456 THE PRAYING CHRISTIAN But what fair opportunities have cer- tain of the great officers of the law, especially in their charges, of giving to them a solemnity the most impressive, by adverting more frequently to the awful truths of Christianity ! Even if such awakening appeals to the con- science should fail of their effect on the unhappy convicts to whom they are ad- dressed, they may be of incalculable benefit to some of the numerous persons present. A counsel, a caution, a reproof; an exhortation, all on pure Christian principles, and thus coming from a pro- fession to which it appears not imme- diately to belong, may, especially from not being expected, produce conse- quences the most salutary. The terribly affecting circumstances of the moment, the appalling scene so soon to follow, must give an unspeakable weight to the most touching admonition. He who is judging the condemned violator of Divine and human laws, stands as a kind of representative of the future judge of
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