VII. You may make your influence felt in bringing people within the sound of the gospel. There are multitudes in this land of gospel light who live like the heathen.  They do not appreciate the privileges which they might enjoy.  They live in the habitual neglect of public worship, and the means of grace.  This is especially the case with the poor in large towns.  Poverty depresses their spirits, and they seem to feel that “no man cares for their souls.”  It is impossible to conjecture how much good one devoted female may do, by gathering these people into places of worship.  A lady can much more readily gain access to such families than a gentleman; and, by a pleasing address, and an humble and affectionate demeanor, she may secure their confidence and persuade them to attend public worship.  In this way she may be the means of saving their souls.

VIII.  Lastly. You may make your influence directly felt by the impenitent. That it is the duty of Christians to warn impenitent sinners of their danger, and to point them to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” will appear from several considerations:—­

1.  The Apostle Peter says, “Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps.”  Let us, therefore, inquire what was his example, with reference to the subject under consideration?  The spirit of Christ, in the great work of redemption, manifests itself in COMPASSION FOR SINNERS, and ZEAL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.  “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  And in the near prospect of his agonies, his prayer was, “Father, glorify thy name.”  It was that mercy might be extended to the guilty, consistently with the honor of God, that he laid down his life.  Behold him, deeply feeling the dishonor done to God by ungrateful and rebellious men, constantly reproving sin, weeping over the impenitence and hardness of heart of his country-men, and even exerting his power to drive out those who were profaning the temple.  And he says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  To follow Christ is to imitate his example.  Hence, unless we follow Christ, in his general spirit, we have no right to be called after his name.  And this we must do to the extent of our ability, and at the expense of any personal sacrifice, not excepting, if need be, even our own lives.  This is the true spirit of the gospel; and if it were carried out in the life of every professor of the religion of Jesus, the millennial glory would soon appear.

2. We are required to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. When we love a friend we are careful of his honor.  If we hear him defamed, or lightly spoken of, or see him ill-treated, it gives us pain.  We take part with him, and vindicate his character.  But we see God dishonored, and his goodness abused, continually.  Multitudes of impenitent sinners around us habitually cast off his authority, and refuse to honor him as the moral governor of the universe.  What can we do more for his honor and glory than to reclaim these rebellious subjects of his government, and bring them back to loyalty and obedience?