feel for the state of unconverted people is not the Christianity which
came down from heaven 1800 years ago； and is embalmed in the New
Testament。 It is a mere empty name。 It is not the Christianity of St。
Paul。
（3） Finally； what ought we to do？ This； after all； is the point to
which I want to bring your mind。 Seeing and feeling are well； but doing
is the life of religion。 Passive impressions which do not lead to
action have a tendency to harden the conscience； and do us positive
harm。 What ought we to do？ We ought to do much more than we have ever
done yet。 We might all probably do more。 The honour of the gospel； the
state of the missionary field abroad； the condition of our overgrown
cities at home； all call upon us to do more。
Need we stand still； and be ashamed of the weapons of our warfare？ Is
the gospel； the old Evangelical creed； unequal to the wants of our day？
I assert boldly that we have no cause to be ashamed of the gospel at
all。 It is not worn out。 It is not effete。 It is not behind the times。
We want nothing new； nothing added to the gospel； nothing taken away。
We want nothing but 〃the old paths；〃 the old truths fully； boldly；
affectionately proclaimed。 Only preach the gospel fully； the same
gospel which St。 Paul preached； and it is still 〃the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth；〃 and nothing else called
religion has any real power at all。 （Rom。 1：16。）
Need we stand still and be ashamed of the results of preaching the
gospel？ Shall we hang down our heads； and plain that 〃the faith once
delivered to the saints〃 has lost its power； and does no good？ We have
no cause to be ashamed at all。 I am bold to say that no religious
teaching on earth can point to any results worth mentioning except that
which is called doctrinal； dogmatic theology。 What deliverance on earth
have all the modern schoolswhich scorn dogmatic teachingwhat
deliverance have they wrought？ What overgrown and semi…heathen parishes
in the metropolis； in our great seaports； our manufacturing towns； our
colliery districts； have they evangelized and civilized？ What New
Zealand； what Red River； what Sierra…Leone； what Tinnevelly can the
high…sounding systems of this latter day point to as a fruit of their
system？ No！ if the question； 〃What is truth？〃 is to be solved by
reference to results and fruits； the religion of the New Testament； the
religion whose principles are summarized； condensed； and embalmed in
our Articles； Creeds； and Prayer Book； has no cause to be ashamed。
What can we do now bug humble ourselves for the past； and endeavour； by
God's help； to do more for time to e？ Let us open our eyes more； and
see。 Let us open our hearts more； and 。fed。 Let us stir up ourselves to
do more work ruby self…denying gifts； by zealous co…operation； by bold
advocacy； by fervent prayer。 Let us do something worthy of our cause。
The cause for which Jesus left heaven and came down to earth deserves
the best that we can do。
And now； let me close this paper by returning to the thought with which
it began。 Perhaps your lot is cast in a city or town。 The population of
our rural districts is annually decreasing。 The dwellers in towns are
rapidly outnumbering the dwellers in country parishes。 If you are a
dweller in a town； accept the parting words of advice which I am about
to offer。 Give me； your best attention while I speak to you about your
soul。
（1） Remember； for one thing； that you are placed in a position of
peculiar spiritual danger。 From the days of Babel downwards； wherever
Adam's children have been assembled in large numbers； they have always
drawn one another to the utmost extremities of sin and wickedness。 The
great towns have always been Satan's seat。 It is the town where the
young man sees abounding examples of ungodliness； and； if he is
determined to live in sin； will always find plenty of panions。 It is
the town where the theatre and the casino； the dancing room and the
drinking bar； are continually crowded。 It is the town where the love of
money； or the love of amusement； or the love of sensual indulgence；
lead captive myriads of slaves。 It is the town where a man will always
find hundreds to encourage him in breaking the Sabbath； despising the
means of grace； neglecting the Bible； leaving off the habit of prayer。
Reader； consider these things。 If you live in a town； take care。 Know
your danger。 Feel your weakness and sinfulness。 Flee to Christ； and
mit your soul to His keeping。 Ask Him to hold you up； and you will
be safe。 Stand on your guard。 Resist the devil Watch and pray。
（2） Remember； on the other hand； if you live in a town； you will
probably have some special helps which you cannot always find in the
country。 There are few English towns in which you will not find a few
faithful servants of Christ； who will gladly assist you and aid you in
