Learned men and great scholars.

[Pearl]

Quote:

"Learned men and great scholars have devoted great effort and prolonged study to the Holy Scriptures...employing the gifts which God gives to every person who has the use of reason.

This knowledge is good...but it does not bring with it any spiritual experience of God, for these graces are granted only to those who have a great love for Him.

This fountain of love issues from our Lord alone, and no stranger may approach it. But knowledge of this kind is common to good and bad alike, since it can be acquired without love,...and men of a worldly life are sometimes more knowledgeable than many true Christians although they do not possess this love.

Paul describes this kind of knowledge: "If I had full knowledge of all things and knew all secrets, but had no love, I should be nothing." Some people who possess this knowledge become proud and misuse it in order to increase their personal reputation, worldly rank, honours and riches, when they should use it humbly to the praise of God and for the benefit of their fellow Christians in true charity.

Paul says of this kind of knowledge: "Knowledge by itself stirs the heart with pride, but united to love it turns to edification." By itself this knowledge is like water, tasteless and cold. But if those who have it will offer it humbly to our Lord and ask for His grace, He will turn the water into wine with His blessing."

Walter Hilton

 

[amadeus]

Quote:

"Learned men and great scholars have devoted great effort and prolonged study to the Holy Scriptures...employing the gifts which God gives to every person who has the use of reason.

This knowledge is good...but it does not bring with it any spiritual experience of God, for these graces are granted only to those who have a great love for Him.

This fountain of love issues from our Lord alone, and no stranger may approach it. But knowledge of this kind is common to good and bad alike, since it can be acquired without love,...and men of a worldly life are sometimes more knowledgeable than many true Christians although they do not possess this love.

Paul describes this kind of knowledge: "If I had full knowledge of all things and knew all secrets, but had no love, I should be nothing." Some people who possess this knowledge become proud and misuse it in order to increase their personal reputation, worldly rank, honours and riches, when they should use it humbly to the praise of God and for the benefit of their fellow Christians in true charity.

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." I Cor 13:2 [MKJV]

Paul says of this kind of knowledge: "Knowledge by itself stirs the heart with pride, but united to love it turns to edification." By itself this knowledge is like water, tasteless and cold. But if those who have it will offer it humbly to our Lord and ask for His grace, He will turn the water into wine with His blessing."

Walter Hilton

Sorry I don't know where the scripture comes from. I've tried to find it but can't. Andybody know?

The second one beginning with "knowledge by itself stirs..." seems to be a citation the words of Walter Hilton himself rather than from scripture...

 

[Pearl]

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." I Cor 13:2 [MKJV]


The second one beginning with "knowledge by itself stirs..." seems to be a citation the words of Walter Hilton himself rather than from scripture...

Thanks John for the scripture reference. I sort of knew that one but couldn't seem to find it. The other quote he also credits Paul with but if it is, and not like you thought by the author, it must be in a translation I haven't looked at yet.

 

[amadeus]

Thanks John for the scripture reference. I sort of knew that one but couldn't seem to find it. The other quote he also credits Paul with but if it is, and not like you thought by the author, it must be in a translation I haven't looked at yet.

I checked carefully for the second one finding nothing even close in the scriptures. Then I found the original document online by Walter Hilton online. The way it is worded in the paragraph seems to credit it to Paul, but it doesn't fit exactly even in some remote translation. I believe the ideas are from Paul but expressed by Hilton in his own words. Perhaps someone else sees something else.

 

[Jostler]

1 Corinthians 8:1 NKJV — Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

 

[Windmill Charge]

Learned men and great scholars have devoted great effort and prolonged study to the Holy Scriptures...employing the gifts which God gives to every person who has the use of reason.

This knowledge is good...but it does not bring with it any spiritual experience of God, for these graces are granted only to those who have a great love for Him.

There are many Christians with doubts and questions who are not being helped by there churches to find answers to there questions.
Exhortations to ' have faith ' and similar rubbish helps no one.
But the results of clever spiritual men writing books about there discoveries and answers to questions and doubts they have had is of more use than spiritual claptrap of just believing.

Christianity is far far more than a feeling, it is grounded in historical fact, based on reality not fantasy or imagination.