ch besides ourselves; in
proportion then as they are loosened from the one, they will go to
the other. Next, because many doctrines which I have held, have far
greater, or their only scope, in the Roman system. And, moreover, if,
as is not unlikely, we have in process of time heretical Bishops or
teachers among us, an evil which _ipso facto_ infects the whole
community to which they belong, and if, again (what there are at this
moment symptoms of), there be a movement in the English Roman
Catholics to break the alliance of O'Connell and of Exeter Hall,
strong temptations will be placed in the way of individuals, already
imbued with a tone of thought congenial to Rome, to join her
Communion.

"People tell me, on the other hand, that I am, whether by sermons or
otherwise, exerting at St. Mary's a beneficial influence on our
prospective clergy; but what if I take to myself the credit of seeing
further than they, and of having in the course of the last year
discovered that what they approve so much is very likely to end in
Romanism?

"The _arguments_ which I have published against Romanism seem to
myself as cogent as ever, but men go by their sympathies, not by
argument; and if I feel the force of this influence myself, who bow
to the arguments, why may not others still more who never have in the
same degree admitted the arguments?

"Nor can I counteract the danger by preaching or writing against
Rome. I seem to myself almost to have shot my last arrow in the
Article on English Catholicity. It must be added, that the very
circumstance that I have committed myself against Rome has the effect
of setting to sleep people suspicious about me, which is painful now
that I begin to have suspicions about myself. I mentioned my general
difficulty to A. B. a year since, than whom I know no one of a more
fine and accurate conscience, and it was his spontaneous idea that I
should give up St. Mary's, if my feelings continued. I mentioned it
again to him lately, and he did not reverse his opinion, only
expressed great reluctance to believe it must be so."

My friend's judgment was in favour of my retaining my living; at
least for the present; what weighed with me most was his saying, "You
must consider, whether your retiring either from the Pastoral Care
only, or from writing and printing and editing in the cause, would
not be a sort of scandalous thing, unless it were done very warily.
It would be said, 'You see he can go on no lon