vine and has the same tenure of immortality. It is one of those incursions of God into history, which successively supplement, but do not displace each other, the earlier combining with the later, and all proceeding toward the consummation of the purposes of grace, by bringing into clearer and clearer light, and more and more perfect dominancy, the powers of the world to come. When the leopard and the kid shall lie down together and a little child shall lead them; when the lion shall eat straw like the ox and the weaned child shall play upon the cocatrice's den; when nations shall make war no more; when science and art and agriculture shall reach conditions of health and sustentation that shall feed a thousand men from every acre; when diplomacy shall become as artless as the speech of childhood; when there shall be no more any politicians, and statesmen shall be the trusted and faithful fathers of the commonwealth; when secretaries shall cease to take bribes and investigating committees shall find their occupation gone; when piety and purity and industry shall link heaven and earth together and millennial brightness shall dawn upon the destinies of mankind, and all nations together shall see the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ, the chief human media through which the new birth of the world shall have been accomplished will be seen to be the great Apostle, the great Reformer and the great Revivalist.

The other day in the hall of one of the Literary Societies of Randolph Macon College I saw that

master-piece, the original painting of the death bed! of Wesley. The figures seem almost if not quite life size. That group of reverend men and kneeling, weeping women about his bed presents an aspect that is touching in the last degree. The dying man lies in perfect repose, his face upward, and upon the countenance and closed eyes is the majesty of a mighty peace. The closed eye-closed to the earth forever, now! But it opens now upon another world. It is turned from the weeping cluster to another and a larger group. On the other bank of the river are a hundred thousand of his spiritual children who have already crossed before him. Whitfield steps down into the very edge of the water, shouting, with his arms stretched out. Fletcher of Madeley is at his side, all controversy forgotten now. A clamor of triumphant salutation greets him as he ascends the shore. It is a great day in heaven. The very angels forget their enterprises with such a spectacle of love and rapture in their presence. The Eternal Father welcomes His servant and the Eternal Son rejoices.

Wesley rests from his labors, but his works follow him. After an interval Coke comes up and reports to him that India is invaded for Christ. Asbury comes laden with spoils from America. Melville Cox comes waving the flag of conquest from Africa. Drumgoole, Poythress, Tatum bring the first sheaves from North Carolina. All cluster about their glorified leader. And even now, while I am speaking, his spiritual children are swarming to him from the four quarters of the earth. Many have

gone already from North Carolina-many from Raleigh. Leigh has gone, Carson has gone. Barringer has gone, Reid has gone, and every one went loaded with sheaves. And now to-night Blake the beloved-the saintly-stands apart from our toiling company. He stands on the bank of the river and looking across and up, sees the shining ones coming down to meet him, just ready to take wing and join their flight.

Still the great revival wave swells and spreads. Still greater multitudes are gathered by it every successive year. Its innumerable laborers toil in augmenting numbers in every field and gather more abundant sheaves.

Blessed be God that you and I have been admitted to this company at a time when in the midst of centennial rejoicings we enter into the abundant labors of these glorified men. When we transmit the inheritance to our successors, may they not find it all gone to barrenness and weeds under our thriftless hands. God forbid! May we live so that the tears of our survivors shall be made iridescent with the glory of our departure! May we leave the great revival in full vigor when we go to join the multitude of Methodists on Mount Zion, in the general assembly and church of the first born!

The doxology was sung by the vast audience, led by the choir.

Bishop Marvin pronounced the benediction.

FIFTH DAY.

MARCH 25, 1876.

The Centennial exercises were resumed at Metropolitan Hall, 10 o'clock A. M., Bishop H. N. McTyeire, D. D., in the chair.

Religious services were conducted by the Bishop, assisted by Rev. Henry Gray.

The chairman introduced Hon. John N. Staples, of Greensboro, N. C., who addressed the audience. Subject:

66 CHURCH AND STATE."

Mr. STAPLES said.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The subject which has been announced for discussion this morning may very properly be divided into three parts, namely:

First. The Church, its antiquity, triumphs and ultimate destiny.

Secondly. Civil Government; the American system, its prerogatives and powers.

Thirdly. The relations existing between Church and State in the United States in the light of christian civilization.

I. The antiquity of the church is sufficient within itself to establish its divine authorship; its growth and progress amidst the ever changing and decaying institutions of human genius entitle it in an

eminent degree to the warmest confidence of every intelligent being.

There is a sublimity in the antiquity of the church; it is older than the Patriarchs and the Prophets; more ancient than the thrones of Egypt; it lived before the flood was, or ere Moses viewed the promised Canaan from the summit of Nebo; it has outlived the glories of the oriental empires and the splendor of the Jewish Courts; it has seen races come and go, like the clouds of the morning, and everywhere within the range of human civilization the church has emerged from the wreck of earth's grandest achievements, unhurt by the commotions of civil conflict, and unscathed by the darts of infidelity and scepticism; it has seen its martyrs as they burned at the stake or died in loathsome dungeons; it has mourned at the graves of all the Apostles; it has outlived Herod and his wicked court, Pilate and his judgment seat, Judas and the Roman soldiery; it has seen the proudest monuments of earth crumble beneath the weight of time; aye, more than this, it has seen truth triumph over error, Christianity over Paganism and to-day, to the furthest bounds of civilization throughout the world, the church wields an influence and a power before which tyrants tremble and the gods of the heathen bow their heads and die. There is no crown that will not tarnish worn by human greatness; there is no throne that will not fall filled by human royalty; there is no temple that will not crumble erected by human hands. The glory of the Cæsars dazzled the world.