usefulness would be endangered. Numberless are the excuses which men make in such circumstances, when the real reason is fear; fear for one's life. The same sort of fear is that which prevents a man speaking for his friend when his character is called in question; when he hears evil of him and does not contradict it.

All this perhaps may have passed through the mind of St. Luke; but he did not give way to the temptation; and preferred to be the only one left with the great Apostle in his last trial. But how different was Demas. He loved this

present world. He too perhaps was a man who had about him much to make people like him. He was a man who as the history itself shews, liked goodness. He admired it, he looked at it and saw that there was a good deal about it which was pleasant, that it encouraged pleasant feelings, that it held out bright rewards, that those in whom it was found were men who had brought down their passions to an even surface, and so were become in many respects agreeable men, and delightful companions. All this is very taking it is pleasant to a man of good taste, and so up to the point of trial he seems to be a good man. But then came to Demas the moment of difficulty. He had good inclinations

up to a certain point; but was like the stony ground which only held the seed until perse

cution came.

There are a great many people of this sort. They are a sort of fair weather sailors: men who go on well so long as the sea is smooth and there is no trial or danger; but when the wind becomes boisterous they are afraid, and run into port to save themselves. If a man could be religious and do his duty without trouble, I suppose most people would be religious. If a man always felt pleasure in serving God, I take for granted he would always do so. But it is not the good-natured man, or the agreeable man, who serves God best. "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you." It is the time of danger in which men are best seen. The same takes place in worldly matters. It is an old saying how false friends fail in time of danger. How do a man's friends melt away if he gets into difficulties. How true is the saying of the son of Sirach, "A friend cannot be known in prosperity and an enemy cannot be hidden in adversity." And again, "If adversity come upon thee, thou shalt find him there first; and though he pretend to help thee, yet shall he undermine thee. He will shake his head, and

clap his hands, and whisper much, and change his countenance." And how, blessed be God, do true friends come out and shew themselves in such times, often when least expected!

Now I take Demas to have been a man such as I have described; a man who liked religion and good people, up to a certain point; a man who liked playing at religion, but liked his own ease and comfort better than the hardship which might come on one who did more than only play at it. I say there are many people of this sort. There are many who approve of good ways and people, and would not speak ill of them, but still are not to be relied on in time of trial. And it need not be a matter of life and death which makes them fail. There are many things short of life and death before which men give way; for instance, they give way to their own passions; they give way to drink, or to the spirit of lust, or to covetousness. If a temptation comes across them in any one of these points, they have not Christian principle, which is a far more valuable thing than Christian feeling, to resist it. Their Christianity begins and ends in mere feeling. They love what the world can give them, and their own ease and comfort, better than the law of God. Or again, people give

way to the talk of others. They hear others, whose opinions they fear, talk slightingly of good ways and habits; and so they forsake their own better judgment for the world's sake. It is wonderful how much cowardice there is in this way how afraid people how afraid people are of what the world thinks: how they rely on the opinion of others rather than on God's law. I fear that the character of Demas is very common. People who in quiet times go on pretty well, keep up a fair outward show; so long as there is no overwhelming temptation: people who “belong to the Established Church," only because it is established, and it is thought on the whole more respectable to do so. But put such people within reach of some temptation which attracts them, or some clamour that frightens them; and you will be surprised to find how many will give way without even a struggle; how few will be found faithful in the midst of unfaithfulness.

It is, after all, the great question of life. This life or the next. There are not many steps between Demas and Judas. Take heed to your own course; be of a faithful and true heart, and by God's grace cleave to that which is good whether it be well spoken of or despised.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

Sermons for the Christian Seasons.

ST. SIMON AND ST. JUDE.

ZEAL.

ACTS xxii. 3. Zealous toward God.

It is not very clear why the two Apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude, are united in the Church's commemoration this day. It has been said by some that they hold a joint place in the triumphal calendar of the Church because they are found united at the hour of their death in the roll of her suffering witnesses; that one and the same day bids us remember the two saints, because one and the same fire made the two martyrs pass from the world hand in hand to join the company of those who "came out of much tribulation." But this account lacks sufficient authority to justify our attaching any credence to it. Others again have supposed that the Apostles were both in the number of those who are called our Lord's brethren; from that verse in St. Matthew and St. Mark, where it is said that the people of Nazareth murmured