Re: UPDATE : RIAA Washington Post CD copy story was a LIE.....

 

send them the Messiah to make them

masters of all the world, and foretold the time of His coming.

 

The world having grown old in these carnal errors, Jesus Christ came at the

time foretold, but not with the expected glory and thus men did not think

it was He. After His death, Saint Paul came to teach men that all these

things had happened in allegory that the kingdom of God did not consist in

the flesh, but in the spirit that the enemies of men were not the

Babylonians, but the passions that God delighted not in temples made with

hands, but in a pure and contrite heart that the circumcision of the body

was unprofitable, but that of the heart was needed that Moses had not given

them the bread from heaven, etc.

 

But God, not having desired to reveal these things to this people who were

unworthy of them and having, nevertheless, desired to foretell them, in

order that they might be believed, foretold the time clearly, and expressed

the things sometimes clearly, but very often in figures, in order that those

who loved symbols might consider them and those who loved what was

symbolised might see it therein.

 

All that tends not to charity is figurative.

 

The sole aim of the Scripture is charity.

 

All which tends not to the sole end

these two points, so is it

alike merciful of God to have made us know them. The Christian religion does

this it is in this that it consists.

 

Let us herein examine the order of the world and see if all things do not

tend to establish these two chief points of this religion: Jesus Christ is

end of all, and the centre to which all tends. Whoever knows Him knows the

reason of everything.

 

Those who fall into error err only through failure to see one of these two

things. We can, then, have an excellent knowledge of God without that of our

own wretchedness and of our own wretchedness without that of God. But we

cannot know Jesus Christ without knowing at the same time both God and our

own wretchedness.

 

Therefore I shall not undertake here to prove by natural reasons either the

existence of God, or the Trinity, or the immortality of the soul, or

anything of that nature not only because I should not feel myself

sufficiently able to find in nature arguments to convince hardened atheists,

but also because such knowledge without Jesus Christ is useless and barren.

Though a man should be convinced that numerical proportions are immaterial

truths, eternal and dependent on a first truth, in which they subsist and

which is called God, I should not think him far advanced towards his own

salvation.

 

The God of Christians is not a God who is simply the author of mathematical

truths, or of the order of the elements that is the view of heathens and

Epicureans. He is not merely a God who exercises His providence over the

life and fortunes of men, to bestow on those who worship Him a long and

happy life. That was the portion of the Jews. But the God of Abraham, the

God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, the God of Christians, is a God of love and

of comfort, a God who fills the soul and heart of those whom He possesses, a

God who makes them con

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

and that is

bold and difficult. There is never this contradiction in the feelings

towards a cripple.

 

81. It is natural for the mind to believe and for the will to love so that,

for want of true objects, they must attach themselves to false.

 

82. Imagination.--It is that deceitful part in man, that mistress of error

and falsity, the more deceptive that she is not always so for she would be

an infallible rule of truth, if she were an infallible rule of falsehood.

But being most generally false, she gives no sign of her nature, impressing

the same character on the true and the false.

 

I do not speak of fools, I speak of the wisest men and it is among them

that the imagination has the great gift of persuasion. Reason protests in

vain it cannot set a true value on things.

 

This arrogant power, the enemy of reason, who likes to rule and dominate it,

has established in man a second nature to show how all-powerful she is. She

makes men happy and sad, healthy and sick, rich and poor she compels reason

to believe, doubt, and deny she blunts the senses, or quickens them she

has her fools and sages and nothing vexes us more than to see that she

fills her devotees with a satisfaction far more full and entire than does

reason. Those who have a lively imagination are a great deal more pleased

with themselves than the wise can reasonably be. They look down upon men

with haughtiness they argue with boldness and confidence, others with fe

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

in one, who, having been taken captive in

his childhood, was trained up m Canada in the popish religion. Some

years since he returned to this his native place, and was in a measure

brought off from popery but seemed very awkward and dull in receiving

any clear notion of the Protestant scheme till he was converted and

then he was remarkably altered in this respect.

