Men like in men these traits: 1) the honor that ennobles; 2) the justice that insures the right; 3) the reasonableness that mellows and makes plain; 4) the courage that proclaims virility; 5) the generous instinct that disdains all meanness; 6) the modesty that makes no boast; 7) the dignity that wins respect; 8) the fineness and the tenderness that know and feel. ... sum it up in just a single sentence, and accept it as truth, that all men like a gentleman. Thanks to Alexander Deme for laying out the summary of the article below so nicely. If pastors find it hard to preach virtue, it is not simply because society has rejected the Bible, it is because society has also rejected traditional virtues. Paul lists virtues as though they are well understood, and vices as though they are obvious, and they are. The Bible is in favour of virtue and against vice; it doesnt pretend to be the only word on those topics, just a reliable word, and a testable word. The Bibles way of articulating this is to say that the conscience confirms the truths of virtue and that the gospel is in accord with the truths of virtue apprehended by the conscience. Those who love virtue truly will come to love the gospel, and vice versa. The sad thing in the western world is that even the pattern of virtue is confused and challenged and avoided and hated. Or even worse, an alternative pseudo-virtue is raised up in its place, but one with no power to warm the heart and build true character as only true virtue can do.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 01:10:46 +0000
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