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discretion is a most dangerous element in a man's characIf a man goes wrong, the more fiercely he drives on, the worse. I have sometimes known one person of this class to destroy the most flattering prospects of a revival of God's work-neutralize all that the minister, aided by the whole church, could do, and bring everything to a stand. Something more is necessary to a good and successful laborer in the cause of God than good intentions and great zeal. He that would win souls must be wise. And he that would be a profitable laborer in any department of Christian duty must abstain from all appearance of evil. When will these mistaken brethren learn that the eyes of the world are upon them-that men take impressions through their eyes and ears, and that we can have no power for good in the church only so far as our actions, words, and spirit, appear in accordance with our profession?

3. We may learn the importance of clear discrimination, an accurate judgment, a tender conscience, and perfect self-knowledge.

These qualities of mind will enable us, in all ordinary cases, to judge correctly as to what would be proper, or otherwise, under any given circumstances. But the power of correct judgment in matters of so much difficulty as the bearing of mere appearances is not to be attained at once and without effort. It may cost us much painful inquiry and diligence. The power of accurate judgment is not ordinarily acquired without much patient thought and observation. He that would have this faculty in its vigor and efficiency, must exercise himself in judging of appearances in view of the great ideal of a perfect man. And he must scrutinize his own ways. He must not spare himself. He must perpetually inquire, How will this appear, and how that? What judgment will other men pronounce upon my conduct? How will it impress them? Will it make them better or worse? Will it tend to draw them to the Saviour, or to drive them from him? This inquisitive habit of mind will lead to the most beneficial results. We shall acquire the power of analyzing and comparing appearances, and judging of them, which will save us from many errors and many mortifying failures, and which will give to our character a moral beauty which will

command the admiration and respect even of the most splenetic and fastidious of the men of this world with whom we daily converse.

4. We may learn the greatness of our responsibilities. It is not a difficult matter for a person of ordinary spiritual illumination to be able to determine what contravenes the injunction of the text, and when he is by it convicted of wrong. Offenses against the salutary caution it contains, more generally, perhaps, arise from some negative quality of mind, such as thoughtlessness or ignorance. But due care and diligence would supply the remedy for these deficiencies. And if we neglect so to fashion our lives as that they may exert a saving influence upon the. world, are we not slothful servants? Mark, it is not so much some sudden outbreak of the passions, which is the result of surprise, with which the text is concerned, as it is an habitual laxness and indifference to the minutia of Christian duty-something to which there may be no designed tendency, but which results from false or defective views of the Christian's character and responsibilities. And if professors of religion will in this manner fall to sleep upon their post-if by mere sloth they will peril the interests of religion and the salvation of souls, will they not have a fearful account to give? Can they expect in the great day to hear the Judge say, "Well done, good and faithful servant?" How will they answer for the mischief which has been occasioned by their criminal indifference to a plain precept of the Bible? O, what sobriety, and vigilance, and prudence, and diligence, are necessary, if we would fully meet the letter and spirit of the text!

5. We may also infer from the doctrine of the text that some sincere but imperfect Christians may be the means of ruining souls, while others, of less, or no, real purity of purpose, may be the means of doing much good.

Let the doctrine which has already been clearly deduced from the text, and which is sustained by sound philosophy and common sense, be borne in mind, namely: that it is the appearance of evil which does the mischief to society. Others see only the appearance of evil in any case, while God alone sees the thing itself. If, then, we are not cautious to abstain from the appearance of evil, and so are the means of giving a wrong bias to others, or are the

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occasion of their falling into sin, and into hell, it will be sad indeed. It will not answer for us to say we did not design to do harm-the harm is done, and cannot now be repaired. Our general honesty of purpose will not prevent the fatal consequences of our example, much less will it bring back from perdition the souls which we have been the means of ruining for ever. So with all our honesty of purpose, with all our zeal, with all our prayers; such may be our course of living, our habits of intercourse with the world, that we may be the means of sending souls to destruction.

