Journal of a Lockdown No. 73
I love Jonathan Edwards. I first heard about him through the sermons and works of Dr. John Piper, who quoted the Puritan author extensively. This Sunday morning, let me share with you a line from his preaching, "A Farewell Sermon," which appears in Selected Sermons of Jonathan Edwards.
This is my handwriting in capitals. I'm using a vintage pen, a Shaeffer 500 Balance (ca. 1930s). It has a 14K solid gold fine nib. The filling mechanism no longer functions, unfortunately. But while I'm not a fan of fine nibs (I like my handwriting to look thick and wet), this Shaeffer's nib looks so elegant. I dip it in a vial filled with ink (in this case, Lamy Turquoise mixed with another shade to make it look dark) and write with it until the ink dries up. I like the ink smudges on my fingers. I think they're scholarly, but my friends think they just look plain dirty.
Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!
posted on May 24, 2020
4 Comments:
Hmm, meekness is a Christian characteristic but not sedateness! I would not consider James or Paul or Peter sedate at all and not Jesus, certainly.
Thank you for pointing this out! I was intrigued by the word "sedateness," but I was surprised to know that the word can also mean "serenely deliberate, composed, and dignified in character or manner" (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/sedateness). I suppose Edwards was alluding to this meaning.
I researched this further and saw the thesis of a certain Matthew Ryan Martin (https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1149&context=honors). The word "sedateness" is used in a positive sense:
This character was instilled in them by their head, Jonathan Edwards, once again showing that he practiced what he preached. Hopkins who was a close friend of the family said on this issue about Edwards that his "behavior in these hard months: The calm sedateness of his mind, his meekness and humility...his resolution and steady conduct...were truly wonderful" (Dodds 1971, 155.) There were a few months when the family did not know what they were going to do, but God opened another door which took care of their finances.
I guess sedate is more "quiet and dull" in my dictionary! I remember in Jane Austen's time "nice" meant "maarte".
Ako rin! If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have looked further! "Sedate" brings to mind patient rendered sleepy and calm after a dose of proprofol or haloperidol. Hahaha!
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