Let  there  be  no  more  talk  of  the  endless
subjectivity  of  the  critics;  there  is  a  broad
stream  of  critical  tendency,  and  One  who
"sitteth  above"  is  guiding  it.  It  is  equally
wrong  to  despise  criticism  and  to  fear  'it.  Of
faith,  too,  in  that  Spirit  whose  operations,  even
in  St.  Paul's  time,  were  so  manifold.  Can  we
believe  that  the  cycle  of  noble  Christian  cha-
racters is  finished  ?  Hast  thou  not  reserved


APPENDIX.  185

a  blessing  for  me  a/so,  my  Father?  Among
the  many  new  embodiments  of  the  Christian
spirit,  may  not  this  be  vouchsafed  us — a  free
and  yet  devout  critic ;  one  who  loves  all
the  departments  of  God's  truth  with  an  equal
love ;  one  who  does  not  try  to  concede  as
little  as  he  can  to  a  power  which  he  cannot
bless,  but  dares  not  curse ;  one  who  is  not
afraid  even  to  make  mistakes,  on  the  chance  of
finding  out  some  fresh  fact,  and  when  he  has
made  them  to  admit  them,  but  who,  like  Job,
is  greatly  afraid  to  "speak  unrighteously  for
God  "  (Job  xiii.  7)  ?  Of  hope,  too ;  that  is,
of  sure  confidence  that  "  all  things  " — including
even  the  subversion  of  traditional  opinions- -
"  work  together  for  good "  to  the  Church  as
well  as  to  its  members.  And  of  love,  seeing
much  to  respect  and  sympathize  with  even
in  those  from  whom  we  differ,  and  even  when
we  censure  them  doing  so,  not  for  the  glory
of  self  or  party,  but  for  their  own  good,  or,  if
they  are  no  longer  with  us,  for  that  of  the
Church.  Time  forbids  me  to  develop  these
sentences,  which  are  so  many  friendly  criticisms


1 86  APPENDIX.
