Ixxxii PREFATORY LETTER. 



a hurry to divide the good part of the crop from the bad — 

 rather to leave the separation to an unerring hand: and as 

 for ourselves it tells us to hope all things, and to live in cha- 

 rity with our neighbour. A man who pleads honestly (and 

 wisely too) for a cause in which his heart is warm, but for 

 which his hearers have no sympathy, may perchance appear to 

 them to be acting and talking like a fbol while he is speaking 

 the very words of truth and wisdom. Let us keep down our 

 mockery, and try gravely and honestly to look society in the 

 face; and we shall most certainly see, that among men and 

 women of every grade — from the highest to the lowest — who 

 have felt true love for their fellow-creatures both at home and 

 in heathendom, and have proved it by efforts for their in- 

 struction in the lessons of the Gospel, are to be found some 

 of the best patriots, some of the most high-minded men and 

 best clergymen, and many of the best daily fire-side models 

 of social duty and domestic love. 



The preceding remarks do not apply to the Church of 

 England only; but to every other Christian Church, whatso- 

 ever may be its name, of which the members believe in the 

 promises of the Gospel as the ground of their hopes, and 

 take its commands as the rule of their life. While such men 

 are doing the good work of Christian love among the hea- 

 then, we pray, with all our hearts, that God may speed them 

 well — without stopping to inquire into the Covenants they 

 may have signed, the Synodal Confessions they may have 

 published, or the outward forms of polity they may have 

 chosen. A man may surely join in such a prayer without 

 forfeiting one iota of his loyalty, or abating one particle of 

 his active duties, to his own Church and Country. 



But charity begins at home, it is said, and very truly said. 

 Charity will, however, very soon be cold when it is confined 

 to one household; and its flame will soon go out if it be not 

 fanned by the open air. That man is sure to be a base citizen 

 and a surly master, whose charities do not expand beyond his 



