The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 3
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
3. The same conceit there passeth concerning our blessed Saviour, and is
sometimes urged as an high example of gravity. And this is opinioned,
because in holy Scripture it is recorded he sometimes wept, but never
that he laughed. Which howsoever granted, it will be hard to conceive
how he passed his younger years and child-hood without a smile, if as
Divinity affirmeth, for the assurance of his humanity unto men, and the
concealment of his Divinity from the devil, he passed this age like
other children, and so proceeded untill he evidenced the same. And
surely herein no danger there is to affirm the act or performance of
that, whereof we acknowledge the power and essential property; and
whereby indeed he most nearly convinced the doubt of his humanity. Nor
need we be afraid to ascribe that unto the incarnate Son, which
sometimes is attributed unto the uncarnate Father; of whom it is said,
He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh the wicked to scorn. For a
laugh there is of contempt or indignation, as well as of mirth and
Jocosity; and that our Saviour was not exempted from the ground hereof,
that is, the passion of anger, regulated and rightly ordered by reason,
the schools do not deny: and besides the experience of the
money-changers and Dove-sellers in the Temple, is testified by St.
_John_, when he saith, the speech of _David_ [SN: Zelus domus tuæ
comedit me.] was fulfilled in our Saviour.
Now the Alogie of this opinion consisteth in the illation; it being not
reasonable to conclude from Scripture negatively in points which are not
matters of faith, and pertaining unto salvation. And therefore although
in the description of the creation there be no mention of fire,
Christian Philosophy did not think it reasonable presently to annihilate
that element, or positively to decree there was no such thing at all.
Thus whereas in the brief narration of _Moses_ there is no record of
wine before the flood, we cannot satisfactorily conclude that _Noah_ was
the first that ever tasted thereof. [SN: _Only in the vulgar Latin._
Judg. 9. 53.] And thus because the word _Brain_ is scarce mentioned
once, but _Heart_ above an hundred times in holy Scripture; Physitians
that dispute the principality of parts are not from hence induced to
bereave the animal Organ of its priority. Wherefore the Scriptures being
serious, and commonly omitting such Parergies, it will be unreasonable
from hence to condemn all Laughter, and from considerations
inconsiderable to discipline a man out of his nature. For this is by a
rustical severity to banish all urbanity; whose harmless and confined
condition, as it stands commended by morality, so is it consistent with
Religion, and doth not offend Divinity.
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