Author: George Lyttelton

Publisher: Theclassics.Us

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 22

ISBN-13: 9781230289113

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. 1805 edition. Excerpt: ... their imaginary gifts above those virtues which make the essence of true religion, and the real excellency of a good man, or, in the scripture phrase, of a faint. In his first epistle to the Corinthians he has these words, though I speak with the tongues of men 'and of angels, and have not charity, I am 'become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of " prophecy, and understand all mysteries and 'all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing.. And 'though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be 'burned, and have not charity, it proficeth me nothing.' Is this the language of enthusiasm? Did ever enthusiast prefer that universal benevolence which comprehends all moral virtues, and which (as appears by the following verses) is meant by charity here; did ever enthusiast, I fay, prefer that benevolence to faith and to miracles, to those religious opinions which he had embraced, .and to those supernatural graces and gifts which he imagined he had acquired, nay even to the merit of martyrdom? Is it not the genius of enthusiasm to set moral virtues infinitely below the merit of faith, and of all moral virtues to value that least which is most particularly enforced by St. Paul, a spirit of candour, moderation and peace? Certainly neither the temper, nor the opinions of a man subject to sanatick delusions, are to be found in this passage; but it may be justly concluded, that he who could esteem the value of charity so much above miraculous gifts, could not have pretended to any such gifts if he had them not in reality. 1 Cor. xiii. 2, 3, 4. Since then it is manifest from the foregoing examination, that in St. Paul's...