He had never been known to dispute on its exact bearing with the State,--whether it was incorporated with the State or above the State, whether it was antecedent to the Papacy or formed from the Papacy, etc.

According to his favourite maxim, "Quieta non movere,"-- ["Not to disturb things that are quiet."]--I have no doubt that he would have thought that the less discussion is provoked upon such matters the better for both Church and laity.

Nor had he ever been known to regret the disuse of the ancient custom of excommunication, nor any other diminution of the powers of the priesthood, whether minatory or militant; yet for all this, Parson Dale had a great notion of the sacred privilege of a minister of the gospel,--to advise, to deter, to persuade, to reprove.

And it was for the evening service that he prepared those sermons which may be called "sermons that preach at you." He preferred the evening for that salutary discipline, not only because the congregation was more numerous, but also because, being a shrewd man in his own innocent way, he knew that people bear better to be preached at after dinner than before; that you arrive more insinuatingly at the heart when the stomach is at peace.
There was a genial kindness in Parson Dale's way of preaching at you.
It was done in so imperceptible, fatherly, a manner that you never felt offended.

He did it, too, with so much art that nobody but your own guilty self knew that you were the sinner he was exhorting.