unrighteousness of men; who was coming out of his place to judge the
earth, and punish all the tyranny and pride and profligacy and luxury
of that Roman world.

God grant that he did remember St. Paul's words. God grant that he
trembled once more, and to good purpose; and so repented of his sins
even at the last. God grant that he may find mercy in that Day. But
we can have but little hope for him; it is but too probable that he
was put to death with his brother, within five years of the time when
St. Paul warned him of judgment to come,--too probable that that was
his last chance of salvation, and that he threw it away for ever, as
too many sinners do.

What do we learn then from this sad story? We learn one most
practical and important lesson, which we are all too apt to forget.

That the foundation of the Christian religion is not forms and
ceremonies, nor fancies and feelings, but righteousness, temperance,
and judgment to come. Judgment, I say, to come whensoever it may
seem good to Christ, who sits for ever on his throne judging right,
and ministering true judgment among the people. A dreadful judgment,
says the Commination Service, is always hanging over the heads of
those who do wrong, and always ready to fall on them, without waiting
for the last day, thousands of years hence. It was by telling men
that--by telling them that Christ was righteous and pure, and desired
to make them righteous and pure like himself; and that Christ was a
living and present judge, watching all their actions, ready at any
moment to forgive their sins, and ready at any moment to punish their
sins--by that message the Apostles converted the heathen. It was by
believing that message, and becoming righteous and good men,