which are worthy of the most serious notice. Particularly his rebuke to his difciples, and éven to the affectionate St. JOHN among the reft (so apt are the mildest sometimes to become vindictive and the wifeft to be unacquainted with themselves!) when more from bigotry than zeal for him, they wished to imprecate celestial fire to confume the Samaritans, who, because their mafter was going to Jerufalem, would not receive him. Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of His calm reprehenfion of PETER's rafhness, who cut off the ear of the high priest's fervant; his miraculously healing of the wounded man, though one of the multitude who came to apprehend him; and his strong intimation in those words, They who use the fword, shall perish by the fword; that his battles were not to be fought with carnal wea pons, ought never to be forgotten. And then the unexampled mildness of the reproof which he bestowed on the diabolical treachery of JUDAS, Betrayeft thou the Son of man with a kifs? merits everlafting admiration, furely, nothing equals that prayer upon the crofs: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And how delightful must have been the tranquillity, and felf-compla But cency cency of the foul, capable at fuch a time of fuch an interceffion! SENSIBLE I am, it is extremely difficult to attain the ferenity of well-regulated paffions in this imperfect state. The causes of perturbation are fo numerous that they often take us by furprise. But we should place it to account before-hand, that to hope in a state of trial for an exemption from every thing which can ruffle the compofure of our fouls, is from the very nature of such a state unreasonable. We muft like hired workmen perform our day's labour, before we can receive our wages. Were there no corrupt paffions to combat, no temptations to subdue, where would be our trial, or how could we obtain the unfading wreath of victory? But there is no danger of our wanting exercise for patience, and fortitude. Our kind neighbours will supply us with abundance. And furely to find ourselves mifrepresented and depreciated by the low dupes of falsehood, and the flaves of self-conceit, will occafion our cheeks to glow with a painful warmth; and unless timely prevented, kindle rage in our hearts. It may fometimes become us, and be even our duty, feverely to reprefs the in folence of fuch revilers; and felf-defence against their calumnies is at all times lawful; but we never ought to return their fcurrility: For we read that MICHAEL the archangel, disputing with the Devil about the body of MOSES, durft not bring against even him a railing accufation, faying only, with a mildnefs worthy of an archangel, The Lord rebuke thee. Difficult, as I have already hinted, it certainly is, to be at once as wife as ferpents and harmless as doves; never to be angry but with juft reafon; nor permit our resentment to carry us beyond proper bounds. Revenge is too frequently accounted fweet; but furely to the wife and religious, and to all whofe moral tafte is not dreadfully depraved, patience and forbearance must be incomparably fweeter. Revenge draws after it a long and black train of mischiefs, too long and too black for defcription; and what may be the dire catastrophe who can determine? To say the very leaft, a revengeful temper fuffers inquietudes, to which the mild and forgiving difpofition is entirely a stranger. ANIMATED by fuch a fpirit, we not only are exempted from the perturbations endured by the furious and vindictive, but compel our very enemies to be our fervants, our fervants with regard to our better interest, if they will not be our friends. ANIMATED by fuch a spirit, we resemble the inhabitants of Heaven, are prepared and attempered for Heaven ourselves, and muft experience fome anticipation or foretafte of the heavenly felicity. This bleffed disposition, and the hope of that glorious state, supported the martyrs under all their fufferings; and, accompanied no doubt with unusual grace, endued them with a conftancy, which filled even their enemies with astonishment. The Chriftians fmiled on the various tortures, in the very preparation of which their perfecutors were tired and exhausted. What are the little injuries we fuffer, to the diftreffes and agonies which they underwent? Ought not we therefore, like them, to contemplate with an eye of faith that exalted world, where instead of envy, malevolence, detraction, infult, injuftice, perfonal animofities, party contentions, and national wars, all fhall be harmony and love? There the wicked ceafe from troubling, and there the weary are at reft. There the meek and forgiving fhall be infinitely more than compenfated for all the injuries L 3 injuries they have fuffered. There they shall be raised to that fummit of felicity, which is ftyled with an emphafis at present but little comprehended, the joy of their Lord. Thither, we are affured, the Prince of Peace hath long ago afcended, there he fits at the right hand of his Father in all the glory and majesty of Heaven, and is so far from being rigorous in marking iniquities, that he maketh interceffion for all the truly penitent. Aftonishing goodness! Ineftimable privilege! Our very Judge is our advocate! If we are not wrought upon by the facrifical fufferings, the example and interceffion of our bleffed Redeemer, fo as to become placable ourselves, what can melt our hearts? If we forgive not an hundred pence, how can we expect to be forgiven ten thousand talents? LET us cherish therefore the temper, and practise the duty here recommended, that we may experience the ferenity and the blissful hope, which otherwise we can never attain. Bear up. O my foul, with firmness and patience, however thou art provoked or tried. Confider how fast thou art haftening to the period of this troublefome life. Though thou art toft here upon a tumultuous ocean, be |