70 Romans, Iii. 20. [1831.

by him as violations of this commandment. And St. John in the third chapter of his first epistle con- firms this by saying, " He that loveth not his brother abideth in death ; whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer ; and ye know that no murderer hath eter- nal life abiding in him." From this additional testi- mony therefore we see that the hating of any person, or the not truly loving him, is a species of murder in the sight of God. Who then is innocent ? Who has been free from passion ? Who has not often con- ceived anger and hatred against his neighbour ? And shall it be thought unreasonable to call this murder ? Look at the effects of anger ; how often has it termi- nated in murder, when the perpetrators of the act little supposed themselves capable of such an atro- cious crime ! and if we have been irritated and pro- voked by small occasions, who can tell what our anger might have effected if the occasion had been increased, and the preventing grace of God with- drawn ? And what is that which the world has falsely called a sense of honour ? 'tis revenge, 'tis murder ; murder in the heart, as it often proves murder in the act. But there are other ways of committing murder : if we have wished a rival dead, in order that we might be advanced; if we have wished an enemy dead, because of our aversion to him ; if we have wished a relation or any other person dead, in order that we might succeed to his fortune or preferment, or if we have rejoiced in the death of another on any of these accounts, we have manifested that same principle in our hearts, which, if kindled by temptation and favoured by opportunity, would have produced the most fatal effects. Nor is this all : we are no less guilty in the sight of God, if we do what tends to the destruction of our own life, than if we seek the de- struction of our neighbour's life. Not to mention therefore the too common act of suicide, how many bring upon themselves pain, sickness, and disease, I may add too, an early and premature death, by means of debauchery and excess. Let not any one therefore imagine himself innocent even in respect of murder :