your journey towards heaven。 Few indeed are the English towns in which
you will not find some minister who preaches the gospel； and some
pilgrims in the narrow way who are ready to wele any addition to
their number。
Reader； be of good courage； and never give way to the despairing
thought that it is impossible to serve Christ in a town。 Think rather
that with God nothing is impossible。 Think of the long list of
witnesses who have carried the cross； and been faithful unto death in
the midst of the greatest temptations。 Think of Daniel and the three
children in Babylon。 Think of the saints in Nero's household at Rome。
Think of the multitudes of believers at Corinth and Ephesus and Antioch
in the days of the Apostles。 It is not place but grace that makes the
Christian。 The holiest and most useful servants of God who have ever
lived were not hermits in the wilderness but dwellers in towns。
Remember these things； and be of good cheer。 Your lot may be cast in a
city like Athens； 〃wholly given to idolatry。〃 You may have to stand
alone in the bank； the counting…house； the place of business； or the
shop。
But you are not really alone； if Christ is with you。 Be strong in the
Lord； and in the power of His might。 Be bold； thorough； decided； and
patient。 The day will e when you will find that even hi a great city
a man may be a happy； useful Christian； respected while he lives； and
honoured when he dies。
__________________________________________________________________
＇9＇ This paper contains the substance of a sermon preached at St。
Mary's； Oxford； before the University； in 1880。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER X
Acts 26：24…29。
PORTRAITS。
＇10＇
〃And as he thus spake for himself； Festus said with a loud voice； Paul；
thou art beside thyself； much learning doth make thee mad。
〃But he said； I am not mad； most noble Festus； but speak forth the
words of truth and soberness。
〃For the king knoweth of these things； before whom also I speak freely：
for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him； for
this thing was not done in a corner。
〃King Agrippa； believest thou the prophets？ I know that thou believest。
〃Then Agrippa said unto Paul； Almost thou persuadest me to be a
Christian。
〃And Paul said； I would to God； that not only thou； but also all that
hear me this day； were both almost and altogether such as I am； except
these bounds。〃Acts 26：24…29。
THERE is a collection of pictures in London called the National
Portrait Gallery。 It contains the likenesses of nearly all the great
men who have made a mark in English history。 It is well worth seeing。
But I doubt whether it contains three portraits which deserve a more
attentive study than the three which I am going to show you in this
paper。
One striking feature of the Bible is the rich variety of its contents。
That grand old Book； which for eighteen centuries has baffled the
attacks of unfriendly critics； is not only a storehouse of doctrine；
precept； history； poetry； and prophecy。 The Holy Ghost has also given
us a series of lifelike portraits of human nature； in all its various
aspects； which deserve our attentive study。 Who does not know that we
often learn more from patterns and examples than from abstract
statements？
The well…known piece of Scripture which heads this paper supplies an
admirable illustration of my meaning。 It forms the conclusion of the
chapter in which the 。Apostle St。 Paul makes a defence of himself
before the Roman governor Festus and the Jewish king Agrippa。 Three
pictures of three very different men hang before us。 They are types of
three classes of men who are to be seen among us at this very day。
Their succession has never ceased。 In spite of changing fashions；
scientific discoveries； and political reforms； the inward heart of man
in every age is always the same。 e and let us stand before these
three pictures； as we would stand before the painting of a
Gainsborough； a Reynolds； or a Romney； and see what we may learn。
I。 Let us look； first； at Festus； the Roman governor。 This is the man
who abruptly broke in upon St。 Paul's address； exclaiming； 〃Paul； thou
art beside thyself； much learning doth make thee mad。〃
Festus； no doubt； was a heathen； ignorant of any religion except the
idolatrous temple…worship； which in the time of the Apostles overspread
the civilized world。 From the language he addressed to Agrippa in a
preceding chapter； he seems to have been profoundly ignorant both of
Judaism and Christianity。 He spoke of 〃questions of their own
superstition； and of one Jesus； which was dead； whom Paul affirmed to
be alive〃 （Acts 25：19）。 Most probably； like many a proud Roman in the
declining age of the Roman Empire； he regarded all religions with
secret contempt； as all equally false； or equally true； and all alike
unworthy of the notice of a gre