y-like. The evening's entertainment began, and
you sat quite at ease, for an hour and a half, while many were standing
in the aisles. Sir, there was not even the gentleman in form here; much
less the gentleman from naturally kind feelings. As to Christian
principle, we will not take that into account. Do you remember what you
said as you moved through the aisles to the door?

"No."

A friend remarked that he had been obliged to stand all the evening,
and you replied:

"We had it comfortable enough. I always manage that, in public places."

He didn't understand all you meant; but, there is One who did.

How was it in the same place only a few nights previously? You went
there alone, and happened to be late. The house was well filled in the
upper portion, but thinly occupied below the centre. Now you are bound
to have the best place, under all circumstances, if it can be obtained.
But all the best seats were well filled; and to crowd more into them,
would be to diminish the comfort of all. No matter. You saw a little
space in one of the desirable seats, and into it you passed, against
the remonstrance of looks, and even half uttered objections. A lady by
your side, not in good health, was so crowded in consequence, and made
so uncomfortable, that she could not listen with any satisfaction to
the eloquent lecture she had come to hear.

We need say no more about your gentlemanly conduct in public places.
Enough has been suggested to give you our full meaning.

Shall we go on? Do you call for other incidents in proof of our
assumption? Shall we follow you into other walks of life?

"No."

Very well. And, now, to press the matter home: Do you, in the sight of
that precept we have quoted, justify such conduct in a man who takes
the name of Christian? It was not gentlemanly, in any right sense of
the word; and not being so, can it be Christian?

"Perhaps not."

Assuredly not. And you may depend upon it, sir, that your profession,
and faith, and church-going, and ordinance-observing, will not stand
you in that day when the book of your life is opened in the presence of
God. If there has been no genuine love of the neighbor--no
self-abnegation--no self-denial for the good of others, all the rest
will go for nothing, and you will pass over to abide forever with
spirits of a like quality with your own.

Who made us your judge? We judge no man! But only point to the law of
Christian life as given by God himself. If yo