Upon the other hand, some, whose motives are, in part or in whole, selfish and offensive to God, may so thoroughly understand the art of making the right impression, that their examples may be practically beneficial, and they may be the means of saving souls. They abstain from the appearance of evil, although they love evil itself, and cherish it in their hearts. Appearances will not indeed save them, but they may instrumentally save others; that is, the signs of truth and purity which they display may be the means, in the hands of God, of bringing men to the knowledge of the truth, and of finally saving them. Let it not be said that this is a merely hypothetical case, which never can actually occur. I doubt not but there are now good and worthy members in the church, and glorified saints in heaven, who were converted by the instrumentality of base hypocrites. Their corruptions were not dormant, but were working in a way not to be observed by the persons referred to, who only saw what appeared to them the image of a true zeal for God and his glory. All they saw was in itself good. It was the expression, the shadowing forth, of true religion. The outward expressions were all of which they could take cognizance, and being such as found a response in their hearts and consciences, they were made the means of awakening in their minds permanent convictions. God, who " can make the wrath of man to praise him," can as easily make his selfishness, and all the other motives of hypocrisy, to promote his honor and the salvation of sinners. But it must not be supposed from this that the good which a real hypocrite sometimes does either procures his pardon, or in the least meliorates his moral character. He

is just as wicked, before God, as he would be if he did no good at all; and will, without repentance, have just as hot a place in perdition, and possibly his punishment will be enhanced by that circumstance. It may be an aggravation of his torment in hell to know that he had contributed to the salvation of others.

But, brethren, what a shame it is for us to be outdone by hollow-hearted professors of religion-by the unskillfulness of our labors, or the defects in the aspects of our outward Christian character, actually to harm the cause and ruin souls, while really bad men are often found doing much good! The very supposition of the possibility of all this shows the real importance of the requirement of the text in a very strong light. O, when will we be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves?"-When we learn to "abstain from all appearance of evil."

6. Lastly, we infer the admirable perfection of the instructions we have in the Holy Scriptures.

Every point of duty seems to be covered by the sacred writers. The heart is the great source of evil-as "from the heart proceedeth evil things"-and consequently the corruptions of the heart are objects of special attention.

How the heart is to be cleansed and prepared for a
residence of the Holy One, and by what means it is to be
guided and governed, are matters clearly set forth. How
to govern our actions, and what in our outward conduct is
wrong and offensive to God, are sufficiently specified. Both
inward and outward sins are pointed out and prohibited;
and, finally, as if to complete the system of requirements
and duties, we are admonished to shun not only sin itself,
but its very appearance. Without this there would seem
to be a deficiency in the inspired teaching. An avenue
would have been left open for the entrance of evil, and
the Christian character might have been exceedingly de-
fective without contravening any express precept.
As it
is, every precaution is taken to fortify us against occasions
of falling into sin, or of exerting a bad influence upon
others. The directions, if fully carried out, will completely
furnish us for the high and responsible position to which
we are elevated when taken into the favor and service of
God. No doubt will hang over our character. We shall
be clear specimens of practical Christianity, practical de-

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monstrations of the purity and power of our divine religion. And what Christian does not wish to have his character and conduct, beyond all controversy and doubt, in accordance with the holy gospel? What good man wishes to be misunderstood and misconstrued to be thought not so good as he really is, or at least aims to be? Who wishes, by putting himself upon dubious ground in the view of others, to put the Christian profession, or religion itself, upon dubious ground? Who would not be perfect-complete in all the will of God? Here, then, brethren, is our great rule of behavior-the infallible law of propriety: “Abstain from all appearance of evil." But observe this to the letter, and there will be no honest doubt with regard to our real position. We shall then, in all ordinary cases, have full credit for all the honesty and integrity of purpose to which we are entitled. We shall

"let our light shine before men, that others, beholding our good works, may glorify our Father which is in heaven." We shall honor our profession before the world, and in the great day of judgment God will honor us in the presence of the holy angels. ΑΜΕΝ.

SERMON XXXII.

The Opportunity of doing Good unto all Men.

BY REV. BISHOP EDMUND S. JANES.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men."— Galatians vi, 10.

THE subject presented in this passage of Scripture is that of doing good unto others. The proper objects of our kind and Christian offices are declared to be "all men;" and the rule laid down for the government of our benevolent action is the measure of our "opportunity." Each of these branches of the text would afford a delightful topic of remark. The theme of doing good, of philanthropic and Christian enterprise, is one of thrilling interest.