My doctrine is not a doctrine but just a vision. I have not given you any set rules, I have read more

My doctrine is not a doctrine but just a vision. I have not given you any set rules, I have not given you a system.

O how far remov'd,
Predestination! is thy foot from such
As see not the First Cause entire: read more

O how far remov'd,
Predestination! is thy foot from such
As see not the First Cause entire: and ye,
O mortal men! be wary how ye judge:
For we, who see the Maker, know not yet
The number of the chosen; and esteem
Such scantiness of knowledge our delight:
For all good is, in that primal good,
Concentrate; and God's will and ours are one.

Live to explain thy doctrine by thy life.
- Matthew Prior,

Live to explain thy doctrine by thy life.
- Matthew Prior,

I think a man's duty is to find out where the truth is, or if he cannot, at least to read more

I think a man's duty is to find out where the truth is, or if he cannot, at least to take the best possible human doctrine and the hardest to disprove, and to ride on this like a raft over the waters of life

And after hearing what our Church can say,
If still our reason runs another way,
That private read more

And after hearing what our Church can say,
If still our reason runs another way,
That private reason 'tis more just to curb,
Than by disputes the public peace disturb;
For points obscure are of small use to learn,
But common quiet is mankind's concern.

The (Christian) "doctrines" are translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in language more read more

The (Christian) "doctrines" are translations into our concepts and ideas of that which God has already expressed in language more adequate, namely the actual incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection

A doctrine capable of being stated only in obscure and involved terms is open to reasonable suspicion of being either read more

A doctrine capable of being stated only in obscure and involved terms is open to reasonable suspicion of being either crude or erroneous

As thou these ashes, little brook! will bear
Into the Avon, Avon to the tide
Of Severn, read more

As thou these ashes, little brook! will bear
Into the Avon, Avon to the tide
Of Severn, Severn to the narrow seas,
Into main ocean they, this deed accurst,
An emblem yields to friends and enemies
How the bold teacher's doctrine, sanctified
By truth, shall spread throughout the world dispersed.

You can and you can't,--You shall and you shan't--You will and
you won't--And you will be damned if you read more

You can and you can't,--You shall and you shan't--You will and
you won't--And you will be damned if you do--And you will be
damned if you don't.