glory. It should be proportioned to their piety, rather than to any other endowments ; and be occupied in advancing their happiness, not only as much as our own, but oftentimes in preference to our own. It was thus that the love of Christ operated towards us ; and it is proposed for our imitation more especially in this point of view; " Mind not every one his own things, but every one also the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus f."]
2. Sympathizing —
[We are all passing through a vale of tears, " born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." Hence we need each other's care and assistance through the whole of our lives. The kind- ness of friendship is a remedy which God has put within our reach, to enhance our joys and to alleviate our sorrows : we should therefore enter into the concerns of others, and feel them as our own ; " weeping with them that weep, and re- joicing with them that rejoice." By this we are told, we shall more especially comply with the injunction in the text ; " Bear ye one another's burthens," says the Apostle, " and so fulfil the law of Christ*."]
3. Beneficent —
[Love must not interest merely the feelings of the mind : it must exert itself in acts correspondent to the occasions on which it is exercised. Is our neighbour distressed ? we must relieve him. Is he ignorant ? we must instruct him. Is he weak ? we must strengthen him. Is he fallen ? we must raise him up. Has he shewn some infirmities ? we must bear with him. Has he offended us ? we must forgive him. Are there any opportunities whatever of doing him good ? we must gladly and speedily embrace them. It is in this way also that the Apostle urges us to imitate our Lord and Saviour : " Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering ; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another ; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye V]
4. Self-denying —
[That love which will exert itself only in things that are easy and pleasing to oneself, is not worthy the name of love. A truly Christian affection will lead one to " condescend to men of low estate ;" to visit the chambers of the sick ; to enter into the dungeon of the prisoner ; to cut off some of one's superflui- ties, in order to supply the necessities of others ; to do good in return for evil ; to expose oneself to the derision of a thought-
f Phil. ii. 4, 5. 8 Gal. vi. 2. i> Col. iii. 12, 13.