the good of others'; and to become the servants of all for Christ's sake*^, sacrificing our just rights^ abridging our un- questionable liberty'", and accommodating ourselves either to the wishes or the prejudice of others'^, for the better pro- motion of their welfare. This is charity : but whereinsoever se/f predominates, so as to turn us from this blessed path, we are destitute of that heavenly principle, whose direction is, " Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth".]
4. Wrath : " Charity is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" —
[It not unfrequently happens in a family, that, in the estimation of him who is at the head of it, one member can do nothing that is good ; and another member, nothing that is wrong. But whence arises this? Is it that the one is so perfect as never to err ; and the other so depraved, as never to do right ? No : the actions of the two are seen through a different medium; the one through the medium of prejudice, and the other of love. Now such a measure of partiality as can find no fault, is far from being desirable ; nor is it any part of true charity. But charity keeps us from breaking forth into wrath against an offending brother ; and sviffers us not to impute evil intentions to him, to aggravate his offence. Where there is a continual disposition to find fault, and a readiness to fly out into a rage on trifling occasions, — where there is a proneness to put an unkind construction on every thing, and to judge persons with severity, — there is no charity. Let us but observe how ready we are to find excuses for any one we greatly love, or even for a favourite animal that has committed a fault, and we shall see immediately what would be our conduct towards our brethren, if we had real love to them in our hearts. How ingenious are we in finding excuses for ourselves, when we have done any thing amiss ! and if self-love operate so towards ourselves, would not the love of our brethren prescribe somewhat of a similar measure towards them? Yes assuredly: we should " be slow to wrath," as we find we are, comparatively at least, towards those whom we love ; and ready to extenuate, rather than aggravate, what we cannot fully approve.]
5. Malice : " Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth" —
[To find pleasure in the fall or disgrace of another is the very essence of malice, the counterpart of Satan himself. Yet
i 1 Cor. X. 33. ^ 1 Cor. ix. 19. > 1 Cor. ix. 15.
'" 1 Cor. viii. 13. " Acts xvi. 3. and xxi. 26.
0 1 Cor. X. 24. and Phil. ii. 4.