Apologia pro Vita Sua | Page 2

a heavenly dialectic...."
About his controversy with Charles Kingsley, the immediate cause of
his Apologia, what new thing need be said? It is clear that Kingsley,
who was the type of a class of mind then common enough in his
Church, impulsive, prejudiced, not logical, gave himself away both by
the mode and by the burden of his unfortunate attack. But we need not
complain of it to-day, since it called out one of the noblest pieces of
spiritual history the world possesses: one indeed which has the unique
merit of making only the truth that is intrinsic and devout seem in the
end to matter.
Midway in the forties, as the Apologia tells us, twenty years that is
before it was written, Newman left Oxford and the Anglican Church for
the Church in which he died. Later portraits make us realise him best in
his robes as a Cardinal, as he may be seen in the National Portrait
Gallery, or in the striking picture by Millais (now in the Duke of
Norfolk's collection). There is one delightful earlier portrait too, which
shows him with a peculiarly radiant face, full of charm and serene
expectancy; and with it we may associate these lines of his--sincere
expression of one who was in all his earthly and heavenly pilgrimage a
truth-seeker, heart and soul:
"When I would search the truths that in me burn, And mould them into
rule and argument, A hundred reasoners cried,--'Hast thou to learn
Those dreams are scatter'd now, those fires are spent?' And, did I mount
to simpler thoughts, and try Some theme of peace, 'twas still the same
reply.
Perplex'd, I hoped my heart was pure of guile, But judged me weak in
wit, to disagree; But now, I see that men are mad awhile, 'Tis the old
history--Truth without a home, Despised and slain, then rising from the
tomb."
The following is a list of the chief works of Cardinal Newman:--
The Arians of the Fourth Century, 1833; 29 Tracts to Tracts for the

Times, 1834-1841; Lyra Apostolica, 1834; Elucidations of Dr.
Hampden's Theological Statements, 1836; Parochial Sermons, 6 vols.,
1837-1842; A Letter to the Rev. G. Faussett on Certain Points of Faith
and Practice, 1838; Lectures on Justification, 1838; Sermons on
Subjects of the Day, 1842; Plain Sermons, 1843; Sermons before the
University of Oxford, 1843; The Cistercian Saints of England, 1844;
An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, 1845; Loss and
Gain, 1848; Discourse addressed to Mixed Congregations, 1849;
Lectures on Certain Difficulties Felt by Anglicans in Catholic Teaching,
1850; Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England, 1851;
The Idea of a University, 1852; Callista, 1856; Mr. Kingsley and Dr.
Newman, 1864; Apologia pro Vita Sua, 1864; The Dream of Gerontius,
1865; Letter to the Rev. E. B. Pusey on his Eirenicon, 1866; Verses on
Various Occasions, 1868; An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent,
1870; Letter addressed to His Grace the Duke of Norfolk on Occasion
of Mr. Gladstone's Expostulation, 1875; Meditations and Devotions,
1893.
Biographies.--By W. Meynell, 1890; by Dr. Wm Barry, 1890; by R. H.
Hutton, 1891; Letters and Correspondence of J. H. Newman, during his
life in the English Church (with a brief autobiography), edited by Miss
Anne Mozley, 1891; Anglican Career of Cardinal Newman, by Rd. E.
A. Abbott, 1892; as a Musician, by E. Bellasis, 1892; by A. R. Waller
and G. H. S. Burrow, 1901; an Appreciation, by Dr. A. Whyte, 1901;
Addresses to Cardinal Newman, with his Replies, edited by Rev. W. P.
Neville, 1905; by W. Ward (in Ten Personal Studies), 1908; Newman's
Theology, by Charles Sarolea, 1908; The Authoritative Biography, by
Wilfrid P. Ward (based on Cardinal Newman's private journals and
correspondence), 1912.
CONTENTS
PART PAGE I. Mr. Kingsley's Method of Disputation 1 II. True Mode
of Meeting Mr. Kingsley 15 III. History of My Religious Opinions up
to 1833 29 IV. History of My Religious Opinions from 1833 to 1839 57
V. History of My Religious Opinions from 1839 to 1841 101 VI.
History of My Religious Opinions from 1841 to 1845 147 VII. General

Answer to Mr. Kingsley 215 APPENDIX: Answer in Detail to Mr.
Kingsley's Accusations 253

APOLOGIA PRO VITA SUA

Part I
Mr. Kingsley's Method of Disputation
I cannot be sorry to have forced Mr. Kingsley to bring out in fulness his
charges against me. It is far better that he should discharge his thoughts
upon me in my lifetime, than after I am dead. Under the circumstances
I am happy in having the opportunity of reading the worst that can be
said of me by a writer who has taken pains with his work and is well
satisfied with it. I account it a gain to be surveyed from without by one
who