21 Sermon Illustrations on Influence of Character

"Two dry sticks will set a green one on fire. Can you blame the children of God, then, if they mourn and enter their protest against the iniquity of the times?" They see how the prevalence of sin affects those who would fain be innocent, and how the fashion of evil sweeps along with it those who at first had better manners; and this frets them sorely. We tremble at the mischief which can be done by men who are hardened in iniquity; those dry sticks, so eager for the flame, are our terror; when such are laid together we know how fierce will be the burning. Companionship in evil leads to a high pitch of sin. Hands joined in hand draw on with great force those who seemed reluctant to go in the way of evil. O that our young people would be warned of the danger of bad example! If we could keep the green sticks out of the way of the dry we should have little to fear for our sons and daughters; but, alas, the wicked are often more attractive than the righteous, and fair speech and gay habits fascinate the inexperienced. The amiable but undecided of our youth are beguiled by the pleasant manners of worldly people, and before they are aware they become like their betrayers. Lord, save us from evil men, and when we are called in the order of providence to be in their presence, let us remember that we are also in Thy presence, and so let us escape the contagion of their company.

Every Christian is placed in a centre, of which the globe is the circumference; and each must fill that circumference, as every star forms a centre, and shines through the whole sphere; and yet all meet and mingle, forming one vast field of light. Spencer.

A young minister, when about to be ordained, stated, that, at one period of his life, he was nearly an infidel. "But," said he, "there was one argument in favor of Christianity which I could never refute,—the consistent conduct of my father."

It was Xenophon's observation, grounded upon his own experience, that the memory of Socrates' conversation did greatly profit his acquaintance. And Seneca saith, that the crowd of philosophers which followed the same wise man derived more of their ethics from his manners than his words. And he that shall reflect upon the story concerning his behavior, when he was by malicious envy persecuted to death, may, perhaps, be more edified thereby than by all his subtle discourses about death and the soul's state after it. Dr. Barrow.

When Brainerd was among the American Indians, he stopped at a place where he offered to instruct them in Christianity. He was met by the retort, "Why should you desire the Indians to become Christians, seeing that the Christians are so much worse than the Indians? The Christians lie, steal, and drink worse than the Indians. They first taught the Indians to be drunk. They steal to so great a degree, that their rulers are obliged to hang them for it; and even that is not enough to deter others from the practice. We will not consent, therefore, to become Christians, lest we should be as bad as they. We will live as our fathers lived, and go where our fathers are, when we die." By no influence could he change their decision.

In 1848, Lamartine introduced De la Eure to the riotous populace, saying, "Listen, citizens! It is sixty years of a pure life that is about to address you." The multitude all became attentive to his words. It was the power of integrity and purity.

Influence of Dr. Adam Clarke long ago set down one woman as equal to seven men and a half. A later estimate, on more dubious authority, accounts one woman as equal to fifteen men.

You are a sister, and may mould a brother's mind to virtue and to usefulness. You are a daughter; and, for your sake, your father may put forth efforts of unbounded might. You may hereafter bear the honored name of wife, and the more sacred one of mother. Your influence may then determine the character of your husband, and fix the destiny of your children. It may make your son an Augustine, an Oberlin, a Wesley; or it may leave him to curse his race with pestiferous teachings, like Socinus or Murray, with wars of ambition, like Napoleon, or with a baleful legacy of infidelity and vice, like Hume or Carlyle. Say not, that, because you are a woman, your influence must be limited, but remember that your sex places you at the head-waters of the great river of humanity, where a pebble may change the direction of the streamlet. Dr. Wise.

It is related, that one day Mr. Beauzet, a member of the French Academy, went to see Diderot, one of the champions of infidelity; he found him explaining a chapter of the gospel to his daughter, as seriously, and with the concern of a most Christian parent. Mr. Beauzet expressed his surprise. "I understand you," said Diderot, "but in truth what better lesson could I give her?"

# HAPPY EFFECTS OF THE BIBLE.

# 57. Morality Promoted.

When Lord Peterborough lodged for a season with Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray, he was so delighted with his piety and virtue, that he exclaimed at parting, "If I stay here any longer, I shall become a Christian in spite of myself."

The Rev. Thomas Scott, in the early part of his life, was exceedingly fond of cards, but was induced to leave off the practice in the following manner:

One of his parishioners said to him, "I have something which I wish to say to you; but I am afraid you may be offended." "I answered," says Mr. Scott, "that I could not promise, but I hoped I should not." She then said, "You know A—B—; he has lately appeared attentive to religion, and has spoken to me concerning the sacrament; but last night he, with C—D—, and others, met to keep Christmas; and they played at cards, drank too much, and in the end quarreled, and raised a sort of riot. And when I remonstrated with him on his conduct, as inconsistent with his professed attention to religion, his answer was, 'There is no harm in cards—Mr. Scott plays at cards.'

This smote me to the heart. I saw that if I played at cards, however soberly and quietly, the people would be encouraged by my example to go farther; and if St. Paul would eat no flesh while the world stood, rather than cause his weak brother to offend, it would be inexcusable in me to throw such a stumbling-block in the way of my parishioners, in a matter certainly neither useful nor expedient. So far it eagerly; his attention was arrested; he was soon found in the company of Christians, seeking an interest in their prayers, and became a praying man. His conversion was the beginning of a revival. Others who had embraced the same error followed his example. The influence of the visits and volumes of the colporteurs was manifest in an increased spirit of inquiry and attendance upon public worship; and during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, nearly seventy were added to the church under the pastoral care of our informant in that place.

# PLAYING.

from being offended at the hint thus given me, I felt very thankful to my faithful monitor, and promised her that she should never have occasion to repeat the admonition. That very evening I related the whole matter to the company, and declared my fixed resolution never to play at cards again. I expected I should be harassed with solicitations, but I was never asked to play afterwards.