several such. I do not love this world well enough not to feel much of thankfulness in contemplating them. This, however, is not a feeling to be indulged. A full-grown person is a nobler being than a child. Life, and even long life, is a thing to be desired by God's servants, and a persevering and victorious struggle with our enemy here below is the greatest gift of God to a finite being. We ought without doubt ever to be ready to feel for ourselves and for others that to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Yet the instinct of our common nature ought to teach each one of us, that it is God's will that we should desire rather to live than to die.

*

I have before now pointed out to you how the good and the evil that is in our hearts becomes increased by being expressed; how on the one hand the utterance of a principle on which we may be about to act shows the principle to our own minds, and often enables us to decide whether it is good or bad more clearly than we could else do; and how, on the other hand, a principle on which we should be ashamed to act, should never be uttered. For remember that an evil impulse belongs to the tempter and not to ourselves, until we have made it ours by wilfully indulging it in expression or action. However fiercely evil tendencies may assail us, however gloomy they may make us feel, they are no injury, nay, they are blessings to us, as long as we are bravely fighting with them. My brethren' (says the apostle), 'count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.' We are further told that the trial of our faith worketh patience,' &c.

You say

6

that you cannot overcome selfish tendencies.

EVIL IMPULSES.

265

I believe (if you will let me say so) that you really mean that you cannot extirpate them; for to a great degree at least, you do overcome them. As far as you do so, do not shut your eyes to the fact, and give God the glory.

But as far as you do indulge them, I must forbid you to say that you cannot resist. Remember, that if God be true, and if He be strong, and if He has made His covenant with you, you have power to do everything that you ought to do. In affirming the contrary, you throw the blame of defects upon Him. Be strong in the Lord,' and be sure that while you can do nothing of yourself, you can do all things through Christ strengthening you.

your

There is no word more mischievous than cannot, in regard to all matters of duty. If the Bible and the Church are true, it always really means will not. We may (it is true) feel the necessity of more being done than we can do in regard to outward things. But as regards our own hearts, the can depends upon Him who wills our entire sanctification; the will is what depends upon ourselves. Everything that we ought to do, we can do. Let this truth live and grow in your heart. Let it ever support and encourage you. Do not expect to gain a victory by a single blow. Despond not if you fall again and again. Let patience have her perfect work,' and never doubt the perfect forgiveness and renewed favour of that gracious Lord who bade St. Peter forgive his brother seventy times seven in a day. Do you think that His own mercy and placability will be inferior to that which He enjoined on His disciple? May God lead you to see into this truth. May He give you faith and hope in

what He has done and is ready to do for you yourself, that you may be a chosen vessel unto Him.

I believe that a life of ease is not destined for me, and I am sure it would not be good for me. I would fain make my practical motto, Work to-day, rest tomorrow, and as 'to-morrow never comes' in this world, you see the result.

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CHAPTER XI.

1850-1857.

PRINCIPAL OF BATTERSEA TRAINING COLLEGE-TOURS.

MY DEAR SIR,

To J. M. LUDLOW, ESQ.

6, EDITH GROVE, NEW BROMPTON,

September 20th, 1850.

I have had an attack of illness

similar to those from which I have suffered so much since I came to live in this mild air. I have therefore given way to the doctor's importunity, and have broken my bond with St. Mark's to move into a more bracing climate. We are going to Hampstead, and shall possibly make our home there next week.

I am urged to lead an almost idle life for a while, and by doing so, if God should be willing to employ me, I hope to work more earnestly hereafter. Ill as doing nothing suits me in two important respects, I am not wholly averse to an interval of looking about me and getting clear away for a time from the eldwλa tribus et theatri, to the worship of which I suppose I (like the rest) am more or less addicted.-Believe me, yours faithfully,

S. CLARK.

HAMPSTEAD, March 15th, 1851. MY DEAR MR. LUDLOW,-I have longed to tell you of the grief with which I have contemplated the great gulf that separates our practical views of the great problem which I believe each of us regards with due awe and earnestness; and of the crushing sense of inferiority with which I have found myself constrained to differ from some of those whom I hold in most affection

in re

and honour. I must say you and Maurice above all others. The matter just now comes upon me too personally for me to be disposed to go into anything like argument or detail. The desire to let you know how I feel surmounts for the present all wish to tell you what I think. (I do not quote the Antithesis from the Edinburgh.') How I feel, you can imagine when I tell you that, considering your socialism as a mistake, it seems to me that he whom we agree garding as a prophet given to our age, and you, and at least two others, also plainly meant to lead men, are by that mistake throwing away priceless time and labour, and (what is far worse) losing that influence over the minds of our generation which God formed you to exercise. If I could but think that such a sacrifice was made for a reality, my conscience is free to say that I should glory in your course, and should be happy in following you at such humble distance as I might.

I can hardly think that I am the less able to come to a sound conclusion on the main point from not having attended your meetings, though I may have thereby lost much instruction on particulars. I attended one meeting, and one only. I shall not forget the words of Maurice on that evening, but they seemed