CHAPTER X.

THE inspired writer, when addressing the Hebrews, enjoins upon them the duty of mutual exhortation, and enforces its performance in view of the hardening and deceptive influence of sin. "Exhort one another daily, while it is called day, lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” If this scriptural counsel was faithfully followed by all the members of the Christian church, many professors of religion would be preserved from backsliding from God, and dishonouring his holy name; and sinners, who are pressing their way to ruin, would be brought to repentance. Every devoted minister of Jesus ardently desires his people to be thus engaged; and just in proportion to their diligence in fulfilling this important, though neglected duty, does he expect to see them making advances in piety, and becoming efficient instruments in building up the cause of the Redeemer.

Mr. Jay, speaking of the duties Christians owe to their fellow-members, says:

"They are all comprehended in love; and you are required to 'love one another out of a pure heart fervently;' to love as brethren.' Has a fellow-Christian erred? Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.' Has he been overtaken in a fault? Ye that are spiritual, are to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourselves lest you also be tempted.' Is he declin

ing in zeal, and negligent in duty? You are to consider him, to provoke him to love and to good works.' Is he oppressed? You are to bear his 'burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' Is he in want? You are to give him such things as are needful. Now,' says the Apostle, we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.'

Again:

"Towards this every member should aim and labour to contribute, by his prayers, his conversation, his example, his temper, his influence. And a church thus flourishing; increasing with all the increase of God, in number, and peace, and sanctity, and every moral excellency, is the noblest sight on earth; and full of attraction, and impression; and 'a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men ;' it looks forth as the morning, clear as the moon, bright as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners."

The same writer, when urging Christians to make vigorous exertions for the salvation of the impenitent, remarks:

"We hope there is no Cain here, who in answer to all this is ready to say, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' From this obligation to seek the salvation of others, none are exempted, But if some are more peculiarly bound than others, they are those who have been saved from a long and awful course of vice themselves. You ought to feel, above others, a claim of gratitude, and of justice. You have had much forgiven, and you should love much. You have been a curse to many; you ought now to be a blessing. Oh! it seems enough to make you shed tears of blood to think that there are some now in hell who ascribe their destruction to

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you; while others are walking the downward road, urged on and encouraged by your former errors and crimes and influence. Some of these are placed beyond your reach. Others are yet accessible. O! repair to them immediately. They know your former condition; describe to them your present; and acquaint them with the peace and pleasure which have resulted from your conversion. Who can tell what an affectionate and earnest testimony, derived from experience, and accompanied with a change too obvious to be denied, may accomplish?

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“But ' them that honour me,' says God, 'I will honour.' Let all your attempts therefore be preceded, and attended, and followed by prayer. This will prepare you for your work; this will encourage you in it. This will preserve you from growing weary in well-doing. This will teach you not to consider any of your fellow-creatures as abandoned; this will keep you from giving over the use of means to reclaim them. Nothing is too hard for the Lord; and prayer brings him into the scene; we are workers together with God; 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.'

For what is

For what is your life?

"And need I say, 'whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with your might ;' do it immediately? While you delay, they may be gone, and their condition determined for ever. While you linger, you may be gone, and every possibility of usefulness be shut out. It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.' Yet all your opportunities of doing good are limited to this short and equally uncertain duration. In consequence of this, what an inestimable value attaches to the present hour. Awake, my fellow Christians, and redeem the time. Remember, earth has one privilege above heaven. It is the privilege of BENEFICENCE. The privilege of passing by a transgression, of relieving the distressed, of

spreading the Scriptures, of evangelizing the heathens, of instructing the ignorant, of reclaiming the vicious, of seeking and saving them that are lost. They who are now in joy and felicity would be ready, were it the will of God, to descend from their glory, and re-enter the body, and traverse the vale of tears again, to be able to do, for a number of years, what at present lies within the reach of every one of you. Is this incredible? They are now perfect in knowledge; and see that it is not the will of our Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.' Their benevolence is now perfect; they dwell in love, and God dwelleth in them. They are filled with the Spirit of Him who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.""

Having entertained views, with regard to Christian zeal and activity, similar to those just quoted from this eloquent writer, Mr. Patterson urged upon his people, on all occasions, the necessity of doing something to promote the holiness of the church, and the salvation of the world.

About this period, however, the pastor believed it to be needful to engage them in some systematic and efficient measures for the attainment of this desirable object; consequently, a meeting of the church members was called for consultation in reference to this subject. The result of the meeting will be learned from the following extract from his diary:

"November 24th, 1830.-Last night had a church meeting, and one of the fullest and best we have had for a long time. We renewed our covenant to do more faithfully the following things:

"1. To watch over one another as brethren, and if any should be negligent in attending the house or ordinances of God, that we would visit them, and endeavour to reclaim the backsliders.

"2. That we would cultivate a spirit of brotherly love, and settle immediately every dispute on Christian principles, that our prayers may not be hindered.

"3. Endeavour to do more for the conversion of sinners, by going into the lanes and alleys, and holding prayer meetings in the evening where a suitable room can be obtained.

"4. That those of us who have the means, would buy and have always by us two copies of Doddridge's Rise and Progress, &c., or Baxter's Call, or Saints' Rest, or Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted, and loan or sell them to persons with the view of wakening them up to the concerns of their souls.

"5. To visit the careless, and try to get them out to the house of God."

The subject of this memoir was in the habit of keeping at hand a number of religious books of a practical nature, for the purpose of distribution among his parishioners; these he loaned, or sold at cost, to those whom he visited in the performance of his pastoral duties. He supposed that, in most cases, this course would be more likely to secure for them a perusal, than if they were given gratuitously; and, also, that an opportunity would be thus afforded for conversation on the topics of which the books treated, which he seldom failed to embrace. Long before the date just referred to, he availed himself of this method of doing good, and urged his people to adopt a similar plan; and in this way, hundreds of valuable works have been put in circulation, which, doubtless, have been the means of accomplishing a great amount of good. For many years he acted on the plan which the American Tract Society has, for some time past, been carrying forward, in the distribution of the bound volumes, with so much efficiency, and with the most happy results. Though, at times, his schemes of usefulness were characterized as the offspring of a luxuriant imagination; yet, in most cases, his plans were very judicious, and evinced a mature acquaintance with human nature. He