Strona 673 z 734

[5] It is, in truth, in the application of rules to particular

details of practice that our moral Responsibility chiefly lies no

rule can be so framed, that evasion shall be impossible. See

Bishop Butler's Sermon on the character of Balaam, and that on

Self-Deceit.

[6] The words ἀκόλαστος and δειλὸς are not used here in their

strict significations to denote confirmed states of vice: the

ἐγκρατὴς necessarily feels pain, because he must always be

thwarting passions which are a real part of his nature; though

this pain will grow less and less as he nears the point of

σωφροσύνη or perfected Self-Mastery, which being attained the

pain will then and then only cease entirely. So a certain degree

of fear is necessary to the formation of true courage. All that

is meant here is, that no habit of courage or self-mastery can be

said to be matured, until pain altogether vanishes.