I read the following essay this morning and thought it most appropriate to help us remember that none of us are any greater than instruction we receive.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“Public instruction,” said Napoleon, “should be the first object of government.”
“All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind,” once said Aristotle, “have been convinced that the fate of empires depends upon the education of youth.”
“Knowledge,” said Daniel Webster, “does not comprise all which is contained in the larger term ‘education’. The feelings are to be disciplined, the passions are to be restrained, true and worthy motives are to be instilled, and pure morality inculcated under all circumstances. All this is comprised in education.”
“Teach,” said Seneca, “the art of living well.”
“Reason and experience both forbid us to expect,” said Washington, “that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.”
“Educate men without religion,” said the Duke of Wellington, “and you make them but clever devils.”
“Religion and liberty are inseparable,” said Philip Schaff.
“True religion,” said Burke, “is the foundation of society. When that is once shaken by contempt, the whole fabric cannot be stable or lasting.” ~ Public Speakers Library
“The style of the Bible in general is singularly adapted to men of every class and grade of culture, affording the child the simple nourishment for its religious wants, and the profoundest thinker inexhaustible matter of study.” ~ Philip Schaff
All wisdom is from above, but I fear we have forgotten, and need to be reminded of the fact. Jesus was the Master Teacher, and preached the greatest sermon ever preached, The Sermon on the Mount, As G. K. Chesterton once said, “There are an infinite number of ways to fall, but there is only one way to stand.” And that stand is through the Word of God. It is given of God, and bought at the cross. We should never forget the price which was paid for mankind’s salvation.
“And it came to pass, that as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I Am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” Matthew 28:19-20
“But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
“This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science and learning. He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined without the eloquence of schools. He spoke such Words of life as were never spoken before or since and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet, without writing a single line. He set more pens in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise, than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times.” ~ Philip Schaff
Eileen Light