evil affections of this kind, by the nobleft precepts, and by his own (the nobleft and most perfect) example.

The infinite excellence and dignity of his divine nature, made all offences against him fwell to infinite degrees of guilt; and confequently rendered the actions of them, liable to all the degrees of punishment, which infinite juftice might have inflicted.

And yet, with what evenness of mind did he endure all reproaches, indignities, disgrace, ftripes, buffetings, wounds, nails, and even the crofs too? He bore all, tho' from the rudeft, the vileft, the most malicious hands, with mildnefs and patience, with meeknefs and felf denial, with humility and refignation, with candour and the highest charity, to his last breath. When he was reviled, he reviled not again; when he fuffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. And what was this for? Why (faith the apoftle) Chrift suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps.

THE Fourth property of charity in my text, is expreffed thus ;-thinketh no evil.A charitable man is not fufpicious of evil defigns at every turn; is not jealous headed; is fo far from working evil himself, that he is not apt to entertain a wicked mistruft, of others working evil againft him.

A fufpicious temper muft needs be contrary to true chriftian charity, because it is the original of anger; and confequently, the original cause of those manifold mifchiefs, which follow that wild and outrageous paffion. Not only families and neighbourhoods, but whole kingdoms also have fuffered in an high degree, by reason of evil furmifes, and thofe alfo fometimes very unreafonable and groundless.

Therefore to exprefs our charity in this refpect too, we should always judge of men with all poffible candour; put as favourable conftructions as we can upon their actions; and conceive fuch a kind opinion of them, tho' the action be fomewhat hard, as we are wont to have of the miscarriages of a friend, which we are willing to call fo many flips, errors, and indiscretions only.

Every thing hath two handles; and illnatured people are evermore apt to lay hold of the wrong one. When a fault is done, they are ready ftrait to think, the injury or affront was intended, and that maliciously, Whereas a man of thought, and temper, and of a christian spirit, would take the thing by the other handle; and call it human weakness, or inadvertency, or by fome other fuch foft name, which charity might eafily find out, to cover the nakedness of a poor man, like unto one's self,

Sometimes indeed, malice cannot be hid, under all its pretences and disguises: Sometimes, the inward wickedness is plain and palpable. And yet even in fuch a case there must be charity, tho' mixed with caution; the wisdom of the ferpent, with the innocence of the dove.

But till the blackness of the heart appears clearly, we must not judge of men with fuch feverity, as if we had God's knowledge, and were able to discover the malignity of the very intention. Favourable and candid interpretations, from unfufpicious hearts, are always the safest and best. And the true way to bring us all to that temper,

is, to be fincere and fimple minded our own felves, as we would have all others be; free from arts, guile, or fordid purposes.

For certainly, none are fo fufpicious of other men, as they who are confcious to themselves of their own guilt; they that practise the arts of diffimulation, and difhonesty; they that leave the plain and easy methods of fincerity, to deal in the intricate myfteries of fubtilty and craft, without regard to a good confcience.

In a word, The ends of human fociety are loft, where truth and fimpleness of mind fail; and that confidence which fupports converfation and commerce is gone, where hearts and tongues are of different pieces; where civilities are traps; where promises are only to draw men in; where a fmile is an artificial glofs upon a treacherous mind; where contracts are methods of oppreffion; where fair pretences are flattering ways of robbing in the dark; and where fhews of friendship are to do the work of an enemy, but with greater safety, and with more certain fuccefs.

Where there is fuch falfenefs, fuch hypocrify, and deceit, people muft needs be as

thy

fhy and fearful of each other, as if they were in danger of wolves and bears.

And for the curing of all fufpicions, nothing is so neceffary, as that fimplicity of heart I am now speaking of; fincere meanings; openness in traffick; plainness in speech; innocence in fociety; faithfulness in promises; truth in friendship; honesty and peaceableness in defigns; fweetness in behaviour; good nature in our mutual offices; and all other poffible expreffions of a pure, harmless, and undifguifed religion:-And this is the great work of christian charity.