invidious eye. My brethren purge this out as a piece of the old leaven, allow the great God to distribute his favours unto others in what manner and measure he pleases, without grudging or repining. If you have the love of God in you, you will likewise have a right and charitable frame of spirit towards your neighbour, and all that is his. The mischief of envy is exceeding great; it murdered righteous Abel, it sold Joseph into Egypt, and delivered Jesus Christ into the hand of Pilate to be condemned to the

cross.

3rd. To those who rejoice in the calamities of their neighbours. Some are of such a waspish malignant temper, that nothing gives them so much pleasure as to hear of evil befalling others.

4th. To those who like the Jews love their friends but hate their enemies. "If ye love them which love you, what thank have you? But Christ calls you to love your enemies, and return good for evil, blessing for cursing, and prayers for persecution and dispiteful usage; you have heard that your neighbour is every one partaking of human nature, so that you love some more than others, yet you must love all and bear hatred to none.

GEORGE BEWICK.

Dudley Colliery.

ESSAY IX.

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," Matt. xxii., 36-39. ADMITTING the great fact that life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel, and that the Bible it the only true standard by which to test the principles and actions of men, we have at once an ample source of information to guide us in the discharge of our duties, both to the Creator of our spirits and to our fellow creatures, whom His hands have formed. Influenced by the two great duties, which the Saviour pointed out to the inquisitive lawyer, man no longer lives for himself alone, but for the glory of his Creator, and the welfare of his

race.

Since the first great duty which heaven imposes upon man can only be demonstrated by a right discharge of the second duty, it becomes at once our interest to understand the best way in which we may discharge our obligations to our fellow men. That our duty to our neighbours branches off in several directions will be readily admitted; to direct attention to these, in their several order and extent, will be the object of the following pages.

Be you to others kind and true,

As you'd have others be to you."

1st.-Benevolence. There are few disposi tions more lovely in their manifestations than benevolence. This, when pure in its principles, prudent in its exercise, and wisely directed in its objects, is honourable to its professor, profitable to society, and acceptable to God. It is pleasing and gratifying to watch the workings and notice the plans and purposes of the benevolent mind. The history of benevolenee, in its source, its objects, and comprehensive designs, could not be read without delight and admiration; indeed, so laudable is the spirit, so. noble the employment, so beautiful the character, and so blessed is the reward of benevolence, that one might suppose that men would hasten to record the conduct, and enrol the names of those illustrious persons, who, in liberal devices and benevolent acts, adorn society, and do honour to human nature. That the contrary course often exists, must, alas, be confessed; whether from motives of covetousness or indolence, too many of those who possess the power to be benevolent, exert their skill and ingenuity in framing excuses, or in actively opposing the schemes which the benevolence of more enlightened minds suggest. The sophistry and fallacy of such conduct, is readily exposed when tested by the apostolic injunction.' "Having, therefore, opportunity let us do good unto all We have ample encouragement to the exercise of this duty, since the wisest of men has taught us that "the liberal soul shall be made fat," and he that watereth, shall himself be watered.

men."

"Not soon provok'd, she easily forgives,
And much she suffers, as she much believes:
Soft peace she brings; where she arrives,
She builds our quiet, as she forms our lives,
Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even,
And opens in each heart a little heaven."

2nd. Charity.-A more beautiful and comprehensive view of charity than that given by the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. xiii.), cannot well be conceived. To this view of its character the poet alludes in the preceding lines. The province of charity is not merely the dispensing of heaven's bounties, in proportion to our means, but the exercise of forbearance towards those who, from thoughtlessness or unkindness, endeavour to thwart our purposes. And since the tendency of our nature often leads us to form wrong impressions concerning our neighbours, the cultivation and exercise of this grace becomes highly necessary for our interest and the happiness of others. One half of the miseries of human life disappear before the exercise of this disposition, and the bitter strifes which have at times desolated almost every land, would never have found existence had this principle influenced our race. Whatever affects the reputation of our neighbours, nearly concerns ourselves; since we are all subject to the same vicissitudes, exposed to the same infirmities, and liable to the same misfortunes. Incentives to this god-like disposition may be found on every hand; from self-security, since the Scriptures teach us that "with what measure we mete it shall be measured to us again:" from philanthropy, since the full de

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velopment of this principle elevates man, alleviates his sufferings, and renders earth paradise. When the necessity for benevolence no longer exists, charity abides and ends not but with eternity.

element

3,-Sympathy. The mysterious which binds sects, parties, armies, and nations and renders them one in spirit, is known to us as sympathy-that man owes to his fellow-man this principle, or disposition, is evident since we are taught "to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice." Without it, men would become so many isolated existences, life would lose its joyousness, and this world become a weary wilderness. Its value in all life's purposes and pursuits, is indescribable; its touch is more than magical. The afflicted forget their sufferings. the poor their distresses, and the weary their burden. It has nerved the warrior, given joy to the captive, and made the desert to bloom. Nor is the power to sympathize like benevolence bounded by wealth; the kind look, the gentle word, the cordial grasp, or earnest wish, belong to all, and extend far as the limits of earth.

We have a beautiful and truthful illustration of its power, in the influence which Eva possessed over Topsy; more effective than all our precepts, more acceptable than all our wealth, is sympathy, it penetrates where no other influence can reach.

"Friendship is the only thing in the world, concerning the usefulness, of which all mankind are agreed.— CICERO.

4.-Friendship.-Friendship seems as neces