The Fall of Man, and Other Sermons

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868. Excerpt: ... XX. HOPE IN CHRIST. (Preached after the First Communion of the Boys confirmed at Harrow on March 19, 1868.) Is. lx. I.--Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. WHEN any of the sweet and solemn events of life are about to happen to some member of an affectionate and united family, the thoughts of the rest are naturally concentrated on him. And in this our family, two events--two which are among the most solemn in life's history--have happened during a few days' space to many whom we love. They have received their youthful Confirmation; they have knelt at the Supper of the Lord. Thus they have stepped across that clearly-marked boundary which separates spiritual childhood from spiritual manhood. We all feel with them; we all hope in them; we have all prayed for them. Our thoughts are with them now: and though I hope that with God's blessing my words may not prove wholly profitless to any, yet these are they to whom I would mainly speak, earnestly desiring that what I say may chime in with all that is most holy and most beautiful in the present music of their thoughts. To them this day will be a memory to the close of life; may they also to the close of life remember that in this quiet chapel, which I trust they love, they heard on the Sunday after their Confirmation, on the evening of their first Communion, a few simple words of encouragement, of warning, and of hope. That--with very rare exceptions--you are in earnest, that you desire to give your hearts to God, and to consecrate your lives to His service, and that the attitude of your souls is at the present moment an attitude of hope, I cannot doubt. It will be at once your duty and your happiness to cherish that hope; to keep it aglow by the breath of prayer;...