lecture02-第4部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
the whole a religious state of mind; although I dare say that to
many of you it may seem too listless and half…hearted to merit so
good a name。 But what matters it in the end whether we call such
a state of mind religious or not? It is too insignificant for
our instruction in any case; and its very possessor wrote it down
in terms which he would not have used unless he had been thinking
of more energetically religious moods in others; with which he
found himself unable to compete。 It is with these more energetic
states that our sole business lies; and we can perfectly well
afford to let the minor notes and the uncertain border go。 It
was the extremer cases that I had in mind a little while ago
when I said that personal religion; even without theology or
ritual; would prove to embody some elements that morality pure
and simple does not contain。 You may remember that I promised
shortly to point out what those elements were。 In a general way
I can now say what I had in mind。
〃I accept the universe〃 is reported to have been a favorite
utterance of our New England transcendentalist; Margaret Fuller;
and when some one repeated this phrase to Thomas Carlyle; his
sardonic comment is said to have been: 〃Gad! she'd better!〃 At
bottom the whole concern of both morality and religion is with
the manner of our acceptance of the universe。 Do we accept it
only in part and grudgingly; or heartily and altogether? Shall
our protests against certain things in it be radical and
unforgiving; or shall we think that; even with evil; there are
ways of living that must lead to good? If we accept the whole;
shall we do so as if stunned into submissionas Carlyle would
have us〃Gad! we'd better!〃or shall we do so with enthusiastic
assent? Morality pure and simple accepts the law of the whole
which it finds reigning; so far as to acknowledge and obey it;
but it may obey it with the heaviest and coldest heart; and never
cease to feel it as a yoke。 But for religion; in its strong and
fully developed manifestations; the service of the highest never
is felt as a yoke。 Dull submission is left far behind; and a
mood of welcome; which may fill any place on the scale between
cheerful serenity and enthusiastic gladness; has taken its place。
It makes a tremendous emotional and practical difference to one
whether one accept the universe in the drab discolored way of
stoic resignation to necessity; or with the passionate happiness
of Christian saints。 The difference is as great as that between
passivity and activity; as that between the defensive and the
aggressive mood。 Gradual as are the steps by which an individual
may grow from one state into the other; many as are the
intermediate stages which different individuals represent; yet
when you place the typical extremes beside each other for
comparison; you feel that two discontinuous psychological
universes confront you; and that in passing from one to the other
a 〃critical point〃 has been overcome。
If we compare stoic with Christian ejaculations we see much more
than a difference of doctrine; rather is it a difference of
emotional mood that parts them。 When Marcus Aurelius reflects on
the eternal reason that has ordered things; there is a frosty
chill about his words which you rarely find in a Jewish; and
never in a Christian piece of religious writing。 The universe is
〃accepted〃 by all these writers; but how devoid of passion or
exultation the spirit of the Roman Emperor is! Compare his fine
sentence: 〃If gods care not for me or my children; here is a
reason for it;〃 with Job's cry: 〃Though he slay me; yet will I
trust in him!〃 and you immediately see the difference I mean。
The anima mundi; to whose disposal of his own personal destiny
the Stoic consents; is there to be respected and submitted to;
but the Christian God is there to be loved; and the difference of
emotional atmosphere is like that between an arctic climate and
the tropics; though the outcome in the way of accepting actual
conditions uncomplainingly may seem in abstract terms to be much
the same。
〃It is a man's duty;〃 says Marcus Aurelius; 〃to comfort himself
and wait for the natural dissolution; and not to be vexed; but to
find refreshment solely in these thoughtsfirst that nothing
will happen to me which is not conformable to the nature of the
universe; and secondly that I need do nothing contrary to the God
and deity within me; for there is no man who can compel me to
transgress。 He is an abscess on the universe who withdraws
