570 PAlbILEGE OF THE LIVINGAEOVE THE DEAD. of the cross blossoms with grace and glory. Put them in mind of the examples of divine deliverance, when there has been no outward prospect of help and hope. Lead them to a meditation of the heavenly state : Point their thoughts upward : Direct their faith and their hopethither teach them to look at the things that are unseen and eternal, that they may be able in the language of faith to say, as These light- afflictions which are but for a moment, are working for us an eternal weight of gfory ;" 2 Cor. iv. 17. There are no sorrows among_the inhabitants of heaven, no sufferings there, no pain, no¡complaint; nor is there any need of yourconsolations': This is a work you cannot.do in paradise, but God delights to see his children here comfort one another in their travels through this valley of tears, this tiresome wil- derness ; 1 Thess. iv. 18. -'Then let us give our fellow-chris- tiens their due of consolation, and offer to our God the sacrifibe ofhis delight. - , VI. Forbearance and forgiveness of real or supposed inju- ries, is a grace to be practised only by the living christian:--- 'Christ Jesus our Lord demands it, and lays a bar upmn - hopes of the forgiveness of God, if ye refuse it'to your i creatures ; Mat. vi. 14, 15. And the great epostl .itrex s u to practise it. Put on therefore, as the elect of ! hol,v : d beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbl ¿ind, mc k- ness, long-suffering; forbearing one anothei, rgiving % °te another, if any man hath a quarrel against any: .±cesz as Cr.rest forgaveyou, so also do ye; Col. iii. 12, 13. Charity, or love, as it should be translated, suffers long, beareth all things, and hopeth all things; and though considered in the general notion of love to the saints, it lites for ever in heaven ; yet these special exercises of it belong to this world; Charity or love is not easily provoked, it thinketh no evil, gives every thing the best turn that it will bear, andputs thè best sense upon all things that are spoken. O that every living christian might adorn his professionwith the -exercise of this virtue ; 1 Cor. xiii. 4 -8. Meekness is a grace which has no place in the upper world, in this respect, that it hasno trials there. Glorify God yourSaviour therefore in the days of your trial here below, and he ye meek and lowly as he was ; be ye slow to anger, and swift to forgive, as God your Father is. When you hear- a word of offence or reproach spoken, and feel the rising ferment of the blood, watch against it, subdue it : This is the hour of battle, see that ye come off conquerors. When there is a word of bitternesss upon your tongue, stifle it, and keep si- lence, subdue the temptation, and prevent that sin ; give glory to God in this °manner, which the saints in heaven cannot do,
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