how universally prevalent is this malignant disposition ! Has any person, especially one whom we have regarded as a superior or a rival, done any thing whereby he has lowered himself in the estimation of mankind ? with what pleasure do we listen to the tale! what gratification do we feel in circulating the report! and what a satisfaction do we take, even whilst we profess to pity him, in the fall and degradation of our brother ! If afterwards we find that the report was not true, or that there were circumstances which materially altered the real character of the action, do we feel the same pleasure in having our own judgment rectified, and in rectifying the misapprehensions of others ? No : there is not the same gratification to our corrupt nature in believing and circulating the one, as in crediting and spreading the other : and therefore, whilst we are ready enough to propagate the evil, we leave ti'uth to find its way as it can. But this is not the way in which love will shew itself: charity finds no pleasure in that which causes pain to another, or dishonour to God : but it is delighted with every thing which may tend to the advancement of God's honour and our brethren's good.]
In this copious description of charity, we see yet further,
II. The habits it keeps in exercise —
1. It " beareth," or, as the word rather means, " covereth, all things" —
[Where love does not exist, there will be a readiness to spy out evil, and to spread the report of it far and wide : but wnere it reigns, there will be a disposition rather to cast a veil over our brother's faults, yea and over his sins too; according as it is written, "Charity will cover a multitude of sins p." Where the revealing of what we know is necessary for the maintenance of public justice, there love to the community will supersede the obligation of which we are now speaking : but where no necessity exists for exposing the shame of our brother, we ought as far as possible to conceal it, and to cast over it the mantle of love. This is what a man does towards those with whom he stands most intimately connected by the ties of con- sanguinity or friendship : and he will deal the same measure to all, in proportion as the general principle of Christian charity prevails in his soul.]
2. It " belie veth all things"—
[This must of course be restricted to good : for to believe
P 1 Pet. iv. 8.