 

There is a vast difference, as observed, in the degree, and also in the

particular manner, of persons' experiences, both at and after

conversion some have grace working more sensibly in one way, others in

another. Some speak more fully of a conviction of the justice of God in

their condemnation others, more of their consenting to the way of

salvation by Christ and some, more of the actings of love to God and

Christ. Some speak more of acts of affiance, in a sweet and assured

conviction of the truth and faithfulness of God in His promises others,

more of their choosing and resting in God as their whole and everlasting

portion and of their ardent and longing desire after God, to have

communion with Him and others, more of their abhorrence to themselves

for their past sins, and earnest longings to live to God's glory for the

time to come. But it seems evidently to be the same work, the same

habitual change wrought in the heart it all tends the same way, and to

the same end and it is plainly the same spirit that breathes and acts

in various persons. There is an endless variety in the particular manner

and circumstances in which persons are wrought on and an opportunity of

seeing so much will show that God is further from confining Himself to a

particular method in His work on souls than some imagine. I believe it

has occasioned some good people amongst us, who were before too ready to

make their own exp

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

the true spoken of, as appears by the Deluge, circumcision, the cross of

Saint Andrew, etc.

 

818. Having considered how it comes that there are so many false miracles,

false revelations, sorceries, etc., it has seemed to me that the true cause

is that there are some true for it would not be possible that there should

be so many false miracles, if there were none true, nor so many false

revelations, if there were none true, nor so many false religions, if there

were not one true. For if there had never been all this, it is almost

impossible that men should have imagined it, and still more impossible that

so many others should have believed it. But as there have been very great

things true, and as they have been believed by great men, this impression

has been the cause that nearly everybody is rendered capable of believing

also the false. And thus, instead of concluding that there are no true

miracles, since there are so many false, it must be said, on the contrary,

that there are true miracles, since there are so many false and that there

are false ones only because there are true and that in the same way there

are false religions because there is one true.--Objection to this: savages

have a religion. But this is because they have heard the true spoken of, as

appears by the cross of Saint Andrew, the Deluge, circumcision, etc. This

arises from the fact that the human mind, finding itself inclined to that

side by the truth, becomes thereby susceptible of all the falsehoods of

this...

 

819. Jeremiah 23:32. The miracles of the false prophets.

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But from a

contrary mistake men sometimes think they can justly do everything which is

not without an example. That is why the wisest of legislators said that it

was necessary to deceive men for their own good and another, a good

politician, Cum veritatem qua liberetur ignoret, expedit quod fallatur.43 We

must not see the fact of usurpation law was once introduced without reason,

and has become reasonable. We must make it regarded as authoritative,

eternal, and conceal its origin, if we do not wish that it should soon come

to an end.

 

295. Mine, thine.--"This dog is mine," said those poor children "that is my

place in the sun." Here is the beginning and the image of the usurpation of

all the earth.

 

296. When the question for consideration is whether we ought to make war and

kill so many men--condemn so many Spaniards to death--only one man is judge,

and he is an interested party. There should be a third, who is

disinterested.

 

297. Veri juris.[44] --We have it no more if we had it, we should take

conformity to the customs of a country as the rule of justice. It is here

that, not finding justice, we have found force, etc.

 

298. Justice, might.--It is right that what is just should be obeyed it is

necessary that what is strongest should be obeyed. Justice without might is

helpless might without justice is tyr

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

makes me shudder. The Catholic religion does not bind us to confess our

sins indiscriminately to everybody it allows them to remain hidden from all

other men save one, to whom she bids us reveal the innermost recesses of our

heart and show ourselves as we are. There is only this one man in the world

whom she orders us to undeceive, and she binds him to an inviolable secrecy,

which makes this knowledge to him as if it were not. Can we imagine anything

more charitable and pleasant? And yet the corruption of man is such that he

finds even this law harsh and it is one of the main reasons which has

caused a great part of Europe to rebel against the Church.

