minds of children, than any precepts or penalties. If parents neglect to govern their own tongues, children will neglect to govern theirs. If parents neglect to govern their own tempers, children will neglect to govern theirs. If parents neglect to treat their superiors, inferiors, and equals, with proper respect, children will follow their ill example. If parents disregard and violate the Sabbath, children will do the same. If parents are prayerless, so will the children be. If parents are worldly-minded, children will imbibe the same spirit. If parents trample on the laws of the land, children will be unwholesome members of society. If parents are given to vanity, children will become still more vain in their feelings and appearance. In short, children will be more influenced by the example of their parents, than by all their instructions and restraints. It is the want of good example, more than any thing else, which so often defeats parental instructions. If parents, therefore, would enforce their good instructions, by their good examples, they would happily succeed in the education of their chil dren, and train them up in the way in which they should go, and from which they would never depart. 2. From the great influence of example, we learn why executive officers so often fail in the discharge of their trusts. There is a great and visible neglect of putting into execution the laws of the land. It is true, the laws respecting property are strictly executed; but the laws against vice are allowed to sleep in silence. Executive officers have the same authority, and are bound by the same solemn obligation, to execute the laws against immorality, as those against fraud and injustice. Why then do they neglect to execute the former rather than the latter? The cause is obvious. The voice of example commands them to defend men's lives and properties; but the same formidable voice forbids them to suppress their fashionable vices. But besides the general example in favor of vice, there is the particular example of negligent officers, which those who wish to execute the laws are afraid to resist. And hence they cast the blame of their own negligence upon the negligence of others. They say, it is impossible for a few to suppress the prevalence of vice, when the most, in number and influence, neglect the duties of their office. The truth of this assertion cannot be denied. For judges, justices, sheriffs, constables, and tithingmen, are become extremely negligent in the discharge of their respective trusts. They not only neglect to execute, but personally violate the laws of the land. And their own example, as well as the example of the people, forbids them to execute those laws, which condemn their own evil conduct. This general example of rulers and of people is the greatest obstacle, in the way of executing the laws against open immoralities, and is the only excuse which executive officers can plead for the neglect of their duty. But will God, whose ministers they are, allow the validity of their excuse? Will that which increases, lessen their obligations to fidelity? Will the crying vices of the times, stifle the accusing voice of conscience? Will their being highly esteemed among men, prevent their being an abomination in the sight of God? Or will the dreadful fruits of their negligence, hereafter yield them the least consolation? If executive officers cannot render a better reason for their negligence, than the force of bad example, they may be assured, that their negligence will be bitter in the latter end; and their elevation in this life, will terminate in shame and contempt in the life to come. Be wise, ye judges and rulers, and fulfil your sacred trusts, or ye will finally fall under the condemnation and wrath of the Judge of all the earth. 3. We learn from the great influence of example, why it is so difficult for any not to deviate from the path of virtue. Example leads many great, and good, and strong men astray. Those who are sober, virtuous, and even pious, are often overcome by the force of example, to say and do things, which they resolve not to say and do, in their calm and retired hours. Joseph did not allow himself in profaneness, yet it seems the example of courtiers sometimes led him to use profane oaths. Solomon was a wise and good man, but example led him astray. The patriarchs and many of the kings of Israel were good men, but example betrayed them into polygamy. The common people in Israel were generally inclined to obey the commands of God externally, but the example of their kings, and of neighboring nations, often seduced them to the worship of idols. It was example, which led many of the common people to despise and reject the Savior. "Have any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" was the question they asked; and the answer determined their conduct, because they were unable to resist the force of example. Why do so many sober, and even pious mern, indulge themselves in vain and unprofitable conversation on the Sabbath? Is it not chiefly owing to the example of the company into which they unhappily fall? Why do so many temperate men, on public days, sit and drink with the intemperate? Is it not to be imputed to the alluring force of example? Or why do Christians in general so often symbolize with the world? Is it not because the strength of example surpasses the strength of their virtue? The propensity to follow bad examples, Occa. 47 is the greatest weakness, that the strongest and best of men find about them. Were it not for this weakness, there would be many more shining characters in the world in general, and in this place in particular. 4. We learn from the great influence of example, the importance of avoiding bad company. It is the example of the vicious, which renders their company dangerous. Those who mean to conduct well themselves, might safely frequent the worst of company, if they only had strength of virtue to resist the power of example. But none have this strength of virtue, and therefore none can safely frequent the company of the vicious. Example has a most secret and insinuating influence. Milton ingeniously conjectures that Satan employed this artful method to seduce our first parents. It is certain, however, that their posterity, are extremely subject to the secret and delusive power of example. A looseness of thought, a looseness of speech, a looseness of conduct, in others, very insensibly warps our sentiments and corrupts our hearts. We are always apt to imagine, that we may safely conform to our company, with a little reserve or some small restrictions. When we observe others say and do certain things, without any apprehension of guilt, we are ready to ask, Why is it wrong, or why is it improper, for us to say and do the same? So the child argues so the youth and even so the man of gray hairs. Such thoughts of foolishness are sin. And there is no way to avoid them, but to avoid bad company. 5. We learn from the great influence of example, that no man can live in the world, without doing either good or hurt to others, as well as to himself. Many vicious persons neither lie nor cheat, nor steal, nor rob, and therefore consule themselves with the thought, that they are harmless members of society, and injure nobody but themselves. This, however, is a great mistake. No man lives unobserved, and no man's example is without some effect. Every man's general conduct fixes his general character; and his general character has either a good or bad influence upon all around him. Indeed, every man means to set an example, and he never fails of doing it. Some mean to set good examples. Some mean to set bad examples. And some mean to set the example of mere negative virtue, by barely shunning infamous vice. But there are, in reality, no negative examples. They are all either good, or evil, and have either a good or evil effect on somebody or other. Every man, therefore, whilst he lives in the world, has some influence in making it either better or worse, by his own example. And hence every man does either good or evil to others, as well as to himself. 6. From the great influence of example, we learn the great account which great men will have to give for the use of it. The example of the great has the greatest influence. And this influence they ought to improve for the glory of God, and the benefit of the world. The high, the rich, the learned, and the aged, are eminently men of influence. These men, in every society, nation, and kingdom, govern the mass of the people, more by the power of example, than by any other power. Joshua and the Elders were the men of influence among the Israelites. And accordingly we are told, that "Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua." The king very often forms the court, and the court the rest of the nation. King Charles II. spread coruption through all orders, ranks and classes of the kingdom. The force of example is the same in |