before the Council. Not so very long ago one of the two had been
frightened into a momentary apostasy by dread of being haled before
the rulers, and now they are calmly heroic, and threats are idle
words to them. I need not point to the strong presumption, raised by
the contrast of the Apostles' past cowardice and present courage, of
the occurrence of some such extraordinary facts as the Resurrection,
the Ascension, and the Descent of the Spirit. Something had happened
which revolutionised these men. It was their communion with Jesus,
made more real and deep by the cessation of His bodily presence,
which made these unlearned and non-official Galileans front the
Council with calmly beating hearts and unfaltering tongues.
Doubtless, temperament has much to do with courage, but, no doubt, he
who lives near Jesus is set free from undue dependence on things seen
and on persons. Perfect love casts out fear, not only of the Beloved,
but of all creatures. It is the bravest thing in the world.

Further, to be with Christ will open a man's lips. The fountain, if
it is full, must well up. 'Light is light which circulates. Heat is
heat which radiates.' The true possession of Jesus Christ will always
make it impossible for the possessor to be dumb. I pray you to test
yourselves, as I would that all professing Christians should test
themselves, by that simple truth, that a full heart must find
utterance. The instinct that drives a man to speak of the thing in
which he is interested should have full play in the Christian life.
It seems to me a terribly sad fact that there are such hosts of good,
kind people, with some sort of religion about them, who never feel
any anxiety to say a word to any soul concerning the Master whom they
profess to love. I know, of course, that deep feeling is silent, and
that the secrets of Christian experience are not to be worn on the
sleeve for daws to peck at. And I know that the conventionalities of