Yet this is quite consistent with feeling the spiritual interests of men to be of all incomparably the highest.
Modern religionists profess to be disciples of Christ, and talk high of the perfect morality of the New Testament, when they certainly do not submit their understanding to it, and are no more like to the first disciples than bishops are like the pennyless apostles.

One critic tells me that _I know_ that the above is _not_ the true interpretation of the apostolic doctrine.

Assuredly I am aware that we may rebuke "the world" and "worldliness," in a legitimate and modified sense, as being the system of _selfishness_: true,--and I have avowed this in another work; but it does not follow that Jesus and the apostles did not go farther: and manifestly they did.

The true disciple, who would be perfect as his Master, was indeed ordered to sell all, give to the poor and follow him; and when that severity was relaxed by good sense, it was still taught that things which lasted to the other side of the grave alone deserved our affection or our exertion.

If any person thinks me ignorant of the Scriptures for being of this judgment, let him so think; but to deny that I am sincere in my avowal, is a very needless insolence.
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