no less barren fervour of fanaticism. How far soever you may have adopted the view of religion here objected to, and from whatever cause you may have adopted it, of this you may be well assured that if it be found incompatible with charity it is proved inconsistent with the Gospel. Though you speak with the tongues of men and angels, though you were able to argue most unanswerably and to judge most righteously, and have not charity, you are nothing. Though you have a better understanding of Christian doctrine a more enlightened perception of its duties and deeper sense of its importance than all around you ;-yet have not charity; you are nothing worth. Yea though you bestow all your goods to feed the poor and give your body to be burned, though you devote your whole fortune time and talents to promoting the happi ness of your poor neighbours, and were ready to become a martyr for your faith, -yet have not the living principle of charity in your heart, you are nothing worth. Your words are but as sounding brass, a noise without a meaning, your actions but the unsubstantial form of duties which without that soul are dead. It might I think afford matter of deep consideration for many to be told as we here are that it is possible for a man to give all his goods to the poor and even yield his body to martyrdom and yet be destitute of Christian charity. It might help mainly to inculcate what all parties need much to learn that the Christian virtues are not formal but spiritual, and that outward actions are only valuable as they proceed from inward dispositions. To explain what those inward dispositions are the apostle goes on with a recital of the principal points in the character of Christian charity. From whence we may clearly ascertain for ourselves to what course of feeling and conduct it is most opposed. An uncharitable temper is not "longsuffering" and is not "kind:"-as when a man readily takes offence at the injuries perversity or folly of his neighbour, and refuses to hold communication with or bestow good on those whom he deems to be unworthy of his love; forgetful of the proposed example of that Father in heaven who "maketh his sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." An uncharitable temper envieth:-as when a man grudges those whom he censures the very enjoyments for which he finds fault with them, and longs for the bless ings which others partake in for this very reason that he has denied them to himself. An uncharitable temper doth vaunt itself and is puffed up:-as all they for instance (8) must be more or less who conceive themselves alone to be the elect, and all the rest of mankind condemned for ever. An uncharitable temper doth behave itself unseemly :— as in neglecting the ordinary proprieties and duties of social life, disrespect to parents, disregard to brothers sisters and friends, uncourteousness to all whom it esteems reprobate. It seeketh its own: that is, sets up high claims to superiority, and is rigorous in enforcing respect and deference to its opinions, even from those whom nature and revelation unite to place in authority. It is easily provoked;-being ready on slight occasions to disoblige others, and to thwart their inclinations. It thinketh much evil of others :-making no al lowances for difference of information and circumstances of trial, but supposing that all are necessarily condemned who have not attained unto its own degree of outward piety. It rejoiceth in iniquity-whereof we have instances in the propensity too common amongst mankind and especially amongst the assertors of their own piety to report with diligence the failings and offences of those from whom they differ in opinion or practice. And instead of rejoicing in the truth;-there is reason to fear that it views the truth with a gloomy and melancholy disposition, finds more of gall than sweetness in the word of God, and is more ready to lament over his dispensations than to give thanks unto him for the victory. An uncharitable temper far from bearing all things, will not bear with a fellow-creature in any the slightest |