Brook Farm: Historic and Personal MemoirsCodman, John Thomas
History
Brook Farm: Historic and Personal Memoirs
Codman, John Thomas
Brook Farm Phalanx (West Roxbury, Boston, Mass.)
Then the Satan of selfishness takes counsel of his cunning, and subtly
states a new suggestion. If Association is this glorious truth to
renovate the nations, then glorious should be its announcement; loud,
wide, startling, should be its call; sudden, as from the skies, its
appearing. Here on the pinnacle of the temple of peace (or of Salem),
shalt thou stand, and cast thyself down among the multitudes like an
angel. Some splendid boldness should introduce thy reign. Take no heed
of care and caution; count not the cost; risk all in a providential
career. Surely thou shalt be guided safe. God's angels will bear thee
up, that thou dash not thy foot against a stone.
O bragging, advertising, placarding, circular-scattering,
auctioneering, humbuging world! And you would thus prove Association to
be also a windbag and a lie! Just in so far as Association has been
rash and precipitate, and swollen with promises and dizzy in its
towering pretensions, it has been truly carried to the pinnacle.
The child of God waits for opportunities. There will be occasions soon
enough for manifestation. According to the hour is the duty; and the
duty now is performance. Calm, wise, large and balanced plans,
discriminate selection of persons, discreet preparations of industry, a
sober estimate of the greatness of the undertaking, and a summoning of
all energies to its fulfilment, is the vocation just now of
Association. Enough for the day it is, honestly, honorably, humanely,
to lay the foundation in the earth unseen for the glorious fabric which
the future shall rear in light.
In so far as the inculcation of principles, the instruction of the
national mind, the calling out of enthusiasm and courage, of hope and
heroism, demand publicity, of course Association must not be backward.
It must no more be behind than before the time. But the special call
to-day is, in practical endeavor to prepare the way for a future gospel
preaching. We need complete science, clear understanding, solid
judgment. We need to solve innumerable problems, to comprehend
principles exactly by their detailed development in practice. We need
inward concentration, to gain singleness and unity of purpose.
"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," either by anticipation or by
tardiness. If Association is the salvation of mankind, there will be
time enough to let mankind know it. Meanwhile, let us give ourselves
wholly up to God, to be filled with his love, inspired with his wisdom,
strengthened with his might, and so made ready for the sublime work of
manifesting man made one in a perfect society. We will humbly wait the
opening of opportunities by Providence. And so ends the second
temptation in patience.
Thus baffled twice, the Prince of this world gathers up his routed
forces for the final charge:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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