ous. I know
that those dreams are bred merely of our brain and of our blood.
But I know that they are none the less messages from God. They tell
us unmistakeably that we are the same persons that we were twenty
years ago. They tell us that there is the same infection of nature,
the same capability of sin, in us, that there was of old. That in
our flesh dwells no good thing: that by the grace of God alone we
are what we are: and that did his grace leave us, we might be once
more as utter fools as we were in the wild days of youth. Yes: let
us thank God for everything which reminds us of what we once were.
Let us humble ourselves before him whenever those memories return to
us; and let us learn from them what St. Paul learnt. To be
charitable to all who have not yet learnt the wisdom which God (as
we may trust) has taught to us; to feel for them, feel with them, be
sure that they are our brothers, men of like passions with
ourselves, who will be tried by the same standard as we; whom
therefore we must not judge, lest we be judged in turn: and let us
have, as St. Paul had, hope for them all; hope that God who has
forgiven us, will forgive them; that God who has raised us from the
death of sin, to something of the life of righteousness, will raise
them up likewise, in his own good time.

Amen.

SERMON XVII. THE BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART

Isaiah, lvii. 15-21. For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and
holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the
contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be
always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls
which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I
wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on
frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will
heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and
to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to
him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I
will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it
cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace,
saith my God, to the wicked.

This is part of Isaiah's prophecy. He is telling the Jews that they
should come back safe at last to their own land. He te