Unspoken Sermons, Series I., II., and III.MacDonald, George
Religion
Unspoken Sermons, Series I., II., and III.
MacDonald, George
Sermons, English -- 19th century
open for interpenetration and assimilation. When will once begins to
aspire, it will soon find that action must precede feeling, that the
man may know the foundation itself of feeling.
With those who recognize no authority as the ground of tentative
action, a doubt, a suspicion of truth ought to be ground enough for
putting it to the test.
The whole system of divine education as regards the relation of man and
man, has for its end that a man should love his neighbour as himself.
It is not a lesson that he can learn by itself, or a duty the
obligation of which can be shown by argument, any more than the
difference between right and wrong can be defined in other terms than
their own. "But that difference," it may be objected, "manifests
itself of itself to every mind: it is self-evident; whereas the loving
of one's neighbour is _not_ seen to be a primary truth; so far from it,
that far the greater number of those who hope for an eternity of
blessedness through him who taught it, do not really believe it to be a
truth; believe, on the contrary, that the paramount obligation is to
take care of one's self at much risk of forgetting one's neighbour."
But the human race generally has got as far as the recognition of right
and wrong; and therefore most men are born capable of making the
distinction. The race has not yet lived long enough for its latest
offspring to be born with the perception of the truth of love to the
neighbour. It is to be seen by the present individual only after a long
reception of and submission to the education of life. And once seen, it
is believed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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