The Henson Journals

[137]

Thursday, February 18th, 1926.

He (Savonarola) certainly was quite sincere in his belief that he was a prophet and had a Divine mission, but it soon became evident that the spirit by which he was led was not from above, for the primary proof of a Divine mission is humble submission to the authority which God Himself has ordained.

Pastor "History of the Popes" VI. 53

As between Savonarola and Pope Alexander VI, was the issue quite so simple as this? When the moral eclipse of the Papacy was so complete, & the canonical title of a confessedly simoniacal Pope was so dubious, was it Savonarola's duty to obey the Papal commands unquestioningly? He could not but be doubtful about the Divine authority of Alexander VIth's orders: he was inwardly persuaded that his own intuitions came from God. Which, then, when they conflicted, ought he to have obeyed?

I wrote an article for the "Evening Standard" on "Fanaticism and Childhood", and sent it to the Editor.

Lionel & I walked round the Park. The weather was bright & spring–like. There is a temptation to think that the winter is past, but it is only the middle of February!

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