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and no question concerning the propriety, and indeed necessity and perfect naturalness, of a national church having ever been raised in his world, it was from habit and feeling rather than conviction that he deemed himself a true son of the Church of England.

He had always, too, been more or less conscious of a vague wish to devote himself to the ministry; but, in proportion as he became more deeply conscious of the blessedness of personal religion, and so had a still deeper yearning to impart to others the knowledge and the joy of salvation, his idea of the necessary qualifications and solemn responsibility of the preacher's office rose, and he resolved, in humility, as he believed, to adopt a civil profession, and glorify God in private life.

But after he hal entered on his legal studies, which he pursued with characteristic carnestness, the religious life that was in him continued to deepen; and as he thought of the multitudes who, however conversant with the outside of religion, seemed to have no deep sense of the nature of the spiritual life, the yearnings within him began to take so definite a form, and to become so peremptory, that the idea of abandoning his recently-adopted profession stood before him with a growing distinctness that eventually compelled him deliberately to examine and decide. And thus, in about the third year of his legal course, all visions of a silk gown in the future, and of more dignified possibilities in the still further distance, faded entirely away, and he turned from the great lawyers to the theologians and divines.

Till now, he had never entertained a doubt that to become a Christian minister and to become a clergyman were one and the same thing; but as he studied the canons of the Church, and re-examined the familiar formularies and the ordination service, as from a new stand-point, because with a reference to his own personal action and responsibility, he began to be aware of difficulties that he might never have been called to face as a layman. Perhaps it may be some clue to his after-course, to state that his very central idea of Christianity and all religion was, that it is, above all things-LIFE. Not a form, not a creed, but a Life-the life of God, received into the soul, through the only Mediator, who was 'the Life manifested.' Receiving this life, he had also received power and freedom. Ecclesiastical, and even theological, restrictions and enclosures began to appear as unallowable barriers and hindrances. The bishop of Exeter and the Puseyites were worrying Evangelicals; and Evangelicals, in the same spirit, seemed bent on casting out Puseyites from the Church. He shrunk from the idea of being at the mercy of either the one or the other. And the Church, which he had ever fondly spoken of as a 'mother,' and as the 'ark' of safety, began gradually to appear to him in a more questionable light. His position was one of painful embarrassment. On the one hand, inwardly impelled to testify to the truth, that he might bless men and glorify God; on the other, prevented from doing it in the only way he had ever hitherto contemplated. His soul was filled with sadness. And, as he well knew how all his old college friends would counsel him, and, moreover, shrunk from possibly

bringing on them the same burden he found so heavy for himself, he looked about for some adviser who, from a different point of view, might perhaps throw an independent light on the question that was now beginning to press for some solution.

Mr. Spencer was an old friend. Indeed, he had received from him his earliest instructions, previously to going to Rugby. And Mr. Spencer was a Nonconformist too; the only minister out of the Church' that he had any knowledge of. And all his impressions of his early tutor were pleasant. He remembered how 'very religious' he used, as a boy, to think him; and all that he recalled of him served only to increase his respect. He renewed the acquaintance, and found a sympathizing friend and wise counsellor. Mr. Spencer said not a word to urge him to quit the Church of his early associations and affections. Earnest Dissenter himself, he was not solicitous to make proselytes, but to deepen in every one a loving reverence for the Truth, and to increase the power of perceiving it. The sum of his advice had been that, as Mr. Warrington was clear on the first point, viz., that of renouncing the law and embracing the vocation of a religious teacher, but all beyond was impossible to be shaped as yet, he should take a fair period of time for calm thought away from all near and disturbing influences; and, as he could afford the time, being then only twenty-six, he advised him to go to Germany for a year or two, and continue his studies at one of the universities there. The entireness of the change might prove everyway favourable to the formation ultimately of a judgment not to be subsequently repented of, and the knowledge he would gain there would be for ever useful to him as a Christian teacher, whatever Church he might ultimately join.

