But study you, my dear young friend, to keep yourself in the love of God. Live habitually under the influence of your own unworthiness, and of his unspeakable goodness. God is love: it is your duty to love him in return, with _all_ your heart and soul. See that you never forget what he has done to save you from everlasting perdition, and to raise you to glory, and honour, and immortality. Remember the infinite obligations under which you are laid; and let it be your constant aim to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments; to serve him with a willing mind; to glorify him with your body and your spirit, which are his. Nor will you ever find that this is a hard service. On the contrary, the nearer you live to God, you will enjoy the larger measure of that “peace which passeth all understanding.” MEMENTO OF AFFECTION. FROM CHRISTIAN PASTORS, TO THOSE WHO, UNDER THEIR CARE, HAVE COMMENCED A RELIGIOUS LIFE: IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE SCRIPTURES. To them who have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. We thank our God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of ours, making request for you with joy. Being confident of this very thing, that he who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. Even as it is meet for us to think this of you all, because we have you in our heart. For, ye remember our labour, how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged, every one of you, as a father does his children; and we were with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling; and our exhortation was not of deceit, nor in guile; neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know; nor of men sought we glory, neither of you. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but our own souls also, because ye were dear unto us. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the _children of God_. For you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein, in times past, ye walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom _we all_ had our conversation in times past, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. For ye _were_ as sheep going astray, but now are returned unto the shepherd and bishop of your souls.