especially imply weakness, as hypocrisy, lying, defamation; he is magnanimous, and has the virtues of a hero; but is also capable of being a despot. This temperament is more commonly found in men than women; in mature life than in youth. It was the temperament of the ancient Romans, and is now that of the modern Spaniards and Italians. The man of melancholic temperament is indifferent to the outward world, and carries his world deeply hidden within himself; is inclined to sorrow, despondency, suspicion, ill-will, misanthropy ; has an inclination to solitude, an aversion to noisy sports, joyous society; no special predilection for freedom; loves the elevated, the awful, the gloomy in art and nature; is fond of letting his thoughts dwell in a world of spirits and phantasms; loves profound thought, radical investigation, speculative rather than practical science; is apt to adhere to a one-sided view of things; is industrious, persevering, tenacious; aims after inward refinement and perfection; is still, cautious and apprehensive; fond of the sombre, grotesque, monstrous; insensible to his own outward wants, or those of others, but is consumed with deep inward sorrow; inclined to self-mortification, self-torment, the life of an anchorite; is withal equable in feeling and conduct. This is the temperament of men rather than women, and of the later rather than the earlier life. Among the ancients, the inhabitants of the Indies were melancholic; at the present day among cultivated Europeans, the English are so. While the choleric writes in a clear and precise style, the melancholic prefers an obscure philosophical style. The choleric belongs to the Socratic school, the melancholic to the Stoical; the former is predisposed in favour of the Protestant religion, the latter of the Catholic; the former manifests his degeneracy by fanaticism, the latter, by mysticism. NOTE M, p. 26. The following letter, referred to also in Tholuck's Pref. to new Ed. of Sermons, p. 45, is found in Luther's Works, vol. V. pp. 18, 19. John Luther was the eldest son of the Reformer, was born in 1526, and was therefore four years old when this letter was written. "Grace and peace in Christ, my dearly beloved little son. I am glad to know that you are learning well, and that you say your prayers. So do, my little son, and persevere; and when I come home I will bring with me a present from the annual fair. I know of a pleasant and beautiful garden into which many children go, where they have golden little coats, and gather pretty apples under the trees, and pears, and cherries, and plums, (Pflaumen) and yellow plums, (Spillen); where they sing, leap, and are merry; where they also have beautiful little horses with golden bridles and silver saddles. When I asked the man that owned the garden, Whose are these children?' he said, they are the children that love to pray, and to learn, and are pious. Then I said, 'Dear Sir, I also have a son; he is called Johnny Luther (Hansichen Luther). May he not come into the garden, that he may eat such beautiful apples and pears, and may ride such a little horse, and play with these children?' Then the man said, 'If he loves to pray, and to learn, and is pious, he shall also come into the garden; Philip too, and little James; and if they all come together, then may they have likewise whistles, kettle-drums, lutes, and harps; they may dance also and shoot with little cross-bows.' Then he shewed me a beautiful green grass-plot in the garden, prepared for dancing, where hang nothing but golden fifes, drums, and elegant silver cross-bows. But it was now early, and the chil dren had not yet eaten. Therefore I could not wait for the dancing, and I said to the man, Ah, dear Sir, I will instantly go away, and write about all of this to my little son John; that he may pray earnestly and learn well and be pious, so that he also may come into this garden; but he has an aunt Magdalene, may he bring her with him?' Then said the man,- So shall it be: go and write to him with confidence.' Therefore, dear little John, learn and pray with delight, and tell Philip and James too that they must learn and pray; so you shall come with one another into the garden. With this I commend you to Almighty God, and give my love to aunt Magdalene; give her a kiss for me. In the year 1530. Your affectionate father. MARTIN LUTHER.” |