The beauties of social virtue

(John Angell James, "Christian Fellowship" 1822)

A Christian should be very eminent for a right discharge
of all their social duties. Christianity, so far from loosening
the bands of society, adds to them incredible strength and
firmness, by motives drawn from the eternal world. One part
of the design of Christianity is to purify and strengthen the
social principle, and carry it to its greatest elevation and
perfection.

A good Christian--and yet a bad husband, father,
brother, neighbor, or citizen--is an anomaly.

Professing Christians should excel all others in the
beauties of social virtue. True religion should give . . .
  additional tenderness to the marital relationship;
  greater love to the Christian parent;
  loving obedience to the Christian child;
  fresh kindness to the Christian employer;
  diligence to the Christian employee.

The world should look to the church with this conviction,
"Well, if social virtue were driven from every other portion
of society, it would find a sanctuary, and be cherished with
care, among Christians." Then will Christianity have
attained its highest recognition upon earth, when it shall
be admitted by universal consent, that to say a man is a
Christian, is an indisputable testimony to his excellence
in all the relationships he bears to society.