Gen. xxxiii. 4. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him : and they ivej)t.
SUCH are the dispositions of men in general, that they cannot pass any considerable time without feeling in themselves, and exciting in others, some malignant tempers. The more nearly men come in contact with
each other, the more do they disagree. Nations are most inveterate against those who are most in their vicinity. Societies are for the most part distracted by opposing interests. Families are rarely to be found, where the demon of Discord has not raised his throne : yea, even the dearest friends and relatives are too often filled with animosity against each other. Happy would it be, if disagreements were found only among the ungodly : but they not unfrequently enter into the very church of God, and kindle even in good men a most unhallowed fire. Paul and Barnabas were a lamentable instance of human weakness in this re- spect. But on the present occasion we are called to consider, not a quarrel, but a reconciliation. The quarrel indeed had been rancorous in the extreme ; but the reconciliation, as described in the text, was most cordial and most affecting.
We would call your attention to a few observations arising from the circumstances before us —
I. The resentments of brethren are usually exceeding deep —
[If a stranger injure us in any respect, the irritation pro- duced by the offence is, for the most part, of very short dura- tion. But if a brother, or a friend, and more especially a person with whom we have been united in the bonds of the Spirit, provoke us to anger, the wound is more severe, and the impression more lasting. In many cases the difficulty of effect- ing a reconciliation is so great, as almost to preclude a hope of restoring the former amity. One who was thoroughly conver- sant with human nature, has told us, that " a brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city." We should be ready to imagine that in proportion as the previous union was close and affectionate, the restoration of that union would be easy ; and that the spirits which had suffered a momentary separation, would, like the flesh which has been lacerated, join together again readily, and, as it were, of their own accord. But the reverse of this is true : nor is it difficult to be accounted for. The disappointment of the two parties is greater. From strangers we expect nothing : and if we find rudeness or self- ishness or any other evil quality, though we may be offended at it, we are not disappointed. But from friends, and especially religious friends, we expect all that is kind and amiable ; and therefore we are the more keenly affected when any thing of a contrary aspect occurs. Moreover th e aggrava ting circumstances