"That such improvements of character often _have_ occurred, and are often taking place now, cannot be denied by any philosophic observer of human nature: to disregard them, or to neglect an investigation of their use, is to neglect one of the most interesting classes of facts observable amongst mankind. Who has not either heard of or witnessed the most extraordinary changes of conduct, produced through the _apparent_ influence (to say the least) of religious motives? I say nothing here of the _three thousand_ converted in one day at the feast of Pentecost--of the conversion of St. Paul and others mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles--because those are usually ascribed to the miraculous and _extraordinary_ influences of the Holy Spirit in the apostolic times. But I may call your attention ttomatters of more recent occurrence. You have witnessed instances of men running eagerly the career of folly and dissipation, who have been suddenly arrested, and changed from 'lovers of pleasure' to 'lovers of God.' You have known others who have devoted themselves early to the military profession, who literally knew _no_ fear, who have spent their lives in the pursuit of glory, who have approached the verge of life full of scars and full of honours, still panting after 'glory, honour, immortality,' but thinking nothing of 'eternal life;' till, touched by an irresistible hand, they have been transformed from good soldiers to 'good soldiers of Jesus Christ,' have buckled on 'the armour of God,' 'fought the good fight of faith,' and following 'the Captain of their salvation,' have obtained 'the victory,' and been rewarded with _unfading_ laurels. Others again, you have known, who have been strong and _high-minded_, professing never to be subdued but by the force of argument, and dexterously evading an argument when it _was_ forcible, if it were calculated to expose the sophistry of 'free-thinking,' (as it is called,) or to exhibit the reasonableness and advantages of being pious; you have seen them increase in the dexterity of unbelief, and in callousness to _moral_ impression, year after year, 'Gleaning the blunted shafts that have recoil'd, Aiming them at the shield of truth again;' and when a band of them has gone to church for the purpose of quizzing, or of staring out of countenance some preacher of rather more than usual energy and zeal, have known one of this band pierced by 'a dart from the archer,' convinced that religion is 'the one thing needful,' and though he came 'to scoff, remaining to pray.'" [47]