Transcribed , email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
“Inheriting the zeal
Andfrom the sanctity of elder times
Not deviating;—a priest,the like of whom
If multiplied, and in their stations set,
Wouldo’er the bosom of a joyful land
Spread true religion, andher genuine fruits.”
The excursion—Book vi.
The following Sermons could not be arranged according to any propersequence. Those, however, which refer to doctrine and the ChurchSeasons will mostly be found at the beginning of the volume, whilstthose which deal with practical subjects are placed at the close.
A few of the Sermons have already appeared in “Good Words;”but by far the greater number were never prepared by their author forthe press. They were written out very roughly—sometimesat an hour’s notice, as occasion demanded—and were onlyintended for delivery from the pulpit.
The original MSS. have been adhered to as closely as possible.
It is thought that many to whom the late Rector of Eversley was dearwill welcome the publication of these earnest words, and find them helpfulin the Christian life.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and theirworks do follow them.”
Westminster Abbey. November 1, 1874.
Revelation vii. 9-12. “After this I beheld, and, lo,a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds,and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with aloud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne,and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne,and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throneon their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory,and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be untoour God for ever and ever. Amen.”
To-day is All Saints’ Day. On this day we commemorate—and,as far as our dull minds will let us, contemplate—the saints;the holy ones of God; the pure and the triumphant—be they whothey may, or whence they may, or where they may. We are not biddento define and limit their number. We are expressly told that theyare a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, andkindreds, and peoples, and tongues; and most blessed news that is forall who love God and man. We are not told, again—and I begyou all to mark this well—that this great multitude consists merelyof those who, according to the popular notion, have “gone to heaven,”as it is called, simply because they have not gone to hell. Notso, not so! The great multitude whom we commemorate on All Saints’Day, are saints. They are the holy ones, the heroes andheroines of mankind, the elect, the aristocracy of grace. Theseare they who have kept themselves unspotted from the world. Theyare the pure who have washed their robes, and made them white in theblood of the Lamb, which is the spirit of self-sacrifice. Theyare those who carry the palm-branch of triumph, who have come out ofgreat tribulation, who have dared, and fought, and suffered for God,and truth, and right. Nay, there are those among them, and many,thank God—weak women, too, among them—who have resistedunto blood, striv