"Zion Hill Delights me more, and Siloa's brook that flow'd Fast by the oracle of God!"
"Visions fit for slobberers!" If infidelity do not lead to sensuality, which in every case except yours I have observed it to do, it always takes away all respect for those who become unpleasant from the infirmities of disease or decaying nature. _Exempli gratiâ_, "the aged are _slobberers_."[139] The only vision which Christianity holds forth is indeed peculiarly adapted to these _slobberers_. Yes, to these lowly and despised and perishing slobberers it proclaims that their "corruptible shall put on _incorruption_, and their mortal put on _immortality_."
"Morals to the Magdalen and Botany Bay." Now, Thelwall, I presume that to preach morals to the virtuous is not quite so requisite as to preach them to the vicious. "The sick need a physician." Are morals which would make a prostitute a wife and a sister, which would restore her to inward peace and purity; are morals which would make drunkards sober, the ferocious benevolent, and thieves honest, _mean morals_? Is it a despicable trait in our religion, that its professed object is to heal the broken-hearted and give wisdom to the poor man? It preaches _repentance_. What repentance? Tears and sorrow and a repetition of the same crimes? No, a "repentance unto good works;" a repentance that completely does away all superstitious terrors by teaching that the past is nothing in itself, that, if the mind _is_ good, that it _was_ bad imports nothing. "It is a religion for democrats." It certainly teaches in the most explicit terms the rights of man, his right to wisdom, his right to an equal share in all the blessings of nature; it commands its disciples to go everywhere, and everywhere to preach these rights; it commands them never to use the arm of flesh, to be perfectly non-resistant; yet to hold the promulgation of _truth_ to be a law above law, and in the performance of this office to defy "wickedness in high places," and cheerfully to endure ignominy, and wretchedness, and torments, and death, rather than _intermit_ the performance of it; yet, while enduring ignominy, and wretchedness, and torments, and death, to feel nothing but sorrow, and pity, and love for those who inflicted them; wishing their oppressors to be altogether such as they, "excepting these bonds." Here is _truth_ in theory and in practice, a union of energetic _action_ and more energetic _suffering_. For activity amuses; but he who can _endure_ calmly must possess the seeds of true greatness. For all his animal spirits will of necessity fail him; and he has only his mind to trust to. These doubtless are morals for all the lovers of mankind, who wish to _act_ as well as _speculate_; and that you should allow this, and yet, not three lines before call the same _morals mean_, appears to me a gross self-contradiction symptomatic of bigotry. I write freely, Thelwall; for, though _personally_ unknown, I really love you, and can count but few human beings whose hand I would welcome with a more hearty grasp of friendship. I suspect, Thelwall, that you never read your Testament, since your understanding was matured, without carelessness, and previous contempt, and a somewhat like hatred. Christianity regards morality as a process. It finds a man vicious and unsusceptible of noble motives and gradually leads him, at least desires to lead him, to the height of disinterested virtue; till, in relation and proportion to his faculties and power, he is perfect "even as our Father in heaven is perfect." There is no resting-place for morality. Now I will make one other appeal, and have done forever with the subject. There is a passage in Scripture which comprises the whole process, and each component part, of Christian morals. Previously let me explain the word faith. By faith I understand, first, a deduction from experiments in favour of the existence of something not experienced, and, secondly, the motives which attend such a deduction. Now motives, being selfish, are only the beginning and the _foundation_, necessary and of first-rate importance, yet made of vile materials, and hidden beneath the splendid superstructure.