ΤΟ THE VERY REVEREND John Priestley Warmoll, CANON AND PROVOST OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NORTHAMPTON. MY DEAR FRIEND,-I am, as you know, a Protestant Nonconformist minister, and, as I think, a perfectly consistent one, a Protestant of Protestants.' As such, you and I are, theologically and ecclesiastically, at the antipodes the one from the other. But my intercourse with you as of friend with friend has always been a valuable 'means of grace' to me, and I gratefully acknowledge it. Be pleased, therefore, to accept my dedication of this little volume to you, not because you will agree with all its contents, for I am sure that you will not, but because I desire to associate it with one who unites unswerving loyalty to his own Church with a just and gracious bearing, full of true insight and Christian love, towards those who are conscientiously constrained to differ from her; and, absolutely apart from your office as a Christian priest, I feel it an honour to offer any little tribute in my power to you in recognition of your noble, self-sacrificing, and generous manhood, which, although largely participating in it, is yet kept 'unspotted from the world.' May the Eternal Mercy keep you,-' body, soul, and spirit,'—is the sincere prayer of your affectionate friend, THE AUTHOR. |