Page:A Pastoral Letter to the Parishioners of Frome.djvu/24

16 "and though " sometimes "the common people heard Him gladly," yet, by the main body of the Jews He was often set at nought and derided, and desired to "go out of their coasts." And so of the Apostles, they went on their holy commission, not always agreeably to the wishes of those among whom they were sent, but oftentimes, "stoned, persecuted, tempted, slain with the sword, destitute and afflicted." The Holy Scriptures likewise teach us that it may possibly happen, that being "disagreeable" to those, among whom the Prophet or the Priest is sent, is no sign of his want of truth; as it was said by Ahab, of Micaiah, the son of Imlah: "I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil," and yet once more, let them remember the awful words of the possessed to our ,—"What have we to do with Thee, Thou of Nazareth!" I only want to show by these instances as a general argument how very possible it is that being "agreeable" to parishioners ought not on scriptural principles to form any presumption for the right appointment of a preacher of Salvation, and that perhaps, if the desire of these memorialists were fulfilled in that respect, the parishioners might not in reality be receiving that truth for which I do verily believe they heartily and sincerely contend; might not in reality enjoy that spiritual grace and edification, which in their haste they imagine they should find. Yes, my dear brethren, be true to yourselves and acknowledge that this is a fatal principle, with us all,—with you, with me, with everyone, that "men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil."

But I feel quite sure that this was not thought of, and I feel quite sure that the memorialists, (at any rate the greater number) are by no means committed to every word they have used, because it is very possible that what they wrote was written hastily. How hastily we have an acknowledgment in a letter published in the Guardian of January 14th, wherein the writer, making excuse for misquoting an extract from my book, entitled "Letters to my Children," admits, that certain