cast in its way by men that call themselves believers. Its arguments would be dull and pointless, but for this. Minds that cannot comprehend the subtleties of HUME's argument on miracles, can feel the taunts and sneers of GIBBON against the follies and misconduct of Christians. But apart from infidelity, many receive a prejudice from such sources, who take no trouble at all about the question of the truth of religion: it is enough to satisfy them that it does not make its professors better than their neighbours; and they resolve to let it alone. Inconsistent professors, therefore, are the abettors of infidelity, of profanity, and irreligion; they are mere caricatures of piety, which they represent with hideous and distorted features, and commend to the ridicule and disgust of those who are already ill-disposed towards it; they are traitors in the camp, and betray the cause which they profess to defend. They are destroyers of other men's souls, while avowedly seeking the salvation of their own. No sins have so much power to do mischief as theirs; and none have been so successful and so destructive. Hell swarms with souls whom inconsistent professors have hurried on to perdition.

If a professor of religion be known, and acknowledged, and reported to be a man that never fails to make a hard bargain, always saying of an article he wishes to purchase, "'t is nought, 't is nought," depreciating its value that he may diminish its price, and never content till he has got it into his possession under the market value: if he has thus acquired the discredit of a selfish, screwing, higgling disposition; if he make all sorts of pretexts, and all kinds of equivocation to induce a seller to favour him in the buying; if he be one whom his neighbours do not wish to deal with, if they can get another customer, and whom they feel a reluctance to have any transactions with, because of his artful, over-reaching tricks; if he has the reputation either of a "sharp one," or a hard one," then his influence upon the worldly part of

8

the community is decidedly and unquestionably bad. It is not required that he should be regardless of his own interests, invite oppression, and surrender himself a victim into the fangs of sharpers to be torn to pieces and devoured. Such weakness exerts no influence in favour of piety, but would exhibit it in the contemptible form of a silly dotard. It is intelligence, sagacity, and firmness, combined not only with honesty, but with honour, generosity, and integrity, and which is able to detect and resist imposition; which knows and defends its own rights, but cannot allow itself even to seem to make an encroachment on the rights of others, and which makes a man desirable as one to transact with; it is this that gives to a Christian influence of the best kind in his intercourse with the world. But even this high-toned excellence, must be associated with an unostentatious, unobtrusive humility. A forward, pushing, ambitious man, whatever may be his honour in the transactions of business, will diminish the beauty and lessen the force of his Christian profession. I shall recur to this subject again, when I speak of the professor in prosperity, and pass on to mention another virtue necessary to give to the Christian a right influence upon society in favour of religion; and that is, a transparency of character, an unstudied artlessness of conduct. Men must be quite sure that they hear his heart speaking through his lips. There must be nothing which makes them suspect him; nothing which makes them say, "he is a deep one ;" nothing which compels them to look cautiously behind him to see what he conceals in his shadow: this would strip him of all his influence, except it be an influence to produce a prejudice against religion. It is also of importance that a Christian should, if his circumstances allow it, be willing to co-operate with his fellow-townsmen in all the local institutions that may exist in the place for the instruction of ignorance or the relief of misery. In reference to these things, he should be a pub

lic man, though not of course to such an extent as to interrupt his attention to business; an extreme into which some have fallen. His exertions in this way should, like all other parts of his conduct, bear the impress of his piety, and make his influence to be felt, as a man that fears God. All who see him should perceive that he is guided in his actions by conscience, and not by a regard to favouritism, party, or self-will.

Happily we can speak of many of this kind of professors, who exert only a good influence. Yes, millions, notwithstanding the imperfections which cleave to human nature in its best estate, have been the witnesses for God's religion in the world, and have borne a testimony for its holy and benevolent nature, before which the demon spirit of infidelity has stood abashed, like Satan in the presence of Ithuriel, and felt how awful goodness is. The faith, and patience, and holiness, of the saints are one of God's ordinances for the conversion of sinners, and it is an ordinance that has been greatly blessed. The beauties of holiness displayed in all their symmetry and harmony, as they are embodied in the character of eminent Christians, have been employed by the Spirit of God to soften prejudice, and subdue enmity; and they who turned with disgust from religion as it was seen disfigured and deformed in some inconsistent church member, have, by a more pure and lovely manifestation of it, been charmed into admiration, affection, and imitation.

Hence, then, a professor, go where he may, do what he may, and transact with whom he may, is sending out an influence for or against true piety. In his intercourse with men of business, in his conferences with his fellow-townsmen, in his conduct in the social party, in his behaviour to his servants, in his spirit in the pursuits of commerce, and in his temper towards his friends, strangers, or enemies, he is acting out his principles, or opposing them; sustaining or aban

doning his character; walking worthy or unworthy of his calling; and raising or sinking the credit of true religion. He is adding to the attractions of the cross, or to its accidental repulsions; is gathering out the stones from the way that leads to it, or making its avenues more difficult. His influence never ceases, and is never confined. He is not, cannot be neutral. Whatever road he takes, whether that of consistency or inconsistency, he must to a certain extent draw others with him. His, if he perish, will not be the privilege of perishing alone; nor will it be his lament, if he be saved, that he has had no influence in saving others. Through all time he is exerting influence, and through all eternity he will be calculating its results; it goes forth from him unseen on earth, to be collected in enduring forms of happiness in heaven, or of torment in hell. Professors! never in any place, nor in any company, nor for one hour, forget your influence!!

CHAPTER XII.

CONDUCT OF PROFESSORS TOWARDS UNCON

VERTED RELATIVES.

"I WILL take you, one of a city and two of a family, and bring you to Zion."-Jer. iii. 14. So spake God to the Jews. 'One shall be taken and the other left." So spake Jesus to his disciples: and we see both sayings continually verified in the history of the Christian church, and the experience of the Lord's people. How rarely does it happen that a whole family are believers; how commonly is it the case that one or two are called, and the rest left. God hath mercy on whom he will have mercy. Consequently most Christians are placed in near connexion with some who are yet in an unregenerate state, which, of course, greatly increases the difficulty of maintaining a profession with consistency, and yet at the same time increases the obligation to do so. It would be much easier to carry on our religious duties, surrounded by those who would uphold and encourage us by their example, their prayers, their smiles, and their counsel; but, generally speaking, we are called to maintain our principles amidst those by whom they are opposed. Some have unconverted husbands, others wives; some have irreligious children, others parents; some have ungodly bro thers, others sisters; some have wicked masters, others servants.