Moses, not Darwin / A sermon preached at St. Mark's, Surbiton, Kingston-on-Thames on Friday, March 31, 1871

The preacher expounds the biblical account of human origin, describing the body formed from earth and life given by God's breath, and insists on human distinctness and immortality. He contrasts divine creation with naturalistic explanations and urges that religion be lived daily rather than confined to rites or last‑minute ceremonies. Baptism and confirmation are presented as ongoing covenants, and perfunctory observance is criticized as spiritually perilous. The sermon warns that treating faith as a social habit or future provision risks moral deadening, and calls for continual inward devotion, conscientious practice, and readiness for communion with God throughout life.