date

1818 Jan y 18 Not Paul Ch.
1818 Jan y 18

Not Paul

Ch. Style

4

§. Nonsense its forms

How comes it―it may perhaps here be asked that Saint Paul Interlinear note in pencil: ‘or any man’. having a

determinate object always / on every occasion / in view ―and that an object of such

importance can have been entertained / entertaining / any such hopes as that of

rendering nonsense subservient to the attainment of it?

Answer―As with other men on other occasions―so on this occasion was it with Saint

Paul. For the conveyance of instruction instruction applying itself to the reasoning

/ judicial / faculty nothing less than an entire proposition will / can / ever serve.

But Paul’s business was―not with the reason, but with the appetites and the passions

and the appetites: principally / especially / with the passions of fear and hope. Now

for setting to work the passions much may be done by single words by single words

made up into propositions or even by single words considered independently of any

propositions in the composition of which they are found. By the single word hell for example what an agony of fire? by the single word heaven what an ecstasy of hope or any rate[?] of desire? By the

single word eternity what a mixture of conflicting yet ever

connected passions fear and hope. Salvation―damnation―Lord Jesus―author of the one or

hope for preserve[?] against the other.

To words such as these To the purpose of exciting the most lively emotions it is not

necessary that any groundwork should be laid for them in solid sense: drowned /

drenched / in a deluge of nonsense they would still be raising their heads above the

deluge.

The requisite associations once formed, with no other stock than a moderate

assortment of words such as these with the phrases capable of being made up out of

them, without much difficulty may even the reputation even of eloquence be earned /

attained / , and the effects of it produced.

JB footnote at this point: ‘ proceed to shew that clear ideas are fatal to

eloquence.’
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  • Title: [1818 Jan y 18 Not Paul I Argument]
    Description: 1818 Jan y 18

    Not Paul

    I Argument

    Ch. 6 Style

    1

    § Nonsense forms of

     Extend this to the case of propositions irrelevant or plainly useless identical[?]

    propositions &c.

    Different forms of nonsense observable in the discourses of Saint Paul.

    As to the word nonsense that it has here / on this occasion /

    been employed is the result of unavoidable necessity, not of choice. Employed as it

    is sometimes / so often / seen to be employed it is a term of vague vituperation

    frequently replete / taxable[?] / with exaggeration, even when it is not altogether

    destitute of just ground.

    On the present occasion the purpose for which it is employed is that of giving

    expression to one particular imperfection to an imperfection of an altogether

    determinate kind for the designation of which the language has not been found to

    afford any other word.

    When out of the assemblage of words in question no proposition conveying any

    determinate import applicable to the subject in hand and clear or capable of being

    made clear of obscurity can be made out, nonsense is the genuine appellation which by general usage is wont to be

    employed in speaking of such assemblage of words. In this case for example are the

    sort of verses which for perfecting their acquaintance with the prosody of Greek or

    Latin Prosody / […?] / learners are set to construct. taken by itself, to each word

    belongs its import: but when they are taken together, out of an assemblage of them

    unless by accident can any intelligible proposition be made out. Now, then so it is

    that to the eyes by which this pen[?] to no inconsiderable portion of the whole body

    of discourse of which these Epistles of Paul’s are composed, such is the character

    which has presented itself as appertaining. So far as Paul is concerned / regards /

    The question all along is Revelation or no Revelation? the language the sort of

    discourse there uttered by Paul has it had for its efficient cause assistance derived

    from the Almighty in a supernatural mode?
  • Title: [1817 Sept. 8 Not Paul Ch.]
    Description: 1817 Sept. 8

    Not Paul

    Ch. Style Paul’s Nonsense

    I. Argument

    Ch. Paul’s Style

    Samples of Nonsense

    I Rom. III. 3. 6. 8: Antithetical Nonsense: about belief and unbelief; truth and lies; unrighteousness and righteousness; evil and good.

    Not very strong. Stet.

    II Rom III. 21. to 31.

    Rambling Nonsense.

