莱尔主教upper_room-第39章
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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。
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＇9＇ This paper contains the substance of a sermon preached at St。
Mary's； Oxford； before the University； in 1880。
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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 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 r
