"There is none comes to the school of Christ suiting the philosopher's word ut tabula rasa, as blank paper, to receive his doctrine; but, on the contrary, all scribbled and blurred with such base habits as these, malice, hypocrisy, envy, &c."
— Leighton, Robert (1611-1684)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Bell & Bradfute, J. Dickson, W. Laing, J. Fairbairn, J. Ogle, J. Guthrie, and Arch. Constable: and M. Ogle, Glasgow. And for [6 others in] Lond
Date
1798
Metaphor
"There is none comes to the school of Christ suiting the philosopher's word ut tabula rasa, as blank paper, to receive his doctrine; but, on the contrary, all scribbled and blurred with such base habits as these, malice, hypocrisy, envy, &c."
Metaphor in Context
There is this double talk in religion. When a man enters to it, he is not only to be taught true wisdom, but he is withal, yea, first of all, to be untaught the errors and wickedness that are deep-rooted in his mind, which he hath not only learned by the corrupt conversation of the world with him. They do indeed improve and grow by the favour of that example that is round about a man; but they are originally in our nature as it is now; they are connatural to us, besides continual custom, which is another nature. There is none comes to the school of Christ suiting the philosopher's word ut tabula rasa, as blank paper, to receive his doctrine; but, on the contrary, all scribbled and blurred with such base habits as these, malice, hypocrisy, envy, &c.
Therefore the first work is to raze out these, to cleanse and purify the heart from these blots, these foul characters, that it may receive the impression of the image of God. And because it is the word of God that both begins and advances this work, and perfects the lineaments of that divine image on the soul; therefore to the receiving this word aright, and this proper effect by it, the conforming of the soul to Jesus Christ, which is the true growth of the spiritual life, this is pre-required, That the hearts of them that hear it, be purged of these, and such like impurities, malice, hypocrisy, &c.
(pp. 201)
Therefore the first work is to raze out these, to cleanse and purify the heart from these blots, these foul characters, that it may receive the impression of the image of God. And because it is the word of God that both begins and advances this work, and perfects the lineaments of that divine image on the soul; therefore to the receiving this word aright, and this proper effect by it, the conforming of the soul to Jesus Christ, which is the true growth of the spiritual life, this is pre-required, That the hearts of them that hear it, be purged of these, and such like impurities, malice, hypocrisy, &c.
(pp. 201)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
Leighton, Robert. The expository works, with other remains, (some of which were never before printed), of Robert Leighton, ... In two volumes. Vol. 1. Edinburgh, 1798. 2 vols. Based on information from English Short Title Catalogue. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale Group. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
10/15/2006
