minds and tongues, to fpeak evil of those they care not for. Upon which account, when an ill thing is offered to our belief, before credit be given to a foul story, we fhould confider, whether the fuggeftion may not proceed from an evil heart. Many are apt to take up hard opinions upon truft; which is not only uncharitable, but unrighteous too: Because the party is thereby rifled of his reputation at all adventures. If the story be false, the injuftice is manifest; if it be but probable, there is probability against it too; if it be altogether uncertain, it is not judgment, but partiality, that governs the belief of it: And after all, if accufations be enough, every man must be at mercy for his innocence, tho' his own confcience acquit him.

It is neceffary therefore in all ill reports, to fufpend one's perfuafion till the truth appears; and rather to be for the charitable fenfe, because to be fure no wrong is done in that case: whereas, judgment is iniquity, when it passeth upon furmise; and he that fuffers by the fentence, fuffers not for his own, but for another's fault, that is, for another's too quick and rash judgment.

In fhort, that charity may make us believe all the good we hear, and hardly any thing but what is good; let it teach our hearts to be in love with peace. Reports, whether they be true or false, are difquieting; and whatever the first design of them be, the end is quarrel; a mifchief that is attended with fuch a train of ill confequences, that we cannot be too careful, in using our utmost endeavours, to choak the original caufe. Study to be quiet (faith St. Paul), and to do your own business: If mens hearts and hands were thus honeftly and wifely employed; it would be a concife, but a very effectual way, of fetting their cars and tongues much more at reft.

Thus, Charity believeth all things.

THE next property of it in my text is, that it hopeth all things. As by the former defcription, St. Paul fhews, how we are to think as to things prefent, or past; so by this he directs us, what thoughts we are to entertain as to the future. However men be reprefented, or may appear, we must not despair of them, or give them utterly for gone, as reprobates and caftaways, undone

and loft to all eternity. And the reasons of this are taken from the office of charity; which is to do all the good we can in every respect.

To account a man paft all recovery, is the ready way to fuperfede the use of those means, which in ordinary cafes are thought fit and proper to bring people to repentance, Charity is a moft active and zealous grace, especially when it is concerned about mens fouls. No good methods are wanting there, as long as there are hopes.

True charity is apt to use reprovings, reafonings, counfels, warnings, prayers; every thing that the miserable creature needs; and fometimes the greatest pains are little enough, and too little. But all is thought fuperfluous, and to no purpofe, in a cafe that is judged defperate. All endeavours, as well as hopes, are given over; because none will undertake a task, which he verily believes impoffible. It would be all one, as if he should preach or pray over a rock, with a vain defign to remove it out of its place.

It is a great discouragement even to a charitable man, to have to do with those, whose

whofe fpirits and courfes are wicked, tho' they make great profeffions of religion. And their cafe is the more deplorable, if they trust in themselves that they are righteous, while their hearts and fouls are out of frame. Yet an hypocrite may be reclaimed, tho' with much difficulty. The shame of the world, or the gnawings of confcience, or the melancholy circumftances of a fick bed, or the frightful profpect of hell, or fome outward extraordinary judgment, may in time bring him to a fenfe of his fad condition.

Now, as long as there are fome, tho' but faint and glimmering hopes, there are fome encouragements, fuch as they be. But for labour, which men think will be certainly and utterly loft, they can find no reason. And this is one great mischief, which comes by uncharitablenefs of this kind, that it damps the minds and endeavours of men, and violently hinders the carrying on of the cause of the fon of God.

To exprefs then our charity aright as to this particular, we fhould never quite defpair of any men, nor give over all endeavours for them, as if their condition were altogether defperate; but ufe fuch means,

as are neceffary and proper, to bring the moft miferable wretches, to a fense of their true ftate.

For who knoweth, but one time or other, God may give a bleffing to our labours? Who knoweth, but peradventure he will give unto fuch fouls repentance, that they may recover themselves out of the fnare of the devil?

These are true expreffions of charity indeed, to be always on the working hand; to be still upon applying means, upon ufing endeavours, to let our hearty wishes and prayers accompany our endeavours, and fo to leave the fuccefs of all to God, and all mankind to God's merciful judgment; hoping and thinking the beft we can of them, to the very laft.

THE laft character, which St. Paul gives, in his description of charity, is this; That it endureth all things: That is, it teacheth and helps us to be patient under all our fufferings. Howfoever we fall into a fuffering condition; whether by the particular providence of God, for our

correction; or by the rage and

trial and power of

men;