The Venerable Dead - Davies
Though there are many wonderful contemporary writers and many older ones not worth reading, the following quote seems to address a general trend we find in much of today's theology.
"The Vernerable Dead are waiting in my library to entertain me and relieve me from the nonsense of surviving mortals."
Samuel Davies (1723-1761)
P.S. The picture is of C. H. Spurgeon's library.
posted by Doug E. @ 3:47 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
That is an impressive library. Sorry to appear ignorant but I don't actually get this quote. Can you explain?
There does seem to be a trend towards the contemporary over the traditional (books as well as music). I think that perhaps many of the older writers were more concerned with clearly articulating their thoughts on paper and less with producing a best-seller.
I do agree. I guess those of past times sought more diligently to put their thoughts on paper as it was the only means of preservation. today in our age of instant everything we tend toward, TV, or recorded sermons or books that address the crisis of the moment rather than long standing issues of the faith. And sadly, the issues of the moment are usually so fleeting in our society.
On the other hand some writers works take on monumental proportion the moment they die...
Puritan,
The genral point is that many of the old books written by authors that have past on are much better than many of those who are writing today. And we should go to them. Much like you do with the puritan writings.
Doug
That is one of my all time favorite quotes!
It goes well with this verse:
Thus says the Lord:
Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,and find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16
The old books and the writings of the "venerable dead" are like walking in the ancient paths--it is good for our souls.
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