The beautiful spirit of the man shows itself in all its noble sincerity in these words at the close of his argument:—­

“Having said this, I have said all.  I have no hostility to this institution; I am only stating my want of sympathy with it.  Neither should I ever have obtruded this opinion upon other people, had I not been called by my office to administer it.  That is the end of my opposition, that I am not interested in it.  I am content that it stand to the end of the world if it please men and please Heaven, and I shall rejoice in all the good it produces.”

He then announces that, as it is the prevailing opinion and feeling in our religious community that it is a part of a pastor’s duties to administer this rite, he is about to resign the office which had been confided to him.

This is the only sermon of Mr. Emerson’s ever published.  It was impossible to hear or to read it without honoring the preacher for his truthfulness, and recognizing the force of his statement and reasoning.  It was equally impossible that he could continue his ministrations over a congregation which held to the ordinance he wished to give up entirely.  And thus it was, that with the most friendly feelings on both sides, Mr. Emerson left the pulpit of the Second Church and found himself obliged to make a beginning in a new career.

CHAPTER IV.

1833-1838.  AET. 30-35.

Section 1.  Visit to Europe.—­On his Return preaches in Different
Places.—­Emerson in the Pulpit.—­At Newton.—­Fixes his Residence at
Concord.—­The Old Manse.—­Lectures in Boston.—­Lectures on
Michael Angelo and on Milton published in the “North American
Review.”—­Beginning of the Correspondence with Carlyle.—­Letters to the
Rev. James Freeman Clarke.—­Republication of “Sartor Resartus.”

Section 2.  Emerson’s Second Marriage.—­His New Residence in Concord.—­Historical Address.—­Course of Ten Lectures on English Literature delivered in Boston.—­The Concord Battle Hymn.—­Preaching in Concord and East Lexington.—­Accounts of his Preaching by Several Hearers.—­A Course of Lectures on the Nature and Ends of History.—­Address on War.—­Death of Edward Bliss Emerson.—­Death of Charles Chauncy Emerson.

Section 3.  Publication of “Nature.”—­Outline of this Essay.—­Its Reception.—­Address before the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

Section 1.  In the year 1833 Mr. Emerson visited Europe for the first time.  A great change had come over his life, and he needed the relief which a corresponding change of outward circumstances might afford him.  A brief account of this visit is prefixed to the volume entitled “English Traits.”  He took a short tour, in which he visited Sicily, Italy, and France, and, crossing from Boulogne, landed at the Tower Stairs in London.  He finds nothing in his Diary to publish concerning visits to places.  But he saw a number of distinguished persons, of whom