THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 53 



I am much afraid that some of those who 

 censure me may be chargeable with more 

 NOTORIOUS CHANGES than that ; whether 

 MORE CONSCIENTIOUS OR NO, God only 

 is the judge. If your lordship gives credit 

 to the many misrepresentations which are 

 made of me, and which I, being so used 

 to, can easily disregard, you may naturally 

 enough be in pain for me ; for to see one of 

 your brethren throwing himself headlong into 

 a wilful deprivation, not only of honour, and of 

 income, but of a good CONSCIENCE also, are 

 particulars out of which may be framed an idea 

 v^ery deplorable. But though I do daily in 

 many things betray great infirmity, I thank 

 God I cannot accuse myself of any insincerity ; 

 so that deprivation will not reach my conscience, 

 and I am in no pain at all for myself. I 

 perceive that, after we have been sufficiently 

 ridiculed, the last mortal stab designed to be 

 given us is to expose us to the world for men 

 of NO CONSCIENCE ; and if God is pleased to 

 permit it. His most holy will be done ; though 

 what that particular passion of corrupt nature 

 is, which lies at the bottom, and which we 

 gratify in losing all we have, will be hard to 



