The Collected Works of Theodore Parker, Vol. 9: Minister of the Twenty-Eighth Congregational Society at Boston, U. S., Containing His Theological, ... and Literary Miscellanies; Critical Writ - Softcover

Excerpt from The Collected Works of Theodore Parker, Vol. 9: Minister of the Twenty-Eighth Congregational Society at Boston, U. S., Containing His Theological, Polemical, and Critical Writings, Sermons, Speeches, and Addresses, and Literary Miscellanies; Critical Writings

This was a true man 5 such as had never been seen be fore. None such has risen since his time. He was so true, that he could tolerate nothing false 5 SO pure and holy, that he, and perhaps he alone Of all men, was justified in calling others by their proper name 5 even when that pro per name was Blind Guide, fool, Hypocrite, Child Of the Devil. He found men forgetful of God. They seemed to fancy He was dead. They lived as if there had once been a God, who had grown Old and deceased. They were mis taken also as to the nature Of Man. They saw he had a body 5 they forgot he is a Soul, and has a Soul's Rights, and a Soul's Duties. Accordingly they believed there had been Revelations, in the days of their fathers, when God was alive and active. They knew not there were Revela tions every day to faithful Souls 5 - Revelations just as real, just as direct, just as true, just as sublime, just as valuable, as those of Old tfle 5 for the Holy Spirit has not yet been exhausted, nor the River Of God's inspiration been drunk dry by a few Old Hebrews, great and divine souls though they were.

He found men clinging to tradition, as orphan girls cling to the robe Of their mother dead and buried, hoping to find life in what had once covered the living. Thus men stood with their faces nailed to the past 5 their eyes fastened to the ground. They dreamed not the sun rose each morn ing fresh and anew. SO their teachers looked only at the West, seeking the light amid dark and thundering clouds, and mocking at such as, turning their faces to the East, expounded the signs Of new morning, and wished for the day.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Collected Works of Theodore Parker, Vol. 9: Minister of the Twenty-Eighth Congregational Society at Boston, U. S., Containing His Theological, Polemical, and Critical Writings, Sermons, Speeches, and Addresses, and Literary Miscellanies; Critical Writings

"Hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches,... I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead." - Bible.

Evert man has at times in his mind the Ideal of what he should be, but is not. This ideal may be high and complete, or it may be quite low and insufficient; yet in all men that really seek to improve, it is better than the actual character. Perhaps no one is satisfied with himself, so that he never wishes to be wiser, better, and more holy. Man never falls so low, that he can see nothing higher than himself. This ideal man which we project, as it were, out of ourselves, and seek to make real; this Wisdom, Goodness, and Holiness, which we aim to transfer from our thoughts to our life, has an action, more or less powerful, on each man, rendering him dissatisfied with present attainments, and restless unless he is becoming better. With some men it takes the rose out of the cheek, and forces them to wander a long pilgrimage of temptations, before they reach the delectable mountains of Tranquillity, and find "Rest for the Soul," under the Tree of Life.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.