"Let us aim but at the substance": A Hackney Phalanx sermon for All Saints' Day
The sermon opens with the crucial affirmation that we share with the Communion of Saints "the same source of salvation".
As we are this day invited to celebrate the mercies of God which have been manifested in all times to his chosen servants, and to regard their lives who lived and died in faith, we cannot take a fitter subject of discourse than that which will at once excite us to consider both the bright examples of such faithful persons, and to regard the properties and character of faith itself; that saving principle by which their steps were governed, and their services commended to the favor of the Lord their God ...
Such were among the saints of God in former ages of the world, who derived their hope from one living fountain opened for the needs of all men, and who looked up to the same source of salvation with ourselves. To these the histories of happier ages, which were blessed with the presence of the Lord of life, and were cheered and instructed by his lips and his example, who trod the scenes of trial for our sakes, have added many, a name of signal worth; Apostles and Evangelists; Confessors and Martyrs; for whom also we are invited this day to praise God in the congregation; the general assembly, which takes its best denomination from the same characters of faith, and holiness, which should give efficacy to our joint devotions, and unite us here in one communion, even as we hope to be united in one holy fellowship, the communion of saints, which shall exist for ever ...
Thus a constant harmony prevails in the leading properties and lasting characters of that faith by which the worshippers and servants of the Lord have been united in all times, and will forever be united. This common property of faith renders it a theme particularly proper to this day's celebration, when we are invited by so many recollections which are calculated to cherish and increase a lively interest in those things which befell the former witnesses and servants of one heavenly Lord. Thus faith becomes the bond of fellowship, by which we hold communion with all such persons, whether they have trod before us in the paths of trial at an earlier day, or whether they have their lot together with us in the same age of the world.
We might note, by the way, how that reference to "the bright examples" of the Saints would find an echo in later Anglican hymnody associated with the feast: "they in glory shine ... the saints triumphant rise in bright array".
The sermon then points to the Communion of Saints to uphold characteristics of Old High piety: sober, modest, reserved. This might seem counter-intuitive. Many of the great Saints, after all, are often portrayed as being characterised by zeal, not moderation. But, as Pott highlights, the very idea of the Communion of Saints, tends to emphasise an organic, slow process of maturing in grace and truth, of growth in "the degrees of Christian virtue":
The ways of grace and true religion are uniform and certain; and the qualities of mind and temper which answer to them must be requisite and indispensable in every age. The substance of the Christian character must be still the same. A gradual increase, then, there should be, such as that which takes place in the natural growth and stature, and such as stands described even in our Lord's own life: a regular advancement there should be, in which, as years are numbered, reason, prudence, knowledge, understanding, and sagacity, should take place of that youthful inexperience to which St. Paul alludes so naturally in his own case; and should cast out, also, all inordinate solicitude for present things.
Such should be the uniform and ordinary growth where early privileges and advantages are duly entertained. God hath so disposed things, that his own good providence, and the changes through which we must pass, will lend their inducements to such measures of improvement ...
There is more of zeal, perhaps, than wisdom shown by those who labor to confound these lessons, which are planted in our way, and spring up in the paths which must be trodden as we travel to the borders of an happier scene. They are more eager than considerate who would counteract this progress by precipitate attempts to hasten its advances or who would fasten cold and heavy fetters on the foot, instead of those more suitable restraints which would put safe and becoming limits to its steps. Such zeal is often neither seasonable nor conducive to the best degrees of Christian virtue. Happy for us if in all our course we learn to prize things at their real worth. The best things will then rise in value as they become more known and understood; and even those of meaner character, and which are least considerable in themselves, will thus prove conducive to the noblest acquisitions and attainments, and will add something to the nourishment of benefits which shall endure for ever.
Concluding, the sermon rather wonderfully declares how the Communion of Saints calls us away from the sectarianism of "fantastic schemes and narrow theories" to the Gospel and Creed which makes saints, "the substance" of the Faith:
Let us aim but at the substance; and learn, at length, to quit fantastic schemes and narrow theories, for the known and never changing articles of our common Creed, and for the simple lessons of the Gospel. Let us cultivate that faith in the heart of which the text speaks, and those habits of the life and conduct which the Gospel everywhere requires. Such are the graces of the soul, and such the steady course of patient perseverance; such are the temper and demeanour, such the qualities and dispositions of the mind and inclinations, which form the known and certain badges of that sacred fellowship which is this day celebrated in the Church.
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