great goodness, the last time
that I am to preach in this Abbey. What the Evangelists and Apostles
taught, which the Prophets and Psalmists did not teach, I hope to tell
you, as far as I know, hereafter.

But this I am bound to tell you beforehand--That there are no truer words
in the Articles of the Church of England than those in the VIIth
Article--that the Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in
the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by
Christ, the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and man.

Yes. That the Old Testament is not contrary to the New, I believe with
my whole heart and soul. And therefore to those who say that the
Apostles had solved the whole mystery of human life, its sins, its
sorrows, its destinies, I must reply that such is not the case, at least
with the most gifted of all the writers of the New Testament. We may
think fit to claim omniscience for St Paul: but he certainly does not
claim it for himself.

When he is vouchsafed a glimpse of the high counsels of God, he exclaims,
as one dazzled--"Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past
finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been
His counsellor?"--While of himself he speaks in a very different
tone--"Even though he have been," as he says, "caught up into the third
heaven, and heard words unspeakable, which it is not lawful for a man to
utter," yet "he knows," he says, "in part; he prophesies in part; but
when that which is perfect comes, that which is partial shall be done
away." He is as the child to the full-grown man, into which he hopes to
develop in the future life. He "sees as in a glass darkly, but then face
to face." He "knows now in part." Then--but not till then--will he
"know even as he is known." Nay, more. In the ninth chapter of his
Epistle to the Romans, he does not hesitate to push to the utmost that
plea of God's absolute sovereignty which we found in the book of Job.

"He has mercy on whom He will have mercy; and whom He will He hardeneth."
And if any say, "Why doth He then find fault? For who hath resisted His
will?" "Who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed
say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the
potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel to
honour, and another to dishonour?"

What