he 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.

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. Whene