Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/509

 changes its  foliage;  changes  in  her  results,  as  the  tree,, from year  to  year,  changes  its  fruits. Ever changing and  yet  ever  the  same. For religion  is  not  an Egyptian  mummy,  but  a  living,  active  agent  that  becomes all  things  to  all  men  to  save  all. Yet in  her essential parts  she  is  as  unchangeable,  in  an  ever-changing  world,  as  that  pyramid  of  the  desert  which for ages  has  watched  the  ever-changing  Nile  glide slowly at  its  feet. But would  not  civilization  suffice, without religion  to  block  her  way? Civilization suffice! Alas! how small  the  connection  between  education and  virtue  is  well  attested  in  this  most  enlightened but  most  vicious  age. Religion block  the way of  civilization! Why, when  science,  art,  and literature, in  the  Middle  Ages,  were  cast  out  like helpless babes  doomed  to  destruction,  religion  took them to  her  breast,  nursed  them  in. the cloister,  and restored them  to  the  world,  as  Pharao's  daughter restored Moses  to  be  the  leader — the  saviour  of  the nation. Religion is  the  life-giving  sun  in  the  world of souls;  the  moon  lighting  up  the  darkness  of  human existence;  and  that  same  religion  that  began with humanity  shall  end  only  with  humanity,  for  God is with  it  all  time  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail against  it.

Brethren, religion  is  an  essential  element  of  our inner nature. As the  stag  after  the  fountain  of  living water,  so  our  minds  thirst  after  truth — and  God is truth. The human  will,  feeling  its  own  weakness, looks up  for  some  infallible  rule  of  action — and  God is the  way. Both body  and  soul  feel  they  are  created