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His blood

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past and present. Give him the glory. He will bear the burden. I see no other ground of hope but in such a Savior. I rejoice to know that all fullness dwells in Him. cleanses from all sin. He saves to the uttermost. now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. is the only refuge. The best must be lost without Him. And yet the most sinful may be so washed, so purified, so cleansed," as to serve Him to all well-pleasing-as to live without sinning any more-as to do all things to the glory of God.

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XXI.

ON MUTUAL INFLUENCE.

None of us liveth to himself.-ROMANS, xiv., 7.

ALL men, or nearly all, apparently live to themselves. They form their plans of life, and prosecute them, with exclusive reference to personal ends. Self-love may be said to comprehend the love of pleasure, of ease, of influence, of distinction, and it is the chief motive that leads men on in quest of money, reputation, knowledge. Every man is the centre of his own system. To this point every thing is drawn. Here he accumulates his honors, his gains, his means of enjoyment. He rears up walls around his possessions. He gives smiles and greetings to those without, and but little besides. And the world has fashioned its maxims upon its spirit and practice. 66 Every man must take care of himself." They are thought to do well who attend exclusively to their own business and interests, leaving other people to manage theirs.

Under impulses and teachings such as these, men would become anti-social and isolated in the midst of the crowded world, but for antagonist influences which act upon them perpetually with the force and authority of a law of their

nature and a decree of the Almighty. In spite of himself, and often unknown to himself, every man is living to his species and to God. While he makes himself, and seems to himself really to be, the object of all his efforts and aspirations, the centre to which all things within the sphere of his interests and anxieties is tending, he is, in fact, a fountain of influences, which operate in all directions, producing manifold results of incalculable moment. Let us take, for illustration, the example of a private man living in unostentatious quietness in the bosom of his own family. Does he “live to himself?" His looks, the tones of his voice, are not only making or marring the happiness of the domestic circle, but molding the tempers and inspiring the hearts of his children -of those who will not only be made better or worse, happy or miserable through life by these influences, but are likely to hand them down to their own offspring, to be perpetuated in some form or extent through all future time. In this same way, his conversation, his habits, his morals become models for the formation of character, and are likely to give their coloring to generations unborn. What immense results flow from the decision by the parent of a question which every parent must decide, as to what instruction and education his children shall have-in what school they shall be taught, what church they shall frequent, what books they shall read, what company they shall keep. Beyond this circle the humblest has also his influence. The men with whom he bargains in the market or the store, or by the side of whom he works in the shop, are insensibly affected by his language, his spirit, his principles, his maxims, and his entire example; and these, too, will diffuse their influence, good or bad, sending it off upon whole communities, and onward through all the future.

What a mighty interest is it whether this plain man be virtuous or vicious, be wise or foolish! Above all, how fearfully interesting the question whether he be a Christian or

not. If he is, then his sons and daughters may imbibe piety, purity, reverence for God, love to Christ, eternal life from his spirit, words, example, and prayers. If he is not, they will likely be infidel, or profligate, or at least irreligious, and, besides diffusing these influences around and after them, are likely to be damned.

If a Christian, how vastly important that he be one of the highest, purest stamp! His children will remember and copy his religion long after he is dead, and it is likely to be the type for future generations. The fervency of his prayers -the tenderness and charitableness of his spirit-his ample sacrifices his fervent love to Christ and his cause, what a glorious memorial-what a rich and enriching inheritance for his children! What a curse and a blight to send down on the future, and out on the present, the influence of formality, bigotry, worldliness, and covetousness! Every man is the model of somebody else. His piety and its developments form the measure and gauge for others. There are individuals in all churches whose opinions, examples, and religious tone act on many, if not all, associated with them -who act upon the body much as others do on single persons. Their advocacy of any measure or good work insures success, while their silence or neutrality is equivalent to the seal of reprobation. The measure of their zeal or liberality, also, becomes a guide to the Church. They thus give tone to the whole--are the mainspring of events, often without suspecting it or desiring it. They live to others to their brethren-to the Church-to the cause, in the most important sense, whether they will or not. They have the responsibility of determining questions when they take no part.

So it is made good that "none of us liveth to himself." We live to men-we live to society-to our families—to God, whether we choose it or not. It is the law of our being and of our religion. In this, as in all things, we are parts of a great whole. We belong to a system. We have a part to

act.

We must perform it-we do perform it in any and in all events. We are responsible for the influences that proceed from us, whether we give any concern to the matter or not. We have no option in this. Our liberty lies not in choosing whether we will live to ourselves or not, but whether our influence, always active, shall be for good or for evil.

That we may satisfy this high responsibility, we must understand and recognize our position. We can not escape from it. It is not humility to disclaim the importance belonging to it. The most obscure man has probably the destiny of immortal beings in his keeping. The humblest man is the source of impulses that will still be felt in heaven and hell. The poorest man has treasure that, in God's economy, may be instrumental in converting families or nations. The widow's mite has brought millions to the altar. They who have no portion but poverty and suffering, awaken joys in heaven and enrich the Church below by their examples of patience and faith.

We live to our families. We owe them the nurture and admonition of the Gospel-all that we can do to purify, enlighten, comfort, and save them. We should consecrate every son and daughter to God, and beautify them with holi

ness.

We live to the Church. We owe it personal servicesspotless examples-wise counsels-liberal sacrifices.

We live to the present. We must help to exalt and bless our race. We must do good to all as we have opportunity. We must care for our species-our neighborhood-our country. We live for future generations and future churches. We form institutions for them. We sow the seed for their harvests. We send onward the spirit that is to animate them -the light that is to guide them. We may not sow tares. That spirit must not be the spirit of error; that light should not be darkness. Our children are to be the fathers and mothers of the future. Let us train them well. Our church

es will be the type of theirs. riched with holiness.

Let them be adorned and en

Let us not put him to shame.
Let us gather in the purchase

Finally, we live to Christ. Let us not crucify him afresh. of his blood, that he may have joy and be satisfied. Let us present our bodies and spirits a living sacrifice to him. Let us not call the things we possess our own, but his. Let us be glad of all opportunities to glorify his name. Let us es

teem that work the most delightful—that treasure the most precious, which we consecrate on his altar. Let us be glad when one shows how we may do or give what may promote his cause. Then shall we live to purpose-worthy of our high destiny. The life which we now live will not be to ourselves nor to the flesh. It will be an offering holy and acceptable to Him who hath died for us, and who hath provided for us, by the shedding of his most precious blood, all the treasures of a life eternal.

XXII.

DILIGENCE IN BUSINESS FAVORABLE TO ACTIVE PIETY.

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.-RoMANS, Xii., 11.

THE Gospel takes care of the moralities and virtues of society. It inculcates domestic, social, and political duties, omitting nothing really important and useful. No system of morals is so comprehensive, so plain, or so effective.

The Gospel encourages and enforces, not by making the performance of moral duties means of salvation, or grounds of justification, or the price of heaven; it regards them as fruits and tests of faith, as conditions of acceptance, and as the measures of reward, and it secures all by the weight of

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