xPeer reviewe

    The censor or, Observations on the prospect of a peace, and the conduct of our treaties abroad, occasioned by the last craftsman, relating to the succession of Don Carlos, to the Dukedom of Tuscany, &c. By the author of the Enquiry [electronic resource].

    No full text
    Author of the Enquiry = Benjamin Hoadly.Signed: Tho. Potts, a pseudonym for Benjamin HoadlyElectronic reproduction.English Short Title Catalog,Reproduction of original from William Andrews Clark Memorial Library (UCLA)

    Temperature-driven global sea-level variability in the Common Era

    No full text
    We assess the relationship between temperature and global sea-level (GSL) variability over the Common Era through a statistical metaanalysis of proxy relative sea-level reconstructions and tide-gauge data. GSL rose at 0.1 ± 0.1 mm/y (2σ) over 0–700 CE. A GSL fall of 0.2 ± 0.2 mm/y over 1000–1400 CE is associated with ∼0.2 °C global mean cooling. A significant GSL acceleration began in the 19th century and yielded a 20th century rise that is extremely likely (probability P≥0.95) faster than during any of the previous 27 centuries. A semiempirical model calibrated against the GSL reconstruction indicates that, in the absence of anthropogenic climate change, it is extremely likely (P=0.95) that 20th century GSL would have risen by less than 51% of the observed 13.8±1.5 cm. The new semiempirical model largely reconciles previous differences between semiempirical 21st century GSL projections and the process model-based projections summarized in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.This article is available Open Access at the Link to published version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2016.02.006Also available as related resources: Supporting Information (PDF), Dataset S1 (PDF), Dataset S2 (Excel), Dataset S3 (Excel).Peer reviewe

    Oesophagus

    No full text
    Oesophageal cancer frequently presents late and with incurable disease; therefore, knowledge and experience in palliative techniques are essential. Clinical policy on palliative surgery is generally determined by the local cancer network with individualised treatment agreed at a multidisciplinary meeting. Despite advances in perioperative care and meticulous patient selection, oesophagectomy remains a morbid procedure, and today palliative oesophagectomy is rarely performed, if at all. The most troublesome symptoms of incurable oesophageal cancer, namely, dysphagia and bleeding, can now be successfully alleviated using less invasive methods. Oesophageal self-expanding stents, brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy and endoscopic recannulation techniques are highly effective as unimodal or multimodal therapy and are well tolerated by patients with minimal side effects. As such, they form the backbone of modern palliative oesophageal surgery.Benjamin C. Knight and Glyn G. Jamieso
    corecore