Our Lord Jesus Christ appears to have intended that through the instrumentality of Christians, the perishing may be saved. There is no christian but can find some _one_ mind at least, over which he can have some influence; and if we can do _any thing_ to save others from eternal death, nothing should for a moment prevent our attempting it. But to perform our duty faithfully in this respect, requires both discretion, and some knowledge derived from the experience of others. The following hints, therefore, are added as the result of long experience and observation, and as a sort of guide to those who may be anxious to save a soul from death. Let your _first_ object be to persuade your friend to give an earnest and immediate attention to the subject. Serious remarks upon religion, do not produce much effect, unless some _direct object_ is had in view. Urge the immediate duty of giving the affections of the heart to God. Show them that if they will only love God, they will then feel their guilt in refusing to obey him, and will greatly desire to live for his glory. If they will only love their God and Saviour, they will feel that they can trust in the merits of his atoning blood. Do not, for a moment, allow them to feel that performing the outward duties of religion, is doing any thing to recommend them to God, but is only a _means_ of making them feel more deeply their immediate obligation to give the affections of their hearts to him, and of realizing the reasonableness of his holy law which requires it. Speak to them as if you really _felt_ that there was no need of any delay, but that they could immediately perform what God requires; and in order to do this, endeavour to have a deep and realizing sense of this truth yourself. If they complain of their inability, or of the difficulty they find in performing their duty, show them that it is because they have so long forgotten and neglected God, that though it has really become difficult, it is a difficulty they have made for themselves, and which is an addition to their guilt. Show them that whatever the difficulty is, they can overcome it; for God never requires of his creatures, what they cannot perform, and his standing unalterable law is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” Remember always that the more clearly, constantly, and forcibly the truth is presented to any mind that will attend to it, the more hope there is that it will be obeyed. One caution however, needs to be added, and that is, that when it becomes apparent that the mind _will not_ be brought to attend to the subject; when you find that the efforts become wearisome and unpleasant, always _cease for a while_, and wait for another time, or else you will do more harm than good. Persevering after this will only affect their minds with disgust and aversion towards a subject to which they have resolved they will not attend.