your words condemn their sin, and invite them to reconciliation with God?
What does conscience say to this? What does the recollection of the past
few hours say to this? There are wicked people about you: some of you
have leisure; what have you done for your ungodly neighbours? What poor
man's house have you visited? What wretched sinner have you talked to?
You have passed along the streets, and have seen sin abounding; have you
ever tried to check it? Have you ever thought it worth while to follow
some half dozen people deeply immersed in sin, and by patient, earnest,
godly admonitions, counsels, and entreaties, have you sought the
salvation of their souls? Have you done this? "Oh!" you busy men say,
"we have not time." I know better; you must not tell practical men that;
they know that all of us waste a great deal more time than we want for
such a purpose. It is not a question of time at all, but a question of
inclination. Have we done so? Are evils abating by our instrumentality?
Do not say, "I could do very little." Do what you can! "If I could move
a multitude I would do it." No, that will not do. You good women, are
you doing all the good you can in your families? Do you mothers give
yourselves to the right training of your children? Fathers, are you
practically anxious for the spiritual good of your families? Do you help
your wives to bring up a godly family, which shall prove a blessing to
the nation; and not such an one as Dr. Paley says, as shall turn out wild
beasts upon society. You have little ability; well, if you have not ten
talents, do not bury the one talent. Paul did one thing, and that was
the secret of all his greatness--he did _his_ duty. Do you do _yours_?
There was a simplicity of purpose about him, an earnestness of endeavour,
a thoroughness in the doing of it that made him what he was, the greatest
of all apostles and the greatest man that the Christian Church has known.
Take that simple rule, you young people; strive to spread the influence
of a godly example among all about you: do what you can, in a way
consistent with your position in life, and in a way consistent altogether
with modesty, humility, and a deep devotion to God, and you will not
labour in vain. We are guilty of sins of omission, and we need
repentance.

But how have we contributed to the evils of the nation by our activities?
Some of you were converted, perhaps, when you had lived to be twenty
years of a