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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 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
thought