Life and Letters of Fred. W. Robertson, M. A; Incumbent of Trinity Chapel, Brighton, 1847-53 Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ...as the gratification of a literary taste and the affectation of philosophic height above the strife of human existence. I would not recommend him to try that' philosophic height' which he thinks so self-indulgent, unless he has the hardihood to face the keenest winds that blow over all lonely places, whether lonely heights or lonely flats. If he can steel his heart against distrust and suspicion; if he can dare to be pronounced dangerous by the ignorant, hinted at by his brethren in public and warned against in private; if he can resolve to be struck on every side and not strike again, giving all quarter and asking none; if he can struggle in the dark with the prayer for light of Ajax on his lips, in silence and alone, --then let him adopt the line which seems so easy, and be fair and generous and chivalrous to all. But if he expects from it, 'of course considerable self-applause and great popularity with the multitude, ' I can tell him they are not the rewards of that path. Rather let him be content to remain a partisan, and call himself by some name, Churchman, Evangelical, or Tractarian. Then he will be abused by many; but his party will defend him. His definition of High Churchism called forth further remonstrance. One of his friends wrote to him upon the subject He replied: --My dear, --I gratefully accept your hint about the definition of High Churchmanship. I will modify what I said, to prevent misunderstanding. At the same time, as High Churchmanship, in the sense in which I was then speaking, is, in my view, an error, I must represent it in its most developed, not in its modified form, and as the exact opposite of Pantheism. All grand truth is the statement of two opposites, not a via media between them nor either of them alone.