Influence of little things. Adam Clark. Story of the young lady.

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his father means. A congregation will look at their minister in the same way, and are impressed, not more certainly by what is said, than by the looks and appearance of the preacher. These little folks cannot reason about great principles of action,-cannot make allowances for the temperament of their teacher, but they judge of character and of religion by looking at small things, and receiving repeated impressions. A word too much, or a word too little, may be forgotten; but impressions made upon a child by example are at once moulded into his character. What Adam Clark so pertinently says of a minister, is wonderfully applicable to a Sabbath School teacher. It is impossible that he should ever be a private man; even in his most trivial intercourse with others, it is never forgotten what his office is: the habit of every one's mind, is to expect information or example from his company and conduct; he is constantly living under the observation of mankind, and he who is always observed, should never venture on dubious conduct, or suppose for a moment that what he does in the view of another can ever for a moment be a matter of indifference, or be regarded as a trifle. I will tell you a curious circumstance that happened to me some years ago. In a day or two from the time that I refer to, I was about to set off from London to Ireland: a friend desired me to take charge of a young lady to Dublin, to which I readily agreed, and she was sent to me at the coach. I soon found from

Moral honesty to be observed.

her conversation that she was a Roman Catholic, and also quickly perceived that she had been led to entertain a very high opinion of me. After we had travelled some distance, talking occasionally on various subjects, the day-light began to sink fastly away, when she took out of her reticule a small Catholic book of prayers, and commenced seriously her evening devotions. While she was reading, such thoughts as these occurred to me,—' I believe this lady to be sincere in her religious creed, which I think to be a very dangerous one; she appears to be of an ingenuous temper, and to feel much personal respect for me; is there not here, then, a good opportunity, as well as subject, to exercise my influence, and to deliver her, if possible, from her erroneous creed?' But, continued I in my thoughts, ' was she not entrusted to my care? would her friends have so entrusted her, had they ever suspected that an attempt at proselytism would be made? Would not the attempt be a breach of trust, and should I, even were ultimate good to accrue to her, be a morally honest man? I instantly felt that my own honesty must be preserved, though the opportunity of apparent good might be apparently lost. In a short time Miss closed her book with

this observation, We Catholics, Dr. Clarke, think it much better to believe too much than too little.' I replied, But, Madam, in our belief, we should recollect that we never should yield our assent to what is contradictory in itself, or to what contradicts other

Interesting result of the story.

ascertained facts.' This was the only observation that I made that looked at all towards Catholicism. In process of time we arrived at our journey's end, and I deposited her safely in the hands of her friends.'

'From that time till about two years ago, I never heard of her, till we met in the following way. I had been preaching at Chelsea Chapel, and on entering the vestry after service, a lady followed me, shook hands, spake with much emotion, and said: 'Do you not recollect me, Dr. Clarke? I am Miss whom you kindly took care of to Ireland: I was then a Catholic; now I am a Protestant, and have suffered much in consequence of the change.' I inquired how the alteration in her views was effected, and she gave me in detail the account which I will shortly sum up to you. When she heard to whom she was about to be entrusted, she resolved to observe and watch closely this eminent Protestant minister; she was pleased with the conversation and friendliness shown her; and was so struck with the observation I had made in the coach, that she said it afterwards absolutely haunted her, caused her to examine and think for herself, aud at last led her to freedom from her thraldom: 'but,' said she, 'I should never have been induced to examine, had it not been for the previous examination I had made of you. From the first moment you entered the coach, I watched you narrowly; I thought, now I have a fair opportunity of knowing something of these Protest

Convert of behavior. Inference from the story.

Power of a good name.

ants; and I will judge if what I have heard of them be true. Every word, every motion, every look of yours, Sir, was watched with the eye of a lynx; 1 felt you could not be acting a part, for you could not suspect that you were so observed; the result of all was, your conduct conciliated esteem, and removed prejudice; your one observation on belief, led me to those examinations which the Spirit of God has blessed to my conversion; and I now stand before you, the convert of your three days' behavior between London and Dublin.' You see from this account, how all ministers should ever feel themselves to be public men; how cautious should be their conduct, and how guarded their conversation. Had I attempted to proselyte this lady, all her prejudices would have been up in arms; had my behavior been unbecomingly light, or causelessly austere, she would have been either disgusted or repelled, and her preconceived notions of Protestants would have been confirmed; she saw and heard what satisfied her: thus, even in social intercourse, the public teacher should always be the Christian instructor.'

If the above account cannot be commended for the modesty of the narrator, it certainly contains sound sense, and ought to be well weighed by those who, in any sense, are teachers of God's word. The reader should observe too, what is always true, that a Christian is more likely to do good, if he has earned a good reputation by his life and conduct. It

Example of a real Christian.

The parent who supposes the few lessons of instruction which he bestows upon his child, constitute any considerable part of the education of that child, is greatly mistaken. The child is at play in the corner of the room, with his blocks or his toys, and the parents are talking together without heeding him. But ever now and then the little prattler stops talking to himself to catch the tones and thoughts of his parents, and he is there receiving impressions which form his character, and which will abide with him through life. It is on this principle that example is so powerful a teacher; and that a real Christian can do so much for his Master. "God has not permitted the world to despise a true Christian; they may pass by him with a haughty and supercilious coldness, they may deride him with a taunting and sarcastic irony; but the spirit of the proudest man that ever lived will bend before the grandeur of a Christian's humility. You are at once awed, and you recoil upon your own conscience, when you meet with one whose feelings have been purified by the Gospel. The light of a Christian's soul, when it shines into the dark den of a worldly heart, startles and alarms the gloomy passions that are brooding within. Is this contempt? No: but all the virulence which is excited by the Christian graces can be resolved into envy-the feelings of devils when they think on the pure happiness of angels; and to complete their confusion, what is