volence that delicacy and decorous propriety of conduct, on which so much of the comfort and satisfaction, nay, so much even of the peace and purity, of social intercourse depend. "Charity doth not behave herself unseemly." She is humble, though not mean, in her deportment; whilst free from austerity, she never forgets, in word or deed, the limits which modesty and the strictest purity prescribe, Moreover charity is disinterested; not selfishly absorbed in the pursuits of her own advantage; but ever mindful of the happiness of others, 66 ready to distribute" to their necessities, and "willing to communicate" according as God hath prospered her. For although almsgiving is not charity, however confounded with it in common language; and although we may give all our goods to feed the poor, yet not do it from a charitable motive; still the charitable man will always be disposed, according to his power, to assist and relieve those who deserve it; and he who lays claim to charity, without possessing a liberality proportioned to his means, is deceived, and thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. For "charity seeketh not her own," but the common good. She is meek too, and therefore "not easily provoked;" is candid, and free from suspicion; so that where no evil presents itself to the observation, she "thinketh" none. Her lips she keeps from the taint of slander and misrepresentation; nor will she take a malicious pleasure in an injury done to the character of any, but will delight to speak the truth to the advantage even of an enemy. For she "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." Another feature of charity is, that she "beareth all things," or, as the words in the original more probably mean, the charitable man exercises in all things a self-denying constraint over himself, forbearing to indulge his own feelings or opinions, and sometimes even to enforce his rights, when the harmony and peace of society so require it. Finally, the charitable man "believeth," or, where he cannot believe, he at least "hopeth, all things," to the advantage of others. If at the same time he meets himself with a treatment the reverse of all this from others, he patiently submits to it, as indeed to whatever else it may be necessary for him to bear for the sake of doing good. For" charity believeth all things; hopeth all things; endureth all things." Such is Christian charity as described by the pen of an apostle, a constellation of the fairest virtues, both active and passive; at once forgiving and kind; free from envy, ostentation, and pride; delicate and decorous in behaviour; disinterested, meek, and candid; ever ready to do justice to the character of her neighbour, to sub harsh tempers, no angry differences, no mutual jealousies, no evil surmisings, will be any more felt or heard of, but where our harmony will be perfect, and our peace for ever undisturbed. SERMON XI. CHRISTIAN PURITY. MATT. V. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. HUMAN jurisdiction extends only to the outward conduct; it punishes crime in the overt offence, not in the inward intention. Yet in order to the advancement of piety and virtue, it is desirable to begin at the fountain head, to check evil at its first source, to nip it in the very bud. But this is a prerogative which belongs to God alone: He only knows the heart; therefore He only can give it laws. It is the peculiar excellence of religion, that it can make us thoroughly and sincerely good, by subjecting us to the tribunal of Him, to whom our thoughts and intentions are as well known as our actions, and who therefore "requireth truth in the inward parts." We may gain applause from men, when our hearts shall refuse to join in the commendation. But if our hearts condemn us, God is |