and separates himself from the reason of our common nature;
through being displeased with the things which happen。 For the
same nature produces these; and has produced thee too。 And so
accept everything which happens; even if it seem disagreeable;
because it leads to this; the health of the universe and to the
prosperity and felicity of Zeus。 For he would not have brought
on any man what he has brought if it were not useful for the
whole。 The integrity of the whole is mutilated if thou cuttest
off anything。 And thou dost cut off; as far as it is in thy
power; when thou art dissatisfied; and in a manner triest to put
anything out of the way。〃'14'
'14' Book V。; ch。 ix。 (abridged)。
Compare now this mood with that of the old Christian author of
the Theologia Germanica:
〃Where men are enlightened with the true light; they renounce all
desire and choice; and commit and commend themselves and all
things to the eternal Goodness; so that every enlightened man
could say: 'I would fain be to the Eternal Goodness what his own
hand is to a man。' Such men are in a state of freedom; because
they have lost the fear of pain or hell; and the hope of reward
or heaven; and are living in pure submission to the eternal
Goodness; in the perfect freedom of fervent love。 When a man
truly perceiveth and considereth himself; who and what he is; and
findeth himself utterly vile and wicked and unworthy; he falleth
into such a deep abasement that it seemeth to him reasonable that
all creatures in heaven and earth should rise up against him。
And therefore he will not and dare not desire any consolation and
release; but he is willing to be unconsoled and unreleased; and
he doth not grieve over his sufferings; for they are right in his
eyes; and he hath nothing to say against them。 This is what is
meant by true repentance for sin; and he who in this present time
entereth into this hell; none may console him。 Now God hath not
forsaken a man in this hell; but He is laying his hand upon him;
that the man may not desire nor regard anything but the eternal
Good only。 And then; when the man neither careth for nor
desireth anything but the eternal Good alone; and seeketh not
himself nor his own things; but the honour of God only; he is
made a partaker of all manner of joy; bliss; peace; rest; and
consolation; and so the man is henceforth in the kingdom of
heaven。 This hell and this heaven are two good safe ways for a
man; and happy is he who truly findeth them。〃'15'
'15' Chaps。 x。; xi。 (abridged): Winkworth's translation。
How much more active and positive the impulse of the Christian
writer to accept his place in the universe is! Marcus Aurelius
agrees TO the schemethe German theologian agrees WITH it。 He
literally ABOUNDS in agreement; he runs out to embrace the divine
decrees。
Occasionally; it is true; the stoic rises to something like a
Christian warmth of sentiment; as in the often quoted passage of
Marcus Aurelius:
〃Everything harmonizes with me which is harmonious to thee; O
Universe。 Nothing for me is too early nor too late; which is in
due time for thee。 Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons
bring; O Nature: from thee are all things; in thee are all
things; to thee all things return。 The poet says; Dear City of
Cecrops; and wilt thou not say; Dear City of Zeus?〃'16'
'16' Book IV。; 523
But compare even as devout a passage as this with a genuine
Christian outpouring; and it seems a little cold。 Turn; for
instance; to the Imitation of Christ:
〃Lord; thou knowest what is best; let this or that be according
as thou wilt。 Give what thou wilt; so much as thou wilt; when
thou wilt。 Do with me as thou knowest best; and as shall be most
to thine honour。 Place me where thou wilt; and freely work thy
will with me in all things。 。 。 。 When could it be evil when
thou wert near? I had rather be poor for thy sake than rich
without thee。 I choose rather to be a pilgrim upon the earth
with thee; than without thee to possess heaven。 Where thou art;
there is heaven; and where thou art not; behold there death and
hell。〃'17'
'17' Benham's translation: Book III。; chaps。 xv。; lix。 Compare
Mary Moody Emerson: 〃Let me be a blot on this fair world; the
obscurest the loneliest sufferer; with one provisothat I know
it is His agency。 I will love Him though He shed frost and
darkness on every way of mine。〃 R。 W。 Emerson: Lectures and
Biographical Sketches; p。 188。
It is a good rule in physiology; when we are studying the meaning
of an organ; to ask after its most peculiar and characteristic
sort of performance; a