Howard, our prisons were purified. By
one woman, Miss Nightingale, our disgraceful nursing system was
reformed. By one Clarkson the reproach of slavery was taken away. God
in all ages has blessed individual effort, and if we are strong enough
to take up any special line of benevolent and Christian work that seems
open to us we should not shrink from it. We should be on the lookout
for it. But many from their circumstances are not able to do so, and
such can find their best opportunity by _combining their own effort
with the efforts of others_. There are many agencies at work in every
community for the helping of man, and they afford to all the
opportunity of wisely using their power of influence. This is true
especially of the Christian Church. It has been defined as "a society
for doing good in the world." In many ways it carries on work for the
benefit of others. In every Christian congregation there ought to be
some work in which each of its members, however few his talents may be,
can engage; and in lending a helping hand each of them may do something
directly towards making society sweeter and better.

II. Indirect or unconscious influence.--There is an imperceptible
personal atmosphere which surrounds every man, "an invisible belt of
magnetism" which he bears with him wherever he goes. It invests him,
and others quickly detect its presence. Take some of its simplest
phases.

(_a_) Think of the influence of a _look_. When Christ stood in the
courtyard of the palace of the High Priest over against His weak and
erring disciple, whom He heard denying Him with oaths, it is said, "The
Lord looked upon Peter." No more than that, and it reached right down
into his heart. It touched him as nothing else could have touched him.
"He went out and wept bitterly." It was said of Keble the poet that
"his face was like that of an illuminated clock, beaming with the
radiance of his poetry and wisdom"; and it is written of one of the
most spiritually-minded of Scotchmen, Erskine of Linlathen, that "his
looks were better than a thousand homilies." There was something in
the very expression of his countenance that spoke to men of an inner
life and of a spiritual dwelling in God.

(_b_) Think of the influence of a _smile_: the smile of welcome when we
call at a friend's house; the smile of recognition when we meet him in
the street; the smile of pleasure which the speaker sees in his
audience; the smile of satisfac