22. Attempt by your efforts and example, to raise the standard of piety and activity. If all who are now commencing the Christian life, should make this an object, and not fall into the temptation which professed christians so often set before the lambs of the flock, the church would indeed soon rise before the world, “fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.” Resolve to be an example to those who ought to be an example to you, and take the bible, and the _bible only_, for your guide in forming christian character. 23. Be active in promoting all benevolent objects. Make it an object to prepare to lead with propriety in all social devotional duties. At this period, when prayer and effort must unite in hastening the great day of the Lord, let every young christian learn to guide the devotions of others, as well as to lift up his own private supplication. There is nothing which so much promotes the “brotherly love,” required in the bible, and nothing which so much promotes union of effort and interest, as social prayer: and every one who commences religious life, should aim to be prepared to perform such duties with propriety; and should stimulate others to engage in them. 24. Do not hesitate in the performance of all the _external_ duties of a christian, because you do not find satisfactory evidence that your _feelings_ are right. Religious duty consists of two parts—feeling and action,—and because we find great deficiency in one respect, we surely ought not to neglect the whole. It is as unreasonable, as it would be, not to attempt to _feel right_ till every _external_ duty was perfectly performed. If we are dissatisfied with our evidence, let us go on and _do_ every thing that a christian should do, as the most hopeful way to _produce_ right _feelings_. We surely cannot hope to bring our hearts right by neglecting our outward duties. Go forward then, and take a stand as an _active_ christian, and if your hearts are not right with God, you may be sure you are in less danger in taking this course than in neglecting it. 25. Under special difficulties, or when in great need of, or great longings after, any particular mercy, for yourself or others, set apart a day for secret prayer and fasting by yourself alone; and let the day be spent, not only in petitions for the mercies you desire, but in searching your heart, and in looking over your past life, and confessing your sins before God, not as is wont to be done in public prayer, but by a very particular rehearsal, before God, of the sins of your past life, from your childhood hitherto, before and after conversion, with the circumstances and aggravations attending them, spreading all the abominations of your heart, very particularly, and fully as possible, before him. 26. Remember that the principal duty of a christian, as it respects others, is to excite them to the _immediate performance_ of their religious duty.