and the whole aspect of society. So also in Rome, it was the ill treatment of one woman of lofty spirit (Lucretia,) that overthrew the monarchy, established the Republic, and planted the seeds of that love of liberty which, for so many ages, influenced the movements of that extraordinary people, and which, to this day, is felt throughout every region of the civilized world.

It was a mere trifle that prevented Oliver Cromwell and several others who afterwards distinguished themselves as his associates, from emigrating to the colonies of the New World some time before the first steps were taken in that revolution which cost the monarch of England his head, expatriated his family, and elevated Cromwell to the seat of highest authority in the nation. Cromwell and his friends had engaged their passage to America, and were only awaiting the signal to embark, when, by some caprice of the court, they were prohibited from leaving the country. Had any accident occurred to delay the order of the court, until after they should have commenced their voyage to the American colonies, who can tell how different might have proved the course of events, and how different might have been the aspect of affairs over all Europe at the present hour. It is far from improbable that the destiny of the English nation and of Europe hung upon that single event, the arrival or non-arrival of the court-courier, before the change of wind to favor Cromwell's embarkation. The life of a monarch, and the destinies of a proud nation, hung upon the speed of a horse

Another striking illustration of the influence of little things, is found in the history of the negro race. The celebrated Bartholomew de las Casas, a Spanish prelate who accompanied Columbus in his second voyage to Hispaniola, and on the conquest of Cuba settled there, moved by compassion for the suffering of the native Indians, who were worked as slaves in the mines by the Spaniards, conceived the idea of sparing this feeble race that were fast passing away, by substituting negroes, a much more athletic race, and that were to be obtained from the Portuguese settlements on the coast of Africa. After petitioning to the Spanish government successively under Ferdinand, the regent Cardinal Ximenes, and then Charles V., he succeeded. In 1503 a few negro slaves had been sent into St. Domingo, and afterwards Ferdinand allowed the importation of large numbers. The labor of one negro was found to equal that of four Indians. Ximenes discouraged the traffic: Charles V. revived it, and conferred the privilege as a monopoly, on a Flemish favorite. In 1518 the right was sold to some Genoese merchants, who reduced the traffic to a regular system. The French obtained it next, and retained it till it had yielded them a revenue of two hundred and four millions of dollars. In 1713 the English secured it for thirty years. For the last four of these years, Spain purchased the English right for five hundred thousand dollars.

Thus, through the mistaken benevolence of a Spanish priest, a measure was set on foot, which the cupidity of Christian Europe turned into a system of fearful cruelty, a system, by the operation of which the commerce of the world, and the aspect of all civilized society has been affected. A system, which seems likely, in God's overruling Providence, to convulse one of the mightiest nations on

the globe; and eventually to return light and peace, civilization and Christianity on the eighty millions of African tribes. How great a matter a little fire kindleth.

Another instance. In August, 1799, a French artillery officer, named Bouchard, when digging near Rosetta, in Egypt, for the foundation of a military work, came upon a huge block of basalt, marked with various strange characters, and hieroglyphics. These characters were found to exhibit three inscriptions, in three differen' chacters, one of which proved to be the Greek. This was the celebrated Rosetta stone now in the British museum, which has been the subject of diligent investigation by learned antiquarians of every nation in Europe; and this stone, under the ingenious labors of Young, and Champollion, yielded, by a comparison of the characters found in the different inscriptions, a key to unlock the treasures of ancient wisdom, shut up for so many centuries, under the hieroglyphics of Egypt.

The discovery of a small obelisk on the isle of Philoe, in the Nile, in 1816, by Caillaud, the French traveler, on which was a Greek inscription containing the names of Ptolemy and Cleopatra, greatly aided Champollion in unraveling the mystery. Thus, as the result of the seemingly trivial event of finding an old broken stone at Rosetta, and a little obelisk, years afterwards, at Philoe, the industry of antiquarians was set to work, and that industry has been crowned with astonishing success.

The inscriptions found on the decaying monuments, and on the frail papyri of Egypt, are now quite intelligible; the ancient records of Egyptian dynasties are rapidly opening to the inspection of all men. Thence, the infidel is drawing largely his materials for renewed assault on the records of revelation; and the Christian is patiently awaiting the issue of a finished discovery among these old monuments, perfectly confident that the TRUTH of human records, once fully made out, will fall naturally and inevitably into the train of the handmaids and supporters of revelation.

