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seed； we may sow it in tears； but we shall yet 〃e again with joy；
bringing our sheaves with us〃 （Ps。 126：6）。
I draw towards a conclusion。 I pass from the consideration of what St。
Paul saw； and tilt； and did at Athens； to points of practical
importance。 I ask every reader of this paper what ought we to see； to
feel； and to do？
（1） What ought we to see？ It is an age of sightseeing and excitement。
〃The eye is not satisfied with seeing〃 （Eccles。 1：8）。 The world is mad
after running to and fro； and the increase of knowledge。 The wealth；
the arts； the inventions of man are continually gathering myriads into
great Exhibitions。 Thousands and tens of thousands are annually rushing
about and gazing at the work of men's hands。
But ought not the Christian to look at the map of the world？ Ought not
the man who believes the Bible to gaze with solemn thoughts on the vast
spaces in that map which are yet spiritually black； dead； and without
the gospel？ Ought not our eyes to look at the fact that half the
population of the earth is yet ignorant of God and Christ； and yet
sitting still in sin and idolatry； and that myriads of our own
fellow…countrymen in our great cities are practically little better
than heathen； because Christians do so little for souls？
The eyes of God see these things； and our eyes ought to see them too。
（2） What aught we to feel？ Our hearts； if they are right in the sight
of God； ought to be affected by the sight of irreligion and heathenism。
Many indeed are the feelings which the aspect of the world ought to
call up in our hearts。
Thankfulness we ought to feel for our own countless privileges。 Little
indeed do the bulk of English people know the amount of their own daily
unpaid debt to Christianity。 Well would it be for some if they could be
pelled to dwell for a few weeks every year in a heathen land。
Shame and humiliation we ought to feel when we reflect how little the
Church of England has done for the spread of Christianity hitherto。 God
has indeed done great things for us since the days when Cranmer；
Ridley； and Latimer went to the stake；has preserved us through many
trials； has enriched us with many blessings。 But how little return we
have made Him！ How few of our 15；000 parishes do anything worthy of the
cause of missions at home or abroad！ How little zeal some congregations
show for the salvation of souls！ These things ought not so to be！
passion we ought to feel when we think of the wretched state of
unconverted souls； and the misery of all men and women who live and die
without Christ。 No poverty like this poverty！ No disease like this
disease！ No slavery like this slavery！ No death like this； death in
idolatry； irreligion； and sin！ Well may we ask ourselves； Where is the
mind of Christ； if we do not feel for the lost？ I lay it down boldly；
as a great principle； that the Christianity which does not make a man
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