 

How unjust and unreasonable is the heart of man, which feels it disagreeable

to be obliged to do in regard to one man what in some measure it were right

to do to all men! For is it right that we should deceive men?

 

There are different degrees in this aversion to truth but all may perhaps

be said to have it in some degree, because it is inseparable from self-love.

It is this false delicacy which makes those who are under the necessity of

reproving others choose so many windings and middle courses to avoid

offence. They must lessen our faults, appear to excuse them, intersperse

praises and evidence of love and esteem. Despite all this, the medicine does

not cease to be bitter to self-love. It takes as little as it can, always

with disgust, and often with a secret spite against those who administer it.

 

Hence it happens that, if any have some interest in being loved by us, t

is scattered and often, before the bestowment of any new

remarkable comfort, especially after longcontinued deadness and ill

frames, there are renewed humblings, in a great sense of their own

exceeding vileness and unworthiness, as before their first comforts were

bestowed.

 

Many in the country have entertained a mean thought of this great work,

from what they have heard of impressions made on persons' imaginations.

But there have been exceeding great misrepresentations, and innumerable

false reports, concerning that matter. It is not, that I know of, the

profession or opinion of any one person in the town, that any weight is

to be laid on any thing seen with the bodily eyes. I know the contrary

to be a received and established principle amongst us. I cannot say that

there have been no instances of persons who have been ready to give too

much heed to vain and useless imaginations but they have been easily

corrected, and I conclude it will not be wondered at, that a

congregation should need a guide in such cases, to assist them in

distinguishing wheat from chaff. But such impressions on the

imaginations as have been more usual seem to me to be plainly no other

than what is to be expected in human nature in such circumstances, and

wha

sacrifices, for mine house

is a house of prayer."

 

That the true Jews considered their merit to be from God only, and not from

Abraham. Isaiah 63:16: "Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be

ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not. Thou art our Father and our

Redeemer."

 

Moses himself told them that God would not accept persons. Deut. 10:17:

"God," said he, "regardeth neither persons nor sacrifices."

 

The Sabbath was only a sign, Exod. 31:13 and in memory of the escape from

Egypt, Deut. 5:19. Therefore it is no longer necessary, since Egypt must be

forgotten.

 

Circumcision was only a sign, Gen. 17:11. And thence it came to pass that,

being in the desert, they were not circumcised, because they could not be

confounded with other peoples and after Jesus Christ came, it was no longer

necessary.

 

That the circumcision of the heart is commanded. Deut. 10:16 Jeremiah 4:4:

"Be ye circumcised in heart take away the superfluities of your heart, and

harden yourselves not. For your God is a mighty God, strong and terrible,

who accepteth not persons."

 

That God said He would one day do it. Deut. 30:6: "God will circumcise thine

heart, and the heart of thy seed, that thou mayest love Him with all thine

heart."

 

That the uncircumcised in heart shall be judged. Jeremiah 9:26: For God will

judge the uncircumcised peoples, and all the people of Israel, because he is

"uncircumcised in heart."

 

That the external is of no avail apart

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

are

all the riches of the earth without her consent!

 

Would you not say that this magistrate, whose venerable age commands the

respect of a whole people, is governed by pure and lofty reason, and that he

judges causes according to their true nature without considering those mere

trifles which only affect the imagination of the weak? See him go to sermon,

full of devout zeal, strengthening his reason with the ardour of his love.

He is ready to listen with exemplary respect. Let the preacher appear, and

let nature have given him a hoarse voice or a comical cast of countenance,

or let his barber have given him a bad shave, or let by chance his dress be

more dirtied than usual, then, however great the truths he announces, I

wager our senator loses his gravity.

 

If the greatest philosopher in the world find himself upon a plank wider

than actually necessary, but hanging over a precipice, his imagination will

prevail, though his reason convince him of his safety. Many cannot bear the

thought without a cold sweat. I will not state all its effects.

