signification than love, and includes its effects; and was very properly and judiciously introduced by our translators, in consequence of St. Paul's beautiful definition. What the world calls love is a selfish affection; what the Bible calls love is a spiritual feeling. What the world calls charity is a selfish benevolence; what the Bible calls charity is a spiritual affection, outwardly manifested in our general conversation and conduct. Charity in the heart of the Christian, is produced by the inworking of the HOLY GHOST, the SPIRIT of love. "The love of GOD is shed abroad in his heart, by the HOLY GHOST, which is given to him."

With regard to the influence of charity, St. John tells us; "If any man say, I love GOD, and hateth his brother, (and every human being is our brother,) he is a liar." Hatred cannot dwell in the bosom of the Christian. He loves his enemies, persecutors and slanderers with a real and unfeigned affection.

He knows and feels that GoD is of a truth within him, and that God is love.

It is by no means a contradiction to assert, that hatred cannot dwell in the heart of a Christian, while I affirm that self retains a secondary place. Self is not hatred. Anger is the selfish feeling which corresponds to that hatred, which can rest in the breast of the natural man only. Anger is a transitory excitement, but hatred is an abiding principle. Self seeks its own welfare and gratification; but hatred the injury of another. Self injures another unintentionally, to promote its own good; but hatred intentionally seeks the injury of another, to gratify the selfish principle of revenge. Self may be conceived to be the middle point between love and hatred. Hatred is that extended form of self, which can rest in the breast of the natural man only.

That intensity of forgiveness, which constitutes the love of our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, is the peculiar characteristic of the Christian; who

is represented in the Scriptures, as dissatisfied with his present attainment in this respect, and as continually praying for an increase of love towards his enemies, and for their forgiveness. "He that loveth not his brother is not of GOD." "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death." "Whosoever hateth his brother, is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." By loving our brethren in deed and in truth, "we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before GOD. He that loveth not, knoweth not GOD; for God is love." Our Saviour tells us, in order to mark the peculiar characteristic of His disciples: "A new commandment 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.

The love of his neighbour, then, forms

the next great test of the conversion of the Christian's heart; and it is in the ardour of this affection, manifesting itself in his thoughts, words and actions, that he possesses the evidence that he is indeed the child of GOD. The love of his brethren so constrains him, that there are transitory moments, when he can scarcely repress the warmth of his feelings within the bounds, that the chilling frost of human society demands. It is at these times that he even longs for that period, when this restraint will be removed, and he will be enabled to pour forth unrestrained, those glowing feelings of love and of charity, which he is now compelled to repress within the narrowest limits. Oh! dear brethren, that we could catch a spark only, or even receive light from that fire of charity, which burnt so brightly in the heart of the great Apostle; when, unable to restrain the SPIRIT of love, he exclaimed: "I say the truth in CHRIST, I lie not; my conscience also bearing me witness in the HOLY

Alas!

GHOST, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from CHRIST for my brethren." we are all so far from feeling charity like this, that our carnalized understandings can scarcely comprehend the wish of St. Paul. Influenced by the love of God, he is willing that his own soul should be alienated, not from the love of GoD, but from the fruition of the present kingdom of heaven, and from the enjoyment of the Divine Presence; for the salvation of those brethren, by whom he was continually persecuted, and who were ever seeking his death. This is a love, which is even worthy of a distant comparison with the love of CHRIST. "I could wish that myself were accursed from CHRIST for my enemies." Oh! my

dear brethren, that we could receive a spark of such love as this! St. Paul loved his enemies more than himself, but we are required only to love them as ourselves. And this must be the

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