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holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." So likewise St. Peter, 1st epistle, iii. 8, 9, "Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, and love as brethren; be pitiful; be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but, contrariwise, blessing;" for you are to imitate Christ," who, when he was reviled, reviled not again, but committed himself to him, who judgeth righteously."* Oh! that the men, who neglect to follow this wholesome advice, would but consider how they provoke the Lord to pour out his indignation upon them! While they think themselves at liberty to resent the insults of others, they are insulting him every moment, and offering such high affronts to his Sacred Majesty, that, if he were not long suffering, and of great mercy, he would consume them. in a moment. What! Are the commands of God to be considered only as vain words, which may be disregarded, as it suits our convenience, and shall the world perceive, that while men profess themselves to be guided by the spirit of Christ, they bear a less resem 1 Peter, ii, 23.

blance to their master than many Heathens, who never so much as heard of his name! I say, than many Heathens, for there are those among them, who, influenced by a noble spirit of benevolence, scorn to resent injuries, but rather endeavour to overcome evil with good. Now, as I wish you, my brethren, to adorn the Gospel of God our Saviour in all things, by such a conversation as becomes it, let me intreat you, especially such as are of a hasty spirit, to suppress the first motions of resentment, which you find rising in your bosoms; and this you may do with more success than perhaps you imagine possible.

1. By determining never to speak hastily. For want of better subjects of conversation, the voice of scandal is too much listened to, and men hear from those, who are as much disposed to make mischief, as to listen to it, that in a variety of instances their conduct has been censured. They believe the report, and are alarmed at the thought, that their reputation has been injured, and, without due consideration, seek their supposed enemy, and pour out those, grievous words, which stir up anger. I say this is done commonly without due consideration, and I have discovered, I think I may safely say, in nine instances out of ten, that those, who are the first to find fault are the most

to blame. A patient hearing of those words, which seem likely to occasion the breach, and an allowance of time to explain matters, which appear unfavourable, will be a happy method of preventing the most deadly quarrels, such as begin only in words, but which proceed to the infliction of personal injuries by one or both parties concerned, and terminate at last in bloodshed and murder. Think then before you speak, and be not hasty in reproaching your brethren; but

2. A more effectual way to avoid that fault, against which I am speaking, is to take care that the same mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus; that is, a spirit of divine love, which will teach you to bear injuries with patience, and make you desire to do good to your most bitter enemies. O ye, who can entertain a disposition of hatred, or a thought of revenge against your fellow creatures, remember Him, whom you call your Saviour; him, who shed his blood on the cross for you, enemies as you were by wicked works, and rebels against his crown and dignity. Remember him, and when you feel enraged against any, think that it was He, who said-" Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them, which despitefully use you and persecute you.' Oh!

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*Matt. v. 44.

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how often have I heard, and your consciences will tell you I may have heard it from some of you, curse returned for curse; whereas how much more seemly would it have been, and how much more becoming the Christian character, had you replied in words like these "God grant, that the curse which thou hast pronounced may never fall upon my head, nor upon thine either; but may he, of his infinite goodness and tender mercy, bless thee, and turn thy heart." What is the curse of God? What can be more awful and tremendous? Who can wish it to fall upon his fellow creature? Surely none can do it, who is not moved, by the instigation of the devil, to speak the very language of hell. But again,

3. What may serve as an inducement to make you suppress the rising of indignation, is the consideration, that it proceeds most frequently from the hateful disposition of pride. It does so, I say, most frequently; indeed I may venture to affirm, always, when there is no desire to do good to the person against whom it is directed. Why do smooth words please, and harsh ones displease us? Is it not because we love to be praised, and hate to be censured? Is it not because we would be thought more wise, learned, ingenious, rich, or honourable than our neighbour chooses to

esteem us? We judge of ourselves partially, but his judgment is more impartial; and as he, with his eyes open, cannot fail of seeing faults, which we, with our eyes shut, cannot discern, it pains us to think, that we are not such deserving creatures, as we esteem ourselves, and that the world should behold us in all that deformity and ugliness which cleave to us, through that thin veil of hypocrisy, by means of which we endeavour to conceal ourselves from their view. Take your Bibles, my brethren, and see what manner of persons ye ought to be in thought, word, and deed. Consider, that there is one, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hid. Think, that his eye is upon you every moment, and that he can discern every the least stain of sin. Imagine, I say, what a polluted creature you must appear in his sight, and then you will not think the vilest character that can be given you to be worse than you deserve; and though indeed crimes, which you abhor, may be laid to your charge, yet you will be disposed to acknowledge, upon the whole, that you are very guilty creatures, and will, if rightly disposed, not quarrel with your reprover, even for his unjust accusations, since every thing which leads us to the needful, though painful task of self examination,

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