t to Scripture. Every theology has its
difficulties; Protestants hold justification by faith only, though
there is no text in St. Paul which enunciates it, and though
St. James expressly denies it; do we therefore call Protestants
dishonest? they deny that the Church has a divine mission, though St.
Paul says that it is "the Pillar and ground of Truth;" they keep the
Sabbath, though St. Paul says, "Let no man judge you in meat or drink
or in respect of ... the sabbath days." Every creed has texts in its
favour, and again texts which run counter to it: and this is
generally confessed. And this is what I felt keenly:--how had I done
worse in Tract 90 than Anglicans, Wesleyans, and Calvinists did daily
in their Sermons and their publications? How had I done worse, than
the Evangelical party in their _ex animo_ reception of the Services
for Baptism and Visitation of the Sick?[2] Why was I to be dishonest
and they immaculate? There was an occasion on which our Lord gave an
answer, which seemed to be appropriate to my own case, when the
tumult broke out against my Tract:--"He that is without sin among
you, let him first cast a stone at him." I could have fancied that a
sense of their own difficulties of interpretation would have
persuaded the great party I have mentioned to some prudence, or at
least moderation, in opposing a teacher of an opposite school. But I
suppose their alarm and their anger overcame their sense of
justice.

In the universal storm of indignation with which the Tract was
received on its appearance, I recognise much of real religious
feeling, much of honest and true principle, much of straightforward
ignorant common sense. In Oxford there was genuine feeling too; but
there had been a smouldering stern energetic animosity, not at all
unnatural, partly rational, against its author. A false step had been
made; now was the time for action. I am told that, even before the
publication of the Tract, rumours of its contents had got into the
hostile camp in an exaggerated form; and not a moment was lost in
proceeding to action, when I was actually in the hands of the
Philistines. I was quite unprepared for the outbreak, and was
startled at its violence. I do not think I had any fear. Nay, I will
add I am not sure that it was not in one point of view a relief to
me.

I saw indeed clearly that my place in the Movement was lost; public
confidence was at an end; my occupation was gone. It was simply an
impossibi