Page:Selections from the writings of Kierkegaard.djvu/26

 truth — God alone is the truth which must be grasped with all inwardness. But since we recognize our imperfections, or sins, the more keenly, as we are developed more highly, our typical relation to God must be that of repentance; and by repentance as by a step we may rise into the higher sphere of religion — as will be seen, a purely Christian thought.

A work of such powerful originality, imposing by its very size, and published at the anonymous author's own expense, could not but create a stir among the small Danish reading public. And notwithstanding Kierkegaard's consistent efforts to conceal his authorship in the interest of his "indirect communication," it could not long remain a secret. The book was much, and perplexedly, discussed, though no one was able to fathom the author's real aim, most readers being attracted by piquant subjects such as the "Diary of the Seducer," and regarding the latter half as a feeble afterthought. As he said himself: "With my left hand I held out to the world 'Either—Or,' with my right, 'Two Edifying Discourses'; but they all — or practically all — seized with their right hands what I held in my left."

These "Two Edifying Discourses," — for thus he preferred to call them, rather than sermons, because he claimed no authority to preach — as well as all the many later ones, were published over his own name, addressed to Den Enkelte "The Single Individual" "whom with joy and gratitude he calls his reader," and were dedicated to the memory of his father. They belong among the noblest books of edification, of which the North has not a few.

During the following three years (1843-5) Kierkegaard, once roused to productivity, though undoubtedly kept at his task by the exertion of marvellous will-power, wrote in quick succession some of his most notable works — so original in form, in thought, in content that it is a well-nigh hopeless task to analyze them to any satisfaction. All we