From the foregoing exposition it will be clear that, apart
from humanistic rationalism, other spirits were at work in this field.
One chief centre of theistic modes of thought lay in the Platonic
Academy at Florence, and especially in Lorenzo il Magnifico himself.
The theoretical works and even the letters of these men show us only
half their nature. It is true that Lorenzo, from his youth till he
died, expressed himself dogmatically as a Christian, and that Pico was
drawn by Savonarola's influence to accept the point of view of a
monkish ascetic. But in the hymns of Lorenzo, which we are tempted to
regard as the highest product of the spirit of this school, an
unreserved Theism is set forth a Theism which strives to treat the
world as a great moral and physical Cosmos.
While the men of the Middle Ages look on the world as a vale of tears,
which Pope and Emperor are set to guard against the coming of
Antichrist; while the fatalists of the Renaissance oscillate between
seasons of overflowing energy and seasons of superstition or of stupid
resignation) here, in this circle of chosen spirits, the doctrine is
upheld that the visible world was created by God in love, that it is
the copy of a pattern pre-existing in Him, and that He will ever remain
its eternal mover and restorer. The soul of man can by recognizing God
draw Him into its narrow boundaries, but also by love of Him expand
itself into the Infinite--and this is blessedness on earth.
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