hoosing it. What has saved us? What has kept us from
it? Certainly not our own righteousness, nor our own wisdom, nor our own
faith. After reading the history of England; or after recollecting our
own lives--the less we say of them the better.

What has kept us from ruin so long? We are all day long forgetting the
noble things which God did for our forefathers. Why does not God in
return remember our sins, and the sins of our forefathers? Why is He not
angry with us for ever? Why, in spite of all our shortcomings and
backslidings, are we prospering here this day?

I know not, my friends, unless it be for this one reason, That into that
heaven which witnesses against us, the merciful and loving Christ is
ascended; that He is ever making intercession for us, a High-priest who
can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; and that He has
received gifts for men, even for His enemies--as we have too often
been--that the Lord God might dwell among us. Yes. He ascended on high
that He might send down His Holy Spirit; and that Spirit is among us,
working patiently and lovingly in many hearts--would that I could say in
all--giving men right judgments; putting good desires into their hearts;
and enabling them to put them into good practice.

The Holy Spirit is the life of England, and of the Church of England, and
of every man, whether he belongs to the Church or not, who loves the
good, and desires to do it, and to see it done. And those in whom the
Holy Spirit dwells, are the salt of England, which keeps it from decay.
They are those who have chosen life and blessing, and found them. Oh may
God increase their number more and more; till all know Him from the least
unto the greatest; and the land be filled with the knowledge of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.

And then shall all days be Whit-Sundays; and the Name of the Father be
hallowed indeed, and His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth, as
it is in heaven.

SERMON XXV. THE SILENCE OF FAITH.

PSALM CXXXI.

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I
exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely
I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his
mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the
Lord from henceforth and for ever.

We know not at what period of David's life this psalm was written. We
know not what matters they were wh