DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0182
18 o ^ Serious Call to
Nay, in every order and station of life, whether of learning or
business, either in Church or State, you cannot act up to the
spirit of Religion, without renouncing the most general temper
and behaviour of those, who are of the same order and business as
yourself. ■
And though human prudence seems to talk mighty wisely about
the necessity of avoiding particularities, yet he that dares not be
so weak as to be particular, will be often obliged to avoid the
most substantial duties of Christian piety.
These reflections will, I hope, help you to break through those
difficulties, and resist those temptations, which the authority and
fashion of the world have raised against the practice of Christian
humility.
Chapter XVIII.
Showing how the education which men gene-
rally receive in their youth^ makes the
doctrines of humility difficult to be practised.
The spirit of a better education^ represented
in the character of Paternus.
ANOTHER difficulty in the practice of humility, arises
from our education. We are all of us, for the most
part corruptly educated, and then committed to take
our course in a corrupt world; so that it is no wonder,
if examples of great piety are so seldom seen.
Great part of the world are undone, by being born and bred in
families that have no Religion ; where they are made vicious and
irregular, by being like those with whom they first lived.
But this is not the thing I now mean; the education that I
here intend, is such as children generally receive from virtuous
and sober parents, and learned tutors and governors.
Had we continued perfect, as God created the first manf
perhaps the perfection of our nature had been a sufficient self-
instruction for everyone. But as sickness and diseases have
created the necessity of medicines and physicians, so the change
and disorder of our rational nature, have introduced the necessity
of education and tutors.
And as the only end of the physician is, to restore nature to
Nay, in every order and station of life, whether of learning or
business, either in Church or State, you cannot act up to the
spirit of Religion, without renouncing the most general temper
and behaviour of those, who are of the same order and business as
yourself. ■
And though human prudence seems to talk mighty wisely about
the necessity of avoiding particularities, yet he that dares not be
so weak as to be particular, will be often obliged to avoid the
most substantial duties of Christian piety.
These reflections will, I hope, help you to break through those
difficulties, and resist those temptations, which the authority and
fashion of the world have raised against the practice of Christian
humility.
Chapter XVIII.
Showing how the education which men gene-
rally receive in their youth^ makes the
doctrines of humility difficult to be practised.
The spirit of a better education^ represented
in the character of Paternus.
ANOTHER difficulty in the practice of humility, arises
from our education. We are all of us, for the most
part corruptly educated, and then committed to take
our course in a corrupt world; so that it is no wonder,
if examples of great piety are so seldom seen.
Great part of the world are undone, by being born and bred in
families that have no Religion ; where they are made vicious and
irregular, by being like those with whom they first lived.
But this is not the thing I now mean; the education that I
here intend, is such as children generally receive from virtuous
and sober parents, and learned tutors and governors.
Had we continued perfect, as God created the first manf
perhaps the perfection of our nature had been a sufficient self-
instruction for everyone. But as sickness and diseases have
created the necessity of medicines and physicians, so the change
and disorder of our rational nature, have introduced the necessity
of education and tutors.
And as the only end of the physician is, to restore nature to