Little did the French artillery officer dream, when the men working under his direction, first heaved up that dark and mutilated block near Rosetta-that around that old stone, and over its mutilated inscriptions, the friends and enemies of the ancient Jewish Scriptures would rally for a long and arduous, and possibly a final conflict, as to the truth of revealed religion. How great a matter a little fire kindleth.

And often it is seen that some unlooked for, and seemingly trivial event baffles the foresight of men, frustrates their plans, and defeats their most important enterprises. A sudden tempest will sometimes scatter and destroy a numerous and well-appointed fleet. The fate of a battle on which are hanging the destinies of empires, will sometimes be decided by a thick mist, a driving storm, or by a random shot which cuts down an experienced leader, and spreads a resistless panic through his whole army.

In private life, also, results of great magnitude flow from causes apparently insignificant. The flight of a bird, the fall of an acorn from the tree, the course taken by a flash of lightning, or the singing of a tea-kettle over the fire, may give birth to a train of thought

in the mind of some quiet observer, that shall lead to conclusions little anticipated, elicit new discoveries in science, and open the way for improvements in art, of the first importance to commerce, and to the practical business of life, and diffuse incalculable benefits among millions of our race.

Again, the accidental meeting of two entire strangers, may lead to an acquaintanceship that shall ripen into friendship strong and enduring-throw an entirely new aspect over the emotio;, the sentiments, the pursuits, and the whole cl » for Loh, ar á send its influence, healthful and cheering, or the reverse, over the whole life, aye, and over the immortal interests of both-possibly even of others with them. Many a well-disposed youth has been led by the influence of a cherished companion, into scenes of gaiety and pleasure, of dissipation and vice. His mind has been poisoned, his principles perverted, his character degraded. While others, by the kind counsel, the cheering influence, and the gentle force of consistent example in a faithful friend, have been strengthened in virtue, habituated to what is good and honorable, and humbled even to seek to obtain the pearl of great price. "He that walketh with the wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." And it is often the merest accident, apparently, which determines whether a youth shall be the companion of wise men, or of fools, whether he shall be honorable and good, or base and worthless, whether he shall be saved or lost forever.

Further illustration of this truth is found 5th. In the production of the present moral aspect of mankind.

The moral characteristics of men are certainly very corrupt. An inspired writer has taught us, "the heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," and it is certainly true. There is universally prevailing in the world a deep depravity filling the earth with crimes and with sorrow. And yet it was not always thus. The voice of even pagan tradition, and the express testimony of holy writ, both assure us, that as he came originally from the hands of his Maker, man was good and pure. How, then was this great change brought about? Revelation teaches, that by one man's disobedience sin entered into the world, and death by sin. It was, then, by the transgression of the one first parent of our race, that the whole multitude of his descendants were made sinners. Trivial as that act may seem, it was the reaching forth of the hand by our first progenitor to pluck and eat the forbidden fruit, which opened the floodgates of evil to inundate a world for many long and successive ages in sin, and sorrow, and suffering. By that one act, our first father Adam degraded his nature, perverted his capa cities, and then he transmitted to his posterity, through all their countless generations, a nature corrupt and prone to evil. And to this day, in every corner of our globe, the fruits of that one sin abound. Everywhere, men prove the reality of their descent from the fallen Adam, by evincing, that like him, "they love darkness. rather than light, because their deeds are evil." Sin everywhere prevails, and suffering, and sorrow, and death follow in its train. Yea, the very elements by their disorder and wild commotion, and by the fearful desolations they oft occasion, seem to proclaim that

the physical arrangements in this world are adapted to suit the circumstances of a race frowned on of heaven, for its moral turpitude; all, all telling of the fearful power of that one little cause

-"Man's first disobedience, and the fruit

Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
Brought death into the world and all her woe."

