DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0003
iv 'Prefatory ^Advertisement.
' This is just in the same poor state it was when he was only six
' years of age, and the old man prays now in that little form of
' words which his mother used to hear him repeat night and
' morning. This Mundanus, who hardly ever saw the poorest
' utensil, or ever took the meanest trifle into his hand, without
' considering how it might be made or used to better advantage,
' has gone all his life long praying in the same mariner as when
'he was a child without ever considering how much better or
' oftener he might pray. ... If Mundanus sees a book of devo-
' tion he passes it by as he does a spelling-book, because he
' remembers that he learned to pray so many years ago under
' his mother when he learned to spell. . . .'
It will probably not escape the attention of the thoughtful
reader that in Chapter XX., upon ' Intercessory Prayer,' William
Law sets our duty towards our Neighbour—particularly towards
such of whose reputation and manner of life we do not quite
approve—in a new, and deeply instructive light—in a most im-
pressive and logical passage, which it is remarkable should have
been omitted from Dr. Whyte'S recently published Selections
from Law's works.
In it William Law reminds us that when is 'let loose any
' ill-natured passion, either of hatred, or contempt, towards—as
' you suppose—an ill man, consider what you would think of
' another, who was doing the same towards a good man, and be
' assured that you are committing the same sin. You will per-
' haps say—How is it possible to love a good and a bad man, in
' the same degree ? Just as it is possible to be as jzist and faith-
'ful to a good man as to an evil man. Now are you in any
' difficulty about performing justice and faithfulness to a bad
' man ? Are you in any doubts whether you need be so just and
'faithful to him, as you need be to a good man ? Now why is
' it that you are in no doubt about it ? It is because you know
' that justice and faithfulness are founded upon reasons that never
' vary or change, that have no dependence upon the merits of
' men, but are founded in the Nature of Things, in the Laws of
' God, and therefore are to be observed with an equal exactness
' towards good and bad men. Now do but think thus justly of
' Charity, or love to your Neighbour, that it is founded upon
' reasons, that vary not, that have no dependence upon the merits
' of men, and then you will find it as possible to perform the
' same exact charity, as the same exact justice, to all men, whether
' good or bad.'
G. B. M.
' This is just in the same poor state it was when he was only six
' years of age, and the old man prays now in that little form of
' words which his mother used to hear him repeat night and
' morning. This Mundanus, who hardly ever saw the poorest
' utensil, or ever took the meanest trifle into his hand, without
' considering how it might be made or used to better advantage,
' has gone all his life long praying in the same mariner as when
'he was a child without ever considering how much better or
' oftener he might pray. ... If Mundanus sees a book of devo-
' tion he passes it by as he does a spelling-book, because he
' remembers that he learned to pray so many years ago under
' his mother when he learned to spell. . . .'
It will probably not escape the attention of the thoughtful
reader that in Chapter XX., upon ' Intercessory Prayer,' William
Law sets our duty towards our Neighbour—particularly towards
such of whose reputation and manner of life we do not quite
approve—in a new, and deeply instructive light—in a most im-
pressive and logical passage, which it is remarkable should have
been omitted from Dr. Whyte'S recently published Selections
from Law's works.
In it William Law reminds us that when is 'let loose any
' ill-natured passion, either of hatred, or contempt, towards—as
' you suppose—an ill man, consider what you would think of
' another, who was doing the same towards a good man, and be
' assured that you are committing the same sin. You will per-
' haps say—How is it possible to love a good and a bad man, in
' the same degree ? Just as it is possible to be as jzist and faith-
'ful to a good man as to an evil man. Now are you in any
' difficulty about performing justice and faithfulness to a bad
' man ? Are you in any doubts whether you need be so just and
'faithful to him, as you need be to a good man ? Now why is
' it that you are in no doubt about it ? It is because you know
' that justice and faithfulness are founded upon reasons that never
' vary or change, that have no dependence upon the merits of
' men, but are founded in the Nature of Things, in the Laws of
' God, and therefore are to be observed with an equal exactness
' towards good and bad men. Now do but think thus justly of
' Charity, or love to your Neighbour, that it is founded upon
' reasons, that vary not, that have no dependence upon the merits
' of men, and then you will find it as possible to perform the
' same exact charity, as the same exact justice, to all men, whether
' good or bad.'
G. B. M.