The Growth of Thought as Affecting the Progress of SocietyWithington, William
Religion
The Growth of Thought as Affecting the Progress of Society
Withington, William
Self-interest; Sociology
In faithfully delivering the whole counsel of God, we may encounter
something like the wrath of the ruler of the synagogue, whose
spirituality was offended at the restoration of a withered hand on the
Sabbath. We may find, that we have cast pearls before swine. We may
be referred to Paul's determination to know nothing among the
Corinthians, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And, if we
minister to a people who, like the Corinthians, need to be fed with
milk and not meat; like them carnal, factious, party-spirited, and if
we would delicately hint to them their character--let us do it
indirectly, following Paul's example, when he put restraint on the
fullness of matter within, and discoursed only on the elements of
Christian doctrine. But shall the strong man be confined to a
milk diet, because the careful nurse ventures to supply nothing else to
the tender infant? If when for the time our people ought to be
teachers, they need to be taught again the first principles of the
oracle of God, we may reserve pearls for a worthier reception. But, if
they are well-grounded in the elements, let us lead them on to
perfection.
Society's pillars, the temple's three P.s,
Philosophy, Policy, Piety--these
I commend to your notice. My labor is done:
May we meet in that city where temple is none,
Nor sun supervenes on the shadows of night;
Jehovah--the Lamb--are its temple and light.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Growth of Thought, by William Withington
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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