We are to do good by instruction. This is a duty incumbent not only on parents toward their children and on ministers toward their people, but also on Christians toward one another. The lips of the righteous feed many." If Christians, laying apart all vain disputation, would charitably converse together on the important subjects of religion, they might greatly assist one another, and much advance the common interests of truth and holiness.

There may be occasions for brotherly reproof. It is a command in the law of Moses, "Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy brother, and not suffer sin upon him." There is a similar command in the gospel of Christ, "If thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him; and if he repent forgive him.”—. We are to watch over one another, not with jealousy and hatred, but with candor and love-not to espy faults where there are none, or to publish faults when we find them; but to give seasonable counsel and reproof, when there is occasion, and thus to assist each other's repentance and improvement.

"Exhort one another daily," says the Apostle, "lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Consider one another to provoke unto love and good works." Christians may usefully communicate to each other their experiences in the religious life. We are not, indeed, to make the experience of others a standard by which to judge our spiritual state; or our experience a standard, by which to judge theirs. This would be to substitute human experience in the place of divine truth. Nor ought we to disclose our secret exercises for the sake of gaining applause, like the pharisees, who prayed in the corners of the streets to be seen of men. ought we to demand of others an account of their secret exercises, for the sake of judging their hearts; for we are to judge nothing before the time. But

Nor

then there are many cases, in which Christians may lay before others their fears, perplexities and temptations, in order to obtain counsel and consolation; and in such cases Christians, who have experienced similar trials, may greatly strengthen their brethren. This friendly intercourse will awaken intercession, enliven affection, and warm religious zeal. It will improve spiritual knowledge, recal the remembrance of things already known, confirm good resolutions, rouse into action the slumbering principles of piety, counteract the influence of worldly objects, and relieve the mind from the distractions of earthly cares. "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel." 5. We are to do good by example.

"Let

It is the command of the Savior, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." The Apostles inculcate the same precept. not your good be evil spoken of-walk in wisdom toward them who are without-provide things honest in the sight of all men-shew out of a good conver. sation your works with meekness of wisdom."

Virtuous example is attended with peculiar advantages. It gives force to our instructions and reproofs; supports the credit of our Christian profession; exhibits religion in real life, and shews it to be not merely a speculative, but rather a practical scheme. This displays the beauty and usefulness of religion before the eyes of men, and puts to silence the ignorance of the foolish and the objections of the captious. This instructs the weak and simple in an easy and familiar manner, adapted to their capacity. However difficult it may be for the young to learn the sublime doctrines of the gospel by their own study, or from the instructions of others, they will find no difficulty in understanding what are its prac

tical duties, when they see them exhibited in the daily walk of professing Christians. And whatever doubts some may pretend concerning the evidences of the gospel, yet if they should behold Christians in general living agreeably to its precepts, and exercising that piety, benevolence, humility, peaceableness, contentment of mind and sobriety of manners, which it inculcates, they would have no evil thing to say of it, but be constrained to confess, that it is excellent in itself, and happy in its tendency.

That our example may do good, it must be steady and uniform, not fluctuating and inconstant-it must embrace the whole compass of practical religion, not confine itself to particular duties—it must regard things great and essential, not merely circumstances and forms-it must be familiar without meanness cheerful without levity-strict without austerityopen without ostentation, and condescending without sinful compliance. And especially it should appear to proceed from the conviction and disposition of the heart, not to be assumed and affected merely

to serve a turn.

By such an example much good will be done. And in this way every man, who loves and feels religion in his heart, may do good daily. If he has not knowledge to instruct others in religion, yet he may shew what it is by his practice. If he dares not reprove the wicked, or exhort the careless-if he has not learning or capacity to confute gainsayers, or to silence cavillers, yet he may safely set an example of religion before all whom he sees, and leave them to judge, whether it is worthy of their choice. He may practically say to them, "If this religion seems evil to you, then find a better; as for myself, this have I chosen, and in this will I abide."

6. We may all, if we have hearts to pray, de good by our prayers.

As God has placed us in a mutual connexion, so he requires us to serve one another in works of charity. Intercession is one exercise of that charity, which we owe to mankind; and there is the same reason to believe, that God will make our intercessions, as that he will make our instructions, or reproof, or alms, or any other work of charity, beneficial to our fellow men. It is his invisible influence, which gives efficacy and success to these, as well as to our prayers.

What a cheap and easy way we have to do good? We want nothing, but faith in God and benevolence to men, to do more good than we can conceive.

You perhaps excuse yourselves from works of liberality, because you have little property, or from works of instruction, because you have little ability: But you cannot, on any such ground, excuse yourselves from prayer. For this exercise of charity you have the same ability as if you were ever so rich, or ever so learned. The success of prayer depends not at all on your worldly possessions or your mental talents and acquirements, but wholly on the reasonableness of the things, which you ask, and the sincerity of your heart in asking them. Were your worldly abilities ever so large, your alms could extend to but few; but be your abilities ever so small, the benefits of your prayers may extend to thousands, to a whole nation, to the world, to distant generations. Were your powers of mind and your knowledge of arts ever so great, yet there are many things needful for those around you, which your power wisdom cannot effect. But the power, wisdom and goodness of God are infinite. And prayer to such a Being may procure blessings richer and greater than you ask or think.

and

You often see distressing cases, in which you say, You wish you could afford relief. Let these cases

awaken your prayers to him, who can afford relief. You see the afflicted mourning the loss of near friends, and you wish you could comfort them. Go, commend their case to God: He can impart comforts which they will feel. If you should speak to them, perhaps you will speak only to the ear. God can speak to the heart. If you really pity them, give them a share in your intercessions. This you can give them, if you have nothing else to give.

You may, now and then, see an afflicted person, cast among strangers, and far removed from the friends in whom he used to trust. You think, that, if his friends were about him, he would find it a consoling circumstance. You cannot place him among his former friends, but you can act the part of friends; you can implore for him the presence of God's grace, which will refresh him more than the sympathy of a thousand mortals.

You sometimes see careless sinners running headlong toward destruction. You wish to arrest their attention and restrain their progress. What can be done? Some of them you have warned in vain ; some are so placed, that you cannot address them on the subject of their danger; or perhaps you seem incompetent to an office of this kind. There is one thing, however, which you may do under any circumstances. You may pray, that God would send them suitable monitors, would awaken their stupid hearts, would bring them to seasonable repentance, and save their souls from death. And you know not, but your prayers will avail much.

You often hear of some in poverty and adversity, who are beyond the reach of your charitable hand. But these are not beyond the reach of your benevolent prayers. Go, commend them to the care of that wonderful Being, whose immensity embraces them, as well as you, who is alike present in all