Whether this generation will awaken out of that sleep of practical Atheism, which is creeping on them more and more, who can tell?  That they are uneasy in the sleep, there are many signs.  For in their sleep dreams come of another world, of which their five senses tell them nought.  Then do some fly to mediaeval superstitions, which give them at least elaborate and agreeable substitutes for a living God.  Some fly to impostors, who pretend by juggling tricks to put them in communication with that unseen world which they have so long denied.  Some, again, play with unfulfilled prophecy; and fancy that it is for them, though it was not for the apostles, to know the times and seasons which the Father has put in His own power, and the day and hour of which no man knoweth, no not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Better that, than that they should believe that there is nothing, and never will be anything, in the world, beyond what their five senses can apprehend.

But whether they awake or not out of their sleep, their blindness does not alter the eternal fact, whether men believe it or not.  That is true what the Psalmist said of old:  “The Lord is King, be the people never so impatient.  He sitteth upon His throne, though the earth be never so unquiet.”

The utterances of the old Psalmists and prophets concerning the ever-present kingdom of God are facts, not dreams.  Whether men believe it or not, it is true that the power, glory, and righteousness of His kingdom may be known unto men; that His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endureth throughout all ages; that The Lord upholds all such as fall, and lifts up those that are down; that the eyes of all wait on Him, that He may give them their meat in due season; that He opens His hand, and filleth all things living with plenteousness; that the Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works; that He is nigh to them that call upon Him, yea to all who call upon Him faithfully.  He that planted the ear, shall He not hear?  He that made the eye, shall He not see?  He that chastiseth the nations; it is He that teacheth man knowledge:  shall He not punish?

Whether men believe it or not, that is true which the Psalmist said—­Whither shall I flee from His Spirit, or whither shall I go from His presence?  If I climb up to heaven, He is there; if I go down to hell, He is there also.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even there shall His hand lead me, His right hand hold me still.

Whether men believe it or not, that is true which Christ spake on earth—­That the Father hath committed all judgment to Him, because He is the Son of man; that to Him is given all power in heaven and earth; and that He is with us, even to the end of the world.

Whether men believe it or not, that is true which S. Paul spake on Mars’ hill, saying that the Lord is not far from any one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being; and that He hath appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom He hath ordained, and raised from the dead.