Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-11-16
From the Boston Intelligencer.
What is loue to our neighbour ?

That we must love our neighbours as
ourselves, is the divine command. That
all mankind are our neighbours, cannot
admit doubt. Therefore the next en-.
quiTy TO be made is, w hat is love 20 oaiT
neighbour / answer that it consists 10
sharing our bread with the unfortunate,
smoothing the thorDy pillow OF affection,
forgiving injuries, being slow to anger,
judging with charity, healing divisions,
and speaking peaceably to all men.
In giving of our substance to those Of
our fellow creatures, whom misfortune has
reduced to want, we receive in return
more true pleasure than can be obtained
by any other use of it in the conscious
ness of having acted right, of having
done our duty. There are those who
would turn a poor destitute being from
their doors to perish in the streets with
hunger, because he may be an impostor.
Our Saviour says, give to him that
asketh, and from him that would borrow
turn thou not away. What matters it to
us whether the applicant be worthy or IN.
worthy. In supplying his wants We do
our duty, aud if he imposes on our hu-
mainly, his will be the punishment, but
our reward will not be less. would not,
however have it understood that would
give TO one, whom knew TO be an impos-
tor, but that l would not withhold, when
I did not know, through fear Of being inn
posed on.
And in using our endeavours to soothe
the Affections Of fellow mortal, to bind
mp the broken heart and heal the wounded
spirit, are we not creating happiness for
ourselves. Does the look of gratitude
from the being whom we sympathised,
whose head we have supported on the
bed of sickness, or whose heart we as
sisted to reconcile to the dispensations OF
the Almighty, create no sensations OF
pleasure ; Let him who doubts it make
the experiment, and his answer will be,
Yes, heartfelt
In being slow to anger, ready to for
give, we not only obey the command and
the example Of our Redeemer (; We make
for ourselves good name, do ourselves
an essential benefit, for when We err, as
we must sometimes, we are more readily
forgiven by those we injure, and God viii
forgive unto men their sins as they forgive
their debtors.
CHARITY covereth multitude of sins
in a double sense.-If we judge with
charity we mark not half the failings Of
our neighbours, and FIVE mark not theirs,
will they be swift TO notice ours? If they
are, our Father In Heaven will not.
Blessed is the peace-maker for he
shall see the kingdom of God Who
would not for this reward, use every en-.
deavour to heal the divisions which fall
under his notice. Who will not confess
the reward to be far above the labor, as
far above it as heaven is removed from
earth, or God from maD--and Our feel
ings too, who is then, that does not ac-
knowledge they are happier for the exer-
ton.
Oftentimes when sharp word would
make you an enemy, a soft answer will
turn away wfath'-is it not better then to
control our passions, check them when
they would burst forth with fury, and
thereby make friend instead Of 40 enc.
my?
Lei US observe all these points, and We
shall love our neighbours as ourselves (;