If to the altar thou with gifts repair Unreconcil'd, expect no audiance there! Propitiate first thy brother, else in vain From Hearn thou dost acceptance hope to gain.

BROTHERLY LOVE.

Forgive, forgiven! my followers prove;
Melt curses down with pray'rs, and hate with love,
Your great exampler, make that love divine,

Whose fruitful show'rs still fall, whose sun does shine.

BY our brother, we are to understand any person, though ever so much our inferior; for we are all made of one blood. Opprobrious language to our brother, when it proceeds from anger and malice within, is great wickedness. Christ Christ says," Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." (Matthew v. 22.) Let us then carefully preserve and promote christian love and peace with all our brethren; and if at any time a breach happens, we should labour

for a reconciliation, by confessing our fault, begging his pardon, and making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed; and this we should do quickly: because, till this be done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances.

When we are addressing ourselves to any religious exercises, it is good for us to take that occasion of serious reflection and selfexamination. Envy, malice, and uncharitableness are so displeasing to God, that nothing can please him which comes from a heart so corrupted. Love is so much better than all burnt-offerings and sacrifice, that God will have reconciliation made with an offended brother before the gift is offered. "Leave there thy gift before the altar." One sin will never excuse another, but will rather double the guilt. Want of charity cannot justify the want of piety. The diffi

culty is easily got over: those who have wronged us, we must forgive; and those whom we have wronged, we must make satisfaction to, or at least offer it, so that if reconciliation be not made, it may not be our fault. Till this be done, we lie exposed to much danger. If the offence we have committed exposes us to legal punishment, it is our wisdom and duty to prevent that by humble submission, and a just and peaceable satisfaction. A prison is an uncomfortable place to those who are brought to it by their own pride and prodigality. And also upon a spiritual account, because while the quarrel continues, they are unfit to come to the table of the Lord, so they are unfit to die; if they persist in this sin, there is danger lest they be suddenly snatched away by the wrath of God, whose judgment they cannot escape. Hell is a prison for all that live and