66

can do this, and indulge in evil speaking? When the Psalmist inquires, Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill ?" The reply is," He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour*." Paul admonishes, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Peter exhorts," Lay aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and evil speakings." And James urges this explicit precept, દ્ધ Speak not evil one of another, brethren." pecially bear in mind that most admirable rule of equity given by the Saviour himself: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets†." Who would wish to have his own faults exposed to the world, to have his character scrutinized, and the worst construction put on his conduct? Then what we do not wish for ourselves, let us take heed not to inflict on others.

But es

3. It is directly opposed to the example of Christ. When did he slander? When took he pleasure in disclosing the infirmities of those about him? Nothing was more remote from his temper and practice. "When he was reviled, he reviled not again: when he suffered, he threafened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." See him amidst his enemies, with what meekness "he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself!" And even in the hands of his murderers, what did he say?"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Ah! how unlike are many Christians to the Saviour, in this lovely feature of his character. But while we lament our imperfections, let us diligently oppose them, let us labour to conquer them, + Matt. vii. 12.

* Ps. xv. 1-3.

let us "learn of Him who was meek and lowly in heart," and who "hath left us an example that we should follow his steps."

4. It is utterly inconsistent with Christian Love.It was a saying of the ancient heathen, and particularly of Julian the Apostate to his courtiers, "See how these Christians love one another!" Would to God that more of this affection now prevailed! The obligation to the duty, and its propriety as a mark of discipleship, are unalterably the same. "A new: commandment," says the Saviour, "I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.' "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." "Let brotherly love continue."--But how is Christian affection to be evidenced? Certainly not by calumny and detraction: "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour." Charity suffereth long, and is kind: it thinketh no evil: it believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." How benign the influence of such a principle when it appears in its genuine effects!

66

The relation which subsists among the disciples of Jesus should ever be remembered. "All ye are brethren." And shall brethren be at variance with each other? "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." "If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" "If therefore any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."-Is there not, Christians, a peculiar energy in such exhortations as these? "Love as brethren be pitiful, be courteous." "Put on, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,

kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.' "Above all things, have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."

To conclude-Are we guilty of evil speaking? Then let us humble ourselves deeply before the Lord, and resolve by his grace to reform, as well as to repent. Let us, with David, with David," set a watch before the door of our lips ;" and "take heed to our ways, that we offend not with our tongue. If the reputation of any has been injured by our resentment or imprudence, certainly it becomes us to make all the reparation in our power; to confess our fault, if such confession can tend in the least to repair the mischief we have done; and to vindicate the character which we have carelessly or maliciously attacked. And henceforth, as becometh persons professing godliness, "let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

But have we suffered by evil speaking?-Perhaps real faults have been reported to our disadvantage: then let us learn to correct them; and in humble penitence, imploring the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ, we shall derive the highest benefit even from what we regret. Or possibly crimes of which we are innocent, have been charged upon us. In either case, we must not avenge ourselves: "Vengeance is mine; I wilt repay, saith the Lord." Our wisdom is to appeal from the injustice of men, to the righteous tribunal of God, and " in patience to possess our souls." However reviled, let us "commit our way unto the Lord," and in due time "he shall bring forth our righteousness as the light, and our judg ment as the noon-day." It was a wise resolution of Plato, a heathen philosopher, when told of some ca

lumny against him-"I will so live, as that no per son shall believe them." Let us make this sentiment our own, and practically observe it. Thus "in simplicity and godly sincerity we shall have our conversation in the world ;" and with "well doing shall put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."-" Finally whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

201

SERMON XVII.

THE TEN LEPERS CLEANSED.

LUKE Xvii. 17.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

THE miracles of Jesus Christ were many, and are recorded for our instruction. They teach us the sympathy of his heart, and the power of his arm. They confirm the fact, that "he went about doing good;" that he felt the tenderest pity for the afflicted, was ever ready to afford his aid, and to administer relief.

But the acknowledgments he received were not according to the benefits he conferred;-far from it! An affecting proof of the truth of this remark we have in the verses connected with the text. They are highly instructive; and are adapted at once to encourage, to humble, to stimulate, and to reprove. We read thus from the eleventh verse: "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And, as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go, shew yourselves unto the priests.