The Meditation for Friday Evening.
Upon univerfal charity.

Above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectnefs. Coloff. iii. 14.

I.

My foul! our thankfulness cannot be heightened, but by the reviving in our minds the memory of the benefits we have received; and we are very properly led to thefe, when we are celebrating the great inftance of God's love to mankind, in his fon Jefus Chrift. Our charity to all others can never be more effectually improved, or inflamed, than when we take our obligations to it from the love of God to ourselves, fhewn forth in the commemoration of the death of Chrift; and from our being all united in one body under him our bead.

2. Thou knowest that faith without charity is dead; and as I am but duft and ashes, thou must quicken me, or I fhall not be able to profit any thing from all these good refolutions thou haft brought me to.

3. Hitherto we have been fetting ourselves right toward God; but I am told that this is not all, we must proceed further, and inquire how the heart ftands toward our neighbour,

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ince we are exprefsly forbidden to offer ny gift or oblation unto God, if our hearts re leavened with malice, hatred or revenge. For, as Chrift prefers mercy before facrifice, ve muft forgive all manner of injuries, before ve presume to eat of that bread or to drink of hat cup. And it is exprefsly said, that our prayers are not accepted, nor our pardon fealed in heaven, until fuch time as we forgive men their trefpaffes; fo that we can never be welcome or worthy guefts at this heavenly feaft, where Jefus the faviour of penitents, and the prince of peace is fpiritually present, unlefs our repentance reconcile us to God, and our charity to all mankind. Wherefore we are told that it is requifite to be in charity with all men. Flesh and blood thinks this a hard leffon. Tell me then, what if my friend prove falfe, injurious, and endeavours to undo me; must I still trust him, love him, and favour him as I used to do? what if he feek to take away my estate, to hurt my reputation, or affault my perfon; muft I endure this patiently, and feek no remedy, but treat him still in the friendly manner I was wont ?

4. I remember that thou haft told me how christianity obliges us to hate no man; to do no man

any

any injury; to seek no revenge; nor to take any, though it might be done with secrecy and safety: nay, moreover, that it obliges us to pray to God for the forgiveness of fuch as may have injured us in the highest measure, and obliges us to deny them nothing that is due in justice, in humanity and mercy: fo that

5. Their enmity and ill ufage will never excufe me from doing them any fort of good turns that are due to them, as men or chriftians. But tell me; can this hinder me from defending myself from any injury or violence; from recovering what is my own? or, from bringing upon them whatever mischief the law will inflict upon such tranfgreffors?

6. Shall christianity hinder me from breaking off friendship with one who has fhewed himself unworthy of it? nay, I am well fatisfied that the doctrine of Chrift is of greater purity, than to require me to continue him in that confidence and truft, he has heretofore been in, but now forfeited by falfhood and ill ufage. I know there can be no communion between the difciples of God and Belial, so that if we must not hate, yet we may dislike any one that injures our reputation, fortune, or our perfon.

7. This

7. This I understand to mean that we may eafe our friendship as to opinion, but not our readiness to do all good offices; as for exmple, if I have injured any one, I must be reconciled and make amends; and if any one nas injured me, I must pray to God to forgive nim, and so forgive him myself, as to return zo evil for evil, nor take any advantage against any one to their prejudice.

8. Therefore, my foul! it concludes in this: f our adversary be unreasonable, and will not be reconciled to us, it is enough that we have Refired it, and fhewn ourself difpofed to it. Only I fhall always learn of thee to have immediate recourse in all difficulties, which may happen in like cafes, to fome prudent and good piritual guide, who will eafily tell me what is o be done in the matter; and especially I fhall remember, that to be on the forgiving fide is wisdom and pleasure, and fuperiority; yea, t is to do bravely and to be a good christian.

The Hymn for Friday Evening.
Upon univerfal charity.
HAD I the tongues of Greeks and Jews,
And nobler fpeech than angels use,

If love be abfent, I am found,
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.

Were I infpir'd ta preach and tell
All that is done in heav'n and-hell:
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
Should I diftribute all my store
To feed the bowels of the poor:
Or give my body to the flame
To gain a martyr's glorious name :
If love to GOD and love to men
Be abfent, all my hopes are vain.
Nor tongues, or gifts, or fiery zeal
The Work of Love can e'er fulfil.

Another.

;

CHARITY, decent, modeft, eafy, kind,
Softens the high, and rears the abject mind,
Knows with just reins, and gentle hand to guide,
Between vile fhame, and arbitrary pride.
Not foon provok'd, she easily forgives,
And much foe fuffers as fhe much believes..
Soft peace he brings, wherever she arrives:
She builds our quiet, as fhe forms our lives
Lays the rough paths of peevish nature even;
And opens in each heart a little heaven.
Each other gift which God on man bestows,
Its proper bounds and due restriction knows ;
To one fix'd purpose dedicates its power;
And, finishing its acts, exifts no more.
Thus in obedience to what heav'n decrees,
Knowledge fhall fail, and prophecy shall ceafe;

But