Christian Religion, once here, cannot again pass away; that in one or the other form, it will endure through all time; that as in Scripture, so also in the heart of man, is written, "the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Were the memory of this Faith never so obscured, as, indeed, in all times, the coarse passions and perceptions of the world do all but obliterate it in the hearts of most; yet in every pure soul, in every Poet and Wise Man, it finds a new Missionary, a new Martyr, till the great volume of Universal History is finally closed, and man's destinies are fulfilled in this earth.' 7. 173.

(5) 'One hears sometimes of religious controversies running very high; about faith, works, grace, prevenient grace, the Arches Court and Essays and Reviews;-into none of which do I enter, or concern myself with your entering. One thing I will remind you of, That the essence and outcome of all religions, creeds and liturgies whatsoever is, To do one's work in a faithful manner. Unhappy caitiff, what to you is the use of orthodoxy, if with every stroke of your hammer you are breaking all the Ten Commandments, operating upon Devil's-dust, and, with constant invocation of the Devil, endeavouring to reap where you have not sown?' 12. 229.

For the thing men are taught, or get to believe, that is the thing they will infallibly

'The Spiritual, it is still often said, but is not

now sufficiently considered, is the parent and first cause of the Practical. The Spiritual everywhere originates the Practical, models it, makes it so that the saddest external condition of affairs, among men, is but evidence of a still sadder internal one.' 20. 251.

(6) I will as soon think of making Galaxies and Star-Systems to guide little herring-vessels by, as of preaching Religion that the Constable may continue possible.' 14. 194.

'Small men, most active, useful, are to be seen everywhere, whose whole activity depends on some conviction, which to you is palpably a limited one; imperfect, what we call an error. But would it be a kindness always, is it a duty always or often, to disturb them in that? Many a man, doing loud work in the world, stands only on some thin traditionality, conventionality; to him indubitable, to you incredible: break that beneath him, he sinks to endless depths!' 13. 203.

(7)'... There are mysteries and unsounded abysses in every human heart; and that is but a questionable philosophy which undertakes so readily to explain them. Religious belief especially, at least when it seems heartfelt and well-intentioned, is no subject for harsh or even irreverent investigation. He is a wise man that, having such a belief, knows and sees clearly the grounds of it in himself: and those, we imagine, who have explored with strictest scrutiny the

secret of their own bosoms will be least apt to rush with intolerant violence into that of other men's.' 6. 124.

'For man has transcendentalisms in him; standing as he does, poor creature, every way "in the confluence of Infinitudes "; a mystery to himself and others: in the centre of two Eternities, of three Immensities,-in the intersection of primeval Light with the everlasting Dark !...' 4. 36.

(8) ...Knowledge of the transcendental, immeasurable character of Duty we call the basis of all Gospels, the essence of all Religion: he who with his whole soul knows not this, as yet knows nothing, as yet is properly nothing.'

9. 109.

"...Devoutly submissive to the will of the Supreme in all things: the highest and sole essential form which Religion can assume in man, and without which all forms of religion are a mockery and a delusion in man.' 21. 232.

XII.

Conversion.

(1) It is therefore in these years, undated by History, that we must place Oliver's clear recognition of Calvinistic Christianity; what he, with unspeakable joy, would name his Conversion; his deliverance from the jaws of Eternal Death. Certainly a grand epoch for a man: properly the one epoch; the turning-point which guides upwards, or guides downwards, him and his activity forevermore. Wilt thou join with the Dragons; wilt thou join with the Gods? Of thee too the question is asked;—whether by a man in Geneva gown, by a man in "Four surplices at Allhallowtide," with

words very

imperfect; or by no man and no words, but only by the Silences, by the Eternities, by the Life everlasting and the Death everlasting.' 15. 43.

(2) Methodism with its eye forever turned on its own navel; asking itself with torturing anxiety of Hope and Fear, "Am I right? am I wrong? Shall I be saved? Shall I not be

damned ?"-what is this, at bottom, but a new phasis of Egoism, stretched out into the Infinite; not always the heavenlier for its infinitude ! Brother, so soon as possible, endeavour to rise above all that. "Thou art wrong; thou art like to be damned :" consider that as the fact, reconcile thyself even to that, if thou be a man; -then first is the devouring Universe subdued under thee, and from the black murk of midnight and noise of greedy Acheron, dawn as of an everlasting morning, how far above all Hope and all Fear, springs for thee, enlightening thy steep path, awakening in thy heart celestial Memnon's music!' 14. IOI.

'Annihilation of self; Selbsttödtung, as Novalis calls it; casting yourself at the footstool of God's throne, "To live or to die forever; as Thou wilt, not as I will." Brother, hadst thou never, in any form, such moments in thy history? Thou knowest them not, even by credible rumour? Well, thy earthly path was peaceabler, I suppose. But the Highest was never in thee, the Highest will never come out of thee. Thou shalt at best abide by the stuff; as cherished housedog, guard the stuff,-perhaps with enormous gold-collars aud provender: but the battle, and the hero-death, and victory's fire-chariot carrying men to the Immortals, shall never be thine. I pity thee; brag not, or I shall have to despise thee.' 15. 89.

"To die forever, as I have deserved; let

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