Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-06-29

pertains to them = do them no injustice as
we would not injure or wrong ourselves
but be ever ready TO throw mantle over
their imperfections and infrmities as over
our oWu,-be pleased with their prosperity,
and feel for their adversely. "Rejoice with
them that do rejoice, and weep with them
thar weep" FL 7@.ss@s s-~-7.-e' u
This love by no means supposes that we
are 10 labor for our neiah bor as for ourselves,
or work for his family as for our own. Such
Ia construction Of this divine precept would
renderit both impossible and absurd. But
it does require that we should have proper
degree Of affection for our neighbor, that we
should love him with an undissembled sin
certify should be free from all malice, ran
cor and i'll viii, yet we should make allow
Iance for his mistakes, errors, and failings,
as for our own, and be more ready to declare
his worthiness and excellency than our own.
This was the love Of some of the primitive
Christians, "who were ready to lay down
their lives for the brethren" Thus Pris-
ella and Aquillaa received thanks of the
churches, for exposing themselves to some
imminent danger to save St. Paul from
death. What was the risk they run we are
not informed, but he tells US, For my life
they laid down their own necks:"
We say then, that as TO the persons of
our neighbors,w we must have their welfare at
heart, as we. have our own, both in soul
and body, and must be ready and active TO
do what in US lies to promote it. We must
contribute what we can TO the health, ease,
and comfort of their bodies. eff our enemy
even hunger, we must feed him, and if he
thirst we must give bin drink" We must
love our enemies not with love of COM
placency and delight for their errors and
wfongs,-but with the love of sympathy,
the love of piety, of forgiveness, and "do
good to them that hate u.s." We must
deal our bread TO the hungry, and bring
the poor that are cast out, to our houses |;
when we see the naked we-must cover him,
and hide not ourselves from our own flesh"
We must "open our mouth for the dumb,
in the cause Of all such as are appointed to
destruction" We must contribute to the
instruction, publication, comfort, and ever
lasting salvation of their undying souls
We must prefer their spiritual to our tenn
poral interests, and be willing to part with
our ease, honor and happiness, to administer
to their deliVerance from sin, death and hell.
As TO their substance, we must be tender
and as tenacious Of their rights as we are
of our own, and no more wrong, overreach,
defraud, or Cypress them, than We would
ourselves,-but on the contrary, must be
ready, as far as duty to ourselves, and our
families will permit, to help and forward,
and not obstruct their rights and interests.
We must feel for their distresses in any of
these respects, as for our own, and be ready
10 remove them if in our power. This is
most beautifully exempliied in the express
ions of holy Job in the day Of his calamity.
(xxxi: 1922; 29-32.) "lfI did despise
the cause Of my man-seryant or of my maid
servant when they commended with me, wha,
then shall do when God riselh up, and
Did not he that made me, make him, and
did not one fashion US both? fl have
d. withheld the poor from their desire, or have
caused the eyes of the widow 10 fail, or have
eaten my, morsel alone, or the, fatherIess
have not eaten thereof, flor from my youth
he was brought up with me as with faith:
er, and have guided him from his youth, y
if have seen any perish for want of cloth
ing, or any poor, without covering; if hi:
Ioins have not blessed me, and il he were
not warmed with the fleece of my sheep
EifI have lifted up my hand against the faith
erless, whenI saw my help in the gate
then let mine arm fall from my shoulder
blade, and mine arm be broken from th'
bone.n " If rejoiced at the destruction o
him that hated me, or lifted up myself whef
evil found him: neither have suffered my
I mouth to sin by wishing curse to his soul
II the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh
that we had of his flesh! we can not b
! satisfied. The stranger did not lodge il
the street: but / opened my doors 10 III
lraveller.n And we must take pleasure il
the prosperity Of our neighbor, 10 soul an
body, in character, reputation, and substance
and contribute TO the same. ....~. .-.<
/ do not say that this means strict an
; proper equality, for the providence OF Go
seems otherwise to order things for the goo
Of the whole And we have duties TO pei
form, TO ourselves and those committed, MOI
! Immediately committed TO our care, OF
/, families, wives, children, and il may be o.