And God said: “Who will stand by My priest, and watch and ward My building and My land? Who will defend him against evil men? Who will guard My house from the spoiler? My land from those who would add field to field, till they can say, ‘We are alone in the earth’?” And an angel answered, “Here am I!” And the angel came down to keep guard here, with flaming sword that turneth every way, to champion the priest of God, and to watch the sanctuary of God. More than one thousand years have rolled away since Morwenna gave this church to God; and since then never has there been a day in which, when God looked forth upon the earth, there has not been a priest standing at this altar, to say in answer to His call, “Here am I!” A thousand years, and more, have swept away; and in all these ages there never has been a moment in which an angel, leaning on his flashing sword, has not stood here as sentinel, to answer to God’s call, when foes assail, and traitors give the Judas kiss, and feeble hearts fail, “Here am I!” And now, my brethren, I stand here. Does God ask: “Who is there to baptise the children, and bring them to Me? Who is there to instruct the young in the paths of righteousness? Who is there to bless the young hands that clasp for life’s journey? Who is there to speak the word of pardon over the penitent sinner who turns with broken and contrite heart to Me? Who is there to give the bread of heaven to the wayfarers on life’s desert? Who is there to stand by the sick man’s bed, and hold the cross before his closing eyes? Who is there to lay him with words of hope in his long home?” Why, my brethren, I look up in the face of God, and I answer boldly, confidently, yet humbly and suppliantly, “Here am I!” I, with all my infirmities of temper and mind and body; I, broken by old age, but with a spirit ever willing; I, troubled on every side, without with fightings, within with fears; I—I—strengthened, however, by the grace of God, and commissioned by His apostolic ministry. And am I alone? Not so. There are chariots and horses of fire about me. There are angels round us on every side. You do not see them. You ask me, “Do you?” And I answer, Yes, I do. Am I weak? An angel stays me up. Do my hands falter? An angel sustains them. Am I weary to death with disappointment? My head rests on an angel’s bosom, and an angel’s arms encircle me. Who will raise his hand to tear down the house of God? Who will venture to rob God of His inheritance? An angel is at hand. He beareth not the sword in vain: he saith to the assailer, “Here am I!”