Life and Conduct | Page 8

it is our duty to try and show
them the right one, and to persuade them to walk in it. We see men
taking up with evil habits, evil companions, or evil opinions; we are
bound to remonstrate with them and endeavor to warn them timeously.
This of course needs to be wisely done, and after prayer to God to
guide us rightly; but we ought to do it. "A word spoken in due season
how good is it." Such a word has often been blessed and made effectual,
and we should not shrink from speaking it. The right time for speaking
it should be chosen, but it should not be left by us unsaid. When Paley
the great moralist was a student at Cambridge he wasted his time in
idleness and frivolity, and was the butt of his fellow-students. One of
them, however, took courage to remonstrate with him, and did so with
good effect. One morning he came to his bedside and said to him
earnestly, "Paley, I have not been able to sleep for thinking about you. I
have been thinking what a fool you are! I have the means of dissipation,
and could afford to be idle; you are poor and cannot afford it. I could

do nothing probably even if I were to try; you are capable of doing
anything. I have lain awake all night thinking about your folly, and I
have now come solemnly to warn you. Indeed, if you persist in your
indolence and go on in this way, I must renounce your society
altogether." The words took effect. Paley became a changed man, and
his after success sprang from his friend's warning. This incident
illustrates what may be the influence in this form of one man upon
another.
(b) Bearing testimony against evil. This is another line of direct
influence open to all. It is a precept of the book of Leviticus, "If a soul
sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath
seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity."
If he does not give evidence against evil, even to his own hurt he sins.
We are bound to protest against wrongdoing in any form; and our
protest, if distinct and well directed, always tends to good. To be silent
in certain circumstances makes us the accomplice of sin; to speak out
frees us from responsibility. To be the dumb auditor of a shameful
story, or to listen silently to the relation of a deed of wickedness, and
not be honest and resolute in expressing our disgust and disapproval is
to condone what no good man should condone. The outspoken
testimony against evil is incumbent on all Christian men.
(c) Taking part in Christian and benevolent work. There are many ways,
it is evident, in which we may do so individually. "The greatest works
that have been done have been done by the ones." No learned society
discovered America, but one man, Columbus. No parliament saved
English liberties, but one man, Pym. No confederate nations rescued
Scotland from her political and ecclesiastical enemies, but one man,
Knox. By one man, Howard, our prisons were purified. By one woman,
Miss Nightingale, our disgraceful nursing system was reformed. By
one Clarkson the reproach of slavery was taken away. God in all ages
has blessed individual effort, and if we are strong enough to take up
any special line of benevolent and Christian work that seems open to us
we should not shrink from it. We should be on the lookout for it. But
many from their circumstances are not able to do so, and such can find
their best opportunity by combining their own effort with the efforts of

others. There are many agencies at work in every community for the
helping of man, and they afford to all the opportunity of wisely using
their power of influence. This is true especially of the Christian Church.
It has been defined as "a society for doing good in the world." In many
ways it carries on work for the benefit of others. In every Christian
congregation there ought to be some work in which each of its
members, however few his talents may be, can engage; and in lending a
helping hand each of them may do something directly towards making
society sweeter and better.
II. Indirect or unconscious influence.--There is an imperceptible
personal atmosphere which surrounds every man, "an invisible belt of
magnetism" which he bears with him wherever he goes. It invests him,
and others quickly detect its presence. Take some of its simplest
phases.
(a) Think of the influence of a look. When Christ stood in the courtyard
of the palace of the High Priest over against