secret contempt； as all equally false； or equally true； and all alike
unworthy of the notice of a great man。 As for a Jew talking of showing
〃light to the Gentiles；〃 the very idea was ridiculous！ To keep in with
the world； to have the favour of man； to care nothing for anything but
the things seen； to please 〃my lord〃 Augustus；this was probably the
whole religion of Porcius Festus。
Now； are there many among us like Festus？ Yes！ I fear there are tens of
thousands。 They are to be found in every rank and class of society。
They walk in our streets。 They travel with us in railway carriages。
They meet us in the daily intercourse of the world。 They fill the
various relations of life respectably。 They are often good men of
business； and eminent in the professions they have chosen。 They
discharge the various duties of their positions with credit； and leave
a good name behind them； when their place is empty。 But； like Festus；
they have no religion！
These are they who seem to live as if they had no souls。 From January
to December； they appear neither to think； nor feel； nor see； nor know
anything about a life to e。 It forms no part of their schemes； and
plans； and calculations。 They live as if they had nothing to attend to
but the body；nothing to do but to eat； and drink； and sleep； and
dress； and get money； and spend money；and no world to provide for
except the world which we see with our eyes。
These are they who seldom； if ever； use any means of grace； whether
public or private。 Praying and Bible…reading； and secret munion with
God； are things which they despise and let alone。 They may be very well
for the aged； the sick； and the dying； for the clergy； the monk； and
the nun； but not for them！ If ever they attend a place of worship； it
is only as a matter of form； to appear respectable； and too often they
never attend except on the occasion of some great public ceremony； or
at a wedding； or a funeral。
These are they who profess their inability to understand anything like
zeal or earnestness about religion。 They regard the Societies； the
Institutions； the literature； the Evangelistic efforts of Christians；
at home or abroad； with sublime contempt。 Their maxim is to let
everybody alone。 The parative claims of Church and Dissent； the
strife of parties within our pale； the debates of Convocations；
Congresses； and Diocesan Conferences； are all alike matters of
indifference to them。 They look coldly at them from a distance； like
the philosopher described by the Latin poet Lucretius； and regard them
as the childish struggles of weak folks； unworthy of the notice of a
cultivated mind。 And if such subjects are ever brought up in their
pany； they brush them away with some satirical remark； or some
oft…repeated old smart saying of scepticism。
Will any one deny that there are multitudes of people around us such as
I have tried to describe；kind people； perhaps； moral people；
good…natured people； easy to get on with； unless you get on the subject
of religion？ It is impossible to deny it。 Their name is 〃legion；〃 for
they are many。 The tendency of these latter days to make an idol of
intellect；the desire to be independent and to think for yourself； w
the disposition to worship private judgment； to exalt your own isolated
opinion； and to deem it finer and cleverer to go wrong with a few than
right with a crowd； all this helps to swell the ranks of the followers
of Festus。 I fear he is the type of a large class。
Such people are a melancholy sight。 They often remind me of some grand
old ruin； like Melrose or Bolton Abbey； where enough remains of
beauteous arches； and columns； and towers； and traceried windows to
show what the building once was； and what it might have been now if God
had not left it。 But now all is cold； and silent； and gloomy； and
suggestive of decay； because the Master of the house； the Lord of life；
is not there。 Just so it is with many of the followers of Festus。 You
often feel； when you observe their intellectual power； their gifts of
speech； their taste； their energy of character； 〃what men these might
be if God had His rightful place in their souls！〃 But without God all
is wrong。 Alas； for the crushing power of unbelief and pride； when they
get plete mastery of a mall； and reign over him uncontrolled！ No
wonder that Scripture describes unconverted man as 〃blind；sleeping；
beside himself；and dead。〃
Is Festus reading this paper to…day？ I am afraid not！ Religious tracts
and books； like Sunday services and sermons； are not in his line。 On
Sundays； Festus probably reads the newspaper； or looks over his worldly
accounts； or visits his friends； or goes a journey； and secretly wishes
an English Sunday was more like a Continental one； and the theatres and
museums were open。 On week…days； Festus is constantly employed in
business； or politics； or； recreations； or killing time in the trifling
