and to impute wrong motives, that they cannot entertain confidence, which is the chief cement of society. Charles II. had no strong feeling of gratitude or friendship. He believed that his ministers and courtiers had no motive in serving him but self-interest. Confidence is the golden hoop which binds society together. Painful silence, and reserve and stiffness, destroy confidence ; geniality and frankness produce it. The pimpernel, and other flowers, never open their leaves without the stimulus of sunlight; and in the same way the “smilemaker" opens our hearts to trust in him. His radiant face darts beams of joy into our hearts, and we love to look upon his cheerful countenance. Great even is the power of an enemy over an enemy by the magic of personal intercourse. Saint Aldegonde was signally impressed by the language of Alexander, Prince of Parma, and thoroughly fascinated, magnetised, as it were, by his character. Even the rough like kindness, and the bear is fond of honey. It is owing to this strong principle of human nature that men are caught and kept by glutinous flattery. In youth our feelings of trust are easily won; but experience soon acts as an astringent to check the flux of confidence. Then we are apt to become suspicious and distrustful. This also has its season, and confidence revives :

"The old man clogs our earliest years,
And simple childhood comes the last."

It is astonishing what small things recommend or prejudice in society. One so judicious as Queen Elizabeth showed the greatest regard for externals. To lose a

tooth had been known to cause the loss of a place. An excellent leg helped Sir Christopher Hatton into the chancellorship. An amusing disposition will compensate for the lack of higher qualities, just as the Barbary ape enjoys a certain measure of protection from fire-arms in return for the amusement afforded by its manners. Though frankness is a prime requisite in society, yet the art of concealing is very useful, only with this distinction, that charity covers evil, but envy covers good.

Deep, however, is the sympathy and great the hope for any one aspiring after better things, but who, by birth. and other circumstances of destiny, has his lot among the wicked. Let him take courage :—

caste.

"The strawberry grows underneath the nettle;
And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best
Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality."*

Two gigantic obstacles to social union are religion and We send missionaries to India to undermine caste, and at the same time we cherish at home a subtler and more refined species of the same genus. One Christian family living in the same square in England will charge the nursemaids not to allow their children to speak to the children of their next-door neighbour, because he is connected with trade. It is the same spirit in India, only intensified. No Hindu would have any communication with a Pariah. If a Pariah touched a warrior of high caste, he might be killed instantly for taking such a liberty. If the shadow of a Pariah passed

"King Henry V.,” i. I.

over some sorts of food, the food was held to be defiled.

It is pleasant to see the social element coming out in St. Paul. He was a good sample of Christianity, and it is wonderful to think how Christianity developed out of Judaism, how a system so liberal, large-hearted, and catholic, developed out of one so exclusive, narrow, and clannish. Who that considers the affectionate expressions and the social feelings of St. Paul, would hesitate to join in the eulogium pronounced on him by St. Chrysostom: "His heart beats for all the world"?

Primitive Christianity was eminently social and eager for increase. It seized on every believing mind, on every hopeful character with a delightful claim of appropriation:-" Thou shalt be ours." " *

Continuing like-minded, it ought to have broken down all partition walls, and shown men that they were all one family, but it has divided them by creeds, and tests, and shibboleths. This has been done out of a respectable feeling. Men have fancied they had the truth, and they wished to enforce it upon others. But there is no monopoly of truth, and there is no human infallibility. this fact prevails-and it undoubtedly will-there will grow up under its shadow a plant of renown, the principle of toleration and respect for the opinions of others. Then the artificial hedges which have separated children of the same Father, and brethren of the same Saviour, will be broken down.

As

Still, while we eschew narrowness of mind and isola

* "Noster eris."

tion, we must also guard against a preternatural enlargement of our catholicity; for the Church, as well as the body, might suffer from aneurism.

Men often speculate rashly on public opinion and public feeling, and fancy they can gauge it to a nicety, whereas it is not easy in a great city even to tell which way the wind is blowing, there are so many gusts and draughts; but it does seem as if liberty in religion is coming like a rushing, mighty wind.

Both the Church and Nonconformity exist by the permission of God. No doubt they have divided neighbourhoods; but we may cherish the hope that these great Christian streams, which, after the manner of Asiatic rivers, are flowing in almost parallel directions, may also, like them, unite before they enter the ocean-of eternity.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LEAVING HOME:

ONE of the most touching events in the domestic annals is when a member of the family leaves home, and goes to commence the business of life in another place. He departs amidst great expectations and lively hopes; amidst genuine tears and irrepressible misgivings. Will he succeed, or will he fail? Will he come back, radiant with honour, marching up the great thoroughfare? or will he come back, shrinking with disgrace, and stealing down some narrow alley, to the house where he was born? Or will he never come back again? Crowds of such thoughts, feelings, instincts, and presentiments, are all at work, and produce a tumultuous sensation.

One of the most pathetic passages in the history of Greece is the description by Thucydides of the Athenian expedition leaving home to go to Syracuse: an expedition which was disastrous for itself, and brought about the ruin of Athens :-The Athenians went down to the Piræus one morning, as soon as it was light, and proceeded to man their ships for the purpose of putting out to sea. The whole multitude, so to speak, that was in the city, both of citizens and foreigners, went down with