the civilization of the renaissance in italy-第87部分

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he　Italian　Protestants　came　forward　as　　Anti…Trinitarians　and　Socinians；　and　even　as　exiles　in　distant　　countries　made　the　memorable　attempt　to　found　a　church　on　these　　principles。　From　the　foregoing　exposition　it　will　be　clear　that；　apart　　from　humanistic　rationalism；　other　spirits　were　at　work　in　this　field。

One　chief　centre　of　theistic　modes　of　thought　lay　in　the　Platonic　　Academy　at　Florence；　and　especially　in　Lorenzo　il　Magnifico　himself。　　The　theoretical　works　and　even　the　letters　of　these　men　show　us　only　　half　their　nature。　It　is　true　that　Lorenzo；　from　his　youth　till　he　　died；　expressed　himself　dogmatically　as　a　Christian；　and　that　Pico　was　　drawn　by　Savonarola's　influence　to　accept　the　point　of　view　of　a　　monkish　ascetic。　But　in　the　hymns　of　Lorenzo；　which　we　are　tempted　to　　regard　as　the　highest　product　of　the　spirit　of　this　school；　an　　unreserved　Theism　is　set　forth　a　Theism　which　strives　to　treat　the　　world　as　a　great　moral　and　physical　Cosmos。

While　the　men　of　the　Middle　Ages　look　on　the　world　as　a　vale　of　tears；　　which　Pope　and　Emperor　are　set　to　guard　against　the　coming　of　　Antichrist；　while　the　fatalists　of　the　Renaissance　oscillate　between　　seasons　of　overflowing　energy　and　seasons　of　superstition　or　of　stupid　　resignation）　here；　in　this　circle　of　chosen　spirits；　the　doctrine　is　　upheld　that　the　visible　world　was　created　by　God　in　love；　that　it　is　　the　copy　of　a　pattern　pre…existing　in　Him；　and　that　He　will　ever　remain　　its　eternal　mover　and　restorer。　The　soul　of　man　can　by　recognizing　God　　draw　Him　into　its　narrow　boundaries；　but　also　by　love　of　Him　expand　　itself　into　the　Infiniteand　this　is　blessedness　on　earth。

Echoes　of　medieval　mysticism　here　flow　into　one　current　with　Platonic　　doctrines　and　with　a　characteristically　modern　spirit。　One　of　the　most　　precious　fruits　of　the　knowledge　of　the　world　and　of　man　here　comes　to　　maturity；　on　whose　account　alone　the　Italian　Renaissance　must　be　called　　the　leader　of　modern　ages。





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