INDIRECT INFLUENCE.

The amount and value of a man's influence, for good or evil, upon the world, will generally depend upon the character of his indirect and unconscious influence. Personal perfection, the Christian refinement of feelings and sentiments, faithfulness to all the duties of the more private relations we sustain, are inexorably demanded by the Almighty, and by the spirit of Christ's gospel, and demanded the more rigorously because the effect of such fidelity does not end with ourselves, but goes forth and wins results that are precious in the sight of heaven, and which we may never know. The spirit of a person's life is ever shedding some power, just as a flower is steadily bestowing some fragrance upon the air. Do you think that a pure and earnest prayer, in the sacred privacy of home, does not steal through the walls and vivify the atmosphere beyond? Do you doubt that a word of sympathy and a gift of charity, in a desolate chamber, publish a sweet influence upon the frosty air of human selfishness? Such things reveal and confirm character, and make the power of a person's presence who performs them more intense and beneficial. Influence depends less on our activity than on the qualities that lie behind our activity; as the planet attracts not by its motion, but by its weight. If we had lived as we ought to live, and as we might live, a power would go out from us that would make every day a lyric sermon, that should be seen and felt by an ever-enlarging audience.-[T. Starr King.]

"In obedience and in gratefulness, and the infinite peace of God in the soul of man, is alone deep rest and repose."

As men and women add year to year of patient and loving service, there writes itself in their hearts and in their faces the language of a divine and eternal life. To the seeing eye, what beauty is there in the faces that have been lined and wrinkled by troubles bravely borne, by the sorrows of other lives shared and lightened, by unconscious heroism and sainthood! How deep is the peace of the heart that, having learned at last to ask nothing for itself, finds that all things are its own. The full consecration, the closest intimation of the enfolding divine life, comes only when love's hand has been taken by death.

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As we see drawing to its close a life which shows itself true life by growing and ripening to the last, there lies upon it a mysterious and solemn beauty like that of the close of day. We do not mourn the day that is past. What our eyes look upon is the sunset; but it is the sense as of an unseen sunrise that stills the heart.-[G. S. M.]

Man's wisdom is to seek

His strength in God alone;
And e'en an angel would be weak
Who trusted in his own.

[Cowper.]

So long as we are full of self, we are shocked at the faults of others. * * * Let us think often of our own sins, and we shall be lenient to the sins of others. From every page of the gospel, as St. Augustine says, again and again echo the sweet words of Christ: "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest.”

[Fenelon.]

Self-forgetfulness in love for others has a foremost place in our ideal of character, and our deep homage as representing the true end of our humanity. We exact it from ourselves, and the poor answer we make to the demand costs us many a sigh; and till we can break the bonds that hold us to our centre, and lose our self-care in constant sacrifice, a shadow of silent reproach lies upon our heart. Who is so faultless or so obtuse as to be ignorant what shame there is, not only in snatched advantages and ease retained to others' loss, but in ungentle words, in wronging judgment within our private thoughts alone; nay, in simple blindness to what is passing in another's mind? Who does not upbraid himself for his slowness in those sympathies which are as a multiplying mirror to the joys of life, reflecting them in endless play?

[A. Peabody.]

Do not measure God's mind by your own. It would be a poor love that depended not on itself, but on the feelings of the one loved. A crying baby turns away from its mother's breast, but she does not put it away till it stops crying; she holds it closer. When I don't feel that I love God at all, I just look up to his love; I say to him, "Look at me; see what state I am in; help me!" Ah, how that makes peace! and the love comes of itself sometimes so strong it nearly breaks the heart.-[McDonald.]

When we are most filled with heavenly love, and only then, are we best fitted to bear with human infirmity,— to live above it and forget its burden.-[Maria Hare.]

The effort to do right does not necessarily lead to the happy, spontaneous and loving practice of goodness. This is to be found not in the law, but in the gospel; not in the sight of duty, but in the sight of love. It is affectionate, filial gratitude for unbought, unearned mercy. It is the great love of him who has been forgiven much.

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It comes from the sight of the beauty scattered through the world, the blessed face of nature, the warm and glowing heart of humanity, the infinite adaptations throughout the universe for the comfort, education, and blessing of God's creatures. To look out of ourselves and away from ourselves; away from our narrow virtues and our small attainments; away from our dangers, our sinfulness, our folly; to look wholly away from ourselves, and to gaze constantly at the fullness of beauty and goodness in the creation and providence of God,-will not this touch the cold heart, and moisten the dry eye with a humble and grateful tear?-[J. F. Clarke.]

How often has the truth to be repeated, which Burke urged on Barry, that it is the interest of all of us to be at peace with our fellow creatures, far less for their sake than for our own, and that the only qualities to carry us safely through life are moderation and gentleness, not a little indulgence to others, and a great deal of distrust of ourselves. [Walter Savage Landor.]

"Real life in the soul, like real life in the affections, has a dignity of its own which wards off any impertinent touch."

My soul no more shall strive in vain,
Slave to the world and slave to sin;
A nobler toil will I sustain,

A nobler satisfaction win.

I will resolve with all my heart,

With all my powers to serve the Lord,
Nor from his precepts ere depart,

Whose service is a rich reward.

Oh, may I never faint nor tire,

Nor wandering leave his sacred ways.
Great God! accept my soul's desire,

And give me strength to live thy praise.
[Mrs. Steele.]

O God, we belong to thee utterly. We dying men are thy children, O loving Father! Thou art such a Father that thou takest our sins from us and throwest them behind thy back. Thou cleansest our souls as thy Son did wash our feet. We hold our hearts up to thee; make them what they must be, O love! O life of men! O heart of hearts! Give thy child courage and hope and peace. [McDonald.]

If self be denied for the good of others, we receive immensely more than we bestow; we multiply our avenues of enjoyment; we are refreshed and gladdened by every stream and rill of beneficent, kind office and genial feeling that flows from our abundance or trickles from our scanty resources; we have as many fountains of happiness as there are hearts and lives to whose happiness we minister. [A. Peabody.]