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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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<strong>the</strong> centre <strong>of</strong> attraction, but also <strong>of</strong> fast-spreading<br />

destructive corruption. Yet this unity also, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

common bond <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Greek language, served<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r important Providential purpose. So did, in<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r direction, <strong>the</strong> conscious despair <strong>of</strong> any<br />

possible internal reformation. This, indeed,<br />

seemed <strong>the</strong> last word <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> institutions in <strong>the</strong><br />

Roman world: It is not in me! Religion,<br />

philosophy, <strong>and</strong> society had passed through every<br />

stage, to that <strong>of</strong> despair. Without tracing <strong>the</strong><br />

various phases <strong>of</strong> ancient thought, it may be<br />

generally said that, in Rome at least, <strong>the</strong> issue lay<br />

between Stoicism <strong>and</strong> Epicureanism. <strong>The</strong> one<br />

flattered its pride, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r gratified its sensuality;<br />

<strong>the</strong> one was in accordance with <strong>the</strong> original<br />

national character, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r with its later decay<br />

<strong>and</strong> corruption. Both ultimately led to a<strong>the</strong>ism <strong>and</strong><br />

despair —<strong>the</strong> one, by turning all higher aspirations<br />

self-ward, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r, by quenching <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong><br />

enjoyment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> moment; <strong>the</strong> one, by making <strong>the</strong><br />

extinction <strong>of</strong> all feeling <strong>and</strong> self-deification, <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong> indulgence <strong>of</strong> every passion <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

worship <strong>of</strong> matter, its ideal.

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