however, as it must be to Welsh patriotism, and high-wrought sentiment, yet it is not to be doubted that the genius of Wales is receding before that of England, as is so clearly evident to those who dwell on the border land, where the two rival powers are brought face to face. And now what I wish my country-people particularly to understand is, that as long as they adopt a policy of stagnation, Cambria is sure to be worsted in the conflict for distinctive existence; because such is the law of evolution, a law which pervades all nature; and to this law I would now draw your attention. What is called evolution or development in nature is a procedure from simplicity to complexity of structure. The more elaborate and special an organ is, the higher is the function which it has to perform. To select an illustration from the animal kingdom: among the lowest kind of animals called the _hydra_ there is no distinction of parts such as seen in the human body; no nutritive, muscular, and nervous system; no senses, no brain. Each portion of them being complete in itself, these animals can be propagated by simply cutting them into bits. Each part is independent of every other part; as if in this country we had local government, but no central government. The whole is a medley in which there is no division of labour and of responsibility, no interdependence. How different the case in man’s elevated and complex nature! And how can I express this more forcibly, or in a way better adapted for conveying to you the principle here held in view, than in these words of St. Paul:—“There are many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” The principle here enunciated is that of unity in variety. “The body is one, and hath many members; and all the members of the body, though they be many, are one body.” The chapter from which these passages are taken demands your special notice, in order that you may see how fully the Apostle’s mind was possessed with the law of unity in variety—many members, yet but one body; and together with the sequel to it, the New Testament song of love, should deeply impress upon our hearts the all important truth conveyed in the words, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.” There will be diversities in the Church, there cannot be uniformity, but there must be unity. “For as it is noted by one of the fathers,” says Bacon, “Christ’s coat, indeed, had no seam, but the Church’s vesture was of divers colours; whereupon he saith, ‘_In veste varietas sit_, _scissura non sit_.’”