energy of a spring-tide, carrying all before it. And if directly evil power is not exerted, the absence of an influence for good, in the great, is especially reprehensible. Neutral, neither they nor any can remain. Let them remember, that if the whole of their personal influence is not employed to smooth the path and speed on the car of truth, their titles and gold, their robes and coronets, their parks and mansions, are but so many obstructions in her path. CIVIL OFFICE gives additional weight to a man's doings, even when not acting in his official character. From the proudest sovereign to the meanest magistrate, the mere possession of some kind of power over their fellows, produces, at the least, close, curious observation-oftentimes, fear and respect.

Various social relations give power to the superiors, even when their relative authority is not being exercised. With what closeness does the child imitate the minutest action of its FATHER; regarding its dear parent with unlimited affection, placing in him entire confidence, considering him and his partner as its best friends, the source of all its good, and, consequently, the only beings it has to love and imitate. How perfect is the image oftentimes produced!

He

The TEACHER, too, is another whose office possesses an hereditary power, never sufficiently estimated. is regarded as a walking lexicon, a living encyclopedia, an oracle in all matters pertaining to literature or morals; his actions are the standard of his pupils' virtue, and they think themselves perfectly justified in any conduct, if they can appeal to any precedent in their knowledge of him.

The PASTOR, the student for ministry and all who take any prominent part in spreading the gospel of truth, are intimately identified with the cause of Christ. Evey

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action is most scrupulously examined by their weaker brethren and by those that are without. An innocent deed in a mere member is unworthy a Sabbath-school teacher; what is harmless in a teacher merits severe rebuke in a deacon, and what is pardonable in a deacon, is a death-blow to the pastor. I wait not to ask whether there is any propriety in this or not: such is the case, and had we the inclination (which I have not), we cannot alter it.

The power of this personal influence is seldom accurately considered, and, I may say, never fully estimated. Its immediate effects can scarcely be discovered by the keenest eye, its more distant results can only be traced by the finger of Omniscience. To you who profess the name of Christ, I particularly address myself, and entreat you to examine the responsibility involved in your professions. You are indeed a spectacle to men and to angels. The light which has been communicated to you, displays to the world those feelings, which, in the dark, would never be discerned. Your life is regarded as an epitome of Christianity. The ungodly are told that they ought to forsake their evil ways, and to live upon the principles laid down in the word of God; and with reason, they look upon a Christian as a specimen of Gospel perfection, All his faults are scored to that system by which he professes to act. Those deeds, which, in the man of the world, would be passed over without notice, are keenly sought for in the character of the professor, and he is charged with hypocrisy and baseness if all his conduct does not prove him full of love to God and man. If his life is not one of unfeigned, constant benevolence, and spotless purity, his faith is despised, his master calumniated. And in this age of intellect, the absence of intelligence in a Christian is put down to his religion.

If his mind is prejudiced against any particular science, especially if that science has any relation to his creed, Christians, at large, are branded as men of narrow minds, unsolicitous for the spread of the truth. Or, if those prejudices relate to political subjects, causing the man to advocate institutions and principles, considered by no few as destructive of the nation's liberty; and, if these prejudices lead them to oppose men whose aim it is to promote the interests of their countrymen, Christianity is denounced as the opposer of freedom. Not less danger is to be feared from conducting religious controversies in an improper spirit. The world has not the great proof of our being Christ's disciples if we love not one another. That system which induces so much bitterness among those who profess to be its friends, has against it an à priori argument that it is not of God.

Still further, if professors do not thus hinder the progress of truth, but merely remain inactive, unconcerned about the mighty changes now passing in the political and intellectual world, floated on by the activity of others, like weeds by the tide, Christianity is said to render the mind weak and sluggish, to divest it of the love of truth, to extinguish the flame of patriotism.

These charges are, we know, entirely false; but, while we see the mass of Christians just answering the description we have given, motionless, and even opposing men whose property, talents, reputation, and health are being sacrificed at the altar of freedom, WHERE, WHERE, DOES THE FAULT LIE?

PERSONAL INFLUENCE.

HAVING, then, glanced at the power communicated by external circumstances, let us now consider the influence gained by

INTRINSIC EXCELLENCE.

The rich, the great, the noble, alas! can find but little time for matters relating to eternity; let me, therefore, address you as possessing a treasure far more valuable than is contained in the whole domain of Mammon as possessing a mind that may filled with the eternal wealth of truth, that can attract the affection of kindred spirits, proprietors of an existence eternal as its own-and that can be trained Now, by the sacred influences of the Spirit of God-to which can be communicated, Now, attributes that form the brightest rays in the crown of Divinity. "Man is a higher name than president, or king." If this sentiment of Channing's were deeply graven in every mind, what a glorious day would it be for truth! The foolish reverence for wealth and nobility-the meaner case of the vile setting of a priceless gem, would soon disappear; and the mass of the people be prepared for the due appreciation of whatsoever things are true, are honest, are just, are pure, are lovely, are of good report.

The most prevalent evil obtaining among thinking people is, the unmeasured admiration of those who have become wealthy in that which themselves are seeking -truth. The world of business, and the world of mind, present, in some points, an analogy that cannot but impress us with the idea, that whatever be the pur. suit of mind, the same laws govern it, though, of course, with various application. The man, whose meagre purse barely supplies the necessaries of life, is filled with an undefinable respect for him whose gold creates a fairy land around him; and the poor student, who has just secured a little possession in the unbounded territory of philosophy, who has only cleared a little spot, and is almost disheartened by the vast amount of toil yet necessary to secure the luxuries of high intellectual society, has a respect, a reverence (more reasonable, however, than the animal-like feeling of the world) for him whose advantages and application are seen in the well-cultivated estate of which the former cannot as yet discover the limits. This respect, which the thinking part of mankind entertain for those who rank high in intellectual attainments, is a leaven communicating itself to those who are, to all purpose, animal in their nature, so that even the unthinking feel an undefined reverence for such names as Locke, and Newton, and Milton. And though your name may be unrecorded on the rolls of fame, the very fact of your having reached the 53rd page of a book which presents only common truth-truth unadorned by the charms of a splendid diction or a fervent imagination, shows that your mind has a relish for something more serious, at any rate, than that which absorbs the attention of the volatile. While multitudes are finding a momentary delight in the harmonies of hellish syrens-a song, whose