bad relations into care and tenderness for their souls; we should not be glad to get away from them, but give them more of our company, and be more exact in our behaviour towards them; always supposing it possible, that our _good conversation_ may some time or other affect them, and that God may make use of us as a means of their salvation. ¹ 1 Cor. vii. 16. VII. *_Eutropius_ is very good and pious himself; but then his fault is, that he seeks only the conversation of pious and good people. He is careful and exact in his behaviour towards his virtuous friends; always studying to oblige them; but gets away from and avoids those that are of another temper. Now _Eutropius_ should recollect, that this is acting like a _physician_ that would take care of the _healthy_, and disregard those that are _sick_. He should remember, that his irreligious friends and relations are the very persons that are fallen to his care; and that he is as directly called to take care of their salvation, as the husband to take care of the unbelieving wife. _Eutropius_ therefore, if he would imitate his Lord and Master, must apply to the _lost sheep of the house of Israel_, and endeavour by all the innocent arts of pleasing his friends, to gain them to repentance. We must not excuse ourselves from this care, by saying that our relations are obstinate, hardened, and careless; but must support ourselves with the apostle’s argument, How knowest thou, O man, whether thou mayst not at last save thy relation? VIII. The apostle saith, _destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died_¹. We may therefore justly reason thus, that as it lies much in our power to hinder the salvation, so it must, to promote the salvation of those for whom Christ died. Destroy not therefore by thy negligence, by thy impatience, by thy want of care, that relation for whom Christ died; nor think that thou hast done enough, till there is no more that thou canst do. This is the state in which all Christians are appointed by God in their several stations; to carry on that great work, for which Christ came into the world. _Clergymen_ are not the only men that have a _cure_ of souls, but every Christian has some people about him, whose salvation he is obliged to be careful of; with whom he is to live in all godliness and purity, that they may have the benefit of his example and assistance in their duty to God. So that all Christians, though ever so _low_, and _mean_, and _private_, must consider themselves as _hired_ by Christ to work in his vineyard; for as no circumstances of life can hinder us from saving ourselves, so neither can they hinder us from promoting the salvation of others. And though we have, according to our different stations, different parts to act; yet if we are careful of that part which is fallen to our share, we are equally objects of God’s favour. ¹ Rom. xiv. 15.