pursuits of modem society； and he lives like a butterfly； as
thoughtless as if there were no such thing as death； or judgment； or
eternity。 Oh； no： Festus is not the man to read this paper！
But is a man like Festus in a hopeless condition； and beyond the reach
of mercy？ No； indeed！ I thank God he is not。 He has yet got a
conscience at the bottom of his character； which； however much seared；
is not quite dead；a conscience which； like the great bell of St。
Paul's at midnight； when the roar of city business is over； will
sometimes make itself heard。 Like Felix； and Herod； and Ahab； and
Pharaoh； the followers of Festus have their times of visitation； and；
unlike them； they sometimes awake before it is too late； and bee
different men。 There are seasons in their lives when they are driven in
upon themselves； and feel 〃the powers of the world to e；〃 and find
that mortal man cannot get on without God。 Sickness； and solitude； and
disappointments； and losses of money； and deaths of loved ones； can
sometimes make the proudest hearts bow down； and confess that the
〃grasshopper is a burden。〃 Manasseh is not the only one who 〃in time of
affliction〃 turned to God； and began to pray。 Yes！ I have long felt
that we must never despair of any one。 The age of spiritual miracles is
not past。 With Christ and the Holy Ghost nothing is impossible。 The
last day will show that there were some who began with Festus and were
like him； but at last turned round； repented； and ended with St。 Paul。
While there is life we must hope； and pray for others。
II。 Let us now turn to a very different picture。 Let us look at King
Agrippa。 This is the man who was so much struck by St。 Paul's address
that he said； 〃Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian。〃
〃Almost。〃 Let me dwell for a moment on that expression。 I am well aware
that many think our Authorized English Version of the Bible is in fault
here； and fails to give the true meaning of the original Greek。 They
assert that the phrase would be more correctly rendered； 〃In a short
time；〃 or 〃with weak and feeble argument thou art persuading me。〃 I am
bold to say that I cannot accept the view of these critics； though I
admit that the phrase is rather obscure。 But in questions like these I
dare not call any man master。 I hold with several excellent
mentators； both ancient and modern； ＇11＇ that the translation given
in our Authorized Version is right and correct。 I am fortified in my
belief by the fact that this is the view of one who thought； and spoke；
and wrote in the language of the New TestamentI mean the famous Greek
Father Chrysostom。 And last； but not least； no other view appears to me
to harmonize with the exclamation of the Apostle St。 Paul in the verse
which follows。 〃Almost！〃 he seems to say； taking up Agrippa's words。 〃I
want thee to be not almost； but altogether a Christian。〃 On these
grounds I stand by our Old Version。
Agrippa； whose picture now demands our attention； was in many respects
very unlike Festus。 Of Jewish extraction； and brought up among Jews； if
not of pure Jewish blood； he was thoroughly familiar with many things
of which the Roman governor was utterly ignorant。 He knew and 〃believed
the prophets。〃 He must have understood many things in St。 Paul's
address； which were mere 〃words and names〃 and raving fancies to his
panion in the place of hearing。 He had a secret inward conviction
that the man before him had truth on his side。 He saw； and felt； and
was moved； and affected； and conscience…stricken； and had inward wishes
and longing desires。 But he could get no further。 He saw； but he had
not courage to act。 He felt； but he had not the will to move。 He was
not far from the kingdom of God； but he halted outside。 He neither
condemned nor ridiculed Christianity； but； like a man who is paralyzed；
he could only look at it and examine it； and had not strength of mind
to lay hold on it and receive it into his heart。
Now； are there many professing Christians like Agrippa？ I fear there is
only one answer to that question。 They are an exceeding great army； a
multitude which it is difficult to number。 They are to be found in our
churches； and are pretty regular attendants on all means of grace。 They
have no doubt of the truth of the Bible。 They have not the slightest
objection to the doctrines of the gospel。 They know the difference
between sound and unsound teaching。 They admire the lives of holy
people。 They read good books； and give money to good objects。 But；
unhappily； they never seem to get beyond a certain point in their
religion。 They never e out boldly on Christ's side； never take up
the cross； never confess Christ before men； never give up petty
inconsistencies。 They often tell you that they 〃mean； and intend； and
hope； and purpose〃 some day to be more decided Christians。 They know
they are not quite what they ought to be at present； and they