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prairiephlox 's review for:
The Life of God in the Soul of Man
by Henry Scougal
I’m not a religious person, at all. This isn’t to say that I don’t have some sort of faith, but organized religion truly does not sit with me. I do, however, appreciate excellent writing, scholarship, and artistry that is either for/inspired by/or patronized by churches throughout time. We would have no Parthenon if not for Greek Gods, and no Cathedrals if not for Catholics.
I read this book because I was the proof-listener for the soloist on Librivox, and while I don’t hold with Scougal’s personal beliefs his writing is absolutely beautiful. I really think that it is something that every Christian, regardless of denomination should read. The work is divided into three sections, and it is the last section, that is the best. His passion bleeds through every word, and it becomes quite inspiring. Below I have posted my two favorite quotes from this section.
“The soul of man is of a vigorous and active nature, and hath in it a raging and unextinguishable thirst, an immaterial kind of fire, always catching at some object or other, in conjunction wherewith it thinks to be happy; and were it once rent from the world, and all the bewitching enjoyments under the sun, it would quickly search after some higher and more excellent object, to satisfy its ardent and importunate cravings; and, being no longer dazzled with glittering vanities, would fix on that supreme and all-sufficient Good, where it would discover such beauty and sweetness as would charm and overpower all its affections. The love of the world, and the love of God, are like the scales of a balance; as the one falleth, the other doth rise”
“All men are endowed with rational and immortal souls, with understandings and wills capable of the highest and most exalted things; and if they be at present disordered, and put out of tune by wickedness and folly, this may indeed move our compassion, but ought not, in reason, to extinguish our love. When we see a person of a rugged humour and perverse disposition, full of malice and dissimulation, very foolish and very proud, it is hard to fall in love with an object that presents itself unto us under an idea so little grateful and lovely. But when we shall consider these evil qualities as the diseases and distempers of a soul, which, in itself, is capable of all that wisdom and goodness wherewith the best of saints have ever been adorned, and which may, one day, come to be raised to such heights of perfection as shall render it a fit companion for the holy angels; this will turn our aversion into pity, and make us behold him with such resentments as we should have when we look upon a beautiful body that were mangled with wounds, or disfigured by some loathsome disease; and however we hate the vices, we shall not cease to love the man.”
Beautiful writing eh? I absolutely believe in the capacity of the human soul, if nothing else, and I absolutely adore Scougal’s description of that. I give it three stars because goodreads won’t let me do 2.5. Its not *my* kind of book, but it is beautifully done, and recognized as one of the classic works of the Christian faith (even though it was a letter). So I’m rounding up to a 3. Also, he was around 24 years old when he wrote this. Astonishing? Yes…
I read this book because I was the proof-listener for the soloist on Librivox, and while I don’t hold with Scougal’s personal beliefs his writing is absolutely beautiful. I really think that it is something that every Christian, regardless of denomination should read. The work is divided into three sections, and it is the last section, that is the best. His passion bleeds through every word, and it becomes quite inspiring. Below I have posted my two favorite quotes from this section.
“The soul of man is of a vigorous and active nature, and hath in it a raging and unextinguishable thirst, an immaterial kind of fire, always catching at some object or other, in conjunction wherewith it thinks to be happy; and were it once rent from the world, and all the bewitching enjoyments under the sun, it would quickly search after some higher and more excellent object, to satisfy its ardent and importunate cravings; and, being no longer dazzled with glittering vanities, would fix on that supreme and all-sufficient Good, where it would discover such beauty and sweetness as would charm and overpower all its affections. The love of the world, and the love of God, are like the scales of a balance; as the one falleth, the other doth rise”
“All men are endowed with rational and immortal souls, with understandings and wills capable of the highest and most exalted things; and if they be at present disordered, and put out of tune by wickedness and folly, this may indeed move our compassion, but ought not, in reason, to extinguish our love. When we see a person of a rugged humour and perverse disposition, full of malice and dissimulation, very foolish and very proud, it is hard to fall in love with an object that presents itself unto us under an idea so little grateful and lovely. But when we shall consider these evil qualities as the diseases and distempers of a soul, which, in itself, is capable of all that wisdom and goodness wherewith the best of saints have ever been adorned, and which may, one day, come to be raised to such heights of perfection as shall render it a fit companion for the holy angels; this will turn our aversion into pity, and make us behold him with such resentments as we should have when we look upon a beautiful body that were mangled with wounds, or disfigured by some loathsome disease; and however we hate the vices, we shall not cease to love the man.”
Beautiful writing eh? I absolutely believe in the capacity of the human soul, if nothing else, and I absolutely adore Scougal’s description of that. I give it three stars because goodreads won’t let me do 2.5. Its not *my* kind of book, but it is beautifully done, and recognized as one of the classic works of the Christian faith (even though it was a letter). So I’m rounding up to a 3. Also, he was around 24 years old when he wrote this. Astonishing? Yes…