it is not dead; that Christ has not deserted the
nation of England, while He sends into it such men as you; that Christ
has not deserted the Church of England, while He gives her grace to
recognize and honour such men as you, and to pray Christ that He would
keep up the sacred succession of virtue, talent, beneficence, patriotism;
and make us, most unworthy, at last worthy, one at least here and there,
of the noble dead, above whose dust we now serve God.

Yes, so ought we in Westminster to keep our All Saints' Day; in giving
thanks to God for the spirits of just men made perfect. Not only for
those just men and women innumerable, who--as I said at first--have
graced this earth during the long ages of the past: but specially for
those who lie around us here; with whom we can enter, and have entered
already, often, into spiritual communion closer than that, almost, of
child with parent; whose writings we can read, whose deeds we can admire,
whose virtues we can copy, and to whom we owe a debt of gratitude, we and
our children after us, which never can be repaid.

And if ever the thought comes over us--But these men had their faults,
mistakes--Oh, what of that?

Nothing is left of them
Now, but pure manly.

Let us think of them: not as they were, compassed round with
infirmities--as who is not?--knowing in part, and seeing in part, as St
Paul himself, in the zenith of his inspiration, said that he knew; and
saw, as through a glass, darkly.

Let us think of them not as they were, the spirits of just men imperfect:
but as the spirits of just men made, or to be made hereafter, perfect;
when, as St Paul says, "that which is in part is done away, and that
which is perfect is come." And let us trust Christ for them, as we would
trust Him for ourselves; sure "that the path of the just is as a shining
light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day."

Ah, how many lie in this Abbey, to meet whom in the world to come, would
be an honour most undeserved!

How many more worthy, and therefore more likely, than any of us here, to
behold that endless All Saints' Day, to which may God in His mercy, in
spite of all our shortcomings, bring us all. Amen.

SERMON XXIII. DE PROFUNDIS.

PSALM CXXX.

Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.
O let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If Thou,
Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who