{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p>[<i>Wants the beginning</i>] ... that you may read them under your\r\nhand, and may be able to preserve them. Whether written compositions\r\nare not to be left behind at all; or if they are, by whom? And if\r\nthe former, what need there is for written compositions? and if the\r\nlatter, is the composition of them to be assigned to earnest men, or\r\nthe opposite? It were certainly ridiculous for one to disapprove of\r\nthe writing of earnest men, and approve of those, who are not such,\r\nengaging in the work of composition. Theopompus and Timæus, who\r\ncomposed fables and slanders, and Epicurus the leader of atheism, and\r\nHipponax and Archilochus, are to be allowed to write in their own\r\nshameful manner. But he who proclaims the truth is to be prevented from\r\nleaving behind him what is to benefit posterity. It is a good thing,\r\nI reckon, to leave to posterity good children. This is the case with\r\nchildren of our bodies. But words are the progeny of the soul. Hence we\r\ncall those who have instructed us, fathers. Wisdom is a communicative\r\nand philanthropic thing. Accordingly, Solomon says, “My son, if thou\r\nreceive the saying of my commandment, and hide it with thee, thine ear\r\nshall hear wisdom.”<a class=\"fnanchor pginternal\" href=\"#Footnote_805\" id=\"FNanchor_805\">[805]</a> He points out that the word that is<span class=\"pagenum\" id=\"Page_350\">[350]</span> sown\r\nis hidden in the soul of the learner, as in the earth, and this is\r\nspiritual planting. Wherefore also he adds, “And thou shalt apply thine\r\nheart to understanding, and apply it for the admonition of thy son.”\r\nFor soul, methinks, joined with soul, and spirit with spirit, in the\r\nsowing of the word, will make that which is sown grow and germinate.\r\nAnd every one who is instructed, is in respect of subjection the son of\r\nhis instructor. “Son,” says he, “forget not my laws.”<a class=\"fnanchor pginternal\" href=\"#Footnote_806\" id=\"FNanchor_806\">[806]</a></p>","headings":["THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA.","THE MISCELLANIES.","BOOK I.","CHAPTER I. PREFACE—THE AUTHOR’S OBJECT—THE UTILITY OF WRITTEN COMPOSITIONS."],"marker_anchor":"FNanchor_805","paragraph_id":"pg71937-paragraph-655"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"45f30194a47a41df0d10c4bdaf8f9daccbbb6a71ced1e94519449b81d2f82eb9","edition_title":"The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["William Wilson"],"edition_year":1867,"explicit_reference_candidates":[{"book":"PRO","chapter":2,"kind":"unreviewed","source_notation":"Prov. ii. 1","verse":1,"verse_end":1}],"headings":[],"id":"pg71937-Footnote_805","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Existing 1867 English translation; translator died 1875. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"Footnote_805","source_ebook":71937,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\">\n<p><a class=\"label pginternal\" href=\"#FNanchor_805\" id=\"Footnote_805\">[805]</a> Prov. ii. 1, 2.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"8e5c5bc39922dbad2626ac7651c2eb2e3d94cdcbd721f781e9792143ebb1cd03","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/71937/pg71937-images.html#Footnote_805","text_sha256":"3eb6e19bce12245470c9d1cdeb128a22191a6bebe4f8b2581808b27f88c47d47","verified":false,"work_id":null}