willing to make personal
sacrifices for the benefit of others. Carry this principle out in all
your intercourse with others, and it will greatly increase your
usefulness. It will also really promote your own interest and happiness.
There is nothing which renders a person so amiable and lovely, in the
sight of others, as disinterested benevolence. Think no sacrifice too
great to make, no hardship too painful to endure, if you can be the
means of benefiting perishing souls. Remember, it was for this that
Jesus gave up his life; and he requires you to be ready to give up
everything you have, and even life itself, if the same cause shall
require it.

But let me caution you against placing self-denial chiefly in outward
things. We are not required to relinquish any of the comforts and
enjoyments of this life, except when they come in competition with our
duty to God and our fellow-creatures. "Every creature of God is good,
and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving;" and
godliness has the promise of this life as well as of that which is to
come. The religion of some people seems to consist chiefly in denying
themselves of lawful enjoyments; and you will find them very severe and
censorious towards others, for partaking freely and thankfully of the
bounties of God's providence. This, however, is but a species of
self-righteous mockery, characterized by Paul as a voluntary humility.
Instead of being self-denial, it is the gratification of self in
maintaining an appearance of external sanctity. It may, however, be not
only proper, but obligatory upon us, to sacrifice these lawful
enjoyments, when we may thereby promote the interests of Christ's
kingdom; which requires the exercise of a self-sacrificing spirit.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER VIII.

_Public and Social Worship, and Sabbath Employments._

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together."--HEB. 10:23.

"It is lawful to _do well_ on the Sabbath days."--MATT. 12:12.

"Call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord,
honorable,"--"honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding
thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words."--ISA. 68:13.

MY DEAR SISTER,

The duty of public worship is clearly taught in the Holy Scriptures: 1.
From the appointment of one day in seven, to be set apart exclusively
for the service of God, we may argue the propriety of assembling
toget