    Nonsense about righteousness — the law — faith — sin — glory & justification flesh — redemption grace propitiation blood —remission of sins boasting — works — circumcision — uncircumcision — Jews —Gentiles

    Not very strong. Stet.

    III Rom. V. 1 to 21.

    Incoherent Nonsense. Nonsense about Faith peace — grace— hope — glory — tribulation patience, experience hope — sin— death love blood — wrath — enmity — reconciliation — life joy — atonement — law Adam — Moses— offence — free gift condemnation — justification — disobedience— obedience.

    IV. Rom. IV 1 to 25 the end.

    By faith, Abraham was saved without having been circumcised: therefore so may any body else. This if any, the whole meaning; drowned in a deluge of nonsense.

    V. Rom. VI 1 to 23.

    Antithetical Nonsense. Nonsense everlastingly repeated, about Death and life— sin baptism — resurrection — crucifixion of our old man —lusts of the body — Sin and grace — righteousness uncleanness iniquity holiness — fruit—freedom from righteousness.

    VI. Rom. VII. 1 to 25.

    Tautologies Indefatigably repeated nonsense antithetical. Nonsense about the Law—Marriage — adultery — death — body of Christ— resurrection fruit — flesh — motions of sins — members — spirit — letter — lust — commandment —concupiscence —holy, just and good commandments — spirituality — carnality: concluding with a sad paraphrase of Video meliora proboque, Deteriora sequor.

    VII. Rom. VIII. 1 to 18

    Unmercifully repeated antithetical Nonsense. Nonsense about flesh and spirit — law and sin— —life — and death —peace and enmity —bondage and adoption — kinship glorification —suffering and glory.

    VIII. Rom. VIII. 19 to 27

    Nonsense about the Creature. Bondage of corruption and glorious liberty— first fruits of the Spirit — groaning adoption — redemption hope patience. The Spirit —infirmities — prayer— mind of the spirit making intercession for Saints according to God.

    IX.

    Post off to Doctrine

    Rom. VIII. 28 to 34.

    Nonsense about Calling, foreknowledge — predestination— the first born justification— glorification election, delivering up of God’s own son.

    Add. Eph. I 9 to 14.

    X. Rom. VIII. 34 to 39.

    Nonsense about love of God and love of Christ Jesus— —condemnation death —resurrection — intercession tribulation distress persecution —famine — nakedness peril sword angels principalities — powers things present— things to come — height, depth, and any other creature.

    Motto from Paul

    I Cor. XIV. 9.

    ‘So likewise you, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood ( Marg sig nificant) how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak in the air.

    Miracles &c

    I Cor. XII. 28.

    And God hath set some in the Church first apostles, then secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, the gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongue.

    Revelation.

    I. Cor. XIV. 26.

    How is it then brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying.

    Power exercised.

    I. Cor XIV 37. Domineeringness exemplified.
  • Title: [1818 Jan. 28 Not Paul Doctrine]
    Description: 1818 Jan. 28

    Not Paul

    Doctrine

    Motives to Doctrine

    Ch Mysticism

    § Lord’s Supper

    For bringing to view the prodigious mass / deluge / of mischief with which the abuse of this one little anecdote / incident / in itself at once so natural and comparatively so unimportant has inundated the world, the single word transubstantiation may on the present occasion at least suffice. For this mischief To Saint Paul this world it will now seem, stands indebted for it.

    That by his select disciples and most if not all exclusively confidential servants this / the / recommendation given to them by their departed master should attentively and regularly be complied with / be followed by expressions in attentive and regular observance / is an incident altogether natural: of an institution of this sort the seeds are sown in the universal principles of human nature: it belongs to all places and all times: the cause / causes / by which in these our day[s] in all places and all times conviviality is / the contents of the convivial cup are / a cement to union: as in these days in this country at a Fox / Pitt / dinner it serves in that character to the party / faction / of the Whigs / Tories /, at Jerusalem in those days a Jesus supper served, though to so much higher and better a purpose yet still in the same character to the select disciples of the religion and attendants on the person of Jesus. It is by Saint Paul that this cement of private union was converted into an instrument / a dose of / public dissention and universal poison.