d thin a phantom of virtue.
They are not at liberty not to think about a kindly courtesy of address,
and a manly deference towards elders, and watchful "honour" given to
woman [1 Pet. iii. 7.], and a _manifested_ (as well as felt) sympathy of
heart with all who ask it. They are forbidden by the whole will and
rights of their Master to be loud and "casual" in intercourse; to be
moody and uncertain; to be difficult to please, easy to offend; to think
it a small thing to speak the word to others which may wound, even
lightly, with any wound but the really "faithful" one of a loving
caution or reproof in Christ. No one is to be so independent in one
aspect as the Christian man, and particularly the Christian Minister.
Few men have so strong a vantage-ground for independence as the
Clergyman of the English national Church. But it is the sort of
independence which carries also the deepest obligation, the strongest
sort of _noblesse oblige_. It is "for their sakes." And so the same man
is bound to be also the most accessible, the most attentive, the most
courteous and sympathetic. Avoiding carefully, of course, all
affectation and unreality, he is to take care that a Christian reality
within does show itself in a Christian manner without. "Let your
moderation, your oblivion of self, be _known unto all men_." [Phil. iv.
5.] Let it be seen and felt, in your rooms, in your parish, in your
church.

TEMPER.

Obviously this takes for granted the Clergyman's recognition of the call
to "rule his spirit." [Prov. xvi. 32.] The temptation not to do so is
very different for different men. One man finds temper and patience
sorely tried by things which do not even attract the attention of
another. But very few men indeed, in the actual experiences of pastoral
life, whether in town or country, quite escape for long together the
stings which irritate and inflame. But they _must_ learn how to meet
them in peace and patience, unless they would take one of the most
certain ways to dishonour their Master and discredit their message. The
world has some very true instincts about the power of the Gospel, as it
ought to be, as it claims to be. And one of them is that a Christian as
such is a man who ought always to keep his temper. The Christian
Clergyman is most certainly, at least in an ironical sense, "expected"
never to be _personally_ vexed and hot. Will it be so? Will he take
ignorant rudeness pleasantly, should it cross his way? Will he meet