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your conversation be such as becometh the

Gospel of Christ; that ye may be blameless

" and harmless, the sons of God without re"buke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

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Firmness and perseverance in maintaining what is holy, just, and true, are no less unequivocally enjoined. "Beware, lest being "led away by the error of the wicked, ye "fall from your own steadfastness." "Prove "all things; hold fast that which is good." "Contend earnestly for the Faith.” "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of "darkness." "Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly." "Mark them which cause divisions and offences, and avoid them."

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Nor do the Apostolical injunctions extend only to the careful preservation of our own integrity, but to our earnest endeavours to correct and amend others. "Reprove, rebuke, "exhort." "Convince the gainsayers." "Warn "them that are unruly." "He that convert"eth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multi"tude of sins."

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These admonitions sufficiently prove that genuine Christian Candour is totally unlike

that counterfeit representation of it which is indifferent to other men's actions or opinions. It is regulated by a due regard to what is pure and upright. It is such as is compatible with a tenacious adherence to the principles of the Gospel, and a firm determination to promote the knowledge and the practice of its most sacred duties.

The more we consider the subject, the more just will this representation of it appear.

Charity, in its full extent, has reference to the spiritual as well as temporal concerns of our fellow-creatures. The true love of our Neighbour must ever be exercised in subordination to the love of Gon. It requires, therefore, our best exertions to reclaim men from their evil courses, and from opinions or pursuits detrimental to their best interests; as well as the encouragement of their laudable exertions, and the relief of their necessities. To discountenance a man in what is wrong will better prove our kindness towards him, than to connive at his faults: and St. Jude represents it to be as much an act of compassion to endeavour to "save" a person who is in dangerous error, as it would be to pull him out of the fire."

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St. Paul, indeed, carefully guards against any misapprehension of this branch of Chris

tian Charity, by subjoining, that it "rejoiceth "not in Iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth:"

-whence we learn, that what he had just affirmed of Charity, that it "thinketh no evil," must not be understood to imply that it approves or takes pleasure in what is wrong; since this would be contrary to Charity itself, according to that precept in the Levitical Law, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in “thine heart; thou shalt in anywise rebuke "thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon

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him." Neither is it to be imagined that a charitable Christian will be indifferent to the misconduct of others, from any feelings of exultation or self-complacency in comparing it with his own conduct. The Charity here spoken of "rejoiceth in the Truth." It views with tenderness those lapses, or deviations from what is right, which do not originate in wilful Error or Perverseness; and which therefore are not to be harshly regarded as indications of a depraved mind. To such cases it is that this rule is chiefly to be extended. In confirmation of which, the Apostle further adds, that Charity "beareth all

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things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, "endureth all things." It takes no pleasure in aggravating the faults of others, or exposing them to public censure; and would rather

hide them from observation, as far as may be consistent with the honour of God, and the good of mankind. It encourages no vague surmises, no malevolent suspicions; but is tender of the reputation of others, and willing to put the best construction on their conduct. It does not readily despair, even of great offenders, or give them over as incorrigible; but labours with the cheerful hope of bringing them back to a right sense of duty. It makes also, in every case, due allowance for human infirmity, for the strength of temptation, and the power of corruption : and it perseveres in these charitable dispositions and efforts, so long as any sparks of goodness appear to remain.

Let us now compare with this Apostolical delineation of Christian Candour, the spurious virtue so current among us, under the popular appellation of Liberality of Sentiment.

According to its most frequent usage, this term appears to denote either a general indifference respecting the sentiments of those with whom we associate, or a persuasion that every man has a right to entertain what opinions it pleases him to adopt, without being amenable to any tribunal but that of his own private judgment. The term is also very often extended to the conduct as well as the

sentiments of others; so far, at least, as relates to those personal offences against which no provision is made by human laws.

Under the influence of this principle, some of the strangest incongruities of character continually occur in every department of social life. The Christian and the blasphemer, the peaceable and the turbulent, the honourable and the fraudulent, the virtuous and the despoiler of virtue, will be found intermingling with each other, as if upon equal terms, and with equal claims to mutual respect and good-will. How far this is consistent with Christian Sincerity, it cannot be difficult to determine; unless, indeed, we accede to another popular notion, that the worst principles and practice may consist with goodness of heart, and be, in their consequences, harm

less.

If, however, it be said, that this is nothing more than a kind of mutual courtesy and forbearance, not involving any actual sacrifice of principle on either side; the answer is, that, upon every correct view of Christian duty, no such courtesy ought to be imagined; since it is in itself a sacrifice of no mean importance, to suffer even the appearance of raising Vice, and Falsehood, and Irreligion, to a level with Virtue, Truth, and Piety.