drawn aside from the immediate consideration of Felix
Holt's spiritual interest by the prospect of political sympathy. In those days
so many instruments of God's cause in the fight for religious and political
liberty held creeds that were painfully wrong, and, indeed, irreconcilable with
salvation! »That is my own view, which I maintain in the face of some opposition
from brethren who contend that a share in public movements is a hindrance to the
closer walk, and that the pulpit is no place for teaching men their duties as
members of the common-wealth. I have had much puerile blame cast upon me because
I have uttered such names as Brougham and Wellington in the pulpit. Why not
Wellington as well as Rabshakeh? and why not Brougham as well as Balaam? Does
God know less of men than He did in the days of Hezekiah and Moses? - is His arm
shortened, and is the world become too wide for His providence? But, they say,
there are no politics in the New Testament -«
    »Well, they're right enough there,« said Felix, with his usual
unceremoniousness.
    »What! you are of those who hold that a Christian minister should not meddle
with public matters in the pulpit?« said Mr Lyon, colouring. »I am ready to join
issue on that point.«
    »Not I, sir,« said Felix; »I should say, teach any truth you can, whether
it's in the Testament or out of it. It's little enough anybody can get hold of,
and still less what he can drive into the skulls of a pence-counting,
parcel-tying generation, such as mostly fill your chapels.«
    »Young man,« said Mr Lyon, pausing in front of Felix. He spoke rapidly, as
he always did, except when his words were specially weighted with emotion: he
overflowed with matter, and in his mind matter was always completely organised
into words. »I speak not on my own behalf, for not only have I no desire that
any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, but I am aware of
much that should make me patient under a disesteem resting even on too hasty a
construction. I speak not as claiming reverence for my own age and office - not
to shame you, but to warn you. It is good that you should use plainness of
speech, and I am not of those who would enforce a submissive silence on the
young, that they themselves, being elders, may be heard at large; for