Page:A Pastoral Letter to the Parishioners of Frome.djvu/42

34 after many years of calm and holy patience, he was buried among you, parishioners of Frome.

Should any such popular clamour or mere movement of political revolution cause, (which forbid!) any weakening of the Throne; or any instability of its glory; or should any personal difficulty, danger, or sorrow of any sort beset our present beloved Sovereign, who rightly rules de facto as de jure, in these realms it shall by  help, be my part to suffer in her behalf, and defend her according to the oath of my allegiance, which so short a time since, on my institution to this benefice I swore. May it ever be fresh in both our minds and hearts, against all who should be so misguided as to forget it, that her Majesty Queen Victoria rules in these realms ""

I have but little more to say, brethren, except to regret this very sad beginning of my pastoral office among you, for grievous indeed it is to begin with contention and disputing words among those whom has sent me to teach and love.

But such beginning we may reasonably hope, after this full and faithful exposition of my whole heart, will here have its end. Soon we shall on both sides, I hope, be found joining in the more congenial offices of the shepherd and his flock. You to hear and follow, I to teach and guide, and both to love. "I am the Good Shepherd," said our Blessed, "the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." Here lies the key of pastoral work; not controversy, but teaching,—not disputing, but labouring,—not self-glory, but suffering. There are the sorrowful and the poor in spirit who need comfort; the penitent who need restoration; the sinful who need warning, and the dying who need the voice of prayer, and the blessed Sacrament of their departing. To these must we look. There are children who need instruction; wicked and ignorant men who must be aroused, worldly men who must be stirred from their apathy and be driven into the kingdom of at whatever risk and cost.