strict amongst the better sort of men; and to go beyond this, is taken for a sign of eccentricity, if not of madness. The most scrupulous observance of the truth, for instance, is required within these limits, and the most unscrupulous untruth allowed immediately without them. So absolute indeed is this conventional morality, and so much are the habits of society at large, and the conduct of its individual members, formed upon it, that the sudden removal from the world of all the rules and sanctions of our holy faith, as of an exploded fable, would scarcely produce any instant effect upon society. For the time, and until the general standard had been lowered down, they would go on very much as they do now the same restraints would check the same rebellious passions, and the same inducements call out the same amount of usual and expedient virtues. But thus it would be for a time only; for those upon whom personally our holy faith exerts no direct influence, are greatly affected by the higher general tone of morals it has intro

duced. But for the faith of Jesus, the actual standard, vicious as it is, would have been infinitely lower; and that lower standard would be an incalculable curse. The higher standard is a continual preparation for something better; and the lower standard affords a constant readiness for greater abominations. If we could follow the inquiry into the detail of cases, we should see how many were prepared for great and hopeless depths of vice, by living where the common tone around them was brought very low; and, on the other hand, how those who by such secondary motives had been preserved from open iniquity, had been gradually led, of God's great goodness, to far better things by his preventing grace.

And all this applies, in no small measure, to those who do act in some degree upon true Christian motives, as well as to the world at large. We cannot but observe, how different in temper and degree is the religion of one age from that of another; and how, for good or for evil, its general

standard may be altered by a few leading minds in any generation. And that which we thus see on a large scale in general society, may be easily traced down to individual instances: one man, endued with no more than the cheap talent of personal popularity, will soon leaven those round him with his own vices, lower their perception of evil, accustom them to sin; and, acting through each one of them, as a centre, upon their own acquaintance and connexions, lower again, in a less degree, but still distinctly, their sense of evil: and so, whilst he seems to himself, at the worst, to be but seeking thoughtlessly for pleasure, whilst he is a cause of pleasure to all those around him, he is, in truth, doing Satan's work with all the faculties which God has given him, and bringing on his soul the awful woe denounced against the eminent corruptors of his people.

Nor is the converse of this picture less true. Nowhere does there rise up one eminent in holiness, an earnest follower of our adorable Redeemer, without the fruit

of his secret prayers, and silent watchings, and earnest communion with God, being soon traced, not by an evident and noisy following, but by the secret, leaven-like working of better principles, stealing, through God's gracious blessing, on the hearts of one and of another, and thus raising all around him the general standard of holiness and zeal.

This is true every where, but it is eminently true in society constituted as it is amongst us in this place. The tone of a college at any given time is set, to a remarkable degree, for good or evil, by a few decided characters, far more than by external rules or by internal discipline.

This, therefore, it becomes us especially to bear in mind: never can we live for ourselves alone; but least of all can we do so, placed as we are here. An influence for good or for evil is daily going forth, from our tone in society, from our common words and actions, the effects of which no man can calculate. We are, whether we know it or not, leading others to assume a

higher standard, by that we set before them; or breaking down gradually the impressions which shield them from evil, and rendering them an easier prey to the great enemy of souls. Who shall reckon up the value of those common opportunities in the midst of which we live? How many, whom on earth our eyes shall never see, may rise up at the great day, when all secrets shall be known, to call us blessed, for the incidental good which visited their souls, from our secret prayers, or open self-denial; or even from the copy of these graces transmitted through another from ourselves? Doubtless every golden link shall then be seen and numbered; and while all the glory of salvation is given to its Lord, they who have "turned many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever."

Nor is the counterpart of this picture less important: it is one of the most fearful characters of sin, that its consequences are wholly out of our control. No man can stay the stone which he has

motion; and he who has

rashly set in

lowered the