truth, might be applied to religion, about which we make so great a bustle at present; there is scarcely any thing at all of religion in it, unless we imagine that religion consists of words, as a grove does of trees. For, if we suppose it lies in the mortification of sin, unfeigned humility, brotherly charity, and a noble contempt of the world and the flesh, whither has it gone, and left us? As for you, young gentlemen, if you would apply to this matter in good earnest, you must, of necessity, bestow some time and pains upon it, and not fondly dream, that such great advantages can be met with by chance, or in consequence of a negligent and superficial inquiry. If we are to alter the course of our life for the time to come, we must look narrowly into our conduct during the preceding part of it; for the measures to be taken for the future, are, in a great degree, suggested by what is past. He acts wisely, and is a happy man, who frequently, nay, daily reviews his words and actions: because he will doubtless perform the same duty with greater ease, and to better purpose, when he is called to it with more than ordinary solemnity. And, therefore, they who have experienced how pleasant this work is, and what a mixture of utility is joined with this pleasure, will apply to it with a cheerful mind, whenever opportunity requires it. As to others, they must of necessity set about it some time or other: I say of necessity, if I am allowed to say it is necessary to avoid the wrath to come, and to obtain peace and salvation. Repentance may possibly appear a laborious and unpleasant work to our indolence, and to repent, may seem a harsh expression: to perish, however is still more harsh; but a sinful man has no other choice. Our Lord, who is Truth itself, being acquainted with the cruel execution performed by Herod upon the Galileans, takes this opportunity to declare to his hearers, that unless they repented, they should all likewise perish. Luke xiii. 3. The Saviour of the world, it is true, came for this very purpose, that he might save those that were miserable and lost, from the fatal necessity of being utterly undone; but he never intended to take away the happy and pleasant necessity of repentance: nay, he strengthened the obligation to it, and imposed it as a duty inseparably connected with grace and happiness. And this connexion, he not only preached in expressions to the same purpose with his forerunner, John the Baptist, but even in the very same words : Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt. iv. 7. And in another place, having told us, that he came not to call the righteous, but sinners, Matt. ix. 13, he immediately adds, to what he called those sinners; not to a liberty of indulging themselves in sin, but, from sin to repentance. His blood which was shed on the cross, is indeed a balsam more precious than all the balm of Gilead and Arabia, and all the ointments of the whole world; but it is solely intended for curing the contrite in heart. But alas! that gross ignorance of God that overclouds our mind, is the great and the unhappy cause of all the guilt we have contracted, and of that impenitence which engages us to continue in it. Had men but the least knowledge how disagreeable and hateful all sinful pollution renders us to His eternal and infinite purity; and, on the other hand, what a likeness to Him we attain by holiness, and how amiable we are thereby rendered in His sight; they would look upon this as the only valuable attainment, they would pursue it with the most vigorous efforts of their minds, and would make it their constant study day and night; that, according to the divine advice of the Apostle, being cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, they might perfect holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. vii. 9. 347 AN EXHORTATION TO THE STUDENTS, UPON THEIR RETURN TO THE UNIVERSITY AFTER THE VACATION. WE are at last returned, and some are for the first time brought hither by that Supreme Hand which holds the reins of this vast universe, which rules the stormy winds and swelling sea, and distributes peace and war to nations according to its pleasure. The great Lord of the universe, and Father of mankind, while He rules the world with absolute sway, does not despise this little flock, provided we look up unto Him, and humbly pray, that we may feel the favourable effects of His presence and bounty: nay, He will not disdain to dwell within us, and in our hearts, unless we, through folly, and ignorance of our true happiness, shut the door against Him when he offers to come in. He is the Most High, yet, has chosen the humble heart for the most agreeable place of his residence on this earth: but the proud and haughty, who look with disdain on their inferiors, He, on His part, despises, and beholds, as it were, afar off. He is most holy, and dwells in no hearts but such as are purged from the dross of earthly affections; and that these may be holy, and really capable of receiving His sacred Majesty, they must of necessity be purified. Know ye not, says the divine Apostle, that you, even your bodies, are the temples of the Holy Ghost, and therefore are to be preserved pure and holy? 1 Cor. vi. 19. But the mind that dwells within them, must be still more holy, as being the priest that, with constant and unwearied piety, offers up the sacrifices and sweet incense of pious affections, cheerful obedience, ardent prayers, and divine praises, to the Deity of that temple. Of your studies and exotic learning, I intend not to say much. The knowledge, I own, that men of letters, who are the most indefatigable in study, and have the advantage of the greatest abilities, can possibly attain to, is at best but very small. But since the knowledge of languages and sciences, however inconsiderable it may be, is the business of this society of ours, and of that period of years you are to pass here, let us do, I pray, as the Hebrews express it, "the work of the day while the day lasts *;" "for time slips silently away, and every succeeding hour is attended with greater disadvantages than that which went before it +." Study to acquire such a philosophy as is not barren and babbling, but solid and true; not such a one as floats upon the surface of endless verbal controversies, but one that enters into the nature of things: for he spoke good sense, who said, "The philosophy of the Greeks was a mere jargon and noise of words." You who are engaged in philosophical inquiries, ought to remember in the mean while, that you are not so strictly confined to that study, but you may, at the same time, become proficients in elocution; and, indeed, it is proper you should. I would therefore have you to apply to both these studies with equal attention, that so you may not only attain some knowledge of nature, but also be in condition to communicate your sentiments with ease, upon those subjects you understand, and clothe your thoughts with words and expressions; without which, all your knowledge will differ but very little from buried ignorance. In joining these two studies together, you have not only reason for your guide, but also Aristotle himself for your example; for we are told, that it was his custom to walk up and down in the school in the morning, teaching philosophy, particularly those speculative and more obscure points which in * Opus diei in die suo. + Tempus nam tacitum subruit, horaque * Φιλισοφία Ελλήνων λόγων ψοφος. that age were called rationes acroamatica; and thus he was employed till the hour appointed for anointing, and going to exercise*, but, after dinner, he applied to the more entertaining arts of persuasion, and made his scholars declaim upon such subjects as he appointed them. I But to return to my own province; for, to say the truth, I reckon all other things foreign to my purpose; whatever you do with regard to other studies, give always the preference to sacred Christian philosophy, which is, indeed, the chief philosophy, and has the pre-eminence over every other science, because it holds Christ to be The Head, t in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid. Col. ii. 3, 9. This, the Apostle tells us, was not the case of those false Christians in his time, whose philosophy regarded only some idle superstitions and vain observations. Cultivate, therefore, say, this sacred wisdom sent down from Heaven. Let this be your main study; for its mysteries are the most profound, its precepts the most pure, and, at the same time, the most pleasant. In this study, a weak understanding will be no disadvantage, if you have but a willing mind and ardent desires. Here, if any where, the observation holds, "That if you love learning, you cannot fail to make great progress therein ‡." For some who have applied with great industry to human philosophy, have found it to be like a disdainful mistress, and lost their labour; but Divine philosophy invites and encourages even those of the meanest parts. And, indeed, it may be no small comfort and relief to young men of slow capacities, who make but little progress in human sciences, even when they apply to them with the most excessive labour and diligence, that this heavenly doctrine, though it be the most exalted in its own nature, is not only accessible to those of the lowest and meanest parts, but they are cheerfully * Μέχρι τοῦ ἁλείματος. † Ως κεφαλην κράτει. † Εαν ἧς φιλομαθής, ἔση πολυμαθής. Isoc. ad Dem. |