Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/11

 equitable to the sentiment of others, while attempting to do justice to their own perception of it. In this respect the author has endeavoured to be careful and conscientious. Sectarianism is a section, a something cut off from the general body: a part only; and, therefore, it is in danger of being one-sided in its views, limited in its aims, and narrow in its mode of defence. These defects he has endeavoured to avoid. Truth is of no party: it is broad and liberal in its announcements, kind and charitable in its expressions, it is universal in its purposes, it offers itself frankly to the consideration of the learned, to the acceptance of the pious, and as the teacher of all who are willing to learn. It can afford to be tender and indulgent to the opinions of others, without dimming the lustre of its own brightness, or relinquishing the prerogatives which are proper to its nature; and, surely, a time will come when it will be met with more welcome and generosity than it at present receives; and when the Judean question, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" shall be silenced by the invitation, "Come and see." The realization of that period will be most advantageous to religion and the world: at how great a distance it may be from the present, none can tell; but come it must, if prophecy be true, although it may not be for us to know the times and the seasons. Our duty is to work in faith, and wait in hope, and the Divine mercy is sure, sooner or later, to crown the labours of honesty and conscience, with satisfaction and success. In this faith the author lays down his pen, and commits this work to