have, and what tempers exist in others, and what frequent occasions of interference with each other must of necessity arise, it would be a miracle if any of us had so conducted himself on all occasions, that no brother should on any account "have ought against him." We apprehend that no one who knows any thing of his own heart, would profess himself so perfect, as never to have done towards another any thing differently from what he would have wished to be done towards himself. Supposing then that " a brother have ought against us," what is to be done ? I answer,
1. We should be willing to see our fault —
[There is in us a self-love, which blinds our eyes, and prevents us from seeing our own defects. Whatever relates to ourselves, we view in a partial light ; so that we scarce ever attach any material blame to ourselves. Every one complains of the injuries he receives, but not of the injuries he commits. Take the report of mankind respecting each other, and the woi'ld is full of injuries ; but take each person's report of him- self, and no occasion of complaint will be found to exist. But it would be far better to put ourselves in the place of those who are offended with us; and, instead of extenuating our own offences and aggravating theirs, to view the extenuations of theirs, and the aggravations of our own. This would be doing as we would be done unto ; and, if the habit of it were universal, it would soon root out all contention from the world.]
2. We should be ready to ask pardon for it —
[This is a condescension to which men in general are very averse to stoop. They would regard it as an act of meanness and cowardice ; and therefore, even when conscious that they are wrong, they will rather risk the loss of their lives than sub- mit to it. But no man should be ashamed to make a suitable apology for any offence he may have committed. When the friends of Job had, even with a good intention, criminated him on account of supposed hypocrisy, God was incensed against them for their uncharitable conduct, and ordered them to make their acknowledgments to Job himself, and to entreat his intercession in their behalf. It was no excuse for them that they had been mistaken, or that they had intended well, or even that they had been actuated by a zeal for God : they had wounded the feelings, and defamed the character, of Job ; and if ever they would obtain forgiveness from God, they must