always been common from their day down to the present time. We must all watch against it. We should " believe all things/' and " hope all things " about others, and be very slow to find fault. This is Christian charity. (1 Cor. xiii. 7.)
The second lesson contained in this passage, is the im- portance of exercising discretion as to the person ivith xohom lue speak on the subject of religion. Everything is beautiful in its j^lace and season. Our zeal is to be tem- pered by a prudent consideration of times, places, and per- sons. ^^Keprove not a scorner," says Solomon, ^4est he hate thee." (Prov. ix. 8.) It is not everybody to whom it is wise to open our minds on spiritual matters. There are many, who from violent tempers, or openly profligate habits, are utterly incapable of valuing the things of the Gospel. They will even fly into a passion, and run into greater excesses of sin, if you try to do good to their souls. To name the name of Christ to such people, is truly to "cast pearls before swine." It does them not good but harm. It rouses all their corruption, and makes them angry. In short, they are like the Jews at Corinth, (Acts xviii. 6,) or like Nabal, of whom it is written, that he was " such a son of Belial, that a man could not speak unto* him." (1 Sam. xxv. 17.)
This is a lesson which it is peculiarly difficult to use in the proper way. The right application of it needs great wisdom. We are most of us far more likely to err on the side of over-caution than of over-zeal. We are generally far more disposed to remember the " time to be silent," than '' the time to speak." It is a lesson, however, which ought to stir up a spirit of self-inquiry in all our