May 28, 2009
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
- generally attributed to Abraham Lincoln
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The Imitation of Christ, III.4-6
Thomas À Kempis (1380-1471)
4. All perfection in this life hath some imperfection mixed with it; and no knowledge of ours is without some darkness.
A humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.
Yet learning is not to be blamed, not the mere knowledge of any thing whatsoever, for that is good in itself, and ordained by God; but a good conscience and a virtuous life are always to be preferred before it.
But because many endeavour rather to get knowledge than to live well; therefore they are often deceived, and reap either none or but little fruit.
5. O, if men bestowed as much labour in the rooting out of vices, and the planting of virtues, as they do in the moving of questions, neither would so many evils be done, not so great scandal be given in the world.
Truly, at the day of judgment we shall not be examined as to what we have read, but as to what we have done [Matt xxv]; not as to how well we have spoken, but as to how religiously we have lived.
Tell me, where are all those Doctors and Masters, with whom thou wast well acquainted, whilst they lived and flourished in learning?
Others occupy their places and perhaps do scarce ever think of those who went before them. In their lifetime they seemed something, but now they are not spoken of.
6. O, how quickly doth the glory of the world pass away [Eccl. ii.11]! Would that their life had been answerable to their learning! Then had their study and reading been to good purpose.
How many perish by reason of vain learning [Titus i.10] of this world, who take little care of the serving of God.
And because they rather choose to be great than humble, therefore they become vain in their imaginations [Rom i.21].
He is truly great who has great love.
He is truly great that is little in himself, and that maketh no account of any height of honour [Matt xviii.4; xxiii.11]
He is truly wise, that accounteth all earthly things as dung, that he may win Christ [Phil iii.8].
And he is truly learned, that doeth the will of God, and forsaketh his own will.
Jul 7, 2008
It is truly my desire that this weblog be a place for myself and others to exhibit real integrity and honesty. I hope to do more question asking and humble pondering than making penetrating observations. But I’ll have to fight my pride on this. Sinfully, I would love for this to be a place where I deposit my jewels of wisdom in elegant prose that will dazzle all readers. But this would not really benefit me or anyone else most likely. Please feel free to hold me to that goal if you see me drifting from it.
There are so many things that I feel like I ought to know by now but don’t, and from talking to friends I know that I’m not alone in this. This can be particularly scary for a seminarian, who is looking ahead to the day when (hopefully) he will be asked to lead a body of fellow believers in the wisdom and truth of the Scriptures. I want to ask the kinds of questions that I’m usually too embarrassed to ask, and I want anyone who thinks that they might have a good answer or insight to share their comments. But I do ask that you would do so in a similar spirit of humility, praying for the wisdom to “think God’s thoughts after him”, as Cornelius Van Til put it.
Remaining in quiet embarrassed ignorance will only hurt me and those whom I am called to serve, and so I am challenging myself and all others to ask the easy questions as well as the hard ones.
More on this topic to come…
Feb 16, 2004
The body is a house of many windows: there we all sit, showing ourselves and crying on the passers-by to come and love us.
- Robert Lewis Stevenson
Nov 29, 1999
On no occasion call yourself a philosopher, nor talk at large of your principles among the multitude, but act on your principles. For instance, at a banquet do not say how one ought to eat, but eat as you ought. Remember that Socrates had so completely got rid of the thought of display that when men came and wanted an introduction to philosophers he took them to be introduced; so patient of neglect was he. And if a discussion arise among the multitude on some principle, keep silent for the most part; for you are in great danger of blurting out some undigested thought. And when someone says to you, “You know nothing,” and you do not let it provoke you, then you know that you are really on the right road. For sheep do not bring grass to their shepherds and show them how much they have eaten, but they digest their fodder and then produce it in the form of wool and milk. Do the same yourself; instead of displaying your principles to the multitude, show them the results of the principles you have digested.
- The Manual of Epictetus - #46
Oct 7, 1999
10/7/99:
Even a fragmentary collection of my thoughts and philosophy might be useful later - much like the fragments of the Presocratic philosophers.
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