When the tower in Siloam fell, and slew eighteen men, Jesus said, "think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem, I tell you nay." When the woman taken in adultery was brought before him, and the scribes and pharisees were unable in their consciences, when tested by Jesus, to pursue the accusation,—his reply was, passing by the crime by writing with his fingers on the ground for charity's sake, "Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more."

His patience under sufferings.

"When he was reviled, he reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself unto him that judgeth righteously."

His readiness to forgive injuries.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."d

But, O my soul, hast thou this spirit? Thou must endeavour, if thou wouldest be one of Christ's.

Thy judgment must think no evil.

Thy forgiveness must banish all memory of

THE MEANS.

How then shall I acquire these great excellencies? How shall I presume? how shall I attempt to follow the steps of my Saviour, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth?"a

"Even by ruling myself according to his word."b

I. To be humble.

If I am rich; "if my silver and gold is multiplied, and all that I have is multiplied;" then I must remember that I am only the more dangerously situated by those very riches, because "it is more difficult for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."a I must remember that when Lazarus died he was carried to Abraham's bosom: and that Dives also died, but that in the place of torment he lifted up his voice, even for a drop of water to cool his parched tongue.

If I am high born, I must remember that this is purely a distinction invented by man, and that God can "of the stones raise up children unto Abraham."

a 1 Pet. ii. 22.

d Luke xviii. 25

b Psalm cxix. 9. • Luke xvi. 24.

c Deut viii. 13. f Matt. iii. 9.

If I have beauty. The very flowers have much more beauty, and they are blooming one day, and cut down and cast into the oven the next; and a fever, or a blast of the cold wind, or the falling

mar that beauty in a

beauty in a moment.

shower may

"O God,

thou makest my beauty consume away, even like a moth fretting a garment."

If I have power. If I say with Nebuchadnezzar, "Is not this great Babylon that I have built." Yea, even while the word is in my mouth, I may be driven from men, and eat grass as oxen, and my body may be wet with the dew of heaven.

If I have spiritual zeal. Then let me remember that the self-righteous pharisee was not justified so much as the lowly publican, and that the apostle Paul feared that he might be "a cast-away,' "a and called himself

"the chief of sinners."e

These remembrances will make thee bow

before the Lord, and get thyself to thy God right humbly.

II. To be pure.

Remember the integral purity of God. That no man can stand in his presence and live; so bright the effulgence of his glory, so pure the holiness of his mind; and yet thou must be " perfect even as he is perfect."f

"temple

Remember that to make thee pure, the blood of that very God, who became man for the purpose, was shed upon the cross. Remember that thy body is the of the Holy Ghost," and thou oughtest not to mar God's building, a building, a building which he has thought worthy of his own especial presence, and has sent his Spirit to dwell there.

Remember that thou puttest not thyself into any wilful condition of danger, indulging in impure sights, in wanton conversation, in unholy company, where deeds of darkness may be done, or words of darkness may be spoken.

These things, if thou wilt remember, thou wilt purify thyself even as Christ is pure." III. To be charitable.

Consider "not only thine own things, but the things of others;" "rejoicing with those that do rejoice, and weeping with those that weep; "if thou hast two coats, giving one to him that hath not," and imparting of thine abundance to him that lacketh.

"d

Consider the proverb,

66

Physician heal thyself," that "every one must bear his own burden;" and "look not to the mote in thy brother's eye before thou hast removed the

beam in thine own eye.'

Consider that "by what measure thou metest it shall be measured to thee again; and that as thou judgest thy brother here, so wilt thou be judged hereafter."a

Consider that the great day will come when the congregated nations of the world shall be assembled, and the books open, in which the things done in the flesh are written; "and the dead shall be judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works." O look to thyself, and not to

others.

Consider how great that love was which Christ has borne to thee.

Consider his life, his death, his resurrection. Consider that this love is now being exerted for thee, and will continue to be exerted for thee as long as he sits at the right hand of God the Father, "seeing he ever liveth to make intercession ;" and, that if thou sayest "thou lovest God and hatest thy brother, thou art a liar."d

Consider these things, and then unkindness, and envy, and malice, and littleness of mind, and all uncharitableness, must at once and for ever vanish.

Christ.

Thou wilt have the Spirit of

a

Matt. vii. 2.

с

Heb. vii. 25.

"Rev. xx. 12.

d 1 John iv. 20.