[Footnote M:  This direction would not be proper for a minor, in her father’s house, or in the place provided by a guardian.  In such cases, it would be duty to remain, and submit to the penalty of disobedience; remembering that it is a blessing to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake.]

2. There are special duties growing out of your relation to the church. Some of these I have considered in former letters.  But I have particular reference now to social duties.  You are to regard all the members of the church as brothers and sisters.  You are to love them just in proportion as they are like Christ.  It is the appearance of the image of Jesus, alone, in our Christian brethren, which can call forth the spiritual exercise of brotherly love.  I say the appearance of the image of Christ, because we may be deceived as to the existence of that image in the hearts of others, and yet our love may be as sincere and fervent as if the image were genuine.  No Christian duty is more insisted on in Scripture than brotherly love.  It is repeatedly enjoined by our Lord and his apostles.  It is so essential a part of the Christian character, that it is mentioned by the beloved disciple as one of the principal evidences of the new birth.  Now, how do we manifest our love to our brothers and sisters?  We delight in their society.  We love to meet them, to talk about each other’s interests, and the interests of the family in general.  So, if you love your brethren and sisters in the church, you will delight in their society; you will love to meet with them, to interchange kind offices; to talk of the difficulties, trials, hopes, fears, joys, and sorrows, of the way to the heavenly Canaan; and to speak of the interests of the great spiritual family to which you belong.  Hence, I argue the duty of social intercourse among Christians.  But, it is to be greatly feared that the real object of such intercourse is too frequently overlooked.  How often do Christians meet, and talk about “trifles light as air,” without once speaking of subjects which, according to their profession, lie nearest their hearts.  This ought not so to be.  It is a sinful conformity to the spirit of the world.  The great object of social intercourse among Christians should be, to promote brotherly love and Christian fellowship.  And how can these ends be answered, when their conversation is altogether about the affairs of the world?  I do not say that it is wrong to talk about these things.  The smallest matters claim a portion of our attention.  But it is wrong to make them the principal topics of conversation, to the exclusion of heavenly things.  When we do speak of them, it should be with some good end in view; and our conversation should always be seasoned by the application of Christian principle to all subjects.