“thesevenchampionsNOTofChristendom。”Asaresultofallthispressure，Sumner，ArchbishopofCanterbury，oneofthelastoftheold，kindly，bewiggedpluralistsoftheGeorgianperiod，headedadeclaration，whichwassignedbytheArchbishopofYorkandalonglistofbishops，expressingpainattheappearanceofthebook，butdoubtsastothepossibilityofanyeffectivedealingwithit。Thisletteronlymademattersworse。Theorthodoxdecrieditastimid，andtheliberalsdenounceditasirregular。Thesameinfluenceswereexertedinthesisterisland，andtheProtestantarchbishopsinIrelandissuedajointletterwarningthefaithfulagainstthe“disingenuousness“ofthebook。Everythingseemedtoincreasetheferment。AmeetingofclergyandlaityhavingbeenheldatOxfordinthematterofelectingaProfessorofSanscrit，theolderorthodoxparty，havingmadeeveryefforttodefeattheeminentscholarMaxMiller，andallinvain，foundreliefaftertheirdefeatinnewdenunciationsofEssaysandReviews。
Ofthetwoprelateswhomighthavebeenexpectedtobreastthestorm，Tait，BishopofLondon，afterwardArchbishopofCanterbury，benttoitforaperiod，thoughhesoonrecoveredhimselfanddidgoodservice；theother，Thirlwall，BishopofSt。
David’s，bidedhistime，and，whenthepropermomentcame，struckmosteffectiveblowsfortruthandjustice。
Tait，large-mindedandshrewd，oneofthemoststatesmanlikeofprelates，atfirstendeavouredtodetachTempleandJowettfromtheirassociates；but，thoughTemplewasbrokendownwithaloadofcare，andespeciallybythefactthathehaduponhisshoulderstheschoolatRugby，whosepatronshadbecomealarmedathisconnectionwiththebook，heshowedamostrefreshingcourageandmanliness。ApassagefromhisletterstotheBishopofLondonrunsasfollows：“WithregardtomyownconductIcanonlysaythatnothingonearthwillinducemetodowhatyoupropose。Idonotjudgeforothers，butinmeitwouldbebaseanduntrue。”OnanotheroccasionDr。Temple，whenpressedintheinterestoftheinstitutionoflearningunderhiscaretodetachhimselffromhisassociatesinwritingthebook，declaredtoameetingofthemastersoftheschoolthat，ifanystatementsweremadetotheeffectthathedisapprovedoftheotherwritersinthevolume，heshouldprobablyfindithisdutytocontradictthem。AnotheroftheseletterstotheBishopofLondoncontainssundrypassagesofgreatforce。Oneisasfollows：“ManyyearsagoyouurgedusfromtheuniversitypulpittoundertakethecriticalstudyoftheBible。Yousaidthatitwasadangerousstudy，butindispensable。Youdescribeditsdifficulties，andthosewholistenedmusthavefeltaconfidenceasIassuredlydid，forIwastherethatiftheytookyouradviceandenteredonthetask，you，atanyrate，wouldneverjoinintreatingthemunjustlyiftheirstudyhadbroughtwithitthedifficultiesyoudescribed。Suchastudy，sofullofdifficulties，imperativelydemandsfreedomforitscondition。Totellamantostudy，andyetbidhim，underheavypenalties，cometothesameconclusionswiththosewhohavenotstudied，istomockhim。Iftheconclusionsareprescribed，thestudyisprecluded。”Andagain，what，ascomingfromamanwhohassinceheldtwoofthemostimportantbishopricsintheEnglishChurch，isofgreatimportance：“Whatcanbeagrossersuperstitionthanthetheoryofliteralinspiration？Butbecausethathasaregularfootingitistobetreatedasagoodman’smistake，whilethecouragetospeakthetruthaboutthefirstchapterofGenesisisawantonpieceofwickedness。”
Thestormhowledon。IntheConvocationofCanterburyitwasespeciallyviolent。IntheLowerHouseArchdeaconDenisoninsistedonthegreatestseverity，ashesaid，“forthesakeoftheyoungwhoaretainted，andcorrupted，andthrustalmosttohellbytheactionofthisbook。”Atanothertimethesameeminentchurchmandeclared：“OfallbooksinanylanguagewhichI