he has most deeply reverenced, whose hearts he knows, whose integrity
and life are above suspicion, held up to scorn and hatred: the organ
of one party is established against the organ of another, and it is
the recognised office of each to point out with microscopic care the
names of those whose views are to be shunned; and in order that these
may be the more shrunk from, the characters of those who hold such
opinions are traduced and vilified. There is no personality too
mean--there is no insinuation too audacious or too false for the
recklessness of these daring slanderers. I do not like to use the
expression, lest it should appear to be merely one of theatrical
vehemence; but I say it in all seriousness, adopting the inspired
language of the Bible, and using it advisedly and with accurate
meaning, the spirit which guides the "religious press" of this
country, which dictates those personalities, which prevents
controversialists from seeing what is good in their opponents, which
attributes low motives to account for excellent lives, and teaches
men whom to suspect, and shun, rather than point out where it is
possible to admire and love--is a spirit "set on fire of hell."

Before we conclude, let us get at the root of the matter. "Man," says
the Apostle James, "was made in the image of God:" to slander man is
to slander God: to love what is good in man is to love it in God. Love
is the only remedy for slander: no set of rules or restrictions can
stop it; we may denounce, but we shall denounce in vain. The radical
cure of it is Charity--"out of a pure heart and faith unfeigned," to
feel what is great in the human character; to recognise with delight
all high, and generous, and beautiful actions; to find a joy even in
seeing the good qualities of your bitterest opponents, and to admire
those qualities even in those with whom you have least sympathy--be it
either the Romanist or the Unitarian--this is the only spirit which