Untitled - Electric Scotland

296 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. xn.
sufficient. Experience has shown that it was not. Something
more distinct is required. And if from the way in which the
Archbishops letter was published (I presume before his authority
had been obtained for its publication) there was an ambiguity as
to what was condemned, it would have been very
natural for
each writer to request His Grace, or any other Bishop, to specify
the teaching gathered from the book of which the Bishops had
expressed their strong disapproval.
"
I am not without hope that you may still think the proper
course for yourself and others to be such as I have pointed out.
And now as to your complaint of what the Bishops have done.
They have spoken of certain opinions which the public suppose
to be derivable from the teaching of the book as a whole, and
which, it is scarcely possible to deny, are implied if not taught
by it. They have announced their belief that these opinions go
beyond the fair latitude allowed in the Church. Appealed to, I
cannot see how they could do otherwise. As to calling upon
individuals to defend themselves, this would have given the letter
the character of a judgment of individuals, which I, for one, was
most anxious to avoid. What was issued was a condemnation
of the book as one whole, leaving individuals each to speak for
himself in exculpation.
"
I was convinced at the time, and I am convinced now, that
this was a wiser, better, and kinder course than any other which
was proposed. Other courses were urged I thought this most
free from any appearance of persecuting or endeavouring to put
down individuals by authority.
" We said, in effect, of the book, to those who addressed us-
We disapprove of it of the opinions laid before us by you, we
think they go beyond any fair latitude, and we cannot deny that
they are, or appear to be, in the book ; but as to molesting
individuals, or saying how far any one of the authors whom you
consider as united to teach these opinions we can at present
say nothing of them ; how far they are responsible is a matter
for grave consideration, as is also how far any of them who are
responsible have distinctly committed themselves to anything
which the law could visit. It is in vain to say, as you do, that
such a declaration makes the exhortation to encourage Biblical
studies a mockery. You grant that there must be limits to the
freedom of the conclusions at which clergymen arrive, and
which they teach. Suppose a man unfortunately to arrive at the