Philosophia Ultima

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J.B. Lippincott, 1861 - 96 pages

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Page 60 - For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
Page 10 - It is a pleasure to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea : a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to see a battle, and the adventures thereof below : but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of truth," (a hill not to be commanded, and where the air is always clear and serene,) " and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below," f so always that this prospect be with pity, and not with swelling or pride.
Page 10 - to stand upon the shore, and to see ships tossed upon the sea ; a pleasure to stand in the window of a castle, and to 44 see a battle and the adventures thereof below : but no pleasure is comparable to the standing upon the vantage ground of Truth, (a hill not to be commanded, and where the air is always clear and serene,) and to see the errors, and wanderings, and mists, and tempests, in the vale below...
Page 5 - In Theology we balance authorities, in Philosophy we weigh reasons. A holy man was Lactantius who denied that the earth was round ; a holy man was Augustine, who granted the rotundity, but denied the antipodes; a holy thing to me is the Inquisition, which allows the smallness of the earth, but denies its motion; but more holy to me is Truth ; and hence I prove...
Page 5 - Augustin, who granted the rotundity, but denied the antipodes ; a holy thing to me is the Inquisition, which allows the smallness of the earth, but denies its motion ; but more holy to me is Truth ; and hence I prove, from philosophy, that the earth is round, and inhabited on every side, of small size, and in motion among the stars, — and this I do with no disrespect to the Doctors.
Page 3 - ... put forth our prayers to God, that remembering the miseries of mankind, and the pilgrimage of this life, where we pass but few days and sorrowful, he would vouchsafe, through our hands, and the hands of others, to whom he has given the like mind, to relieve the human race by a new act of his bounty.
Page 3 - ... divine mysteries may arise; but rather that the understanding, now cleared up, and purged of all vanity and superstition, may remain entirely subject to the divine oracles, and yield to faith, the things that are faith's : and lastly, that expelling the poisonous knowledge infused by the serpent, which puffs up and swells the human mind, we may neither be wise above measure, nor go beyond the bounds of sobriety, but pursue the truth in charity.
Page 3 - We likewise humbly beseech him, that what is human may not clash with what is divine : and that when the ways of the senses are opened, and a greater natural light set up in the mind, nothing of incredulity and blindness towards divine mysteries may arise; but rather that the understanding, now cleared up, and purged of all vanity and superstition, may remain entirely subject to the divine oracles, and yield to faith, the things that are faith's...
Page 64 - ... held positive truth to be unattainable, inferior to others who dogmatized at will. They did not, however, like us, prepare helps for the guidance of the senses and understanding, as we have done, but at once abolished all belief and authority, which is a totally different and almost opposite matter. The sixth and last part of our work, to which all the rest are subservient, is to lay down that philosophy which shall flow from the just, pure, and strict inquiry hitherto proposed.
Page 17 - ... anything with vehemence, as to the mysteries of faith, or over-curiously to examine and sift them, by prying into the manner of the mystery, is no safe thing : " Give unto faith the things that are faith's." And the heathens grant as much in that excellent and divine fable of the golden chain, where " men and gods are represented as unable to draw Jupiter to earth, but Jupiter able to draw them up to heaven.

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