The Henson Journals

[143]

8th Sunday after Trinity, August 10th, 1924.

O God, whose never–failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Epistle contains S Paul's pregnant declaration: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God". And the Gospel includes the solemn warning of Christ: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven". The assurance of Divine guidance goes along with the condemnation of those who refuse to follow the Divine guidance. But how shall the Divine Guidance be recognized in a world of fakes and frauds? "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord" says the Old Testament. "Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" says the New. Are the two sayings ultimately irreconcilable? History is not very easily harmonized with any high theory of ecclesiastical authority. The 'prophet' has a better record than the 'priest', though neither can make out as good a title to Christian regard as might be wished. Probably, we are well advised to put no unlimited trust in either. Both are but second–hand authorities at best, and in these high concerns of the Spirit we must have a directer [sic] leading.

[144]

Boden and I walked to South Church, and attended the morning service. It was rather long – Mattins & litany both choral with sermon & 5 hymns. The sermon was a very poor performance. As is but too commonly the practice of very ill–equipped divines, the preacher chose a subject of the utmost difficulty – the reconciliation of the Pauline doctrines of predestination and universality of God's redemptive purpose. His text was formed of two contrasted passages, Rom: xi. 18 "So then he hath mercy on whom he will, & whom he will he hardeneth"; and 1. Timothy ii. 3 "who willeth that all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth". The sermon was, of course, extemporaneous, & it was quite obviously unprepared. I could not but reflect on the contrast between the theory of Christian ministry & the actual fact. Any untrained, but devout, Sunday School teacher, with a moderate knowledge of the English Bible and a measure of facility in public speaking, could have preached as well: he could hardly have preached worse.

The congregation could hardly have exceeded 100 persons, of whom perhaps a dozen, beside the choirmen, were grown males. The population of the parish exceeds 17,000! In the afternoon I wrote several letters viz. to Thelwall, Edward Riches, Ruth Spooner, Gamble, & the Chancellor. The letter to the last had reference to the untoward episode at Hartlepool. By way of sweetening the Chancellor's temper, & disposing him to take a lenient view of the Rector's fault, I sent him the proof of the sermon which I preached to the "Free Churchmen" in the new cathedral in Liverpool.

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