date

1817 Nov 19 Not Paul II. Doctrine
1817 Nov 19

Not Paul

II. Doctrine

Ch. In Jesus no Asceticism

§.1. Negative proof

Among the items contained in /Of the two classes in one or other of which are

comprizable/ the list of pleasures of which the list of pleasures is composed, those

to which the attacks of asceticism have applied themselves with greatest energy are

the pleasures of sense: and among those of sense that in which the individual, and

that in which the species respectively depend for their preservation say pleasures of

the palate /table/ and sexual pleasures /pleasures of the bed/.

On no occasion against either of these classes in the aggregate or against any one

modification of them taken separately among the sayings of Jesus, as recorded in any

one of the four Gospel histories, will so much as a single /any one/ saying, whereby

directly or indirectly any mark of reprobation is cast upon any of these pleasures,

be found.

Of the truth of this position a proof more summary and more satisfactory than negative as is the complexion of it, might readily have been

imagined, may be seen in the /a/ work of an orthodox and dignified divine of the

Church of England, viz. Gastrell Bishop of Chester—his Christian institutes.
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  • Title: [1817 Nov. 19 Not Paul Ch. In]
    Description: 1817 Nov. 19

    Not Paul

    Ch. In Jesus no Asceticism

    §.1. Negative proof

    On these subjects respectively, to any such effect as that of condemnation had so

    much as the least hint from the life of Jesus the Bishop in these ‘Christian

    Institutes’ of his would he have omitted to have given them a place? By no man can

    any such supposition be entertained. On the whole field of the pleasures of

    sense—pleasures of the table pleasures of the be excluded, behold here following

    every thing he could find upon which any construction by which they could be brought

    to bear any relation to this subject could be put. Here they follow |^^^| passages

    and no more: and of these three one the extent and thence irrelevancy of which will

    be recognized as soon as indicated.

    I. Under the head of Temperance. Luke xxi. 34. Speaking to his disciples—and warning them to put and keep

    themselves in a state of preparation for the approaching catastrophe ‘And take heed

    to yourselves (says he /Jesus/) lest at any time your hearts should be overcharged

    with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you

    unawares.’ Here for the subjects of the warning /precept/ we have /here we see/ the

    pleasures of the table: warning? but for what purpose? for the purpose of prohibition

    /simple abstinence/? no: nothing more than for the purpose /avoidance/ of abstaining

    from excess: from the reaping them in those circumstances in which in the only

    intelligible and rational sense they may be termed impure—to a preponderant degree

    impure.
  • Title: [1817 Nov 19 Not Paul II. Doctrine]
    Description: 1817 Nov 19

    Not Paul

    II. Doctrine

    Ch. In Jesus no Asceticism

    §.1. Negative proof

    7. John loved by Jesus. 8. White-robed Youth. 9. Sodom & Gomorrah’s

    fate.

    Conceditur in Mount Sermon much self-denial: but all for the good i.e. pleasure

    of others.

    Ch. Asceticism uniformly discountenanced—no where countenanced by Jesus

    §.1. Negative proof.

    Look over the whole of the Gospel history as contained in the writings of the four

    Evangelists—bring to view whatever report is there to be found concerning the acts

    and sayings and acts of Jesus—in no one passage of that body of history will any

    thing be found by which any countenance /favourable report/ can justly /truly/ be

    said to be been lent /shewn/ to asceticism. On the contrary much will be found by

    which discountenance is shewn to that so deplorably feeble source of unhappiness,

    folly and wickedness.

    For proof of these positions, let us bring to view in the first place his sayings or precepts—in the next place

    his acts or collectively speaking his practice.
  • Title: [1817 Nov. 19 Not Paul II. Doctrine]
    Description: 1817 Nov. 19

    Not Paul

    II. Doctrine

    Ch. In Jesus no Asceticism

    §.1. Negative proof

    II. Luke vi. 25. ‘Wo unto you that are full: for ye shall

    hunger.’ But upon what supposition can this saying thus be so distorted as to [be]

    made applicable to the /this/ purpose: upon the supposition that in his eyes it was

    matter of sin for a man ever to have a bellyful. It is part and parcel of the Sermon

    on the Mount. The real purpose /import/ of it belongs not to the present purpose. By

    the contents of a verse which precedes it but by four verses v. 21. it will be

    rendered sufficiently manifest that it had no such object in view as that of passing

    a general censure /mark of reprobation/ on the pleasure of the table and by his own

    example this will presently be put out of doubt—v. 21. Blessed [are] ye that hunger

    now: for ye shall be filled.

    [Blesses are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.] Here to be

    filled is it numbered among evil things? no: but even among good things: objects of hope founded in promise /faith and hope/.