Man's salvation,--the need of that "second Man" which is "the LORD from Heaven[325]." It is not too much to say that the beginning of Genesis is the foundation on which all the rest of the Bible is built[326]. We may not go over to those who would mutilate the Book of Life, or evacuate any part of its message. It is they, on the contrary, who must come over to us.--Much has it been the fashion of these last days, (I cannot imagine why,) to vaunt the character and the Gospel of St. John, "the disciple of Love," as he is called; as if it were secretly thought that there is a latitudinarianism in Love which would wink at Doctrinal obliquity; whereas _St. John is the Evangelist of Dogma_; and if there be anything in the world which is _jealous_, that thing is _Love_. Indifference to Truth, and laxity of Belief, are the growing characteristics of the age. But you will find that St. John has about four or five times as much about TRUTH as all the other three Evangelists; while _the act_ of Faith receives as frequent mention in his writings alone as in all the rest of the New Testament Canon put together[327]. Let me end, as the manner of preachers is, by gathering out of what has been spoken one brief practical consideration.--This whole visible frame of things wherein we play our part, is hastening to decay. Everything we behold,--ourselves included,--carries with it the prophecy of its own speedy dissolution.--What, amid the wreck of worlds, will be our confidence?... It is an inquiry worth making, in these the days of health, and vigour, and security, and peace. O my soul, (learn to ask yourselves,)--O my soul, when the Heavens shall depart, and the Earth reel before the Second Advent of its Maker;--when the Sun puts on mourning, and the very powers of Heaven are shaken;--what shall be _our_ confidence,--_our_ hope,--in that tremendous day? Whither shall we betake ourselves, amid the overthrow of universal Nature, but to the sure mercies of Him who "in the beginning created the Heaven and the Earth?"--To those strong Hands, we intend, (GOD helping us!) with unswerving confidence to commend our fainting spirits[328].... _Him_, then, in life let us learn to reverence, on whom in death we propose so implicitly to lean! And we only know Him in, and through, and by His WORD. Nor can we in any surer way shew Him reverence or dishonour, than by the manner in which we receive His message,--yea, by the spirit in which we unfold this, the first page of it,--where stands recorded that primæval act of Almighty power which is the ground of all our confidence,--the very warrant for our own security.... "Blessed" of a truth, in that day, will he be, "that hath the GOD of Jacob for his help, and whose hope is in the LORD his GOD:--_who made the Heaven and the Earth,--the Sea and all that therein is:--who keepeth His promise for ever_[329]!" FOOTNOTES: [271] Preached in Christ-Church Cathedral, Nov. 11th, 1860.