Synopsis
Excerpt from History War of Frederick I Against the Against of Lombardy
And by means of the second, or of those reforms which will ever shed a glory on the history of the sixteenth century, every earthly intervention being removed, as far as is per mitted, from between God and man, the human conscience attains to a clearer view of the Pattern of all perfection and the more it is exercised in those truths which lead to final salvation, the more it is purified and enlightened; so that being made more tender, quick, and faithful, it watches over the government, not only of the actions but of the thoughts and thus the man becomes, not outwardly only, but truly and inwardly, conformed to that great Pattern. Hence it is that since the Reformation, the superstitions which so saddened mankind having gradually passed away, even in places which showed themselves most fiercely opposed to that change, there is diffused over all Europe a purer morality, which ministers to the reason and the faith of man a more sin cere and more earnest solicitude to learn and to know 'the things which belong unto his peace.' Modern civilisation, promoted chiefly by these two good influences, is progressing throughout its whole extent towards a condition which seems to possess, as far as anything human can, an inherent principle of stability, in that by the wise and salutary redresses of every day, man and his affairs are daily renewed; and if, now and then, this civilisation is in some parts disturbed and interrupted, in no long time the obstacle is overcome, and it resumes its wonted course; so that, considered as a whole, it appears that it has never receded.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Product Description
Excerpt from History War of Frederick I Against the Against of Lombardy I. Some, who think it possible from the study of the distant past to forecast the vicissitudes of the future, are of opinion that a nation, when it has become debased and enslaved, can never return to a condition of civilisation and freedom, until it has first recovered simple and virtuous habits; and that the likeliest means of such a recovery, more effectual than any severity of its laws or change in its institutions, is the invasion of some barbarous people; who, bringing with them wild hardihood and ignorance of vice, sweep away in part by the very rush of victory the cowardice of the vanquished, and afterwards, by living amongst them, communicate valour and simplicity to those who remain; so that when the two nations are blended together, there arises from them a new generation, which, if it should come to be established under a good and free government, will have virtue in itself to maintain it. In proof of this, they cite the example of Rome, and the origin of the republics which flourished in the Middle Ages in Lombardy; for this opinion of theirs is entirely founded upon the vicissitudes of ancient nations. In fact, amongst the nations of modern times, although there are not wanting those whose corruptions require some remedy, there is not one which continues in a state so rude and wild that it could easily be moved in a mass from its place, and brought to renew, by the hardy simplicity of its customs, the social condition of another. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replic
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
