to love you without seeing, and whom you are able to love unseen he may believe that he has many such brethren in different orders and degrees, as well as in different communities-all" endeavouring (like himself) to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. iv. 3.)

But a common understanding, or one that has no turn for spiritual information, would hardly be sensible, if it can possibly be made so, of the grand contention which is protracted on earth as well as in Heaven, or in both flesh and spirit, between good and evil; so great is the blindness and indifference of such understandings for the most part to such subjects. Allegories have been raised thereon, and succeeded well enough for the purpose of amusement with those who had no higher purpose to mind: doting enough too there has been on the doctrine by many who had not the gift of tracing spiritual or heavenly objects, where they really lie shadowed under the letter; while they had that of fancying them in abundance where they do not: but I cannot remember to have seen any thing like a just and temperate exposure of the subject ever. Neither can I now foresee clearly how far such an exposure may succeed in any instance: I can only say, that it seems worth attempting, particularly in a correspondence like this, between spiritual persons, to which the secrets of the spiritual kingdom are perfectly relevant and agreeable, however extraneous and unbecoming they may be generally before others, and especially in common conversation.

At the same time I would not, by attributing the property or keys of divine knowledge to my own class chiefly appear, as I signified at first, to abstract its enjoyment from other classes; underrating their capacities like a proud Pharisee, and reckoning all the people accursed for not knowing that which many have never been taught, nor encouraged to teach themselves. (John vii. 49.) For, in fact, I know nothing with certainty-I have delivered

nothing positively myself of the spirit of the Gospel, as far as I remember, which very children and grown people of every condition might not know, and enjoy too, as well as I, if they were in a suitable way to be taught, and free from uncharitable prejudices: I know nothing of the true gospel spirit that I think I could not once have taught before a very humble congregation, if I had been put fairly in the way of teaching, and held it long enough; whatever advantage I and my more learned fellows may have over the harder working but not less evangelical class in the letter.

The preaching of the Gospel has been more general in the world always than is generally supposed, and always chiefly for the poor: its sacred truths and encouragements are chiefly for them; of which it may be said "Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the world." (Ps. xix. 4.) For it was not merely during and always after his time who boasted his own practice in this particular, (Matt. xi. 5,) which some will think nothing to be proud of, that the Gospel dispensation existed: but the same is evident at least in the writings of all the prophets of the Old Testament, and more decidedly in the Psalms; which with the book of Job, their model in some respects, are admirably designed for the use of the poor, and those who are worse than poor; to raise the dignity of human nature, and recover it from the filth and pollution toward which it is thrust down continually by the corrupt influence of Mammon. And, to shew the consistency of this dispensation; as the Gospel was to be preached to the poor, so likewise from; as the poor were to be hearers chiefly, so likewise preachers chiefly—of the Gospel of Christ. "Go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor;" (Ib. xix. 21;) or, in other words, Be poor, to preach-is our Saviour's rule, THE GOLDEN RULE, I may call it, for curates. Preaching the Gospel to the poor, and freely conversing with them, serves at once for the recreation and improvement of the minister as well as for theirs with

whom he converses, that reapeth may rejoice together," (John iv. 36,) when both parties happen to be nearly in the same circumstances as it was said of the Great Minister and Preacher himself, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (Cor. II. viii. 9.) Therefore, "let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted." (Jam. i. 9.)

"That both he that soweth and he

Such equal preaching and familiar conversation is very different from the formal visits of the rich to the poor, or of a poor curate to the rich; which is but small recreation to the curate, and of little benefit to any one. Therefore let the rich preach to themselves, if they will, and let me preach to the poor when I can get a congregation. For without either courting the favour of one class by owning, or the frowns of another by disowning-it, I am free to confess myself one from the midst of my brethren, or one of the widest class in society, inclining rather to be poor than rich, though born, I hope, for all in some degree. So that I am, or wish to be however, and that as long as I live, one of the efficient class, of the men, whether rich or poor, who do the needful; and whether I be considered chiefly of the operative or the productive branch. Perhaps in one respect, namely, as I write my own sermons sometimes, you will allow me the honour of a productive: but I would rather be an operative likewise by preaching other people's when there is more good to be done by them. I think that mending one's masters any how were good work for an operative. It is also my opinion that the sphere which I was first thrown into and have since cultivated from choice, is more spiritual and consequently more estimable, than one higher in the world would have been for me, with all the worth of which it was susceptible.

And another opinion I also have on this head; which is, that another man has a right to have his opinion of the matter as well as I, and may justify it too in some mea

C

sure, though not to the extent he supposes. For example, here shall be one who is not born in exactly the same circumstances with myself, nor bred with the same views in life, nor initiated among the same sort of acquaintance, nor gifted with the same sort of talent. He may be gifted with the talent to be useful in his spiritual vocation as a clergyman, but not to shine; also in another calling of great civil importance, and, I hope, not averse to the spiritual, as a peacemaker or justice of the peace, and therewithal as a gentleman, which does not preclude him from being a Christian. His character is one in which the means of vanity and corruption are partly neutralised by the influence of a Christian education. He is not a common sort of person altogether: he is one that rather serves and adorns, than encumbers and disgraces his generation. Useful efficiency is not an unchristian, any more than it is an unsocial quality. The example of Nicodemus may teach us that magistracy is not absolutely incompatible with Christianity: how far it may be compatible with the ministry--is another question. If it be the part of magistrates "to maintain truth," a curate need not be sorry to see them endowed with learning as well as authority suitable for the purpose: and if it be the curate's part to repress ill humours abroad with the spiritual sword, and to promote a good spirit,-magistrates, being likely to know somewhat of those ill humours, with the impotency of common resources in some cases, while it is also their business "to execute justice" as well as to maintain truth, need not mistrust our influence with the multitude, nor apprehend an abuse of our license as long as it shall appear to be exercised sincerely, and on a true principle of religion, without any hollow deference either for them on the one hand, or for the multitude on the other; if they do not rather hail us as steady allies in our way.

I cannot say more of the matter just yet but upon the whole I much doubt whether in the present state of society one of the class and character that I have just de

scribed could well be dispensed with. If he was dead, or removed by any other means from the station he occupies among us, I think his loss would be felt, and ought to be regretted. Long, therefore, may such characters continue in sufficient abundance wherever they are wanted, I say: though it would not suit me to be one of them. Let every one of them follow his own bent too for me; as I also hope to follow mine, though he perhaps will not be disposed to allow it. For the reciprocity system which our Master inculcated (Matt. vii. 12) is only just beginning out of the church, and may be some time getting into it. Till then I advise patience. Have patience, O ye "little ones": and learn to submit with a good grace to what you cannot reconcile; taking care at the same time never to be reconciled to what you ought not, let the great ones say as they like; but say rather what you think of it.

In the ancient church from which our order is derived there were not only poor hermits like the curate, but whole orders besides; whose habits of poverty and retirement might have seemed an indirect censure on the affluent, court-seeking clergy: yet they were no nuisance to them, as I have ever understood; those went their way, and these went theirs, either with the same book of directions in their hands, and the same latitude of obedience in their hearts. The same thing might still be done in the same way perhaps; but not else: and the meaning of this combination does not seem generally so well worth considering, as how to avoid persecution on all sides. It will not suffice for a curate to shew as much charity and forbearance toward others as others toward him: he must shew more, and a great deal more, with more of some other qualities likewise; or he will not be fit for the office of a curate, whatever he may have to say about it; and that may be more by a great deal than I have ever said about it yet.

Supposing a curate to be what he ought, it may be wondered that the world, or any one in it, should ever be