by which they therefore mean nothing, and yet never care or try to
understand them.

What are the words there for, except to be understood? All of you
call people foolish, who submit to have prayers read in their
churches in a foreign language, which none, at least of the poor, can
understand. But what right have you to call them foolish, if you,
whose Prayer-books are written in English, take no trouble to find
out the meaning of them? Would to Heaven that you would try to find
out the meaning of the Prayer-book! Would to Heaven that the day
would come, when anyone in this parish who was puzzled by any
doctrine of religion, or by any text in the Bible, or word in the
Prayer-book, would come confidently to me, and ask me to explain it
to him! God knows, I should think it an honour and a pleasure, as
well as a duty. I should think no time better spent than in
answering your questions. I do beseech you to ask me, every one of
you, when and where you like, any questions about religion which come
into your minds. Why am I put in this parish, except to teach you?
and how can I teach you better, than by answering your questions? As
it is, I am disheartened, and all but hopeless, at times, about the
state of this parish, and the work I am trying to do here; because,
though you will come and hear me, thank God, willingly enough, you do
not seem yet to have gained confidence enough in me, or to have
learnt to care sufficiently about the best things, to ask questions
of me about them. My dear friends, if you wanted to get information
about anything you really cared for, you would ask questions enough.
If you wanted to know some way to a place on earth you would ask it;
why not ask your way to things better than this earth can give? But
whether or not you will question me I must go on preaching to you,
though whether or not you care to listen is more, alas! than I can