precedents of our national history before us, that

though we stoop

Into a dark tremendous sea of cloud,

It is but for a time;

that the "GREAT TRIBULATION" through which we are passing is but the prelude of a new epoch of national progress? I say "national progress,"

because Durham Cathedral is a treasury of national memories, and inevitably on such an occasion as this our thoughts must turn first to England and to England's Church.

"

But what is true of the nation

is true also of every nation, and of all mankind. "VERILY, THOU ART A GOD THAT HIDEST THYSELF was the cry of ancient faith, "PERPLEXED, YET NOT UNTO DESPAIR." "THY WAY IS IN THE SEA: AND THY PATHS IN THE GREAT WATERS, AND THY FOOTSTEPS ARE NOT KNOWN," sang the Psalmist, overwhelmed with the sense of the paradox and wonder of History, and yet not driven thereby from his moorings in Religion. The tender poet, whose gentle heart was all but broken by the darkness and burden of existence, rose to the same height when he penned the familiar lines:

GOD moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

HE plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

Be sure that the History of the twentieth century is not less serviceable to the Divine purpose than was the History of the eleventh century and of the sixteenth, that GOD is with us as HE was with our Fathers, and that HIS sovereign and righteous purpose cannot be finally defeated by the violence and folly of men. of future generations, enfranchised by our sorrows, the Great War will be seen to be the travail-pangs of a new Birth in Time, the bringing in of a better world, purer, juster, freer, kinder, than that which is sinking into ruin before our eyes. "THE GRASS WITHERETH, THE FLOWER FADETH: BUT THE WORD OF OUR SHALL STAND FOR

Be sure that in the retrospect

EVER."

GOD

8. Permit me before I close to add a few words of a personal character. As you all know, this is the last sermon I shall preach here as the Head of this great Foundation. The five years of my life here have been momentous years in the world's life, momentous years in the life of ENGLAND. thank GOD that I was permitted to live through them here in the North, where it has been my privilege to see aspects of the national life, which I had not seen before, and to discover powers of the national character, which hitherto I had not fully known.

Now that the time has come for me to lay down the ministry which I have held in this Cathedral, I do so with a deep sense of indebtedness to the People of DURHAM. For the rest, I will adapt and repeat here the words in which I bade farewell to WESTMINSTER five years ago, for I can find none more fitting.

It only remains that I should thank you all, as I do from my heart, for your considerate patience and undeviating loyalty, so far beyond my merits. I have always possessed the comfort and strength of knowing that, whatever might be the case elsewhere, here in DURHAM I have been trusted and loved. I go from a great Church to a great Church, from one ancient home of English Religion to another. If I might dare to confess the sentiments with which I shall pass to my new home, I should acknowledge the hope that GOD in HIS goodness may grant that my life in HEREFORD may be enriched and strengthened by the same trust and affection as have made my life in DURHAM as formerly in WESTMINSTER strong and happy. Give me leave to make my farewell in sacred words, and to borrow from the great Apostle (whose wonderful conversion we thankfully remembered last Friday), his affectionate invocation: "Now THE GOD OF PATIENCE AND

OF COMFORT GRANT YOU TO BE OF THE SAME MIND

ONE WITH ANOTHER ACCORDING TO CHRIST Jesus:

THAT WITH ONE ACCORD YE MAY WITH ONE MOUTH GLORIFY THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

XXI

THE FAILURE OF LUTHERANISM, NO DISPROOF OF THE REFORMATION1

WITH FREEDom did ChrIST SET US FREE: STAND FAST THEREFORE, AND BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN IN A YOKE OF BONDAGE.— Galatians v. I.

LAST Thursday, November 1, was an anniversary of more than ordinary interest, and I shall make no apology for making that anniversary the subject of my sermon to-night.

I. At noon on All Saints' Day in the year 1517 MARTIN LUTHER, an Augustinian Monk who was rising quickly into fame as a theological teacher of unusual distinction and as a great popular preacher, nailed his ninety-five Theses to the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg. If a particular day may be selected as the Birthday of the Reformation, it is perhaps impossible to select any other for the

1 Preached in Manchester Cathedral on the twenty-second Sunday after Trinity, November 4, 1917, at Evensong.