The effect was magnetic. At least five hundred persons instantly rose in like manner. It was manifest that they, too, in the awakened anguish of their souls, sought an answer to that momentous question. The Archbishop, looking down on them, was greatly moved. For they were as sheep having no shepherd. Then he gave the answer, strong and vehement: “If you would be saved, away with shams and false pretences! There is only one hope for humankind; only one star to follow--the Star of Bethlehem. Guided by that blessed star, you can reach the port of peace.” With hands covering their faces, the people, sobbing here and there, sank back into their seats. The preacher continued in a ringing voice: “I demand, therefore, dost thou renounce the devil and all his works? Dost thou renounce the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh? Dost thou, in very truth, renounce these things, or in thine heart of hearts dost thou mean to follow and be led by them?” This time at least a thousand voices gave the answer: “I renounce them all.” “Dost thou believe in the remission of sins; the resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death? What is your answer?” The answer came from all the worshippers: “All this I steadfastly believe!” “Remember,” said the preacher, “Christianity was a revelation; not a rule of thumb. We must begin at the beginning, and remember our Creator in the days of our youth. Beware of sectarian quarrels, which keep the one Book worth all the others in the world from the children of the nation. How shall they learn without a teacher? “And you who are no longer children, beware of intellectual pride. If in this life only you have hope you are of all men most miserable. Do you refuse to believe in everything you cannot understand? What stupendous folly! What mad presumption! Readers, scholars, writers, some of you, wise in your own conceits, you say you cannot credit anything outside the laws of Nature. But you and I and all of us as yet are only children crying in the night, and with no language but a cry. Only one man ever born into this world could understand Nature’s laws in all their fulness, and that Man was divine. Thus far shalt thou come, and no farther! What men call supernatural may only be natural law on a plane beyond our ken. Nature works slowly and in evolutionary cycles. Yes; but Nature also works--so far as human eyes can see--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye--in tidal waves, the lightning flash, the earthquake; in volcanic outbursts, in the overwhelming avalanche. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and let no creature dare to limit the immeasurable powers of his Creator.