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Butler, Samuel, 1835-1902

"The Way of All Flesh"




CHAPTER LVIII

Next day he felt stronger again. He had been listening to the voice of
the evil one on the night before, and would parley no more with such
thoughts. He had chosen his profession, and his duty was to persevere
with it. If he was unhappy it was probably because he was not giving up
all for Christ. Let him see whether he could not do more than he was
doing now, and then perhaps a light would be shed upon his path.
It was all very well to have made the discovery that he didn't very much
like poor people, but he had got to put up with them, for it was among
them that his work must lie. Such men as Towneley were very kind and
considerate, but he knew well enough it was only on condition that he did
not preach to them. He could manage the poor better, and, let Pryer
sneer as he liked, he was resolved to go more among them, and try the
effect of bringing Christ to them if they would not come and seek Christ
of themselves. He would begin with his own house.
Who then should he take first? Surely he could not do better than begin
with the tailor who lived immediately over his head. This would be
desirable, not only because he was the one who seemed to stand most in
need of conversion, but also because, if he were once converted, he would
no longer beat his wife at two o'clock in the morning, and the house
would be much pleasanter in consequence.


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