Happiness dwells only with a ferene mind, and a benevolent temper. Gloomy projects of revenge difquiet, and fill it with bitterness. Corroded by chagrin, inflamed by rage, or devoured by base and secret plans of treachery it is equally a franger to peace. Is the object of your enmity raised above you fo, that the fhafts of your malice cannot reach him? What vexation gnaws, what impotent fury fwells the bofom!-Are your best concerted fchemes of vengeance fruftrated by fome nnforeseen accident? Or are they, by the wisdom and prudence of your adverfary, turned upon your own head? What confufion and fhame!--But you have been fuccessful— you have humbled him by difgrace—you have crushed him by your power-you have made him feel the weight of fentment are thefe gratifications that, in a calm hour, you can review with fatisfaction? No-when the paffions fubfide, and reafon refumes its empire, the work of vengeance always affords food for painful reflection. The maxim that revenge is fweet is a maxim only of the paifions--It is falle. If, in the dark moment of accomplishing its guilty purpofe a diabolical pleasure gleams Kk

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across the mind, the tranfient flash, leaves the cloud that covers it afterwards only the more black and heavy. Hardly could a man invent for his enemy a punishment more cruel than that with which revenge torments himself. It is a cockatrice that flings the bofom that has given it life. Vexed by anxious fufpicions, toffed by impatient defires, the hated image of his enemy is continually before his eyes-it haunts him in the day, and defpoils of their rest even the hours allotted to repofe.-See the reftlefs movements, the convulfed bofom, the inflamed countenance, the pale and quivering lips, the dark and rancorous vifage of revenge, and fay if happiness can refide there. Above all, when vengeance thirfts to drink the blood of its enemy, what direful storms, what avenging furies does it excite in the breast, after this horrid appetite is fated! Then the spectres of murder shoot before the terrified fancythen confcience thunders at the bottom of the foul. Heaven above appears in wrath, and Hell beneath feems to augment her flames, and expand her jaws to receive to a more fearful doom than that of other fin

ners, the wretch who defcends into it all covered with his brother's blood.

If your companion, or your friend falls by the murderous weapon of honor, that prostituted name for pride and vengeance, does a lefs degree of mifery follow this deed? Will not the rank crime of blood ftill harrow up the recollection? Will not the broken ties of friendship fill drop with gore before the melancholy and troubled mind? After humanity has recovered from the frenzy of paffion, can it look on the deep affliction of bereaved parents—perhaps, on the anguish of a frantic wife, and the cries and tears of helpless orphans calling for their loft father, and not execrate the impious deed? Will not the profound griefs, and the heavy curse of so many diftracted mourners light upon the foul like a peftilential breath, and blast all the remaining years of life?—Ah! revenge, however it may be disguised, or fanctioned by the guilty manners of the world, is the cruel poisoner of human happiness. It is daily filling the earth with crimes, and is the parent of half the miferies that afflict mankind.

On the other hand, the gentle fpirit of forgiveness, which is the perfection of charity, preferves a conftant ferenity in the foul, and faves it from thofe rude tempests that would neceffarily deftroy its peace. It imparts to the mind the high consciousness of approaching the fummit of virtue by the command which it holds over all the paffions. By quenching the first sparks of divifion and diforder, it becomes one of the moft powerful principles of focial union and happiness. Where it reigns, a peace and order reigns refembling Heaven, "Behold how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is as the dew of Hermon; as the dew that defcended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the bleffing, even life forevermore."* This exalted fpirit of charity is connected with the best and happiest affections of the human heart. Nay, afcending far above human nature, it derives its origin from that eternal fountain of love which is the fource, and the center of union among all intelligent beings. The

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temper of forgivenefs towards our enemies exercised from the delightful constraints of divine love, as well as from the confideration of those dear and tender claims which mankind have upon us, by being partakers of the fame nature, and heirs of the fame frailties with ourselves, yields the heart a perpetual spring of the moft pure and tranquil fatisfactions. Its pleasures are an infinite overbalance for all the facrifices which fo arduous a duty requires. And it is perhaps, the best culture by which to prepare the foul for that perfect love, and thofe immortal unions that fhall take place in the celeftial ftate.

3. The highest recommendation of this evangelical difpofition is, that it affimilates man to that firit and perfect Being whofe moft glorious attribute is "Love mercy. your enemies, faith the bleffed Saviour, and do good to them that hate you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven; for he maketh his fun to rife on the evil and on the good, and fendeth rain on the just, and on the unjuft."* The univer

Matthew v. 45•