It is impossible to maintain the domestic, religious, moral, literary, and political associations of life, and transact our necessary business, without intercourse with those who have great and numerous faults. Christ ate with Pharisees, publicans, and sinners; and Paul became all things to all men, in Christian courtesy and condescension, that by all means he might save some. Indeed, all the intercourse, attention, and civilities necessary to gain the eyes, the ears, and the consciences of sinners, are among the plain and indisputable duties. Many prejudices are to be allayed, much stupid crabbedness to be overcome, and a multitude of hateful things to be borne with, if we would convert all sorts of sinners from the error of their ways, and all sorts of hypocrites from their blindness and delusions.

There is a wide field for Christian courtesy and kindness, that does not involve decisive manifestation of Christian fellowship ; and the practice of these virtues is indispensable to Christian influence and usefulness.