Jesus Christ, "Thou shalt do unto others as thou wouldest that they should do unto thee," will be a sufficient guide to you in this matter. Those who do not like to be laughed at should forbear to laugh at others; and those who shrink (as who do not shrink?) from contempt and sarcasm, should avoid being contemptuous and sarcastic. Happy are they who act by this rule in all things. They will not say anything which is unkind or unfeeling. They will not, we may hope, utter any of those idle words, of which account must be given at the day of judgment.

97

SERMON XVII.

"Wherefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets."-Matt. vii. 12.

IN all emergencies and difficulties, in all cases in which we are desirous to act right, and yet are uncertain as to the best and the wisest way to act, our safest course is to look into our Bibles, and ask counsel of God. There we shall be sure to find the words of life and wisdom, the words that shall guide us in the path of righteousness, and show us what we ought to do, on all occasions, and in every situation of life. More particularly, we ought to study the words which I have now chosen for my text, words which are given to us by our blessed Lord himself, as the golden rule by which we are to regulate all our conduct to our fellow-creatures. If we follow this holy rule, we shall never be unkind, never be unreasonable, never be unjust. Were it followed universally, this world would be a

H

world of peace and happiness. But as this, alas, cannot be, all we can do is to follow it as far, and as entirely, as we ourselves are able; that we ourselves, at least, may not add to the frauds, the unkindnesses, the caprices, and the crimes, by which this earth is deformed, and as it were defrauded of its natural beauty.

And not only should we avoid much harm by always doing to others as we should wish them to do to us, but we should also do much good. To how many kind actions, to how many pleasant attentions, to how many acts of benevolence, which we now omit, because perhaps we do not think of them, would it not give rise? While, on the other hand, for want of this rule, there are but too many people who only think of themselves, and what is pleasant to themselves, without casting a thought on what is pleasant to others. This rule, if well planted in our hearts, would effectually root out the weeds of selfishness; that selfishness which, if suffered to grow up, will render the soil of our hearts barren and unfruitful unto righteousness, and choak up

all the good seed which may

in them.

have been sown

You must also reflect, how much it is for your own happiness and comfort to act on this principle. Those who are kind and attentive to the wishes and feelings of all around them, are most likely to be treated with kindness themselves. Sometimes, indeed, the very best people are treated with harshness and injustice, and meet with ingratitude in return for their good deeds. While the world is composed of the bad and the good, it must be so. No one can expect to pass through life without sustaining injuries of one kind or another from the bad feelings and bad passions of others. Yet, generally speaking, those who are the most considerate towards others are themselves used the most considerately.

In following the rule of the text, there is also another pleasure which a selfish person cannot enjoy, the pleasure of self-denial. Some of you, my young friends, feel, I doubt not, surprised at the bare supposition of there being any pleasure in self-denial. But I re

peat what I have said. I assure you that there is a gratification which a selfish person cannot feel, in giving up one's own wishes to please or benefit another. And what is more, while pleasures of a selfish sort often weary and grow distasteful, this increases with time, and brings with it an ever fresh, ever new, satisfaction.

Having thus shown you how much the obeying this divine law is for your own happiness, I must endeavour to show you how to understand it properly. For though the principle of it is plain, and comes home at once to all your hearts, I have often known of mistakes made in the application of it. And if you fall into these mistakes, you may, even while you are wishing to do what is right, act very unwisely, and even wrongfully.

In considering then what is required of you by these words, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," you must remember that what is required is this, Whatsoever it is reasonable "that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." As you ought not yourselves to expect to re