Look into your bible and see how christians ought to live. See how the bible says those who are christians must live, and then if you find your christian friends living in a different way, instead of having cause for feeling that you may do so too, you have only cause to fear that they are deceiving themselves with the belief that they are christians, when they are not. Remember that the farther your christian friends depart from the standard of christian character laid down in the bible, the less reason have you to hope that they are christians. And do not hesitate on this subject because you find many professed christians, who are indifferent and lax in their practice and example. Remember that Christ has said, “Many shall say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord,” thus claiming to be his disciples, to whom he will say, “I never knew you.” Do not let professed christians tempt you to fall into the society of such unhappy castaways.
13. Do not be periodical christians. There are some who profess religion, who never seem to feel any interest on the subject, except when every one else does. It is true, there are special seasons of revived religion in the hearts of all christians, but if it is only at such times that progress is made in divine life, and interest is manifested in the salvation of souls, there is great reason to fear that what is called religion is nothing but sympathy with the feelings of others.
14. Do not let the adversaries of the cross have occasion to reproach religion on your account. How holily should the children of God, the redeemed and the beloved of the Son of God, behave themselves. Therefore, “walk as children of the light, and of the day,” and “adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour;” and especially, abound in what are called the Christian virtues, and make you like the Lamb of God: be meek and lowly of heart, and full of pure, heavenly, and humble love to all; abound in deeds of love to others, and self-denial for others; and let there be in you a disposition to account others better than yourself.
15. Be sure that there exists a marked difference between your appearance and conduct, and that of those who are not christians. Remember that Christ has required this of you, and that even the world expects it.
16. Do not suppose you can recommend religion, by appearing interested in every thing that interests those who have no better portion than this world.—Remember that your deportment, your conversation; your interest in dress, in company and amusements; the manner in which you perform your religious duties, are all carefully noted and weighed by those around you, who do not love religion; and if they do not see a marked difference between you and themselves, they either conclude there is nothing in religion, or else that you are a hypocrite. Worldlings expect that you will be very different from them, and despise you in their hearts if you are not. If you wish to recommend religion, let the world see it acted out according to the beautiful pattern laid down in the bible, and do not suppose that you can improve this pattern by any addition or subtraction of your own. On one subject there are some who need instruction. There is a class of christians who appear taciturn, unsocial, and even sad. This appearance is altogether inconsistent with the spirit of religion. Christians ought to appear cheerful and happy; to appear to receive with pleasure and gratitude all the lawful enjoyments bestowed by their Heavenly Father. Such a gloomy deportment as has been described, does not do honour to religion, and causes those whom we wish to win to the ways of pleasantness and peace, to feel that religion is a melancholy, unsocial, and forbidding subject.
All professors of religion should endeavour to have such views of God, his love, his providence, his care; and should so live, as to be cheerful and happy, and to appear so.
On the contrary, there is a class of professed christians, who indulge in frequent trifling and levity. This is quite as inconsistent and injurious as the former, and if any thing it is more so. Let the christian at least, learn to make a distinction between cheerfulness and levity. Remember we are commanded to avoid foolish talking and jesting, and that it is possible to be happy, cheerful, affable, and kind without any trifling or levity.
17. Remember that your evidence of possessing religion ceases when any thing else has the first place in your thoughts and interests.
Religion should not lessen our love for our friends, or our real enjoyments; but the desire to please God in all our ways should be the prevailing feeling of the mind. Our Saviour says, we cannot have two masters; God and his service must be first in our thoughts and affections, or else the world and its pleasures are first. If then we would find whose servants we are, we must find who has the first place in our thoughts and affections.
18. Never for one day omit to read the bible with prayer. This is a most important direction. It is of the utmost importance that you should never for once break over this habit. Prayer and the bible are your anchor and your shield, which will hold you firmly in the path of duty, and protect you from temptation. You had better give up one meal every day, if it is necessary, in order to secure time for this duty. You had better give up any thing else. Nothing is a duty, if the performance of it will interfere with this duty. Remember this is the bread of your life, and the water of your salvation; and that you cannot live in health a single day, without their strengthening and invigorating influence.