Relics And…
… other posts I am avoiding. All to bring you this quote from William Paley:
If He had wished our misery He might have made our senses instruments of pain to us. He might have made every taste bitter, every touch a sting, every smell a stench and every sound a discord.
William Paley was a British Enlightenment Philosopher and appeared to have some quirky ideas about church life and what not. I don’t really know that much about him, but I thought this quote out of Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy was particularly stirring.
Here is my question for you… I have quoted this bit of wisdom in a Bible study, but I had it belonging to a Puritan writer. The problem is I do not recall who that was. Anyone ever see this quote attributed to someone else?
al sends
May 9, 2008 at 7:57 am
I’m not sure what you are asking.
The quote appears, as you point out, to be from William Paley. Here is a link: http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=A142&viewtype=text&pageseq=471
And here is more of the quote from page 466 of “NATURAL THEOLOGY; OR, EVIDENCES OF THE EXISTENCE AND ATTRIBUTES OF THE DEITY. COLLECTED FROM THE APPEARANCES OF NATURE” by William Paley.
“If he had wished our misery, he might have made sure of his purpose, by forming our senses to be so many sores and pains to us, as they are now instruments of gratification and enjoyment: or by placing us amidst objects, so ill suited to our perceptions as to have continually offended us, instead of ministering to our refreshment and delight. He might have made, for example, every thing we tasted, bitter; every thing we saw, loathsome; every thing we touched, a sting; every smell, a stench; and every sound, a discord.”
He attributes this on page 465 to his “Moral Philosophy”.
May 9, 2008 at 8:48 am
KEV! Welcome back brother.
I got it from Google Books, but I remember almost the same quote from Jeremiah Burroughs or some other Puritan writer. In other words did Paley lift this quote?
Like you though the only info I can find online points to Paley as the author.
Oh well… not a big deal I was just wondering.
al sends
May 9, 2008 at 10:15 am
Thanks.
BTW, Aspen is beautiful this time of year. No skiing, but I’m not a skier. It was highs in the 70s and just wonderful; great time to go hiking down the Rio Grande Trail.
May 9, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Reguardless of authorship, it’s a powerful statement, especially to those that think God is cruel and unloving - yet continue to enjoy the sunshine on their faces, or the love of another while rejecting Christ.