dickory cronke(迪克雷·克龙克)-第4章
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DICKORY CRONKE
mutually managed with the greatest exactness and familiarity。
But to leave this as a matter not much material； and to return to our
narrative。 By this time Dickory's speech began to falter； which his sister
observing； put him in mind that he would do well to make some
declaration of his faith and principles of religion； because some reflections
had been made upon him upon the account of his neglect； or rather his
refusal； to appear at any place of public worship。
〃Dear sister；〃 says he； 〃you observe very well； and I wish the
continuance of my speech for a few moments； that I might make an ample
declaration upon that account。 But I find that cannot be； my speech is
leaving me so fast that I can only tell you that I have always lived； and
now die； an unworthy member of the ancient catholic and apostolic church；
and as to my faith and principles； I refer you to my papers； which； I hope；
will in some measure vindicate me against the reflections you mention。〃
He had hardly finished his discourse to his sister and her two friends；
and given some short directions relating to his burial； but his speech left
him； and what makes the thing the more remarkable； it went away； in all
appearance； without giving him any sort of pain or uneasiness。
When he perceived that his speech was entirely vanished； and that he
was again in his original state of dumbness； he took his pen as formerly
and wrote to his sister； signifying that whereas the sudden loss of his
speech had deprived him of the opportunity to speak to her and her friends
what he intended； he would leave it for them in writing； and so desired he
might not be disturbed till the return of his fit； which he expected in six
hours at farthest。 According to his desire they all left him； and then； with
the greatest resignation imaginable； he wrote down the meditations
following：
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DICKORY CRONKE
PART II
An Abstract of his Faith； and the Principles of his Religion &c。； which
begins thus：
Dear Sister； I thank you for putting me in mind to make a declaration
of my faith； and the principles of my religion。 I find； as you very well
observe； I have been under some reflections upon that account； and
therefore I think it highly requisite that I set that matter right in the first
place。 To begin； therefore； with my faith； in which I intend to be as short
and as comprehensive as I can：
1。 I most firmly believe that it was the eternal will of God； and the
result of his infinite wisdom； to create a world； and for the glory of his
majesty to make several sorts of creatures in order and degree one after
another； that is to say； angels； or pure immortal spirits； men； consisting of
immortal spirits and matter； having rational and sensitive souls； brutes；
having mortal and sensitive souls； and mere vegetatives； such as trees；
plants； &c。； and these creatures so made do； as it were； clasp the higher
and lower world together。
2。 I believe the holy Scriptures； and everything therein contained； to
be the pure and essential word of God； and that； according to these sacred
writings； man； the lord and prince of the creation； by his disobedience in
Paradise； forfeited his innocence and the dignity of his nature； and
subjected himself and all his posterity to sin and misery。
3。 I believe and am fully and entirely satisfied； that God the Father；
out of his infinite goodness and compassion to mankind； was pleased to
send his only Son； the second person in the holy and undivided Trinity； to
meditate for him； and to procure his redemption and eternal salvation。
4。 I believe that God the Son； out of his infinite love； and for the
glory of the Deity； was pleased voluntarily and freely to descend from
heaven； and to take our nature upon him； and to lead an exemplary life of
purity； holiness； and perfect obedience； and at last to suffer an ignominious
death upon the cross； for the sins of the whole world； and to rise again the
third day for our justification。
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DICKORY CRONKE
5。 I believe that the Holy Ghost out of his infinite goodness was
pleased to undertake the office of sanctifying us with his divine grace； and
thereby assisting us with faith to believe； will to desire； and power to do
all those things that are required of us in this world； in order to entitle us to
the blessings of just men made perfect in the world to come。
6。 I believe that these three persons are of equal power； majesty； and
duration； and that the Godhead of the Father； of the Son； and of the Holy
Ghost is all one； and that they are equally uncreate； incomprehensible；
eternal； and almighty； and that none is greater or less than the other； but
that every one hath one and the same divine nature and perfections。
These； sister； are the doctrines which have been received and practised
by the best men of every age； from the beginning of the Christian religion
to this day； and it is upon this I ground my faith and hopes of salvation； not
doubting but； if my life and practice have been answerable to them； that I
shall be quickly translated out of this kingdom of darkness； out of this
world of sorrow； vexation and confusion； into that blessed kingdom； where
I shall cease to grieve and to suffer； and shall be happy to all eternity。
As to my principles in religion； to be as brief as I can； I declare myself
to be a member of Christ's church； which I take to be a universal society of
all Christian people； distributed under lawful governors and pastors into
particular churches； holding communion with each other in all the
essentials of the Christian faith； worship； and discipline； and among these
I look upon the Church of England to be the chief and best constituted。
The Church of England is doubtless the great bulwark of the ancient
Catholic or Apostolic faith all over the world； a church that has all the
spiritual advantages that the nature of a church is capable of。 From the
doctrine and principles of the Church of England； we are taught loyalty to
our prince； fidelity to our country； and justice to all mankind； and therefore；
as I look upon this to be one of the most excellent branches of the Church
Universal； and stands； as it were； between superstition and hypocrisy； I
therefore declare； for the satisfaction of you and your friends； as I have
always lived so I now die； a true and sincere； though a most unworthy
member of it。 And as to my discontinuance of my attendance at the
public worship； I refer you to my papers； which I have left with my worthy
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DICKORY CRONKE
friend； Mr。 Barlow。 And thus； my dear sister； I have given you a short
account of my faith； and the principles of my religion。 I come； in the
next place； to lay before you a few meditations and observations I have at
several times collected together； more particularly those since my
retirement to St。 Helen's。
Meditations and Observations relating to the Conduct of Human Life
in general。
1。 Remember how often you have neglected the great duties of
religion and virtue； and slighted the opportunities that Providence has put
into your hands； and； withal； that you have a set period assigned you for
the management of the affairs of human life； and then reflect seriously that；
unless you resolve immediately to improve the little remains； the whole
must necessarily slip away insensibly； and then you are lost beyond
recovery。 2。 Let an unaffected gravity； freedom； justice； and sincerity
shine through all your actions； and let no fancies and chimeras give the
least check to those excellent qualities。 This is an easy task； if you will
but suppose everything you do to be your last； and if you can keep your
passions and appetites from crossing your reason。 Stand clear of
rashness； and have nothing of insincerity or self…love to infect you。
3。 Manage all your thoughts and actions with such prudence and
circumspection as if you were sensible you were just going to step into the
grave。 A little thinking will show a man the vanity and uncertainty of all
sublunary things； and enable him to examine maturely the manner of
dying； which； if duly abstracted from the terror of the idea； will appear
nothing more than an unavoidable appendix of life itself； and a pure
natural action。
4。 Consider that ill…usage from some sort of people is in a manner
necessary； and therefore do not be disquieted about it； but rather conclude
that you and your enemy are both marching off the stage together； and that
in a little time your very memories will be extinguished。
5。 Among your principal observations upon human life； let it be
always one to take notice what a great deal both of time and ease that man
gains who is not troubled with the spirit of curiosity； who lets his
neighbours' affairs alone； and confines his inspections to himself； and only
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takes care of honesty and a good conscience。
6。 If you would live at your ease； and as much as possible be free
from the incumbrances of life； manage but a few things at once； and let
those； too； be such as are absolutely necessary。 By this rule you will
draw the bulk of your business
