who, admitting the necessity of imperfection, make no stand against it.

We are told to "be perfect, even as Our FATHER which is in Heaven is perfect;"* life is to be a constant labour to attain it; and if we use our unceasing and earnest endeavours, the merits and mediation of our SAVIOUR will atone for the rest; the best of us, after having been "sober and vigilant," to the utmost of our power, must" cast all our cares and hopes on HIM."+-I have rather wandered from my subject, but I hope not uselessly; and will, in the next chapter, take a brief survey of the Christian Character.

* Matt. v. 48.

+ 1 Peter, v. 7, 8.

CHAPTER VIII.

A SUMMARY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHA

RACTER.

THE precepts of our SAVIOUR inculcate a meek, lowly, and humble temper; forbearance, gentleness, and an universal benevolence, a constant desire, and labour to promote the interest and happiness of mankind. A diligent restraint is enforced on all the passions, on the thoughts of the heart, on the expressions of the tongue, on the sins of the eye and the hand; which we are commanded to pluck out, or cut off, if it impede our Salvation.* This is figurative language,

* Matt. v. 29. 30.

implying the zeal and exertion with which we are enjoined, at the expence of indulgence or inclination, to root out every bad passion from the heart.

We are to love mankind, and do them

all the good in our power; to pray for them, to assist them, to lend, and to give, to our enemies, as well as to our friends; we are to be merciful, if we hope for mercy; we are to forgive, if we expect forgiveness; and, as we would that men should do unto us, even so are we to do unto them.*

If every action towards another was weighed in this balance, and this latter precept made the constant rule of our lives; every Christian virtue would spring out of it; we should be just,

* Matt. vii. 12.

merciful, kind, forgiving, and gentle; because we expect and wish others to be

so to us.

Next to the study of our SAVIOUR'S Sermon on the Mount, I should recommend a serious attention to the 13th chapter of St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians, as being equally applicable to general social duties, as to particular ones.---It is an excellent summary of those Christian graces, from which so much peace and harmony spring; it inculcates humility, benevolence, and forbearance, in impressive and beautiful language.*

Amongst the many virtues of Christianity, productive of our own happiness,

* See also the 12th chapter of Romans, for a most admirable system of Christian Duties.

and that of others; few are so much so, as that species of forbearance, which is easily provoked, and thinketh no

not "

evil."

If we trace most of our provocations to their source, we shall find them generally originating in mere trifles ;-a hasty word, a sarcastic look, or a cold inattention; each perhaps the momentary effect of some bodily infirmity, or mental distress, foreign to the subject, and, if passe ssed by unnoticed, would produce no lasting uneasiness. Provocations very often arise from a still more trifling cause than this ;-from a false report, that may have originated wholly in mistake, or, perhaps, like the travelling snow-ball, have gathered a little, at every turn it has taken, through the incorrect representation of every retailer, till a mere mole-hill of folly has swelled into a mountain of injury.