of sin, or discouraged in the ways of piety and virtue ? And, whilst we are careful to wash away our stains in the Fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness, let us be no less careful to obtain forgiveness of man, and to remedy the evils which we are unable to recall.]
2. The necessity of cultivating a humble spirit —
[It is pride which renders us so averse to ask forgiveness of a fellow-creature. But we have no alternative : if we will not seek reconciliation with an offended brother, we shall not obtain it \nih an offended God. Let us only get our spirits humbled with a sense of sin, and all the difficulty vdll vanish. We shall even feel a pleasure in making any acknowledgment which may tend to restore harmony and love. Even, if we are not conscious of having given any just occasion of offence, we shall not be satisfied, whilst we see a brother alienated from us : we shall be anxious to find the cause of his displeasure ; to explain any thing which he may have misapprehended, and alter any thing he may have disapproved. In short, if the Gospel had its due effect upon us, we should, as far as our in- fluence extended, convert this wilderness into another Paradise. Our "swords would immediately be turned into ploughshares;" and " the wolf and the lamb would dwell together" in perfect amity: there would be " none to hurt or to destroy in all God's holy mountain." O that we could see such a state existing all around us ! Let us at least endeavour to produce it in our respective circles. Let us appreciate as we ought the comfort of love, and the excellency of a Christian spirit. And let us seek that " wisdom from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy s."]
s Jam. iii. 17.