conduct in others. Thus, whether we intended it or not, we have confirmed many in their ungodly ways, and have contri- buted to their eternal ruin. Let us go now, and undo what we have done : alas ! we cannot find one half of them : many are not known by us : many are gone to distant parts : many are already in the eternal world : and, if we should atteinpt to convert those to whom we can get access, they would laugh at us as fools, or despise us as hypocrites. Besides, all of them in their respective spheres have diffused the contagion which they received from us : and thus have put it beyond the reach of man to trace, or even to conceive, the evil we have done. And does not all this call for penitence i Yes ; if our " head were a fountain of tears to run down incessantly" to the latest hour of our lives, it would be no more than the occasion calls for. But with our penitence we must unite our utmost efforts to repair the evil we have done.
To repair it with respect to God, is the work of Christ only. He alone can render satisfaction for our sins ; his blood alone can cleanse us from the guilt we have contracted by them. But with respect to man we may do something, though we cannot do all that we could wish. Let us begin with our example: this speaks the most forcibly, and the most exten- sively. Let us, by giving up ourselves to God, shew others what they ought to do : and let our light so shine before men, that they may be constrained to glorify God, and to take shame to themselves. Next, let us use our injiuence : be it small or great, let us not neglect to exert it, that by every means in our power we may counteract our past evils, and stir up others to flee from the wrath to come. Finally, let us be fervent in our mtercessions at the throne of grace, that God may take to him his great power, and establish his kingdom upon earth. Let us j^articularly pray for those, whom, in any respect, we may have allured from the path of duty. Thus, like the great Apostle, we shall make some compensation to the world for all the injuries it has sustained by our means, and shew, that, if one sinner can destroy much good, one saint can effect much which shall be a ground of joy and gratitude to all eternity.]