344 
indebted to those that have read the papers, and you will be glad to hear tha 
this toast is to be responded to by one who occupies the very high position ot 
being the Bampton Lecturer of this year, and by another who has contributed 
largely to the benefits of this Institution by the very valuable and important 
papers he has read. I beg to couple with the toast the names of the e\ . 
Dr. Irons and the Rev. J. H. Titcomb. (Cheers.) 
The toast was drunk amid much enthusiasm. 
Rev. Dr. Irons— I apprehend that on such an occasion as this it is not 
the intention of those present to edify one another on special topics. If it 
were, it would have been a cruel thing on the part of the Chairman to decree 
that we should each of us deal fully with our subject in ten minutes. But 
the fact is we meet here as friends to shake hands and wish one another 
success in the good work in which we are engaged. With respect to the 
subjects which I have been thanked for bringing before this Society, 1 
can only assure you that the obligation was conferred by you on me, when 
you allowed me the pleasure of reading my papers. If they have been useful 
to any one, I am bound to thank God and take courage. I may again pre- 
sume upon your kindness at no very distant date/'if I have permission to 
address you again. (Cheers.) The cause which we meet here, I will not say 
to honour, but to own with the simplicity of our common faith, is not one 
which needs our “ support” ; and perhaps we are too often m the habit o 
speaking and acting as though our conduct towards that great cause were ol 
such serious importance to others as it is to ourselves. We are prone to 
exaggerate ourselves and our position in the matter. Bor my own part 1 
feel sure that, if I may paraphrase the poet, — 
Religion’s battle, once begun, 
When handed on from sire to son, 
Though baffled oft, is ever won. 
I doubt not that the cause is advancing, whether personally we do our 
duty or not. As well might a man undertake to reverse the circula- 
tion of blood in the human veins as to stay the advance of the truth and 
purposes of God. If we look to the substantial grounds of our religion, 
they are absolutely unshakable, whatever man may say or pretend, and we 
may think with calmness both on the deist and the atheist his ally. e 
have no need to fear, then, for our cause ; we are perfectly confident as to 
it ; but there is something more for the Christian to rely on than the con- 
sciousness that truth advances— we rely on the promise of Christ, our Lord 
and Master, that His cause shall be triumphant ; that He will be with His 
faithful people always. It is that that gives the Christian, even m times ot 
trial and anxiety, a sense of security and peace, such as that of the child who 
in the midst of the storm is aware that his father is at the helm. He has 
no uncertainty in his mind ; he is at peace, trusting in the Almighty power. 
We rely (as I may express it) on our cause ; our cause does not rely upon us. 
It is no honour to that cause that we join in its vindication, as we feebly 
