others who deserve worse themselves; that the sharpest tongues and foulest lives do usually go together; that they who are the strictest judges of their own, are the fairest interpreters of other men's actions; and they who will least pardon others do most excuse themselves; that they who are strangely acute in descrying other men's faults are stark blind in discerning their own. Our Saviour, therefore, chargeth such persons with hypocrisy: 'Thou hypocrite; first cast the beam out of thine own eye:' implying, that they do but falsely pretend a respect for goodness and zeal against sin, seeing in their own practice they indulge it; that it is indeed rather pride, peevishness, idleness, spleen, or selfish design that acteth them.-Barrow.

TURN thine ears unto thyself, and beware thou judge not the deeds of other men.

In judging of others a man laboureth in vain, often erreth, and easily sinneth: but in judging and examining himself he labours faithfully.

We often judge of things according as we fancy them; for affection bereaves us easily of a right judgment.

We must not give ear to every saying or suggestion, but warily and leisurely ponder things according to the will of God.

But alas! such is our weakness, that we often more easily believe and speak evil of others than good.

We might enjoy much peace, if we would not busy

ourselves with the words and deeds of others, in which we have no concern.

If thou canst not make thyself such a one as thou wouldst, how canst thou expect to have another in all things to thy liking?

Thou wilt never be inwardly religious, unless thou pass over other men's matters, and look especially to thyself. Thomas à Kempis.

FORGIVENESS.

Do not, if one but lightly thee offend,
The punishment beyond the crime extend;
Or after warning-the offence forget:
So God himself our failings doth remit.

If his offence be great, let that suffice;

If light, forgive; for no man's always wise.
SIR JOHN DENHAM.

One man heareth hatred against another; and doth he seek pardon from the Lord?

Be sheweth no mercy to a man, which is like himself: and doth he ask forgiveness of his sins?

If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great merry.

LORD, when in my daily service I read David's Psalms, give me to alter the accent of my soul according to their several subjects. In such Psalms, wherein he confesseth his sins, or requesteth Thy pardon, or praiseth for former, or prayeth for future favours, in all these, give me to raise my soul to as high a pitch as may be. But when I come to such Psalms, wherein he curseth his enemies, O there let me bring my soul down to a

lower note; for those words were only to fit David's mouth. I have the like breath, but not the same spirit to pronounce them. Nor let me flatter myself that it is lawful for me with David, to curse Thine enemies, lest my deceitful heart entitle all mine enemies to be Thine; and so, what was religion in David prove malice in me, whilst I act revenge under the pretence of piety.Fuller.

LET not the sun in Capricorn go down upon thy wrath, but write thy wrongs in ashes. Draw the curtain of night upon injuries; shut them up in the tower of oblivion, and let them be as though they had not been. To forgive our enemies, yet hope that God will punish them, is not to forgive enough: to forgive them ourselves and not to pray God to forgive them, is a partial piece of charity. Forgive thine enemies totally: and without any reserve, that, however, God will revenge thee.-Sir Thomas Browne.

IN taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing it over, he is superior; for it is a prince's part to pardon. And Solomon, I am sure, saith, It is the glory of a man to pass by an offence. That which is past is gone and irrevocable, and wise men have enough to do with things present and to come therefore they do but trifle with themselves that

labour in past matters. There is no man doth a wrong for the wrong's sake; but thereby to purchase himself profit, or pleasure, or honour, or the like. Therefore, why should I be angry with a man for loving himself better than me? And if any man should do wrong, merely out of ill-nature, why, yet is it but like the thorn or briar, which prick and scratch because they can do no other.-Lord Bacon.

Look on your enemies. If the precepts of the Gospel disarm you towards them, Divine Justice will be disarmed towards you. The sentiments of love which you have for them, the commiseration of heart, the sincere and unfeigned reconciliation, the earnest desire to do them kindness and to testify your love; all these emotions which you feel towards them, God will feel for you.

How consoling are these reflections for the humble! How sweet it is for us whose hearts are overwhelmed with a consciousness of sin! How soothing it is, in the midst of the fears and anxieties which, on the approach of death, are caused by the remembrance of the many wrongs we have committed during our lives! How consoling is it to think that we may, as it were, be our own judges, and judges as indulgent as we can desire to be; able to pronounce, as it were, our own sentences, and sentences as favourable as it is possible to wish for.