it him, and are disposed to detract from his merits, and to reduce him to a level with ourselves, we are actuated by the hateful principle of envy, and, in that instance at least, are destitute of the sublimer principle of love,]
2. Pride : " Charity vaunteth not itself ; is not puffed up ; doth not behave itself unseemly " —
[These three may properly be classed under the head of pride. The word which is translated " vaunteth not itself," is in the margin translated. " is not rash :" and this perhaps is somewhat nearer to the original ; which imports, that charity is not inconsiderate, insolent, and over-bearing. This is nearly allied with a conceit of one's own attainment, and naturally leads to a violation of all that respect which is due to age, and station, and legitimate authority.
Yet to what an extent do these evils exist ! how headstrong, how self-opinionated, how presumptuous are youth in general, especially where they can give vent to their dispositions with- out restraint! But love is modest, sober, temperate: it pays a just deference to the sentiments of others; and willingly submits to the dictates of maturer age, and riper judgment.
If then we speak and act without a due consideration of what others may think, or a proper regard to what others may feel, or in any way that does not befit our age, our rank, our character, we violate the duties of charity ; which teaches us to " esteem others better than ourselves'^," and to guard with all possible care against every thing that may give just offence®, or weaken the influence of our exertions for the good of others. In a word, real charity will lead us to " prefer others in honour before ourselves V' and to take on all occasions the lowest place s.]
3. Selfishness: " Charity seeketh not her own" —
[Throughout the whole of this description, the Apostle seems to have had in his eye some of those particular evils which abounded in the Church at Corinth. This more espe- cially he had occasion to reprove, both in the preceding and subsequent context. Many of them were possessed of gifts, which they used chiefly for the advancement of their own honour, when they should have improved them solely for the Church's good. And this disposition fearfully predominates in our fallen nature; " All men seek their own, and not the things of Jesus Christ"^." But true charity triumphs over all these narrow and contracted feelings : it teaches us not to seek our own ease, honour, and profit, but in entire subserviency to
d Phil. ii. .3. e 1 Cor. x. 32. f Rom. xii. 10.
g Luke xiv. 10. ^ Phil, ii. 21.