active exertions, but by his blameless, harmless, and consistent Christian life. Christian influence has, then, two distinct elements of power: the one direct, positive, consciously exerted for the cause of Christ and the good of man, the other indirect, and flowing insensibly from a character and life governed by Christian principle. It is made up, not only of what the Christian does and says with the positive purpose of good, but also, and principally, of what he is; and any defect in the latter influence is sure to diminish, check, or defeat the former.

It is my purpose, at present, to speak of the influence insensibly and indirectly exerted by every Christian, and I may say, indeed, by every man; and should the subject impress upon you the absolute and supreme necessity of deep, inward, personal Christian principle and character, as the condition of all high and abiding Christian influence, my object will be secured.

1. Every man exerts influence, whether he intends it or not. There are many, doubtless, who live without any distinct purpose either of doing positive good or evil in the world. They live for themselves, and if they secure their own private objects in life, feel little concern for others, beyond the limited circle of ordinary natural ties. They form no purpose of doing good to others, and they have no desire to do them injury. But this negative state, in respect to others, does not prevent them from being subject to the great law of influ

ence, and from bearing, also, a great responsibility. While they live with little regard to others, and destitute of any high and generous purposes for their benefit, they are at the same time exerting influence by their failure to act, by their negative character and position as respects the great interests of their fellow-men. And their responsibility is clearly and most solemnly declared in those words of warning uttered by the Saviour, when he represents the judgment of the great day: "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, my brethren, ye did it not to me.” In respect to influence there can be no neutrality, and all men, whatever may be their direct intention, are exerting it for good or evil.

2. And a peculiarity of that influence which is insensible, is that it is constant. Of active labor and effort for others there must be a cessation. Only a small portion of the lives of most men can be given to positive exertions to do good. They can directly act upon only a few persons, and that at intervals of time. But the influence which is indirect and unconsciously exerted, never ceases. It flows from the character, from the pervading example, from the tenor of the life. It is felt in the absence of him from whom it springs, as well as in his presence. It is felt without It is felt without any conscious action on his part.

It demands no natural medium, like speech, to secure its efforts. It proceeds without ceasing, like the involuntary functions of the human frame. As the heart beats and the lungs

act, incessantly by day and by night, while life lasts, and are absolutely independent of any intention of man, so there is an insensible influence of character, of the life, of what has been done in the past, which is constantly exerting its effects. The occasional and most marked and visible manifestations of the forces in nature seem to be the greatest, -such as the winds and storms of heaven,but we all know that those which are silently and invisibly going on at every moment, the heat and light flowing from the sun, the gradual lifting of the waters of the sea by vapors, the grand attractions which unite the worlds in our system, - are incomparably more powerful. So influence flows not so much from occasional and marked exertions as from those sources which are constant and invariable. Whenever character is fixed, decided, or reliable, its influence is silently felt, and far more widely than any direct exertion of moral power could extend. He from whom it proceeds may be promoting the highest good of others, while entirely unconscious of any effect; and it is this power which is chiefly felt in the various walks of life. It is the principal source of the influence of religion seen in common life. It affects. all the concerns with which such a man has to do, and attaches to them something of his spirit.

3. And here another point must be added. This insensible, indirect influence which men exert by their characters and lives, affects all other influence which they seek to exert. Should it be

doubtful, or positively bad, it silently defeats or weakens that which may be in its design good, and in itself adapted to produce great good. Vain is it that those whose characters and lives are open to reproach among men, express on certain occasions noble or Christian sentiments, and seek to move others by them. Whatever influence

they might have put forth by such direct efforts, is in a great degree neutralized by that which they insensibly exert. Their words are deprived of much of their power, and their active labors to do good are greatly hindered. While, on the other hand, where there is added to positive efforts to do good, by word or deed, the influence of a character in harmony with such efforts, these receive an increase of power far beyond what would otherwise attend them. They often outweigh efforts of tenfold greater intrinsic power; and words which have in themselves little of earthly eloquence, have an impressiveness derived from the character and life of him who speaks. Wonderful is this power of a true Christian example to open the hearts of men to the simple truths of the Gospel. It is in itself the practical illustration of the truth in its living form, and that which the reason might rebel against, or the prejudices resist, secures approval by its practical effect.

4. And this influence flowing from character and example is not only insensibly exerted, but its effects, also, are most sure, because they are unconsciously received. The most powerful im

pressions made upon the hearts of all, are through those influences which work gradually and silently, day by day, by the associations to which we are subject. We do not recognize each step in the process which is going on; but the result for good or evil may be traced to a succession of impressions, each apparently slight, but slowly affecting the character, the principles, the habits, and the whole tone of the life. Occasionally a rapid and radical change of character takes place through the power of the truth, directed by the Spirit, irrespective of the character of him who declared it. But in general the hearts of men are in a measure prepared by influences received through personal character, through the training of childhood and the attachments of youth, or the relations of daily life. Every individual is thus, through his personal relations, affecting the characters of those with whom he is in habitual intercourse, and while they may not recognize the impression, it is seen in its sure results. Hence the danger of constant exposure to evil example, to false principles of action. Hence the contagion of error, of corrupt tastes and habits, on the part of those to whom we look with affection or reverence. Evil example, by this effect unconsciously produced, thus becomes an instrument of fearful moral power over the character of others. How many good

purposes, on the part of the young, have thus been checked by the evil, or even negative example of those to whom they owed respect. And