 

Every one knows that the sight of cats or rats, the crushing of a coal,

etc., may unhinge the reason. The tone of voice affects the wisest, and

changes the force of a discourse or a poem.

 

Love or hate alters the aspect of justice. How much greater confidence has

an advocate, retained with a large fee, in the justice of his cause! How

much better does his bold manner make his case appear to the judges,

deceived as they are by appearances! How ludicrous is reason, bl

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

greatness and others who only admire intellectual

greatness, as though there were not infinitely higher things in wisdom.

 

All bodies, the firmament, the stars, the earth and its kingdoms, are not

equal to the lowest mind for mind knows all these and itself and these

bodies nothing.

 

All bodies together, and all minds together, and all their products, are not

equal to the least feeling of charity. This is of an order infinitely more

exalted.

 

From all bodies together, we cannot obtain one little thought this is

impossible and of another order. From all bodies and minds, we cannot

produce a feeling of true charity this is impossible and of another and

supernatural order.

 

794. Why did Jesus Christ not come in a visible manner, instead of obtaining

testimony of Himself from preceding prophecies? Why did He cause Himself to

be foretold in types?

 

795. If Jesus Christ had only come to sanctify, all Scripture and all things

would tend to that end and it would be quite easy to convince unbelievers.

If Jesus Christ had only come to blind, all His conduct would be confused

and we would have no means of convincing unbelievers. But as He came in

sanctificationem et in scandalum,177 as Isaiah says, we cannot convince

unbelievers, and they cannot convince us. But by this very fact we convince

them since we say that in His whole conduct there is no convincing proof on

one side or the other.

 

796. Jesus Christ does not say that He is not of Nazareth, in order to leave

the wicked in their blindness nor that He is not Joseph's son

from time to time fulfilled in the sight of men, showed the truth of their

mission, and consequently that of their promises touching the Messiah. Jesus

Christ performed miracles, and the Apostles also, who converted all the

heathen and all the prophecies being thereby fulfilled, the Messiah is for

ever proved.

 

617. Perpetuity.--Let us consider that since the beginning of the world the

expectation of worship of the Messiah has existed uninterruptedly that

there have been found men who said that God had revealed to them that a

Redeemer was to be born, who should save His people that Abraham came

afterwards, saying that he had had revelation that the Messiah was to spring

from him by a son, whom he should have that Jacob declared that, of his

twelve sons, the Messiah would spring from Judah that Moses and the

prophets then came to declare the time and the manner of His coming that

they said their law was only temporary till that of the Messiah, that it

should endure till then, but that the other should last for ever that thus

either their law, or that of the Messiah, of which it was the promise, would

be always upon the earth that, in fact, it has always endured that at last

Jesus Christ came with all the circumstances foretold. This is wonderful.

 

618. This is positive fact. While all philosophers separate into different

sects, there is found in one corner of the world the most ancient people in

it, declaring that all the world is in error, that God has revealed to them

the truth, that they will always exist on the earth. In fact, all other seas

come to an end, this one still endures, and has done so for four thousand

years.

 

They declare that they hold from their ancestors that man has fallen from

communion with God, and is entirely estranged from God, but that He has

promised to redeem them that this doctrine shall always exist on the earth

that their law has a double signification that d

Re: RIAA: It's 'Illegal' to Rip Your Own CDs to Your Own Computer

 

In comp.os.linux.advocacy, The Ghost In The Machine

<ewill@sirius.tg00suus7038.net>

wrote

on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:54:13 GMT

<jokg89-0s3.kf9@sirius.tg00suus7038.net>:

> and that is

> bold and difficult. There is never this contradiction in the feelings

> towards a cripple.

 

You're a cripple all right, Mister Impersonator.

 

Is this stuff copyrighted at all, or should it just be

shot on sight? :-P

 

--

#191, ewill3@earthlink.net

New Technology? Not There. No Thanks.

 

--

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