Author: William Law

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9781230433196

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817 edition. Excerpt: ...humility is learnt, then he has the very mind of Christ, and that which brings him forth a Son of God. Who then can enough-wonder at that bulk of libraries, which has taken place of this short lesson of tlie gospel, or at that number of champion disputants, who from age to age have been all in arms to support and defend a set of opinions, doctrines, and practices, all which may be most cordially embraced, without the least degree of selfdenial, and most firmly held fast, without getting the least degree of humility by it?-What a grossness of ignorance, both of man and his Saviour, to run to Greek and Roman schools to learn how to put off-Adam, and to put on Christ? To drink at the fountains of Pagan poets and orators, in order more divinely to drink of the cup that Christ drank of? What can come of all this, but that which is already too much come, a Ciceronian-gospeller, instead of a gospelj penitent? Instead of the depth, the truth, and spirit of the humble publican, seeking to regain Paradise, only by a broken heart, crying, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" the high-bred classic will live in daily transports at the enormous sublime of a Milton, flying thither on the unfeathered wings of high-sounding words. This will be more or less the case with all the salvation-doctrines of Christ, whilst under classical acquisition and administration. Those divine truths, which are no further good and redeeming but as they are spirit and life in us, which can have no entrance or birth, but in the death of self, See Milton's enormous bliss. f in a broken and contrite heart, will serve only t help classic painters, as Dr W. calls them, to lavish out their colours on their own paper monuments of lifeless virtues. How came the learned...