next he had labored to infuse into him some
particular opinions of his own, which he wished to disseminate through
his nephew. Sir George Aston having accidentally called, he was
prevailed on to stay, and Dr. Barlow was one of the party.

Mr. Tyrrel, by his observations, soon enabled us to discover that his
religion had altered nothing but his language. He seemed evidently more
fond of controversy than of truth, and the whole turn of his
conversation indicated that he derived his religious security rather
from the adoption of a party, than from the implantation of a new
principle. "His discourse is altered," said Mr. Stanley to me
afterward, "but I greatly fear his heart and affections remain
unchanged."

Mr. Stanley contrived, for the sake of his two academical guests,
particularly young Tyrrel, to divert the conversation to the subject of
learning, more especially clerical learning.

In answer to a remark of mine on the satisfaction I had felt in seeing
such a happy union of learning and piety in two clergymen who had lately
dined at the Grove, Mr. Stanley said, "Literature is an excellent thing,
when it is not the best thing a man has. It can surely be no offense to
our Maker to cultivate carefully his highest natural gift, our reason.
In pious men it is peculiarly important, as the neglect of such
cultivation, in certain individuals, has led to much error in religion,
and given much just offense to the irreligious, who are very
sharp-sighted to the faults of pious characters. I therefore truly
rejoice to see a higher tone of literature now prevailing, especially in
so many of our pious young divines; the deficiency of learning in some
of their well-meaning predecessors having served to bring not only
themselves, but religion also, into contempt, especially with men who
have only learning."

"I say nothing," remarked Mr. Tyrrel, "against the necessity of learning
in a lawyer, because it may help him to lead a judge, and to mislead a
jury; nor in a physician, because it may advance his credit by enabling
him to conceal the deficiencies of his art; nor in a private gentleman,
because it may keep him out of worse mischief. But I see no use of
learning in the clergy. There is my friend Dr. Barlow. I would willingly
give up all his learning, if he would go a little deeper into the
doctrines he professes to preach."

"Indeed," said Mr. Stanley, "I should think Dr. Barlow's various
knowledge of little value, did he e