faithfully their allegiance to Jehovah-who by these means vindicated his honour and bore testimony for him amongst the heathen, and whose holy and noble lives exercised an influence for good upon all those with whom they came in contact-these were among the people "as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass," refreshing, fertilizing, helping thus the development of the fruits of righteousness in them.

This, I confess, seems to me the most obvious and direct meaning. It fulfils the idea of the passage, and avoids the difficulties which arise if we consider the prophecy as relating to a time still to come. At the same time, it may have that meaning it may refer to the time of which the Apostle speaks, when "the receiving" of the Jews, now scattered among many nations, into the fold of Christ, shall be "life from the dead"; when they again shall be, as some of them were in the first ages of the Church, but in fuller measure than ever before, as a dew from the Lord, the ministers and heralds of that faith which they now despise.

But my purpose in selecting this passage is, to point out what I conceive to be the principle of it, important in all ages, to the Christian as well as to the Jew-yea, to the Christian more than to the Jew, since "to whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required "-the principle that wherever the servants and friends of God dwell, they should, and in proportion as they are faithful will, exercise upon those around them an influence of mercy and blessing. Whether as these Jews of the captivity, exiles in a strange land, or having for a time, for any cause, a residence among strangers, or in the circle of life, small or large, important or insignificant, as it may seem to them, in which God has placed them, wherever they are, wherever their lot is cast, whatever the external condition of their life, this will be true of them, that they will be as the refreshing dew and fertilizing rain, exercising unconsciously and unostentatiously an influence for good, and in doing so, "tarrying not for man, nor waiting for the sons of men," having their life and doings regulated not by popular opinion, whether of the Church or the world, but by the Divine life in them.

I. Let us take the fact, prophesied of the Jews, and which ought, therefore, as I have said, in a larger measure to be true of us, that good people, the servants and friends

of God, who are faithful to him, do exe wherever they are placed an influence fo good.

The conduct of the Jews in the time the captivity has been already alluded to but there is one characteristic of the witnes they then bore for God and his truth which strikingly accords with the sugges tion of these words, as to the nature o that witness. It is this-their calm, modes unobtrusive manner in their adherence t what was right. Take, for example, th case of the three Hebrew young me recorded in the third chapter of the boo of Daniel, particularly their reply to th king, verses 16-18. What calm, tru courage speaks in every word! Lik Luther's, "Here I stand, I can do no other God help me." Or, again, the case o Daniel himself, recorded in the sixt chapter, when he made no difference in hi conduct because of the peril which environe him, any more than he had before gone ou of his way to show off his piety, but simpl "kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before hi God, as he did aforetime." And we ma learn something from this, too-that thei firmness was displayed about things which were worth being firm about, not abou trivial things, as if they wanted people to see how consistent they were. Theirs was

no morbid conscientiousness, arising from over-weening self-consciousness, as we to often find now-a-days in people wh "strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Unobtrusively, calmly, with a dignifie and modest reserve, not seeking publicity yet, when principle was involved, no shrinking from it, they maintained the allegiance to Jehovah, and won thereb from the king himself, an acknowledgmer of him as the true God.

We must remember, too, to their honou that the circumstances under which the thus exercised a gracious influence on thos around them were very unfavourable. The were in a strange land, away from th influences of home, of a settled order o worship, as if we, for example, should fin ourselves prisoners in a land in whic Popery or Mohammedanism prevailed.

The same principles which guided ther there may guide us in all our life. Fo example, you are many of you called t mix with worldly men-men of business who have no thought beyond the presen life, some of them honourable men, an some evil men-who indulge in sin them

selves, and would be glad to see you do

the same.

The test of your Christian character, your Christian principle, then, will be found in this-Do you exert a good influence upon these men? Do they respect your principles in your honest maintenance of them? Do they feel that your presence is a rebuke to their sin? Do they feel the influence of your example in checking that? Do they recognise in your temper, your language, your conduct, in your justice and righteousness, in your gentleness and forbearance and charity, in your willingness and readiness for every act of kindness and generosity; do they see looks and manner, the proof that you are living a higher, holier life than they; so that they are compelled to bear witness that in you at least religion is a real thing? Or, on the contrary, are they by reason of your worldly, selfish, grasping disposition, your hardness and unkindness and want of charity, your ill-tempers and harshness and pride, taking up a reproach against the Gospel you profess from your example?

in

your very

Oh! my brethren, it is not only in the house of God and on Sunday we work for God and speak for him. We are, if we are truly his, speaking for him in every act, living for him in every relation of life. our manners, our tempers will all testify to it and alas! for us, if the testimony be not for God, not on behalf of the religion we profess, but, on the contrary, against it and him.

Our looks,

We do exert, I say, if we are faithful, an influence for good. Men "take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus," and ch! if this is possible, if we may do so (and we know we may), how does it call upon s to seek earnestly and faithfully that we do not fail of our high calling, that wherever we are, we may "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things"?

Christian men among their neighbours, Christian masters and mistresses among their servants, Christian servants in their work at home, Christian employers of labour among their workpeople, Christian parents among their children, are all in their several spheres operating upon those with whom they live, influencing their opinions, their modes of thinking and acting, swaying them for good or evil, in favour of religion or against it; perhaps, and how fearfully thus does the responsibility press upon us, helping to form their character and decide their destiny for eternity. We may be to them like the refreshing dew and fertilizing rain, helping them, encouraging them by our example, to bring forth the fruits of righteousness; or we may be like the scorching or chilling blast, burning up or freezing out the tender germs of a better life in them. May God help us, Christian brethren, both at home and abroad, more faithfully to consider our responsibility in this matter as to those whom God has placed for the time within the circle of our influence!

