, 1900-05-22

but let some unfortunate person be
credited with having made a mistake.
and there seems no power on earth TO
stop the circulation of an evil report.
Friends, If we have any of the spirit
of Jesus Christ, which is love, for He
never ~rejoiced in unrighteousness, if
We have anything to say about upright
eousness, let us say it in prayer to God
that it may be untrue, and that we
may be saved from a similar offence.
Again St. Paul says-love covereth
all things. This reminds us of what
st. Peter says. l Epistle AS. Above
all things nave fervent charity among
yourselves, for charity shall cover the
multitude Of sins. Also st. James V:20
Let him know that he which CONVEX
teth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a sou from death and
shall hide a multitude of sins. This
passage of St. James does not mean
that liberality, gifts or money to the
cause of Christ. 1t means if anyone
err from the truth and one convert
him by inducing him to turn back to
God and repent of his sins. Let such
a loving servant of Christ know for
certain that he who turns a sinner
from the evil Of his ways shall become
the instrument of saving the sinners
soul, and covering over the multitude
however great it be, of that sinners
sins.
God is love. Gods love always ex-
presses itself in mercy and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is the covering. If Gods
love is in our hearts we will throw the
covering off over %offenses. of which
proof beyond any doubt has been
thrust upon us. But where no proof
exists, love throws over it the mantle
of silence.
We love ourselves sufficiently to veil
and cover our own faults. Now if we
truly loved others, as We do ourselves,
the spirit of God would cover theirs
also.
Listen to what prominent men OF
history have said.
"Calumny," says ar old divine.
would o o starve and die of itself, if
nobody took it in and gave it a lodg-
ing. There would not be SO many open
mouths, if there were not so many
open ears Bacon says that the
worthiest persons are frequently at
tackled by ISLANDERS, as we find that tc
be generally the best fruit which the
birds have been pecking at.
Slanderers are like flies that lear
over all a mans good parts to ligh'
only upon his sores.
Peter the Great when anyone was
speaking i'll of another, would short,
ly interrupt him and say, Well but ha.
he not a bright side? come tell me
what you have noticed excellent il
him. 1t is easy to splash mud, but
would rather help a man to keep hi.
coat clean"
The great need of this feverish ag,
is Gods love in the heart, and the prac
tice of the simple teaching Of the Cos
pei. Age after age those who lister
to the precious gospel will hear re
sounding through their hearts "Lov.
one another as l have loved you.
Why such teaching on this Sunda,
because it is suggested by the lessons
the epistle and the special prayer
which We call the collect. First les
son. Zachariah. Sth chapter 10th an,
18th verses, says, "These are the thing
which We shall do. Speak We ever,
man and every woman the truth to hi
neighbor.
Let none Of you imagine evil in you
hearts against his neighbor, and Low.
no false oath, for all these are thing
that | hate saith the Lord"
Epistle of st. James-If anyon.
among you seem to be religious an,
bridleth not his tongue, this mans re
ligion is vain. And may we pra,
earnestly in words of collect for tn
fifth Sunday after Easter, 20 Lord
from whom all good things do come
grant to us, Thy humble servants, tina
by Thy holy inspiration we may thin
those things that be good, and by TIL,
merciful guiding may perform tn
same, through our Lord Jesus Christ.