Again, God restrains and withholds men from
sin through the influence of social life. Unless
very depraved, men are not regardless of the opin-
ion of the community in which they live. Their
character, their credit, their business and standing
in the community are at stake, and this naturally
will exert some restraining influence. This influ-
ence will be greater or less in proportion to the
moral and religious tone of the society in which we
live. Society is to a great extent guilty before God
for the iniquity that exists. If sin is winked at, ii
persons guilty of improprieties and wickedness are
flattered and welcome and their crimes palliated,
they are held up and encouraged in sin.
Now, society was ordained and ihistituted by
God, for mutual good — " He setteth the solitary in
families.^' Psa. Ixviii. 6. If it were not for the re-
straints of social life, many would have torn loose
from all restraints and run the founds of folly and
vice.