For let us remember that "none of us liveth to himself." Every day of our lives our influence will be for good or evil on those around us, who daily observe our actions, who come daily into contact with

All our social relationships bear wittess of this. We are linked together by subtle chains of affection and habit, and the electric influence thrills through all who are thus united. We are continually receiving and giving off influence, contributing to the power of good or evil in the circle in which we live, helping to create the moral atmosphere which surrounds us.

II. Let us endeavour to point out the condition of exercising such a wise and holy influence on those around us; let us ask ourselves what is of chief importance in order to our exerting as Christian men and women a wise and good influence which shall help to shape and direct the lives of others for good?

The answer may be given in one word, be good. It is what we are, rather than anything we say or do, which will decide what sort of influence we are really exerting. It is the spiritual that shapes the external; it is what we are that shapes for us what we say or do, that decides the nature of those looks, and tones, and slight unconscious actions, which reveal our true character to others, and which exert an influence for good or evil upon many who are unable to analyze that influence, or show in what way and to what extent we have affected them.

Somewhere or other that which we endeavour carefully to conceal from the eyes of men will reveal itself. Somewhere or other what we are really and truly in the sight of God will manifest itself, and decide what our influence on others will be. If, therefore, we would exert an influence on others, we must be not only careful of our outward conduct, how we act and how we speak, sedulously avoiding this thing and that lest we should sin, but

we must be what we wish to seem. We may be very consistent outwardly in these things, and so have a life void of offence, at the expense of living in a miserable bondage to what others will say; and yet there may be such evidences (of which we ourselves are all unconscious) of insincerity, selfishness, and worldliness, that our acted character goes for nothing, or rather awakens disgust and suspicion in those who feel and know that we are something other than we seem. Our Lord told his disciples, "there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known." What we are truly will be sure somehow or other to show itself in our life: if we are luminous we shall give light: if we are loving we shall show love: if we are sincere, men will see it and trust us.

The importance of character, as deciding the nature of the influence which we exert, is recognised by us in all our lives. We would not go ourselves, we would not put our children, into the company of the notoriously wicked, or even of those who were obviously negligent of the higher claims of spiritual religion. They might not attempt to do us any direct harm, to tempt us to evil; they might perhaps, on the contrary, endeavour to meet what they might call our prejudices, and pay respect to our religious scruples, but yet, I think, we should not court their society, throw ourselves in their way, identify ourselves with them.

Why? Not because we believe they mean us any harm, but because we know that they would exert, unintentionally on their part, and perhaps unconsciously on our own, a bad influence. We should expect that our tone would be lowered, that our hearts would grow cold, that we should become worldly even as they.

Now, brethren, apply the argument to yourselves. It is the stronger element which prevails; and if you are really and truly Christians, Christians in heart and truth; if your life and strength be in Him; it will manifest itself, and will have an influence upon others, just as the influence of worldly men will have an effect for evil on weak and wavering Christians. And as it is not so much what they determine to do as what they are that produces the effect on their part, so you, if you are living in constant fellowship with God, if you are truly holy, if your one desire is to serve him, if you are seeking to be conformed to the image of his Son, will

exercise a good, a holy influence on the around you. Your household will feel your children will feel it, your neighbou will feel it. It was the testimony of Le Richmond's children, that they learned love religion because they saw their fath so lovely and happy under its influen It cannot be hid. It is the ointment of t right, which bewrayeth itself; it is the pe fume of Aaron's anointing, which filled t room with odour; it is the glory on t face of Moses, with which he came dow from the Mount.

"When one that holds communion with the ski Has filled his urn where these pure waters rise And once more mingles with us meaner thing 'Tis e'en as if an angel shook his wings; Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide, That tells us whence his treasures are supplied

bi

III. There is something very beautiful the illustration here afforded us as to th manner in which this influence operate Like the dew and rain, it falls secretly, lently, unobtrusively, yet penetrates belo the surface and is hidden; and there cretly working, quickens and fertilizes; a in so doing it obeys Divine laws ar operates according to Divine methods; tarrieth not for man nor waiteth for th sons of men." So the sacred influen which the Christian exerts does not wa for great examples; for patronage an power to show the way; for societies an committees to direct its operations; everywhere and always, quietly, constantl unconsciously to itself, but effectually, li God's refreshing fertilizing rain and de it works unseen and silently in men's heart going on doing good. Oh! who shall te till the judgment of the last day reveals how much has been won and lost to Christ kingdom by influence, influence transmitt from generation to generation, the sile preaching of the holy life, or, alas! the s want of it; influence spreading a operating in directions which no huma eye can ever trace. "So is the kingdom God;" as if a man should sow seed in h field, and it should spring and grow up knoweth not how. So it is with our infl ence on others; we cannot trace it, and s that such a result is the effect of some pa ticular influence exerted at any given tim but we may believe and be sure that proportion as we are faithful, in proporti as we are holy, in proportion as we gracious, we are exerting an influence the most important and powerful kind more important by far than any extern