d, here, upon the ruins of innumerable
failures, now, in the depths of living human hearts. It is as if God
himself were somewhat nearer to us: a strong faith seems to draw Him
down from heaven, to build His tabernacle among men: or if this cannot
be, and we know that He is always round about us, at least the mists
scatter, the clouds clear away, and we catch a glimpse of His unceasing
activity, of His eternal rest. I cling to the thought that at some time
or other the soul of every one of His children is in direct
communication with Him; but for the most part He speaks to us by other
human lips, and strong, clear, white lives are the ladder by which we
climb to Him. So down the ages we trace the golden thread of the
succession of Saints, Christ the first, afterwards they that are his, in
turn receiving, in turn giving life, blessed and blessing--till at last
the kingdom comes.

* * * * *

You know of whom I have been speaking, friends and fellow-worshippers:
though I have named no name, you have interpreted my meaning, you have
read between my lines. And now that we are about to part, with regretful
love and honour freely paid, with the oldest of those who have loved
this place,--and, in parting with her, to bid good-bye for ever to a
generation of pious men and women who in their day served God and
wrought righteousness,--I have one last appeal to make. And I make it
far less to the middle-aged, whose habits are fixed, whose principles
chosen, and who have taken a course in life which they will not lightly
abandon, than to the young, whose nature is yet plastic, and who may
make of their existence what they will. I ask them, Is the life which I
have tried to describe worth living? or is there any other method by
which they think the highest objects of existence can be more completely
attained? Is there any finer discipline for their powers than the
service of God, any nobler education than the fellowship of Christ? I do
not plead with them for allegiance to any particular form of
Christianity, though we have a right to rejoice in the strength and
sweetness of our own Saints, and I might argue that the faith which
issues in such fruit of holy living cannot be without its just claim to
respect. But my interest is at once deeper and wider than this: I plead
for Christianity, I plead for Religion; for the awe of God, for the love
of Christ, for the service of man. We are falling upon carele