Cowper himself was made to do violence to his intense shyness by
leading in prayer. He was also made to visit the poor at once on
spiritual missions, and on that of almsgiving, for which Thornton, the
religious philanthropist, supplied Newton and his disciples with means.
This, which Southey appears to think about the worst part of Newton's
regimen, was probably its redeeming feature. The effect of doing good
to others on any mind was sure to be good; and the sight of real
suffering was likely to banish fancied ills. Cowper in this way gained
at all events a practical knowledge of the poor, and learned to do them
justice, though from a rather too theological point of view. Seclusion
from the sinful world was as much a part of the system of Mr. Newton,
as it was of the system of Saint Benedict. Cowper was almost entirely
cut off from intercourse with his friends and people of his own class.
He dropped his correspondence even with his beloved cousin, Lady
Hesketh, and would probably have dropped his correspondence with Hill,
had not Hill's assistance in money matters been indispensable.
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