here, to be the price of an eternity of bliss. He is shown as "the Father of mercies," and "the God of all comfort and consolation,"+ "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." His mercy is everlasting, and his compassion is of that nature described by the Psalmist: "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." How can he then take pleasure in the cruelty, and hatred, and thirst for destruction manifested by man towards his fellow creatures? The Father in heaven pities, even as an earthly father, his children, for pity is a ray of divinity sent to bless mankind. Let us then suppose a parent with a numerous and a happy family. He delights to behold his offspring tending to his honour, and living so as to reflect praise upon the author of their being. He loves them, and is beloved by them; and that affection exists which is afforded by a parent's sympathy and a child's gratitude. Suddenly his children allow their passions to overcome their better dictates; anger flushes every countenance; each nerve is strained to violence; they grasp destructive and a terrible conflict ensues. The paweapons, ternal voice is uplifted in vain; in vain he foretells the consequences, and implores them by the ties of brotherhood, the duties of filial reverence and + Rom. xv. 5. 2 Peter iii. 9. * 2 Cor. i. 3. : affection, to stay their murderous hands, and to calm their fratricidal madness. The combat continues they bleed, they fall, and with rage on their brows, and crime within their hearts, they miserably perish by each other's hand before the very face of their parent. As that father pitieth his erring and ill-fated children, even so pitieth the Holy Creator, with a divine pity, his blind and sinful creatures. He laments our fall; he grieves, if the expression may be used, when his created stain their souls with guilt; he sorrows that those who were formed to praise and glorify their Maker, and to promote the welfare of their brethren, should recklessly plunge into wickedness that must separate them from their Father for ever. This heaven-born pity visited the earth with Jesus; and he continually reminds us that we are to be actuated by its influence towards our fellow beings, in the same proportion that we desire it from them, and, above all, that we hope for it from God. The Creator is also "a God of peace,"-" of all peace."* His peace lives in the calm mind, unruffled by the storm of passion; in the pure and virtuous heart, that knows no guile. His peace is not torn by the pangs of conscience, nor disturbed by fear; it is of that excelling nature, *Rom. xv. 33, &c. that it "passeth all understanding." The reward of a sincere faith in Providence, and of a ready performance of his will, it affords to all the seeds of true happiness in this world, and will accompany the soul in its flight to that tranquil abode beyond the grave, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. SECTION 2.-Duty to Man. The duty of man to man will be developed in the course of our review of the Gospel, but it may be said to be comprised in the two concise, yet important rules delivered by our Lord, "Love thy neighbour as thyself," and "Do unto others as you would they should do unto you." The due operation of these two precepts would admit our fellow beings to share the ruling principle of selflove, and admit them to every privilege that we ourselves would enjoy. Their evident intention is to root out all selfishness, and to teach us, that where we would not suffer, we must not inflict suffering. The religion of Jesus has not only inspired us with a knowledge of the Divine attributes, and of the nature and destination of human creatures; it has not only elevated man, and demanded reverence for life, but it also infused new opinions, and, in fact, new minds into its professors. Many of the Jewish principles were narrow and exclusive : these were now to be dispelled, and a more liberal range of the affections was to be encouraged. The Christian doctrines place no limit to philanthropy. A species of virtue, but little reverenced in the most enlightened days of pagan antiquity, was now introduced; and it substituted for the dazzling qualities of martial valour and ambition, the exercise not only of public duties, which are consistent with the Christian law, and beneficial to man, but also of every private, unobstrusive, and peaceful office, that has for its object the temporal and spiritual advantage of the human family. The contrast between the popular and the Christian hero, has been faithfully traced by Paley. "The truth is," he says, "there are two opposite descriptions of character under which mankind may generally be classed. The one possesses vigour, firmness, resolution; is daring and active, quick in its sensibilities, jealous of its fame, eager in its attachments, inflexible in its purpose, violent in its resentments. The other, meek, yielding, complying, forgiving; not prompt to act, but willing to suffer; silent and gentle under rudeness and insult; suing for reconciliation where others would demand satisfaction; giving way to the pushes of impudence; conceding and * "Evidences of Christianity." Part ii. chap. 2. indulgent to the prejudices, the wrong-headedness, the intractability of those with whom it has to deal. The former of these characters is, and ever hath been, the favourite of the world. It is the character of great men. There is a dignity in it which universally commands respect. The latter is poor spirited, tame, and abject. Yet so it hath happened, that, with the Founder of Christianity, this latter is the subject of his commendations, his precepts, his example; and that the former is so in no part of its composition.” The wicked passions had erected an idol which all men worshipped: Jesus laid it prostrate, exposed its evils, and substituted an angel in its place. It is not a duty, but a crime, in a Christian to rear his fame on the ruin and misery of his brethren.* This is not the glory they seek, who believe in the mission of Jesus; but they follow, or profess to follow, the advice of Paul,-" He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord;"+ and "let no man glory in men."‡ According to the tests of our faith, Alexander, Hannibal, Cæsar and Bonaparte, are viewed with horror and with pity; while Penn, Howard, Wilberforce, Clarkson, Sturge, and other philanthropists, who have exerted themselves in the cause of universal love and happiness; who have devoted *See Note D. +1 Cor. i. 31. 1 Cor. iii. 21. |