1859-1860.] HIS RELIGIOUS POSITION. 



235 



Physically, morally, and spiritually, Washington stinks. At 

 Paris, if you are tongue-tied, you have at any rate plenty of 

 cheerfulness and fun. Here you are enthralled in this corrupt 

 atmosphere, with nothing to relieve the gloom. It certainly 

 has the effect I expected, of making Albany in the past, and 

 England in the future, very pleasant by contrast." 



As to his English future, however, he felt very uncertain. 

 After consenting to return to Warrington, he received letters 

 from some of the congregation, informing him that his return 

 " would only reopen wounds which perhaps may otherwise 

 heal in time." He thanked them for " the very kind and frank 

 way in which they had expressed their sentiments," and said, 

 " It is hard for me not to accede to your request, when my 

 own very strong feelings and wishes lead in the same direc- 

 tion ; " but he felt himself bound to consult the wishes of the 

 congregational meeting, and it seemed to him that the dif- 

 ferences of opinion had only ripened during his absence. He 

 stated that he had " been gradually led out of the system of 

 opinions known as Unitarian," and gave a summary of the 

 principal points in his teaching, adding, " I utterly disclaim 

 the imputation that I am an example of godliness ; that 

 those who think with me are the saints ; and that those who 

 think differently are the sinners. I only say that, however in- 

 consistent my life, I must faithfully preach these doctrines : 

 that my sympathies of Christian brotherhood extend to all, 

 whether Unitarian, Calvinistic, or Roman Catholic, who are 

 seeking to become new creatures in Christ Jesus, however 

 various their theological opinions or feeble (as yet) their 

 Christian life ; but that I can feel no fellowship, as a Christian, 

 with those who only want so much of Christianity preached, as 

 they themselves can see : and so much lived as may be con- 

 venient and agreeable for the purposes of this life. All such 

 persons, however numerous, wealthy, or kind-hearted, are only 

 a hindrance to the spread of true religion." 



As might be expected, his letter only intensified their 

 desire that he should not return to his pulpit : and his own 

 family felt that it might be very injurious to his health, both of 