But 6th. By another cause, equally unobtrusive and seemingly inadequate, results as great, as vast, as wide-spread, as enduring and as glorious as those flowing from the one last adverted to are disastrous, have been brought about-for,

If by the disobedience of one the many were made sinners, it is also true that, by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

After the world had, for many long ages, been lying in darkness and in guilt, the shades of moral pollution deepening on every side, there did appear, at length, one man upon earth, whose life was faultless-whose wisdom was matchless-his purity unimpeachable, and whose sufferings, too, notwithstanding his excellence, were rare, unexampled, and to him fatal! Jesus of Nazareth, a dweller in Galilee, and for years traversing the hills and valleys of Judea, visiting its cities, and villages, and places of public resort, is distinguished not only as a teacher of the ignorant, a benefactor to the afflicted, and a pattern of every virtue, but he is presented to us in the amazing relation of the Redeemer of men-the Saviour of the world. In the doings of that one distinguished person, the majesty of heaven, the honor of God's government, and the safety of a world perishing in guilt, are all deeply involved. It is by the spotless excellency of this one person that the wisdom and the authority of the divine law broken by man, are vindicated! It is . through his bitter sufferings that the justice of God maintained its honor, while mercy steps forth to rescue the guilty. It is through HIS DEATH that life is spread to the perishing. However inadequate may, at first view, appear the means employed, it is nevertheless true, and it accords to the general mode of procedure under the divine government. On the movements of the one man, Jesus Christ, were suspended the destinies of a world. Had he failed in any one point, the darkness of irremediable condemnation had settled on our entire race.

As it is, by his spotless excellence we have not only a bright pattern presented for our imitation in life, but through his blood pardon. is by us attainable-through his death eternal life is secured; so that, the doings of this one individual have brought life and immortality to light, and have completely changed the prospects of the whole human race for all coming ages. The work is accomplished: it is fully completed; not a shadow of a doubi can rest upon the question; redemption has been achieved for man by Jesus Christ; pardon and a title to eternal joys in heaven are offered to men however sinful. The boon is freely offered. It has been gained by thousands, and by tens of thousands. Multitudes now on earth are rejoicing in the firm conviction that this boon is theirs even now—

that after a few more years here spent in patient efforts to grow in goodness, they will enter the climes of perfect purity and perfect peace, to dwell there forever. Multitudes now in heaven are surrounding the eternal throne in "the conscious possession of a renovated nature, purified affections, and bliss that is boundless and that shall be eternal !" Aye! in heaven itself, the songs of triumphant thanksgiving to God and the Lamb, (we can almost hear those rapturous sounds as we sit wrapt in devout meditation !) ascribe this amazing result to the doings of Jesus on earth. "Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood; be glory, dominion, and honor forever!"

But once more, 7th. The means still employed to elevate the moral condition of men are equally characteristic !

It may seem a very small matter that a mother, surrounded by her little ones, watches over them in their sports, heals their little differences, soothes their jealousies, corrects their mistakes, and encourages them with judicious care, to check their tempers, to love the truth, to be kind to one another, to forbear vengeance, and to forgive injuries, imagined or real. Yet small as the matter may appear, this is the process, simple and hidden from the world's view though it be, by which the foundation of all that is noble in principle, dignified in character, and beneficial in conduct, is laid. And to the neglect of this quiet, early discipline, may be traced the instances of gross vice and wild disorder and selfishness, that now and then startle us in the current of life, and spread a poisonous influence far and wide.

It is by imparting knowledge, fortifying the principles and awakening to healthful action the conscience of man, individually, that preparation must be made for the production of right conduct, of great actions, and of characters, and of deeds that shall bless mankind!

So also, in the great enterprise of staying the ravages of sin in society, and recovering a world back to its allegiance to God!

No great array of startling means is employed for this purpose -no lightnings break from heaven, shivering the cover that hides from view the pit of despair-no thunders roll on high, proclaiming the terrors of God's wrath against the wicked-no powerful monarchs are commissioned to treat with men in the name of heaven; no! but the one single instrumentality selected is that of preaching the gospel-of telling men in the plainest manzer, and in simple terms, the story of redeeming love, and inviting them to turn to God and live!

The world is arrayed on one side with its pomp, its power, its wealth, its pleasures-with its wisdom, its learning, its fascinating delusions. On the other side, stands the messenger of salvation, pointing to the declarations of eternal truth; pointing to the offer of pardon through the blood of Jesus, and beseeching men to be reconciled to God-to turn from their follies and their sins, and live! The powerful may look down with contempt, the wise may turn away, the gay may dance by unheeding, and the vicious may scoff! but this simple means has been found amply sufficient !