{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c006\">4. But if these views should not appear to fill the minds\r\nof those who hope for such results with a becoming desire,\r\nlet us go back a little, and, irrespective of the natural and\r\ninnate longing of the mind for the thing itself, let us make\r\ninquiry so that we may be able at last to describe, as it were,\r\nthe very forms of the bread of life, and the quality of that\r\nwine, and the peculiar nature of the principalities, all in conformity\r\nwith the spiritual view of things.<a id=\"r338\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f338\"><sup>[338]</sup></a> Now, as in those\r\narts which are usually performed by means of manual labour,\r\nthe reason why a thing is done, or why it is of a special\r\nquality, or for a special purpose, is an object of investigation\r\nto the mind,<a id=\"r339\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f339\"><sup>[339]</sup></a> while the actual work itself is unfolded to view\r\nby the agency of the hands; so, in those works of God which\r\nwere created by Him, it is to be observed that the reason and\r\nunderstanding of those things which we see done by Him\r\nremains undisclosed. And as, when our eye beholds the\r\nproducts of an artist’s labour, the mind, immediately on perceiving\r\nanything of unusual artistic excellence, burns to know\r\nof what nature it is, or how it was formed, or to what purposes\r\nit was fashioned; so, in a much greater degree, and in one\r\nthat is beyond all comparison, does the mind burn with an\r\ninexpressible desire to know the reason of those things which\r\nwe see done by God. This desire, this longing, we believe to\r\nbe unquestionably implanted within us by God; and as the\r\neye naturally seeks the light and vision, and our body naturally\r\ndesires food and drink, so our mind is possessed with a\r\nbecoming and natural desire to become acquainted with the\r\ntruth of God and the causes of things. Now we have received\r\nthis desire from God, not in order that it should never\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_149\">149</span>be gratified or be <i>capable</i> of gratification; otherwise the love\r\nof truth would appear to have been implanted by God into\r\nour minds to no purpose, if it were never to have an opportunity\r\nof satisfaction. Whence also, even in this life, those\r\nwho devote themselves with great labour to the pursuits of\r\npiety and religion, although obtaining only some small fragments\r\nfrom the numerous and immense treasures of divine\r\nknowledge, yet, by the very circumstance that their mind\r\nand soul is engaged in these pursuits, and that in the eagerness\r\nof their desire they outstrip themselves, do they derive\r\nmuch advantage; and, because their minds are directed to\r\nthe study and love of the investigation of truth, are they\r\nmade fitter for receiving the instruction that is to come; as\r\nif, when one would paint an image, he were first with a light\r\npencil to trace out the outlines of the coming picture, and\r\nprepare marks for the reception of the features that are to be\r\nafterwards added, this preliminary sketch in outline is found\r\nto prepare the way for the laying on of the true colours of\r\nthe painting; so, in a measure, an outline and sketch may be\r\ntraced on the tablets of our heart by the pencil of our Lord\r\nJesus Christ. And therefore perhaps is it said, “Unto every\r\none that hath shall be given, and be added.”<a id=\"r340\"></a><a class=\"c007 pginternal\" href=\"#f340\"><sup>[340]</sup></a> By which\r\nit is established, that to those who possess in this life a kind\r\nof outline of truth and knowledge, shall be added the beauty\r\nof a perfect image in the future.</p>","headings":["The Writings of Origen, Vol. 1 of 2","ORIGEN DE PRINCIPIIS.","BOOK II.","CHAPTER XI. ON COUNTER PROMISES."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg70561-paragraph-191"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"53aed70d7ab405b4928ce452b0f1eb104e999ded0fd34ad1e638ab5b2bed7ff0","edition_title":"The writings of Origen, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1869,"explicit_reference_candidates":[{"book":"LUK","chapter":19,"kind":"unreviewed","source_notation":"Luke xix. 26","verse":26,"verse_end":26},{"book":"MAT","chapter":25,"kind":"unreviewed","source_notation":"Matt. xxv. 29","verse":29,"verse_end":29}],"headings":[],"id":"pg70561-f340","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 1869 English translation; translator died 1889. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f340","source_ebook":70561,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f340\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r340\">340</a>. </span>Luke <abbr title=\"nineteen\">xix.</abbr> 26; <abbr class=\"spell\">cf.</abbr> <abbr title=\"Matthew\">Matt.</abbr> <abbr title=\"twenty-five\">xxv.</abbr> 29.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"de125e213d16053354f22b34a1c8d477ac23f201e660e4f4841b2ed7e05bb367","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/70561/pg70561-images.html#f340","text_sha256":"ebb894c0cf6c3f940a434b099a24ff10f545717b4ad64af401a54b05a0535fda","verified":false,"work_id":null}