and the gathering in, as it were, of the firstfruits of the heathen,—­these walls, in which the early settlers of Virginia have invoked God’s blessing on those tiny ventures which were destined to become the seeds of a mighty nation, and the starting-point of the United States,—­these walls, which still bear the monument of your heroic townsman Strange, who expended for his plague-stricken brethren, talents, time, wealth, and at last life itself.  For, to return, and to apply, I hope, to your consciences, the example of the soldier with which I began this Sermon:—­shall it be only on the battle-field that the power of fellow-feeling is shown forth?  Shall public spirit be only strong when it has to destroy, and not when it has to save and comfort?  God forbid!  Surely you here have a common corporate life, common history, common allegiance, common interest, which should inspire you to do your duty, whatsoever it may be, for the good of your native place, and to show that you feel an honourable self-respect in the thought that you belong to an ancient and once famous town, which though it may be outstripped awhile in the race of commerce, need never be outstripped, if you will be worthy sons of your worthy ancestors, in that race to which St. Paul exhorts us; the race of justice and benevolence, the noble rivalry of noble deeds.

Oh, look, I beseech you, upon this church as its old worshippers, the forefathers of many of you who sit here this day, were wont to look on it.  Remember that this church is the sign that you are one town, one parish, one body; that century after century, this church has stood to witness to your fathers, and your fathers’ fathers, that all who kneel within these walls are brothers, rich or poor; that all are children of one Father, redeemed by one Saviour, taught by one Spirit.  This, this is the blessed truth of which the parish church is token, as nought else can be—­that you are one body, members one of another, and that God’s blessing is on your union and fellow-feeling; that God smiles on your bearing each other’s burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ.  Look on this church, and do to others as this church witnesses that God has done for you.

And now, some of you may perhaps have been disappointed, some a little scornful, at my having used so many words about so small a matter, and talked of battles, legends, heroes of old time, all merely to induct you to help this Society with a paltry extra thirty pounds.  Be it so.  I shall be glad if you think so.  If the matter be so small, it is the more easily done; if the sum be paltry, it is the more easily found.  If my reasons are very huge and loud-sounding, and the result at which I aim very light, the result ought to follow all the more certainly; for believe me, my friends, the reasons are good ones, Scriptural ones, practical ones, and ought to produce the result.  I give you the strongest arguments for showing your Christian, English