Life, Letters, Lectures, and Addresses of Fredk. W. Robertson

who will not hope, taking the very excitement as the ground of the hope, that the Church is advancing towards that condition of wellestablished health which is characterized by the possession, not of the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. A writer in the "Revue des deux Mondes" of February 1, 1867, says: "Should you ask now what is the present condition of Christianity in France, I answer, look at the two opposed camps where a remnant of life exists, one for the attack, the other for the defense of the Christian faith. Then look beyond these two camps, and what do you see remaining? An innumerable crowd, inert, inanimate, a veritable Dead Sea in which no living being dwells. That is the world you must reconquer. This 'insouciance-torpeur-engourdissement' of the souls of men-this is the wound which is eating into our society-this is the real disease of the age." Now it is this state which this writer so deplores, from which we in England, at least, are rescued. We live in a world of religious excitement, from the highest to the lowest ranks. We are going through a religious revolution, and it is not impossible that we shall manage it with as much wisdom as we managed in 1688 our political revolution. "It is not very long ago," says another French writer, whom I quote from memory, "since some sentimental politicians discovered the model empire in China. They contrasted Europe torn with theological disputes-rent asunder with wars and revolutions-laboring like a ship in a hurricane, with the quiet national life and the uninterrupted paradise of peace which for centuries had prevailed in China. But what is the true view? China is dying of prolonged infancy. Europe is still full of life-of faith in the future-of belief in itself."

If we insist on reducing the Church to the standard of China, it will die, and deserve to die; if we accept, as necessary elements of the Church in the age in which we live, the excitement, controversy, criticism, revolutionary opinions which are now disturbing us, and set ourselves to find means of bringing order out of disorder, we shall step soon into a more vigorous existence than ever. I am certain that would have been Robertson's opinion. I shall not readily forget the fervor with which I heard him read, “Ring in the Christ which is to be."

No one holding such principles could have found a home in Evangelicalism, or have retired into that High-Church system which holds that the Christianity-and practice and ritual-of the past are better than those of the present or the future. I am far from depreciating the noble and honorable work which the two conservative parties in the English Church have done, and may yet do. There are principles at the root of Ritualism, or rather lying hidden in it, which it would be a misfortune to the Church to lose, and which will probably, as time goes on, shake off the mists of error which now conceal them, and come forth into clear light to help forward the march of Christianity. There are hopes, and I think with good grounds, that the large Evangelical party in the Church will soon, if it has not done it already, take up more liberal ground and revive into a Liberal-conservative condition. This is earnestly to be desired, for it is most important that there should be a strong opposi

tion to prevent the Liberal theologians from going too fast for Christian safety. But one thing at least is necessary for the existence of such an opposition-that it should allow that theology has not reached its ultimate expression, and that it should reserve its strength, not to oppose all extension of theology, but only an unconsidered, hasty, and unwise extension. Theology is not Christianity, it is the scientific exposition of Christianity; and to declare that it is now perfect is to degrade it from the ranks of all true sciences, which are always relative, perfectible, and therefore can not be delivered to man in a moment. Those who say that no higher views of truth can be given or discovered by theology, say that we have exhausted the meaning of the words of Christ-tantamount to the absurdity of saying that we have exhausted the Infinite-and make of theology, not the temple, but the sepulchre of the human mind.

To views such as I have expressed in these latter pages the whole of Robertson's teaching tended. Those who embark upon the river of his thought, and do not leave it, are carried out into this sea. It has its dangers, its quicksands, its deceitful currents; and it needs, especially now, wary sailing and good pilots, but it ought to be a subject of earnest thought whether it is better to be sailing there, on to something better in the Infinite, or riding at anchor in a tranquil, land-locked bay.

PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THERE would seem to be no apology necessary for presenting to the public the Life and Letters of FREDERICK W. ROBERTSON.

The abiding influence of his published writings on all those readers who are capable of being interested in spiritual questions and in Christian experience, has awakened in them a desire to know more of his career.

Constant allusions made in the public press and in reviews to his pre-eminence as a preacher, the wide diffusion of his sermons not only over this kingdom, but also over part of the Continent and of America, the interest in his teaching, which now (more than twelve years after his death) is increasing rather than diminishing, have led men to ask whether his life corresponded to the ideal pictured in his writings-whether his private letters would be worthy companions of his public utterances.

The friends who lived with him and loved him-his congregation, and especially those working-men of Brighton with whom he was connected-have long and eagerly wished to have some record of his life.

Those, on the other hand, who knew him not, but who, since his death have learned to reverence him as their teacher-who have found in his sermons a living source of impulse, a practical direction of thought, a key to many of the problems of theology, and, above all, a path to spiritual freedom-these, with an amount of feeling rarely given to one personally unknown, have hoped to possess some more intimate memorial of him, without whose life they had not lived.

For these reasons this book has been undertaken.

The publication of Mr. Robertson's letters was considered to be of great importance. They seemed to add a personal interest to his sermons, to explain fully his mode of thought, to indicate the source and progress of many of his views, and to supplement his general teaching. They are full of tender human thought, of subtle and delicate feeling, and of much tried and suggestive experience.

The

They possess, also, in common with his sermons, a peculiar literary interest. This interest lies not so much in the originality of their ideas as in the mode in which these ideas are represented. choice of words in them is remarkable. There is sometimes a happy indefiniteness which belongs to and which suggests the infinite nature of the things discussed. A spirit pervades them which influences unconsciously their reader, and renders him receptive of their truths, by inducing in him a kindred tone of heart. Even Robert

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son's slight sketches of an idea, traced perhaps in a single sentence, contain the materials for a finished composition. If he is not a creator, he is eminently a lucid interpreter of thought. It is in this power of apt, logical, and striking expression that the chief literary interest of his writings consists.

I can not but believe also that the noble, truthful life he lived, and the "very courageous" battle which he fought, will have an influence as real and as helpful as his sermons.

The inadequacy with which this life has been represented can not be more a subject of regret to his friends than it is to myself. The fault can only, perhaps, be pardoned for the sake of the love and reverence with which the following pages have been written.

I have to thank many of his friends, and especially his father, Captain Robertson, for their assistance and advice.

I wish to draw attention to the interesting letters written from the Tyrol to Mrs. Robertson, and collected in the first Appendix, and to those from some of his friends which are inserted in the text and in the second Appendix.*

In conclusion, I must regret the delay in the appearance of this book. It is due partly to my absence from England, but chiefly to my desire to make the collection of Mr. Robertson's letters as complete as possible. The arrival of new matter has often compelled me to recast whole chapters, and I have waited for months in the hope of obtaining an important correspondence, and found, at last, my hope in vain.

LONDON, Sept. 15, 1865.

STOPFORD A. BROOKE.

In this edition incorporated with the body of the work.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth of F. W. Robertson.-Childhood.-Love of Nature.-Character as a Boy at the

Academy in Edinburgh.-Youthful Interests.-Choice of Profession.-Military En-

thusiasm.-Studies for the Indian Service.-Circumstances which led him into the

Church.-Enters Oxford.-Contact with Tractarianism.-Religious Views and Chris-

tian Effort.-Reading.-Arnold and Wordsworth.-Speaking at the Union."-

His Opinion as to the Position of a Popular Preacher.-Two Letters recalling his

College Life. Ferment of his Mind at Oxford.-Letter expressing his Opinion of