we are to love our neighbour as ourselves; and if there were no due love of ourselves, there would be none of our neighbour. But this love of ourselves, which is so consistent with the love of our neighbour, can be no enemy to our peace; for none can love more quietly and peaceably than those who love their neighbour as themselves. But there is a self-love which the scripture condemns, because it makes men peevish and froward, uneasy to themselves and to their neighbours, filling them with jealousies and suspicions of others with respect to themselves, making them apt to mistrust the intentions and designs of others towards them, and so producing ill-will towards them; and where that hath once got into men's hearts, there can be no long peace with those they bear a secret grudge and ill-will to. The bottom of all this is, they have a wonderful value for themselves, and those opinions, and notions, and parties, and factions they happen to be engaged in, and these they make the measure of their esteem and love of others. As far as they comply and suit with them, so far they love them, and no farther. If we ask, cannot good men differ about some things, and be good still? Yes. Cannot such love one another, notwithstanding such difference? No doubt they ought. Whence comes it then, that a small difference in opinion is so apt to make a breach in affection? The plain truth of it is, every one would be thought to be infallible, if for shame they durst to pretend to it; and they have so good an opinion of themselves that they cannot bear such as do not submit to them. From hence arise quarrellings and disputings, and ill-language, not becoming men or Christians. But all this comes from their setting up themselves and their own notions and practices, which they would make a rule to the rest of the world; and if others have the same opinion of themselves, it is impossible but there must be everlasting clashings and disputings, and from thence falling into different parties and factions, which can never be prevented, till they come to more reasonable opinions of themselves, and more charitable and kind towards others. EDWARD STILLINGFLEET. The following story, which exemplifies the spirit of selfishness, and the means by which it may be cured, is told by H. C. WRIGHT: - A party of merry children were enjoying themselves in some woods near a schoolhouse in New Hampshire, (America), in which grew an abundance of whortleberries. After playing about until nearly tired, they stopped awhile and began picking and eating the berries. There were two little girls about eight years old, and one of these, by name Julia, had found a cluster of bushes which were fairly black with the largest and sweetest berries. Instead of telling her companion Sophia, who was searching but a few steps from her, of the treasure she had discovered, she, like a selfish child, sat herself down silently and secretly, and began to pick and eat with great greediness. In a few minutes, Sophia coming to the spot and seeing how fine and plentiful the berries were, began also to pick and eat. Whereupon Julia's selfishness kindled into anger, and she cried out, "Get away, you have no business here." Sophia remonstrated with her, telling her that there was enough for both, but she only grew the more angry, and because her companion did not leave the spot immediately, she flew upon her, pushed her with great violence so that she fell, and her clothes being entangled in the bushes, they were torn; her face was also cut by the fall, so that the blood ran freely. This incident at once put a stop to the merriment of the party, and all the children gathered round to sympathize with with Sophia, and reprobate the conduct of her unamiable playmate. The generous child, instead of joining in these expressions of dissatisfaction against Julia, said all she could, without telling a falsehood, in her defence, and protested that she still loved her. After awhile, the children became quite merry and joyous again; all but one, who sat silent and alone, picking her berries, and pretending to enjoy them, though it was plain from her looks that she was thoroughly wretched and uneasy. It was now suggested to Sophia by the narrator of the tale, that if she really loved Julia, she should go to her, kiss her, and ask her to join in the play again. This was a hard task, for the child doubted how she would be received. However, her generous affection for Julia triumphed. She went straight towards her with her arms out-stretched to embrace her. Julia saw her coming, and instantly turned her back, covered her face with her hands, and began to weep. The next instant, Sophia had her arms round her, weeping too. Julia returned the embrace. Her heart had been full of grief and ready to burst from the moment she saw the blood running down Sophia's cheek. But her feelings had been pent up. Now they burst forth in a flood of sympathising tears and sisterly embraces. Julia was received back to the love of the whole party, and she tried to make amends for the wrong she had done, by her selfishness and cruelty to Sophia. Thus was evil overcome by good-thus was selfishness made ashamed, and stubbornness rebuked. Had Sophia, when struck, returned the blow, or had she made no advances towards a reconciliation with her disagreeable playmate, those evil qualities of her mind would have been strengthened and confirmed; both the children, indeed, the whole party, would have been morally the worse for the incident. As it was, the best and most generous feelings of human nature were aroused in the bosoms of all, and they had presented to them a striking illustration not only of the hideous aspect of selfishness and its evil results, but also of the beauty and subduing power of love and forgiveness. This story will be found more at large in A Kiss for a Blow. Of all that have tried the selfish experiment, let one come forth and say he has succeeded. He that has made gold his idol-has it satisfied him? He that has toiled in the fields of ambition-has he been repaid? He that has ransacked every theatre of sensual enjoyment-is he content? Can any answer in the affirmative? Not one. And when his conscience shall ask him and ask it will, "Where are the hungry whom you gave meat? The thirsty whom you gave drink? The stranger whom you sheltered? The naked whom you clothed? The prisoned whom you visited? The sick whom you ministered unto?" How will he feel when he must answer, "I have done none of these things I have thought only of myself!" TATLER. SELF-EXAMINATION. Let not soft slumbers close my eyes, 1 If thou be one whose heart the holy forms Of young imagination have kept pure, Henceforward be thou warned; and know that pride, Howe'er disguised in its own majesty, For any living thing, hath faculties Is ever on himself, doth look on one, The least of nature's works, one who might move WORDSWORTH. That man must daily wiser grow, defect, GAY. SCANDAL; SLANDER; EVIL-SPEAKING, &c. TO SLANDER; to censure falsely; to belie.. SLANDER; false invective; disgrace; reproach. JOHNSON. SCANDAL; offence given by the faults of others; re proachful aspersion; censure; infamy. JOHNSON. My known virtue is from scandal free, DRYDEN. From the Greek verb Skazo, to limp, comes Skandalon, a stumbling-block, an occasion to fall; and this seems to be the original root of our words SCANDAL, (which in French is Scandale); and SLANDER, (which is Esclaundre French, and Scandalum Latin ;) with the various changes they assume, as SCANDALIZE; SLANDEROUS, &c. In the scriptures we are not only forbidden to do ill to any one, but also to speak ill of any one. The tongue of the slanderer is a false tongue, and he who speaks evil of his neighbour, does that which is contrary both to the law as revealed to Moses, and to the gospel as taught by our blessed Redeemer. Solomon tells us that: "These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” PROVERBS VI. 16-19. And four out of these seven things hated by the Lord, may be regarded as characteristics of the slanderer, if not five, for surely his feet are "swift in running to mischief," whose tongue deviseth evil to his neighbour, out of whose mouth proceed words which are as "drawn swords," and to whom it may be said in the language of David:-Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. PSALM LII. 4. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. PROVERBS x. 18. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off. PSALM CI. 5. * * * My duty towards my neighbour, is to love him as myself, and to do unto all men, as I would they should do unto me; To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil speaking, lying and slandering. CHURCH CATECHISM. Laying aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings. 1 PETER II. 1. |