Mr. Warrington had thoroughly approved this counsel, and acted upon it; only prolonging his period of residence to three years, and not only making the acquaintance and even acquiring the friendship of some of the best living divines there, but eventually, saying nothing of his Oxford degree, taking another, I think at Halle. During his German period he came gradually to feel it impossible to surrender his personal Christian freedom so much as would be involved in becoming a clergyman of the Church of England. The life that was in him refused to be clipped, and trimmed, and trained just so. He had no notion of answering, in writing, some eighty questions on baptismal regeneration, and kindred topics, to the satisfaction of any prelate whatever. Nor did he like, as a man who prayed for the gift of the Holy Spirit to himself, the permanent promise of Christ to the Church, to be bound quite so rigidly as articles and other formularies would bind him. Negatively, his course was quite clear. Dearly as he loved the memory of his ama mater, and deeply as he felt the full force of the many associations and attractions of the church of his childhood and youth, yet, as a man, owing his first loyalty to truth, he could not surrender himself so absolutely as he must do if he would minister at her altars. Yet-the Dissenters! How would he fare among them? Would nearer acquaintance increase his satisfaction,

or make him regret the former things? And if he joined them, which of all the sects would afford him the freest scope for honest labour? And thus, at the age of nine and twenty, the question still was, Where to go to?

On his return from Germany, two years prior to the time at which this chapter opens, he had requested the Spencers to receive him as an inmate of the family for a year, that he might now have a fair opportunity of observing and studying the principles and working of Dissent near at hand. Mr. Spencer had not felt himself justified in declining the proposal, and so Mr. Warrington had been his intimate companion for several months. During this period he had preached occasionally for Mr. Spencer, and for various other ministers of both sections of the Congregational body, being regarded as a gentleman 'studying for the ministry. Some of the more earnestly denominational ministers had often urged him to enter one or other of the Dissenting colleges as the best way of securing a future pastorate, at all events of securing a good one.' But his friend Spencer had quite sufficient reasons for refusing to entertain this idea for an instant. In fact, there was something almost ludicrous about it; for, as he was an M.A. of Oxford, and had taken a still higher degree in Germany, it is to be feared that American diplomas would scarcely have commanded his confidence. Besides, he was now nearly thirty, a mature man and experienced Christian, as well as a ripe scholar.

During his twelve months' residence with Mr. Spencer, he had given a large portion of his time to visiting the poor, had formed classes of young men, and had variously practised himself in ministerial duties. It is true that he every now and then found himself shrinking sensitively from things and persons that evidently belonged to quite another sphere than that he had once been accustomed to. He had attended church-meetings,' and 'prayer-meetings,' and 'teameetings,' had even been present with his friend Spencer at deacons'meetings,' and at 'anniversaries,' &c.

'Well, and what did he think of it all?' A very natural question, no doubt; and one that perhaps ought to be answered in due season. Indeed, it would often do us all perhaps more than a little good, to know just how our proceedings strike an intelligent and impartial stranger. Perhaps we must admit that it would take some time to reconcile a quondam member of Oriel College to our interesting little peculiarities. But yet it is to be remembered that in Mr. Warrington the Christian was paramount over the scholar and (conventionally speaking) the gentleman. Well, then, as a Christian, unaccustomed to such things, how did it all strike him? Well, if the reader insists on knowing, his curiosity must be gratified, I suppose. And yet, if his Dissenting amour propre be very hugely developed, and he be one of those who deem that religion would come to an end if all those interesting peculiarities above referred to were to be at a discount, it might be as well not to press Mr. Warrington too pertinaciously.

But Mr. Spencer had been so many years at Lamberton that, though there was no tropical warmth of affection among the people, and his

church was not free from a class of men who ought to have seceded and formed themselves into a sort of 'Hey-fellow-well-met' society of their own, in some Cave of Adullam, or Grumble-tone-alley, yet, on the whole, there was much that a sincere Christian might well rejoice in; and such a one, who had been much abroad among professors of religion,' might, when brought into close association with Mr. Spencer and his flock, regard himself as led by the Good Shepherd into green pastures and beside still waters.

Mr. Warrington, then, had spent a year or so at Lamberton, and seen a good deal of Dissenting life and manners. At the end of the period he was naturally anxious to be at work in some part of the great field given by the Master to his Church to 'subdue and replenish.' But the question still was, Where to go to? and it was time it received some satisfactory answer. But no answer came. He had supplied two or three vacant churches' during his residence at Lamberton, but nothing grew out of those engagements. Mr. Spencer scarcely knew what to advise; the chief difficulty, I apprehend, lying in the very excellences of the candidate; a fact to which we shall have to advert subsequently.

