The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838Gillman, James
General
The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838
Gillman, James
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834; Critics -- Great Britain -- Biography; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
Let the grand question be determined; Is, or is not the Bible
'inspired?' No one Book has ever been subjected to so rigid an
investigation as the Bible, by minds the most capacious, and, in the
result, which has so triumphantly repelled all the assaults of
Infidels. In the extensive intercourse which I have had with this
class of men, I have seen their prejudices surpassed only by their
ignorance. This I found conspicuously the case in Dr. D. (Vol. i. p.
167) the prince of their fraternity. Without, therefore, stopping to
contend on what all dispassionate men must deem, undebatable ground, I
may assume inspiration as admitted; and, equally so, that it would be
an insult to man's understanding to suppose any other Revelation from
God than the Christian Scriptures. If these Scriptures, impregnable in
their strength; sustained in their pretensions by undeniable
prophecies and miracles; and by the experience of the 'inner man', in
all ages, as well as by a concatenation of arguments, all bearing upon
one point, and extending, with miraculous consistency, through a
series of fifteen hundred years; if all this combined proof does not
establish their validity, nothing can be proved under the sun; but the
world and man must be abandoned, with all its consequences to one
universal scepticism! Under such sanctions, therefore, if these
Scriptures, as a fundamental truth, 'do' inculcate the doctrine of the
'Trinity;' however surpassing human comprehension; then I say, we are
bound to admit it on the strength of 'moral demonstration'.
The supreme Governor of the world, and the Father of our spirits, has
seen fit to disclose to us, much of his will, and the whole of his
natural and moral perfections. In some instances he has given his
'word' only, and demanded our 'faith'; while, on other momentous
subjects, instead of bestowing a full revelation; like the 'Via
Lactea', he has furnished a glimpse only, through either the medium of
inspiration, or by the exercise of those rational faculties with which
he has endowed us. I consider the Trinity as substantially resting on
the first proposition, yet deriving support from the last.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account