In addition to the general obligation of social intercourse among Christians, there are some particular duties which they owe to one another.  They are to exercise mutual forbearance and tenderness towards each other’s faults, and, at the same time, to watch over and admonish one another.  Whenever you see a brother or a sister out of the way, it is your duty, with meekness, tenderly and kindly to administer reproof.  “If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.”  “With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.”  In all cases, where one is to be selected for the performance of a particular duty, which may seem to confer honor, prefer others to yourself.  “In honor preferring one another.”  “In lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves.”  “Yea, all of you, be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility.”  “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”  Yet, do not carry this principle so far as to refuse to act where duty calls.  A disposition to be backward in such matters is often a serious hindrance to benevolent effort.  Be always ready to engage in any enterprise for doing good; but prefer the office which requires the most labor with the least honor.  Christians ought also to take delight in assisting each other; and to feel personally interested in each other’s welfare.  In short, the feeling that pervades the church should be preeminently a FAMILY FEELING.

3. There are also some special duties growing out of your relations to general society. Be ever ready to interchange kind offices with every one who maintains a decent moral deportment; and be kind and compassionate, even to the vicious, so far as you can, without associating with them on terms of equality.  By this means you may win the affections of impenitent sinners, and thereby secure their attention to direct efforts for the salvation of their souls.  But, you should never suffer your feelings of complacency and good-will towards those who are destitute of piety, to lead you to conform to the spirit of the world which influences their conduct.  Your social intercourse with them should be regulated upon this principle.  Never go any farther into their society than you can carry your religion with you.  “Be not conformed to this world.”

4. Although it be your duty to visit, yet, in this matter, be careful to be governed by religious principle. There is, in the human mind, a tendency to run into extremes in everything.  Against this you need especially to be on your guard in social intercourse.  When visiting is excessive, it dissipates the mind, and unfits it for any laborious employment.  When this state of mind becomes habitual, a person is never easy except when in company.  The most vigorous mind may thus be rendered comparatively inert and powerless.  But, on the other hand, by shutting yourself out from society, you will dry up the social