Page:A Sermon Preached in the Temporary Chapel of Keble College.djvu/18

 were reminded some time ago in two sermons preached here and afterwards printed, that the special boast and beauty of the Prayer Book of our Reformed Church was its congregational character. A Service outwardly reverent in a building suitably arranged and adorned, and at the same time entirely congregational, is an almost unique peculiarity of England and its Church. How lamentably have we often fallen short in practice of this English ideal! How seldom we enter a Church where the congregation respond as if they were not ashamed of their faith and of their prayers! It is in this that we have a great opportunity of setting a type and example, which may do good far beyond the walls of our own College. Brethren, do not miss it. It was my duty five or six years ago to speak as earnestly as I could to the first members of the College on their responsibility in being the first. I had to tell them that it was far easier to begin well what was new, than later to reform: that what they made the College, that it was likely to remain. I believe by God's goodness that the confirmation of experience has been given to my words chiefly, though not wholly, in the favourable form.

And now, brethren, I say the same to you about the new Chapel. What you make its Services, that they are likely to remain. What generation of freshmen is to undertake the task of making hearty a Service which you should hand down to them lukewarm or silent? But, brethren,