Every age has had its own special
nobleness, its own special use: but every age has been better than
the age which went before it; for the Spirit of God is leading the
ages on, toward that whereof it is written, 'Eye hath not seen nor
ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, the
things which God hath prepared for those that love Him.'
Very unfaithful are we to the teaching of God's Spirit; many and
heavy are our sins against light and knowledge, and means, and
opportunities of grace. But let us not add to those sins the sin
(for such it is) of inquiring why the former times were better than
these.
For, first, the inquiry shows disbelief in our Lord's own words, that
all dominion is given to Him in heaven and earth, and that He is with
us always, even to the end of the world. And next, it is a vain
inquiry, based on a mistake. When we look back longingly to any past
age, we look not at the reality, but at a sentimental and untrue
picture of our own imagination. When we look back longingly to the
so-called ages of faith, to the personal loyalty of the old
Cavaliers; when we regret that there are no more among us such giants
in statesmanship and power as those who brought Europe through the
French Revolution; when we long that our lot was cast in any age
beside our own, we know not what we ask. The ages which seem so
beautiful afar off, would look to us, were we in them, uglier than
our own.
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