Á PRESERVATIVE FROM SIN AND FOLLY. 273 82. Q. What is thesecond instance.of cruelty or hard-heartedness ? A. 2. If I take pleasure to see others in misery, or refuseto relieve them when it is in my power. Reason against this sin. Because God teaches me to be merciful as he is, but if I should be cruel to persons in misery, I cannot expect that God or man should relieve use when I ammiserable. Scripture, a, Lam. i. Cl, 22. They bave heard that I sigh, and &,ere is none to comfort me : all my enemies have heard of my trouble, and they are glad. 1 John iii. 17. Me that seeth his brother in want, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion fromhim, bow dwelleth the love of God in him ?" 53. Q. What is spite? A. It has always malice in it, and is near a-kin to cruelty ; for it consists ina will ordesire to domischief, and adelight in it. 54. Q. How does it manifest itself? A. In provoking our neighbours with spiteful words,in teazing and vexing the spirits of those that areabout us, in doing spiteful and mischievous actions : and such people are never better pleased than when they can disquiet and distress their neighbours, or when any mischief befals them. Reason against this sin. Such a temper takes away all comfortable society with our neighbours, and all true quiet and peace from the heart where it dwells. The spiteful man path scarce any joy but that of the devils. Scripture. "Prov. x. 23. It is as sport to a fool to do mischief. Prot xxiv. 2. Their heart studigth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. Prov. iv. 16. The wickedsleep,bot except they have done mischief. Ps. x. 14. Thou, O Lord, beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy ¡land. Rom. xiii. 10. Love worketh en ill to his neighbour." 55. Q. What is envy? A. As spite rejoices in the mischief that befall our neighbour, so envy frets and grieves at our neighbour's welfare and pros- erit p Reason against this sin. Envy is a torment and vexation to ourselves, as well as contrary to the love which we owe to our neighbour. Scripture. " Rom. xiii. 15. Rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 1 Cor. xüi. 4, Love, or charity envieth not. Gal. v. 19, 21. The works of the flesh are hatred, emulation, wrath, strife, envying;and they who do such things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Prov. xiv. 30. Envy is rottenness to the bones." 56. Q. What is uncharitableness 2 A. When I cannot havegood thoughts of other persons, nor speak well of them, nor wish well to them, unless they beof my nation, of myopinion, or of my party. When this relates to parties in matters of religion, it is oftencalled bigotry. Noie, Children would not be so often guilty of this sin, if theywere not led into it by the exampleof those who are elder; but some whole families are un- happily trained up in it from their youngest years, Reason against this sin. Because persons of very differéut nations, and con- trary opinions and parties, may have many deserving qualities in them, and be worthy of one anotber's love. Scripture. "Rom. xiv. 3. Let pot him thateateth flesh, despisehim that eateth not, and let not him who eateth no flesh, judge him that eateth ; for God I bath received him. Col. iii. 11, II. n christianitywe are to have no particular regards to-Greek or Jew,barbarian or Scythian, servants or freemen, but Christ is all, and in all ; not on therefore bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, lon,-suffering, &c. Our Saviour in the parable, Luke x. 29. Pt. skews that the Jews. and .Samaritans, how muoh soever they differed in other things, should look upon one another as neighbours; to doall offices ofkind, nets to each other." PART 11I. 57. Q. Having taken a survey of the sins that are committed against God and our neighbour let us now enquire what arethose sins which chiefly relate to ourselves ? A. Acting contrary to our own conscience, intemperance, wantonness, delight in evil company, waste of time, and thoughtlessness of things to come. VOL. T. r5
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