CHAPTER X. THE CHURCH

hisrichsilkgownflyingbehindhimandrustlingagainstthepewdoors,mountthepulpitlikeaconquerorascendinghistriumphalcarthen,sinkingonthevelvetcushioninanattitudeofstudiedgrace,remaininsilentprostrationforacertaintimethenmutteroveraCollect,andgabblethroughtheLord’sPrayer,rise,drawoffonebrightlavenderglove,togivethecongregationthebenefitofhissparklingrings,lightlypasshisfingersthroughhiswell-curledhair,flourishacambrichandkerchief,reciteaveryshortpassage,or,perhaps,amerephraseofScripture,asahead-piecetohisdiscourse,and,finally,deliveracompositionwhich,asacomposition,mightbeconsideredgood,thoughfartoostudiedandtooartificialtobepleasingtome:thepropositionswerewelllaiddown,theargumentslogicallyconductedandyet,itwassometimeshardtolistenquietlythroughout,withoutsomeslightdemonstrationsofdisapprovalorimpatience. Hisfavouritesubjectswerechurchdiscipline,ritesandceremonies,apostolicalsuccession,thedutyofreverenceandobediencetotheclergy,theatrociouscriminalityofdissent,theabsolutenecessityofobservingalltheformsofgodliness,thereprehensiblepresumptionofindividualswhoattemptedtothinkforthemselvesinmattersconnectedwithreligion,ortobeguidedbytheirowninterpretationsofScripture,and,occasionally(topleasehiswealthyparishioners)thenecessityofdeferentialobediencefromthepoortotherich—supportinghismaximsandexhortationsthroughoutwithquotationsfromtheFathers:withwhomheappearedtobefarbetteracquaintedthanwiththeApostlesandEvangelists,andwhoseimportanceheseemedtoconsideratleastequaltotheirs.Butnowandthenhegaveusasermonofadifferentorder—whatsomewouldcallaverygoodonebutsunlessandsevere:representingtheDeityasaterribletaskmasterratherthanabenevolentfather.Yet,asIlistened,Ifeltinc