areopagitica-第11章
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it for nothing that the grave and frugal Transylvanian sends out
yearly from as far as the mountainous borders of Russia; and beyond
the Hercynian wilderness; not their youth; but their staid men; to
learn our language and our theologic arts。
Yet that which is above all this; the favour and the love of
Heaven; we have great argument to think in a peculiar manner
propitious and propending towards us。 Why else was this nation
chosen before any other; that out of her; as out of Sion; should be
proclaimed and sounded forth the first tidings and trumpet of
Reformation to all Europe? And had it not been the obstinate
perverseness of our prelates against the divine and admirable
spirit of Wickliff; to suppress him as a schismatic and innovator;
perhaps neither the Bohemian Huns and Jerome; no nor the name of
Luther or of Calvin; had been ever known: the glory of reforming
all our neighbours had been completely ours。 But now; as our
obdurate clergy have with violence demeaned the matter; we are
become hitherto the latest and the backwardest scholars; of whom
God offered to have made us the teachers。 Now once again by all
concurrence of signs; and by the general instinct of holy and
devout men; as they daily and solemnly express their thoughts; God
is decreeing to begin some new and great period in his Church; even
to the reforming of Reformation itself: what does he then but
reveal himself to his servants; and as his manner is; first to his
Englishmen? I say; as his manner is; first to us; though we mark
not the method of his counsels; and are unworthy。
Behold now this vast city: a city of refuge; the mansion house of
liberty; encompassed and surrounded with his protection; the shop
of war hath not there more anvils and hammers waking; to fashion
out the plates and instruments of armed justice in defence of
beleaguered truth; than there be pens and heads there; sitting by
their studious lamps; musing; searching; revolving new notions and
ideas wherewith to present; as with their homage and their fealty;
the approaching Reformation: others as fast reading; trying all
things; assenting to the force of reason and convincement。 What
could a man require more from a nation so pliant and so prone to
seek after knowledge? What wants there to such a towardly and
pregnant soil; but wise and faithful labourers; to make a knowing
people; a nation of prophets; of sages; and of worthies? We reckon
more than five months yet to harvest; there need not be five weeks;
had we but eyes to lift up; the fields are white already。
Where there is much desire to learn; there of necessity will be
much arguing; much writing; many opinions; for opinion in good men
is but knowledge in the making。 Under these fantastic terrors of
sect and schism; we wrong the earnest and zealous thirst after
knowledge and understanding which God hath stirred up in this city。
What some lament of; we rather should rejoice at; should rather
praise this pious forwardness among men; to reassume the ill…
deputed care of their religion into their own hands again。 A
little generous prudence; a little forbearance of one another; and
some grain of charity might win all these diligences to join; and
unite in one general and brotherly search after truth; could we but
forgo this prelatical tradition of crowding free consciences and
Christian liberties into canons and precepts of men。 I doubt not;
if some great and worthy stranger should come among us; wise to
discern the mould and temper of a people; and how to govern it;
observing the high hopes and aims; the diligent alacrity of our
extended thoughts and reasonings in the pursuance of truth and
freedom; but that he would cry out as Pyrrhus did; admiring the
Roman docility and courage: If such were my Epirots; I would not
despair the greatest design that could be attempted; to make a
Church or kingdom happy。
Yet these are the men cried out against for schismatics and
sectaries; as if; while the temple of the Lord was building; some
cutting; some squaring the marble; others hewing the cedars; there
should be a sort of irrational men who could not consider there
must be many schisms and many dissections made in the quarry and in
the timber; ere the house of God can be built。 And when every
stone is laid artfully together; it cannot be united into a
continuity; it can but be contiguous in this world; neither can
every piece of the building be of one form; nay rather the
perfection consists in this; that; out of many moderate varieties
and brotherly dissimilitudes that are not vastly disproportional;
arises the goodly and the graceful symmetry that commends the whole
pile and structure。
Let us therefore be more considerate builders; more wise in
spiritual architecture; when great reformation is expected。 For
now the time seems come; wherein Moses the great prophet may sit in
heaven rejoicing to see that memorable and glorious wish of his
fulfilled; when not only our seventy elders; but all the Lord's
people; are become prophets。 No marvel then though some men; and
some good men too perhaps; but young in goodness; as Joshua then
was; envy them。 They fret; and out of their own weakness are in
agony; lest these divisions and subdivisions will undo us。 The
adversary again applauds; and waits the hour: when they have
branched themselves out; saith he; small enough into parties and
partitions; then will be our time。 Fool! he sees not the firm
root; out of which we all grow; though into branches: nor will
beware until he see our small divided maniples cutting through at
every angle of his ill…united and unwieldy brigade。 And that we
are to hope better of all these supposed sects and schisms; and
that we shall not need that solicitude; honest perhaps; though
over…timorous; of them that vex in this behalf; but shall laugh in
the end at those malicious applauders of our differences; I have
these reasons to persuade me。
First; when a city shall be as it were besieged and blocked
about; her navigable river infested; inroads and incursions round;
defiance and battle oft rumoured to be marching up even to her
walls and suburb trenches; that then the people; or the greater
part; more than at other times; wholly taken up with the study of
highest and most important matters to be reformed; should be
disputing; reasoning; reading; inventing; discoursing; even to a
rarity and admiration; things not before discoursed or written of;
argues first a singular goodwill; contentedness and confidence in
your prudent foresight and safe government; Lords and Commons; and
from thence derives itself to a gallant bravery and well…grounded
contempt of their enemies; as if there were no small number of as
great spirits among us; as his was; who when Rome was nigh besieged
by Hannibal; being in the city; bought that piece of ground at no
cheap rate; whereon Hannibal himself encamped his own regiment。
Next; it is a lively and cheerful presage of our happy success
and victory。 For as in a body; when the blood is fresh; the
spirits pure and vigorous; not only to vital but to rational
faculties; and those in the acutest and the pertest operations of
wit and subtlety; it argues in what good plight and constitution
the body is; so when the cheerfulness of the people is so sprightly
up; as that it has not only wherewith to guard well its own freedom
and safety; but to spare; and to bestow upon the solidest and
sublimest points of controversy and new invention; it betokens us
not degenerated; nor drooping to a fatal decay; but casting off the
old and wrinkled skin of corruption to outlive these pangs and wax
young again; entering the glorious ways of truth and prosperous
virtue; destined to become great and honourable in these latter
ages。 Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation
rousing herself like a strong man after sleep; and shaking her
invincible locks: methinks I