me, when remonstrated with, the worthy preacher, with a
candour deserving of all praise, replied, that he did so because, when he
was persecuted in one text, he could flee to another. Mr. Lynch needs no
such practice. His Bible is no sealed book, but a revelation of light,
and splendour, and truth. To him there is nothing common, or barren, or
unclean. All is food for his intellect, always active--and his fancy,
always copious and rich. Nor even does that, luxuriant though it be,
lead him astray. All the while he is in earnest, illustrating, as he
himself writes in that choice book of his, 'Theophilus Trinal'--that

'the powers that play in fancy,
Can a holy earnest show,
As the colours of the bubble
Shine serenely in the bow.'

His theology we will describe in his own words. In the book we have
already referred to, he writes: 'Human nature, like ancient Job, is foul
and sore with disease, spirit-worn, and weary with incessant strivings of
heart. The Philosophies, as friends, come with their sympathy and
wisdom; but their words are dark clouds, edged brightly, which reveal the
splendours of truth behind them, but disclose not the orb; and to the
parched heart they are but as clouds, with a wind indeed, but without
rain. But after the discoursings of philosophy with human nature, there
is heard the voice of God, saying, "I am; behold my works; hope and
believe!" As experience enlarges, spiritual questions accumulate, till
at the last they pass into one great question concerning the world and
human life, which the heart expresses not in words, but which fills it
with a mute agony of wonder. To this question there is no answer, or
hope of any, till the voice of God is heard, saying, "I am!" This voice
from a whisper rises till it has the sound of many waters. Happy are we
if we believe and feel that the man of sorrows, and of success after
sorrows, Jesus, the Son of God, is still his real and sufficient
representative. He is God's surety to the world. He, bearing the sins
of the world, bears also its difficulties. In the faith of Christ have
the men of many generations found fixed standing-place, immovably secure.
In him they have heard the voice, "I am!" "Here we rest," they have
said; "our God, we will not distrust thee!" He bears the golden key of
love that shall unlock the secret of the world. This key is a key of
escape from a prison; key of entrance to a palace. Oftent