The vicar very wisely handed the indignant prebendary’s letter over to me to answer, which I did.  In my reply, I took the opportunity to put in some Gospel teaching, which was supposed to be very irrelevant matter, and counted evasive.  I did not deny that I had said something to the effect of which he complained, but I pleaded in extenuation that I was justified in doing so.  He was more enraged by my letter than by the report he had heard, and threatened to publish the correspondence.  This he did, with a letter to his parishioners, in which he warned them against revivals in general, and me in particular.  He told them that I was “infatuated;” that I had “usurped the judgment seat of Christ;” that I was “the accuser of the brethren;” that I “acted the devil’s part now, and was to be his companion hereafter.”  I thought of giving more choice extracts from this publication, but on second thoughts I consider it better to pass it over.

CHAPTER 22

The High Church Rector, 1854

Let bygones be bygones.  I am thankful to say times are changed, but the letter referred to in the last chapter, though expressing the sentiments of one man, yet showed the feeling of many others.  I do not complain of it, for I must say I rather like the outspoken opposition of the natural heart; it is far better, and much less trying, than smiling indifference or hollow assent.

The work which began in this part went on and spread.  The refusal of the clergy to take it up sent it to the chapels, where it was continued for miles round.  For this reason I was charged then, and have been since, with encouraging Dissent, but the accusation sits very lightly on me, for I know what I would rather have.  Nothing would please me so well as to have the clergy converted, and taking up the work; but if they will not, then I would rather that the Dissenters had the benefit, than that it should die out and be lost.  Dissent makes division, but it is necessary for vitality, under present circumstances, and counteracts the great evil of spiritual death.  The light of God ought to be in the Church of England, for it is the Lord’s candlestick in this land; but when the truth is not represented, and the Church is dark, it is a mercy that God has been pleased to raise up witnesses for Himself in other bodies.

The Calvinist, with a needless bitterness, holds up God’s sovereignty, as if man’s will were not free; the Arminian is equally energetic for man’s responsibility, as if God were not sovereign; and the Quaker is a witness for the work of the Spirit.  These, and several others, each maintain their particular doctrine.  They are raised up to show respectively their own portion of the light, because the Church, which has in her formularies all these great truths, is remiss in her duty.  The full blaze of light which ought to be emitted from her to all sides, is shed upon her in detail from others; and her members are too often lighted from without, and not from within.