then he is more particularly the object of regard and affec

tion.

If the text were more obeyed there would be far less evil in the world; it would be either removed or assuaged. How much might be done by sympathy, [though actual relief were out of our power.] "Weep with those that weep." How much by appropriate advice and soothing conversation; perhaps the sufferer's mind is depressed so as to paralyze his energies. How much by the communication of temporal sup'plies, in measure to be restrained only by the want of means. These might sometimes be by gift or loan. Both are enjoined. "Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away." No measure can be prescribed to love, but prudence will suggest. These rules also apply to those who can interest others, though they have not much means of their own.

(3.) The endeavours we ought to make for the salvation of the soul. In this few can lay their hand on their heart and say, "As I have had opportunity, I have done good to all." Perhaps we have not prayed for our fellow-men, and yet no duty costs us less. "I exhort that supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks be made for all men." Some of you have done this; but have you also furnished them with religious instruction? Have you given personal exhortation, and invited them to the house of God; furnished them with Bibles, tracts, books? If your zeal has carried you thus far, have you had self-denial enough to reprove them for their sins? Neglect here is almost universal. you remember that for this neglect God considers you as hating your neighbour? "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in any wise thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." O! let the time past suffice. There are other occasions of serving their eternal concerns by temporal means, but these are brought before you on our missionary and other occasions.

Do

3. What is the measure of duty to your neighbour? "To love him as yourself." Self-love is thus lawful and excellent, and even necessary. It is not the disposition which leads unregenerate man to gratify vicious appetites and passions.

This is rather self-hatred. Nor that which leads us to grasp at all advantages, regardless of the consequences to others. This is selfishness. But that principle which is inseparable from our being; by which we are led to promote our own happiness, by avoiding evil and acquiring the greatest possible amount of good. This is the measure for our neighbour. While avoiding everything that would injure him in body, family, property, reputation, seek to do him all the good you can, and do it in the way in which you would promote your own welfare.

Now, how does a man love himself? 1. Tenderly and affectionately. Then so love your neighbour. While helping him, never show sourness of countenance or use asperity of language. The pity that is affected consoles almost as much as the bounty. Your succour purchases no right to insult or reproach him. See Jesus: though often surrounded by the vile, the most reproachful saying from his lips was, "Go and sin no more."

2. Sincerely and ardently. This will make him prompt and diligent, in everything he thinks, for his good. "Say not unto him, go and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee." To-morrow? he may be dead, or change of circumstances may put it out of your power to benefit him, and thus the opportunity may be entirely lost. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." The time is short. Our opportunities for doing, as for getting, good are precarious. Now is the accepted time.

3. Patiently and perseveringly. So if we do not succeed by one means we try another, keeping on to life's end.-So do for your neighbour. Be not surprised if for good evil is sometimes received.-Expect, in some cases, to meet with ingratitude in others bounty will be abused; and some, especially spiritual, rejected and despised. But, if this oblige you to change the stream of your benevolence, let it flow in another channel; see that it is not interrupted. Consider how varied the means which God employed with you, and consider Jesus with the Jews, after they had put him to death. "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the even

ing withhold not thy hand." "Be not weary in well. doing."

Having thus explained the text, let us,

*

*

First.

II. Enforce it. In doing this, we make our appeal, 1. To authority. His, who is Lord of all. Such, all are bound to obey Him who gave us being and opportunity of complying with his will, and means of doing so—and who can terminate that being, and require us at any moment to give up our accounts. If you are Christians, and sincerely say, "What wouldst thou have me to do in reference to my neighbour ?" this will have authority, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."-Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. 2. To example. Example is of two kinds. Those we are bound to imitate: these are strictly patterns for us. Secondly. Those which, though we are not obliged to follow, yet, for their excellence, are worthy of imitation. Of the first kind is our Lord. The epitome of his life is, "He went about doing good." Have the same mind, disposition, in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. See his zeal for the soul's salvation, and compassion for its miseries -give ye them to eat. Behold him at the grave of Lazarus. He wept over Jerusalem; and hear him on the cross: "Father, forgive them!" We do not say you can equal him. -Stop-do I forget myself? "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." If Christian benevolence require us to hazard our lives, we should do so. The first Christians did this; their charity is proverbial; their example is worthy of being copied that of Jesus is obligatory.

3. To the connexion and dependance which subsist between us and our neighbour. We are parts of one and the same body, and each is expected to contribute to the general good. Who, from the king to the beggar, stands alone, or is independent of others? He who acts solely in reference to self forfeits the character of man, and should be expelled from society.

4. How much present pleasure arises from the exercise of this duty! Who envies him that does not "rejoice with them

that rejoice, and weep with them that weep?" It is delicious, God-like pleasure-the perfection of delight! "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me." This is present pleasure; and have we not present advantage too? Is not charity a gain? Return here is often a hundred fold.-Then, as your success increases, increase your charities-prosper for others; then you have the secret of engaging God in your concerns; he will bless and multiply the substance in which there is a portion set apart for his afflicted members.

5. Advert to the future recompense of benevolence. "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they

say

also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in pris

on, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." What condescension in Jesus [thus to acknowledge the kindness shown to the least of his followers as done to himself]; what stupidity in us to need urging. I will not read the sentence of the others; I hope better things of you. Hereafter be habitually disposed to do good to your neighbour. The eye of the judge is upon you. "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

In order that nothing material may be omitted that should be attended to on this general subject of love to man, I add, in conclusion, two observations.

1. The love of our neighbour originates in, and is always connected with, the love of God. Moralists may write prettily, but a Christian minister treats the subject not as a moral virtue, but as a Christian grace. His business is to place it on the true foundation-the love of God. In no Gospel, scriptural, Christian sense, is it said you love your neighbour, if you do not first love God. You may do much to relieve man, but the Bible looks not for actions merely, but for principles-and these determine the action to be right or wrong. Though it is hard to say too much on the love of our neighbour, yet remember it is but the second commandment; one law goes before it-the first and greatest.-May it be writ ten on your hearts! Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law. *

2. That benevolence must not infringe upon justice. No man should give in alms what belongs to creditors. This is an act of injustice under the cloak of mercy. Owe no man anything but what you can pay; justice goes before acts of generosity and mercy. (Urge the present charity.) * * * That you may give the more.—

Put a guard on your expenses. Do not confound stations. The rich are not to live as the poor must live. God giveth us all things "richly to enjoy ;" yet think of the naked, the famished, and cut off superfluities; minister less to personal enjoyment.