imes, in life,
we may seem as those who struggle in a wide stormy sea, knowing their
strength only by the greatness of their ineffectual efforts. Yet are we
safe. For though we may feel as if rather drifting in a slight skiff
over boisterous waters than making way over them in a strong vessel, yet
if, after dreary days, Columbus found the land which reason taught him to
hope for, much more shall we reach the country promised to the faithful.'

Having thus referred to 'Theophilus Trinal,' a book which has already
reached a second edition, we may as well add here that Mr. Lynch has
published a sermon explanatory of his views and aims, and Four Lectures
delivered at Manchester, on various forms of Literature, and is, and has
been for some time, one of the principal contributors to a magazine
called the 'Christian Spectator'--a magazine understood to be intimately
connected with that section of the religious world of which Edward Miall,
late M.P., and Editor of the 'Nonconformist,' is the great exponent and
type. In this sketch it is impossible altogether to ignore the Lynch
Controversy; let me describe it in a few words. In 1856 Mr. Lynch
published a volume of religious poems called the Rivulet, some of them
for private perusal, some for public worship. The Eclectic Review had a
favourable notice of the book; the Morning Advertiser was sorely offended
with this review, and, in the style of criticism peculiar to that
journal, proceeded to show that the Rivulet was deeply tainted with
deadly heresy. Some leading ministers of the denomination to which Mr.
Lynch belonged generously declared their belief that Mr. Lynch was a man
to be honoured for his Christian creed and life, whatever the reviewer
might think. This led to a still further storm. Not content with
attacking Mr. Lynch, the Morning Advertiser made the protesting ministers
the subjects of its censure. The British Banner endorsed all these
charges, and gave to them, to the immense delight of the Record on one
side and the Reasoner on the other, a wider circulation. Considerable
confusion followed--reverend gentlemen and Christian laymen quarrelled
with all that bitterness which usually distinguishes the
divine--pamphlets and letters were plentiful as blackberries. Actually
the Congregational Union postponed their autumnal meeting on account of
the strife thus generated. The upshot of the whole matter was, that the
publicans complained, and the Advertiser f