With our American Philosophy and Religion series, Applewood reissues many primary sources published throughout American history. Through these books, scholars, interpreters, students, and non-academics alike can see the thoughts and beliefs of Americans who came before us.

Confirmation is one of the most widespread practices in the contemporary church, although much confusion exists about its relationship to faith: Is confirmation a rite of passage? Is it just one step on an unfolding journey of faith? Are new privileges granted and additional responsibilities required of confirmands? Christian educator Richard Robert Osmer addresses these questions as he examines the theological significance of confirmation. Osmer surveys early church practices of confirmation and offers a comprehensive discussion of the particularities of the Protestant experience of confirmation, including Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Methodist practices. He discovers a need for a renewed understanding of confirmation in today's church. He proposes a two-step process of confirmation that would address the unique concerns and understandings of those involved at two distinct and significant developmental transitions: from youth to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood.

The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature; God’s revealed truth in fantastical images; a way of teaching Old Testament ideas to the New Testament church. In John’s day he desired the churches under his apostolic authority to walk in a specific manner. From Revelation 14, McMahon explains the practical nature of the militant Christian expounding these words of the Apostle, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” Throughout Revelation John shapes the cross of Christ into the imagery of the Lamb who stands in the midst of the church in heaven and rules them by his covenant. To follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes, is when the Christian makes God’s will the rule of their own will. These Christians in heaven rejoice in Christ being both holy and happy, and the church on earth ought to mimic them, they too desiring to be both holy and happy, to have their sins mortified as well as pardoned, to be sanctified as well as saved, to live to God here as well as to live with God after in heaven, so they will follow Christ whithersoever he goes. How is it that the slain Lamb leads you? How do you willingly follow him? To follow Christ implies walking with him; it is to follow; it is to move. This study focuses on that little phrase, in Rev. 14:4, “follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth;” that Christians follow Christ. They follow him: for who he is, for who they are in contrast to the world, in opposition to compromise and false religion, and into all kinds of providences. They follow him in times of ease, or frowning providences, and they do all this for his glory.