Towards these our duty is to use all possible means for their conversion —
[We arc not all called to take upon us the ministerial office : but we all in our respective circles should exert our- selves tor the edification of those around us. No man is at liberty " to put his light under a bed, or under a bushel:" no man is at liberty to ask, " Am I my brother's keeper ? " Would any man, who should see a house on lire, be justified in saying, ' It is no concern of mine?' or, if the inhabitants were burnt to death through his unconcern, would there be a creature upon earth that would not execrate him for his inhumanity ? Much more therefore, if we see immortal souls " erring from the truth," and hastening to destruction, should we be inex- cusable, if we neglected to warn them of their danger, and to shew them how their souls might be saved alive. We should warn those who are living in a wilful neglect of God : we should declare to them their guilt and danger : we should set before them what the Scriptures have spoken respecting " the death of the soul," and should entreat them to " flee from the wrath to come." In particular, we should, as far as our capacity ad- mits of it, open to them " the truth as it is in Jesus." We should make known to them the wonders of redeeming love : we should set the Lord Jesus Christ before them in all his endearing qualities; and shew them how "able, and willing, he is to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him." We should encourage them to believe in him ; and, by the holy violence of argument and entreaty, should " compel them" to accept his gracious invitations, and to sit down as guests at the marriage supper of the Lamb. In a word, we should do our utmost to enlighten, convert, and save their souls.]
That we may the more readily engage in this duty, let us consider,
II. Our encouragement to perform it —
We may doubtless find much of our labour to be in vain. But, if in any single instance we succeed,
1. We shall " save a soul from death" —
[Unconverted sinners, whatever they may imagine, are hastening to death : for the " wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ;" and the soul that sinneth, it shall die. And let not any one imagine, that this death consists in a mere annihilation : no ; the soul, as to its existence, shall never die : but it will endure a misery of which we can form no conception, a torment in the lake that burnetii with fire and brimstone, which is called in Scripture " the second death." From this however, if we are made the happy instruments of converting a soul to God, we deliver it. What a wonderful thought is this ! to deliver a soul from