of personal or inevitable defects,―angry, threatening, and provoking words ;-all actions of the body, which indicate the above-mentioned evil tendencies of the heart.

The sins relating to ourselves are, suicide, or selfdestruction ;-the commission of crimes which forfeit life, or which incur personal confinement, or corporal punishment;-rejection or neglect of the means of subsistence ;-impatience, discontent, self-conceit, -worldly, immoderate, or groundless sorrow ;-indul. gence in luxury, drunkenness, gluttony, sloth, and any sensual excess or vice ;-the use of any hurtful food or medicine ;-the gratification of vanity by any modes of dress prejudicial to health, and of the love of pleasure by dangerous and immoderate amusements, which may injure the constitution, enervate the frame, and lay the seeds of premature debility and mortal disease;-neglect of the avocations attached to our station ;-and an inclination to follow bad example rather than refer to the revealed Will of God in our self-guidance amidst the daily occurrences of life.

§ 4. The punishment pronounced against the flagrant transgressor of this command, "Thou shalt not kill," is in the Mosaic Law singularly severe and precise, demanding, in all cases, blood for blood. Now, though that part of the Law which may be esteemed ritual be not binding upon Christians, we find that the divine abhorrence of the murderer is strongly confirmed, and the wrath of God especially denounced against all who offend even in a lower degree, by our blessed Lord himself when instructing his disciples in his perfect code of Moral Law.

We are not, however, to suppose, that the Commandment prohibits the taking away of life by the civil magistrate, who is a minister ordained of God to execute sentence on the transgressor, and particularly on the murderer: but human laws can only take cognizance of, and capitally avenge, the overt act,— the murder of the hand: to the judgment of God must be consigned the cruel or malicious heart, and the pestilent or vindictive tongue. The Law regards private actions, and not the acts of those to whom power is delegated for the benefit of society; or of such as carry into execution the authorized and lawful commands of those who are set over them,-as soldiers in the performance of their duty, and civil officers in the execution of malefactors.

Neither are all the affections of the mind, which, in many cases, lead to violence and murder, forbidden in every case. Anger is not sinful if it arise from good motives, be directed against vicious objects, be not protracted so as to wear the character of malignity, and be excited only in the maintenance of virtue: so a godly jealousy and zeal in the cause of religion, if tempered by charity and prudence, are laudable; but if exercised with intolerance and indiscretion, are among the most prolific causes of vio. lence and murder, and consequently fall under the penalties of the Sixth Commandment.

1

Job. x. xii. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. Mark iii. 4. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. Ephes. v. 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth, and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. 1 Kings xviii. 4. For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and fed them with bread and water. Acts xvi. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Luke x. 33. 36, 37. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

SECTION II.

Lev. xix. 18. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord. Heb. xiii. 1. Let brotherly love continue. 2 Pet. i. 3. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 1 Cor. xiii. 1–7. 13. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Pet. iii. 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Thess. v. 14. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded support the weak, be patient toward all men. Matt. vii. 1. Judge not that ye be not judged. Rom. xiv. 2—5. 10. 12, 13. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not, judge him which eateth; for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up for God is able to make him stand. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Heb. xii. 14. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Matt. v. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the chil dren of God, Matt. v. 5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 1 Pet. iii. 4. But let it be the hid den man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Col. iii. 12, 13. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, long suffering; for bearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Gal. v. 25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 1 Pet. v. 5. Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God

resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Phil. ii. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Matt. vi. 14, 15. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you : but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespassès. Ephes. iv. 32. And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Matt. v. 44, 45. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Rom. xii. 9. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 1 Pet. iii. 8-11. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile : let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. Prov. xv. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger. Prov. xxvii. 9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Prov. ix. 9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser : teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. Rom. xiv. 19. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. Rom. xv. 2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. Heb. x. 24, 25. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one ano