obedience as such, which led me to concur with some zeal in the
plans of Bishop Blomfield. In the course of two or three years,
Manning turned from a strongly evangelical attitude to one as
strongly anglican, and about the same time converted his
acquaintance with me into a close friendship. In the same manner
James Hope, whom I had known but slightly at Eton or Oxford, made a
carefully considered change of the same kind; which also became the
occasion of a fast friendship. Both these intimacies led me
forward; Hope especially had influence over me, more than I think
any other person at any period of my life.[87]

When I was preparing in 1837-8 _The State in its Relations with the
Church_, he took a warm interest in the work, which, during my
absence on the continent, he corrected for the press. His attitude
towards the work, however, included a desire that its propositions
should be carried further. The temper of the times among young
educated men was working in the same direction. I had no low
churchmen among my near friends, except Walter Farquhar. Anstice, a
great loss, died very early in his beautiful married life. While I
was busy about my book, Hope made known to me Palmer's work on the
Church, which had just appeared. I read it with care and great
interest. It took hold upon me; and gave me at once the clear,
definite, and strong conception of the church which, through all
the storm and strain of a most critical period, has proved for me
entirely adequate to every emergency, and saved me from all
vacillation. I did not, however, love the extreme rigour of the
book in its treatment of non-episcopal communions. It was not very
long after this, I think in 1842, that I reduced into form my
convictions of the large and important range of subjects which
recent controversy had brought into prominence. I conceive that in
the main Palmer completed for me the work which inspection of the
prayer-book had begun.

Before referring further to my 'redaction' of opinions, I desire to
say that at this moment I am as closely an adherent to the
doctrines of grace generally, and to the general sense of Saint
Augustine, as at the date from which this narrative set out. I hope
that my mind has dropped nothing affirmative. But I hope also that
there has be