IV AN EPISCOPAL TRILOGY 137 



"intending of the mind" upon religious and 

 moral ideals may have upon character and 

 happiness. Scientific faith, at present, takes it 

 no further than the prayer which Ajax offered; 

 but that petition is continually granted. 



Whatever points of detail may yet remain open 

 for discussion, however, I repeat the opinion I 

 have already expressed, that the Manchester 

 sermons concede all that science, has an in- 

 disputable right, or any pressing need, to ask, and 

 that not grudgingly but generously; and, if the 

 three bishops of 1887 carry the Church with them, 

 I think they will have as good title to the 

 permanent gratitude of posterity as the famous 

 seven who went to the Tower in defence of the 

 Church two hundred years ago. 



Will their brethren follow their just and 

 prudent guidance ? I have no such acquaintance 

 with the currents of ecclesiastical opinion as would 

 justify me in even hazarding a guess on such 

 a difficult topic. But some recent omens are 

 hardly favourable. There seems to be an im- 

 pression abroad I do not desire to give any 

 countenance to it that I am fond of reading 

 sermons. From time to time, unknown corre- 

 spondents some apparently animated by the 

 charitable desire to promote my conversion, and 

 others unmistakably anxious to spur me to the 

 expression of wrathful antagonism favour me with 

 reports or copies of such productions. 



