The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-18
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Influence of Little Things.

My Dear Friend. When 1 was al
College, an eminent man of the Presby
terian Church visited the institution, ano
preached series of sermons, which re-
suited in a blessed revival of religion.
| had never made any profession OF rell-
! gion before; but on this occasion felt
! the assurance that God had made me'a
partaker Of the inheritance of his peo-
pie. l had as a general thing been a
steady boy up to this time, though it is
quite true that l had been guilty of very
presumptuous sins. From my early boy
hood had always entertained dread
of Gods anger, and desire that ne
might some day give me an interest in
the redemption of Christ, For several
months previous TO the visit Of this MIN
lister, | had deserted all my sins, as far
as it was possible for me to do so. |
hated to lie then with the same kind OF
hatred that have now. | read my Bi-
BILE, and was punctual in offering up my
prayers, morning and evening; and no
one could have induced me to disregard
these duties. I remember that one of
my fellow.students once asked me why it
was that did not join the church. |
did not understand my feelings at the
time very fully, for they were very com
plicated; but the idea struck me as be-
ing very preposterous. | could not then
dare to rank myself among the company
of Gods chosen ones. But the preach
ing commenced, and l gladly attended
the meetings. The venerable preacher
had said that he would converse with
any enquirers at an office near the mause,
during the afternoon. When the sermon
was over, / walked out, and going by the
room of very Jealous active Christian,
| announced my intention of calling on
the minister Immediately. Several of us
went down together; and there was one
young man whom all the students looked
upon as a marvellous instance of warm,
unaffected piety. He was one of the
oldest of that evening party, and l was
the youngest. l had been rooming in a
certain locality of the institution which
was by no means famous for its religious
proclivities and this whole-souled Chris
tian with whom | was walking did not
know at all that l had ever previously
been the subject of any Christian emo
tions. 1t was fresh joy to his bouyant
heart, and when he saw me, he quietly
took me by the hand, pressed it, and held
it.
Now, my friend, this is the point which
in this letter desire you to notice par
ticularly. Never shall l forget that
spontaneous expression of Christian broth
erhood l remember not whether any
words were uttered by either of US, but
my soul was filled. There was a calm,
joyous acquiescence in Gods call, new
alteration for his goodness, an out t-going
love, an enjoyment of Christian fellow
ship. Let me ask you to observe what a
grasp of the hand did for me, and then
let me ask you to seek what a smilo of
your countenance, or word from your
mouth, or any little token of genuine
warmth from you, may do for others.
Now, we live toward God by the Spirit !;
and in the absence of Gods Spirit moth
ing can supply the deficiency. 1t be-
comes most natural thing for man to
indicate his nature out of his eye, and
out of the expressions of his mouth, and
out of the very touch of his fingers.
You know that bold profession of some
truth where the truth is not clearly ap-
pretended, is a mockery; and the force
of such a truth is weak and dishearten-
ing.
Go to work then for Christ by little
things, since the Spirit must indeed show
itself in this way. Count the little
things you do throughout any one day of
your life. Are they not numbered by
the thousand? Do not these, taken in
the aggregate, supply you with the sure
est index of your life and character !!
Larger actions are never doneunconscious-
ly, and they are always attended with GER
tain accidents which qualify their merits
What? Do you expect to perform good
deeds by contributing so many dollars to
the missionary fund, or by taking the
opportunity in your next public speech
to eulogize the principles of religion !
Consider the mixed nature of the mo-
tives which prompt you to the TWO good
deeds. Might not the profanest poliu
clan do the latter without blush? And
might not the philanthropist, interested
in the advance of civilization, do the for
mer? Yet, which one of these will pray
aloud by his friends bedside in the still
hours of the night? Which one of these
will have his common speech, his ordina-