things which may be duty hereafter; but
they are not _present duty_. Now, the great principle which I would here
establish is, as I have elsewhere remarked, that the _obligation of duty
rests upon the present moment_. No principle can be of greater
importance in practical life than this. It lies at the foundation of all
Christian effort. It is the neglect of it which has ruined thousands of
immortal souls, who have sat under the sound of the gospel. It is the
neglect of it which keeps the church so low. If it is the duty of a
sinner to repent, it is his duty to do it _now_; and every moment's
delay is a new act of rebellion against God. If it is the duty of a
backslider to return and humble himself before God, it is his duty to do
it _now_; and every moment he delays, he is going farther from God, and
rendering his return more difficult. If it is the duty of a Christian to
live near to God; to feel his presence; to hold communion with him; to
be affected with the infinite beauty and excellence of his holy
character; the obligation of that duty rests upon the present moment.
Every moment's delay is _sin_. And so of every other duty. Our first
object, then, is to _know_ present duty; our second, to _do_ it. We
cannot put off anything which we ought to do _now_, without bringing
guilt upon our Souls.

Your affectionate Brother.

LETTER XIII.

_Christian Activity._

"She hath done what she could."--MARK 14:8.

MY DEAR SISTER,

You doubtless feel a deep interest in the great benevolent enterprises
of the present day. No one who possesses the spirit of our Master can be
indifferent towards them. It is important, then, that you should know
what you _can do_ towards moving forward these enterprises. For,
remember that your obligation is as extensive as your ability. Christ
commended the woman, referred to in the passage above quoted for doing
"_what she could_." If you do more than any within the circle of your
acquaintance, and yet leave undone anything that you can do, you do not
discharge your obligations. You have entered into the service of the
Lord, and he requires you to _do what you can_. It then becomes a matter
of serious inquiry, "_What can I do?_" It is an interesting fact, that
the great moral enterprises of the present day, both for the conversion
of the world, and for ameliorating the temporal condition of the poor,
are in a great measure sustained by the energ