However, having invitations to 'supply' one or two 'destitute churches,' as well as to preach for three or four ministers who anticipated needing assistance, he left Lamberton, and spent rather more than another year in fulfilling these engagements, and others to which these introduced him, taking every opportunity, when not so occupied, of hearing the ministers of greatest repute in town and country.

At the opening of our narrative the Spencers are anticipating his return, after rather more than twelve months' absence. He had kept them acquainted with his movements, and thus they knew that he was returning to them as far as ever from knowing what his future plans were to be. But being free now from all engagements, and a good deal depressed, he had longed to find himself once more under Mr. Spencer's peaceful roof.

I shall leave the reader to imagine the meeting, though I suppose Mr. Warrington himself must be formally introduced. In person, then, you may picture him as rather tall than otherwise, and well made; naturally graceful in his movements and easy in demeanour ; a gentleman outwardly, because such within. A sculptor pronounced the head well formed, and well set;' it was covered with a profusion of brown hair, soft and fine. The forehead was clear, open, and refined; I have heard it characterised as an elegant forehead,' and should acquiesce, only desiring the idea of perceptiveness and strength to be added. But the chief feature you noticed, indeed the only one for a time, was the eye; large, and often brilliant, it had a strange power of irresistibly fixing the individual whom he looked at. Duncan Spencer used to say it lightened.' If the reader has ever observed the eye of the falcon close at hand, especially when excited, he may understand the peculiarity I refer to, and which I have never known so decidedly exhibited except in two other men. There was a swordlike beauty in it. I have seen a man fidget about uneasily without

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scarcely knowing why, when Warrington was addressing him on even an ordinary topic; and have heard of individuals in the congregation becoming suddenly confused by his merely looking at them while preaching. Indeed, I have sometimes thought a person had need be free from every secret consciousness of wrong to bear that eye fixed on him. One of Mr. Spencer's flock said, 'Mr. Warrington's eye do go through one like;' while an observer of a different kind remarked, How much of latent enthusiasm there is in that man's eye! What fire, but yet under what control! I can imagine it would be grand to see and hear him under circumstances that fully aroused the whole man, and called out all his power.' His voice, in addressing all women and children, or afflicted or aged persons, was soft and low. 'If I was sick, or in trouble,' said a poor woman once, and Mr. Warrington was only to read the multiplication table to me, it would comfort me, I'm sure it would. In public speaking there was both great compass and great power in it.

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If I could suppose such a thing as that the readers of the Christian Spectator' have remained ignorant of good society,' I might apprehend some of them would begin to think I was drawing rather too perfect a picture; but I may rest assured that most of them, for certain, know that an English gentleman, well educated, and accustomed from childhood to associate with the cultivated and refined, is, when the man and the gentleman are the basis of the scholar and the Christian, one of the finest specimens of humanity that God has put upon this earth. And Mr. Warrington was all that.

I have said nothing about his circumstances. They had always been what is termed 'easy;' but, during his abode in Germany, some of those changes in the value of property which occasionally occur, and the disgraceful failure of a large banking firm, had reduced his income to something under two hundred a-year. And as an only sister had no other near relative than himself to lean on, he had an additional reason for wishing to see his permanent position and work in the world clearly ascertained and fixed.

Such, then, was Mr. Warrington, as he was once more welcomed by the Spencers on that Christmas-eve, and looked again on those kind familiar faces, and glanced round the accustomed apartment, made all ship-shape and snug for the night,' as Duncan said.

I think, seeing I am not writing a volume, but only an article that ought not to extend to more than three or four numbers of the 'Spectator,' I must omit all mention of the evening's chat, all Duncan's share of his society, and even Nora's somewhat hesitating inquiries about 'Dante,' &c., &c., and confine myself to those matters which are strictly related to my title, viz., Where shall he go to? and let the reader see what he makes of the case. To the writer it is not without significance. For here we have a man, anxious, and even eager, to work, shrinking from no toil, but exulting in the idea of devotedness to a high and sacred calling. A proved Christian, who, with all sufliciency of training, and more than ordinary competency for his work, is standing, at the age of thirty-one, in the market-place, as it were,

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