fal goodness of the Creator is the most sublime example for the imitation of man. Every moment he is offended by human follies and crimes; yet, every moment, he fhowers on the offenders nothing but bleffings. The rain fertilizes their fields-the fun brings the fruits of the earth to maturity for their use. To guilty man every fun that rifes upon him in peace, and even every herb that springs for his benefit or pleafure fhould be a monitor to remind him of that benignity and forbearance which he ought to exercise towards those who have offended him. Does not every moment of a life prolonged to him by divine mercy demonftrate the injuftice of hatred and revenge? Shall a frail and miferable worm thirst for vengeance when that Almighty Being to whom alone it belongs forbears to execute it ?* Be ye, therefore, perfect, as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect"+-that is, in the language of another evangelift, be merciful as he is merciful." * St. Cyprian. But the most interesting motive for the cultivation of this temper is to be drawn from the great act of divine mercy in the crofs of Chrift. "God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet enemies Chrift died for us.* Behold that bleffed victim who, having lived with meekness amidst innumerable infults and reproaches, died with a sweetness and patience worthy the image and the organ of the divine love to man! While finners were pouring upon him their curfes, he fheds upon them his bleffings. While they were multiplying on his facred perfon the moft cruel outrages, with infinite benignity he pronounces their forgiveness, and even makes the apology of their crimes" Father! forgive them, for they know not what they do."+ Ah! chriftians! what an example to us whose fins were obliterated by that act! It is calculated to touch the deepest springs of the soul. Can we hear his gracious voice and not extinguish every hateful and malignant passion which pride has enkindled in the heart? Can we be the fubjects of divine forgiveness, * Rom. v. 8. and fhall we not be willing alfo to forgive? "Let therefore, all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-fpeaking be put away from you, with all malice.And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Chrift's fake hath forgiven you."+ The reasonableness of this duty will become still more apparent from confidering the infufficient grounds of thofe aversions and refentments that most frequently difturb the harmony of fociety-they are contradictions to our opinions-offences to our pride-oppofition to our pleasures or interefts-injuftice to our character and reputa tion. The most innocent differences of opinion have often given rife to implacable diffentions between various parties; and their minds, foured, irritated and inflamed, break afunder, the gentle and holy bands of humanity and charity. It feems as if the felf-love of men took their judgment under its protection with peculiar fondnefs. Each Eph. iv. 32. one is difpofed to make his own reason the ftandard for others not only in political and religious tenets, but even in the management of the most common affairs, and is offended at thofe differences that must ever neceffarily spring out of the imperfection of human nature. They are imputed to malignity, to corruption of heart, to every unworthy cause that can justify our refentment. Alas! how unbecoming are conclufions of this kind to wife men who understand the narrow limits of human reafon, and the infinite prepoffeffions of the human heart that give a bias to opinion! Genuine wisdom fearches for truth with candor, and embraces it with firmnefs in proportion to its evidence; but, at the fame time, has forbearance for the weak, has tolerance for the prejudiced, and knows no other weapons for the defence or propagation of its opinions but those of perfuafion and conviction. Other grounds of refentment are found in thofe offences to pride and felf-esteem that are so often given in the intercourse of fociety. Not to mention that the infolence and difdain of the rich, and the envy and jealoufy of the poor, which are frequently the caufes of mutual hatred and injuftice, are equally the fruits of an ignorant pride that has not learned to reft merit on its true foundations, the influence of this unholy and uncharitable principle is daily appearing on the most ordinary and frivolous occafions. The different circles into which accident or choice has arranged fociety are made the grounds of a thoufand little injuries that are fuffered to ferment in the breaft, and to destroy their mutual candor. The circumftance alone of being connected with different parties, or moving in different fpheres is apt to touch the pride of infirm minds. You have not obtained that rank in particular companies, you have not received that attention from certain persons which you thought was your due-you have perceived in them a referved or haughty air, you have feen a fufpicious glance, you have obferved a difdainful fmile. Hence arife animofities, hatreds, complaints. Society is difturbed with your refentments. Yet, when the caufe is examined, perhaps it exifts only in your own iufpicions. If it has |