8o 



MINISTRY AT STAND. [Chap. III. 



returned his love, as far as a mere child could. In those early- 

 days we were too young for any due appreciation of your 

 brother's beautiful character, but he made a deep impression 

 on us, and the real appreciation came later. " 



Keenly as he felt his approaching removal from Stand, he 

 had acted for what he believed to be for the advantage of the 

 congregation, and took for granted that an important portion of 

 them would accord in the views expressed by Mr. Philips • but 

 he found that many who had freely criticized him could not 

 bear to part with him. Among these was the Rev. Arthur 

 Dean, formerly minister of Stand Chapel, who had often disap- 

 proved of his extempore sermons, and his various departures 

 from the old ways, but recognized the good his young successor 

 had done, and expressed the greatest interest in his labours. 

 Philip's influence was widely felt in the neighbourhood, and 

 even those whom he sometimes wounded saw that it would be 

 a scandal not to ask him to remain among them. He received 

 a unanimous invitation from a congregational meeting to become 

 their settled minister. It was not in his power to accept it ; 

 but he thanked them most affectionately for the kindness they 

 had shown him, and added, "It is my hope and earnest prayer 

 that you may receive the services of one more able (I can hardly 

 say more willing) to advance the cause of Christian truth and 

 holiness ; one who may avoid the errors into which I may have 

 fallen, and carry out such of our plans as tend to do good ; one 

 who will conciliate prejudices, overcome difficulties, and be the 

 means of leading many souls to Christ. ?? It was very gratifying 

 to him that, when they proceeded to elect a minister, they chose 

 a zealous teetotaler ; though unfortunately he could not accept 

 their call. 



He heard of other instances, in which young ministers had 

 given offence through their outspoken zeal \ among them his 

 neighbour the curate : and he writes as follows to a Bristol 

 friend, a young clergyman (March 7, 1846) : " Our young curate 

 has got into the same trouble that I have done. I think I 

 told you a little about him, and his bigotry against Dissenters, 

 and his Puseyism. The incumbent wants to get into favour 



