because lessons appointed to be regularly said or sung in churches for the prolongation of the Sovereign's life, and said and sung by the congregations to whom they are set, with equal regularity, whether the Sovereign be well or ill, detested or beloved, are to all appearance disregarded. Modern believers in prayer are well aware that, although they ask, they may not receive if they ask amiss, and would accept this as fully adequate explanation of the disappointment of anyone, who had the face to pray that he might grow as rich as the late Mr. Brassey, or be created a duke, or appointed Lord Chancellor, or supplant Mr. Gladstone in the premiership, or Mr. D'Israeli in the leadership of Her Majesty's Opposition. Moreover, the spirit, duly seasoned with understanding, in which alone true prayer can be made, is one, not of presumptuous dictation to a Heavenly Father, but of sincere and grateful recognition that 'He knoweth better than ourselves what is for our good.' Far from praying for selfish aggrandisement, we cannot, if we pray aright, pray that, whether from ourselves or others, the cup of affliction may pass away, without adding, 'Nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.' The only gifts that can with propriety be prayed for unconditionally are gifts spiritual-cleansing of the thoughts of the heart, strength to resist temptation, strength to endure trials, strength to perform our appointed work; and whoever may think fit to make these the subjects of statistical inquiry, may depend upon being assured by everyone experimentally qualified to reply, that they are never asked for faithfully without being obtained effectually; together with large measure, if not of the cheerfulness, at least of the patience, of hope. X 298 EPILOGUE. If with rash step, or with presumptuous word On Earth, e'en as in Heaven, might be adored The fulness of Thy glory. Not in wrath His trespass wilt Thou judge, whom, licence, bred Of zeal, though blinded, yet devout, betrays, Nor scorn the unconscious wanderer from Thy path, Nor leave me hopeless, if indeed misled By thirst for truth, more deep in error's maze. 6 This is a book which all true economists should welcome.' ECONOMIST. 'It may be doubted whether any considerable economic work of equal merit has appeared since the first publication of Mr. Mill's "Political Economy." ATHENÆUM. MACMILLAN & CO., London. |