The Christian's Debt of Love.

of riches, or even by an unruly desire, or too hasty efforts to better your condition.

But, it rarely happens that the avaricious man does not, in his haste to be rich, overstep some rule of justice; is not guilty of fraud, or extortion, or of some hard and unfair dealing; and thus immediately as well as remotely, he breaks the law given by God, for the present happiness of man.

We may draw a similar deduction from the breach of any part of the moral law. It is unquestionable truth; that, all the commands of God proceeding from infinite love, every command, as men obey it, tends as well to their present felicity on earth, as to their future in Heaven; and, the doing of any thing, which He has forbidden necessarily leads to evil.

If, then, we loved God, as we are commanded, and loved others as we love ourselves; we should labour for others to have the happiness, the good things, and the enjoyments, which we desire ourselves; and we should seek those things only which would conduce to our common and reciprocal benefit. Our wishes

would

The Christian's Debt of Love.

would be moderate, our views comprehensive, just, and benevolent; our endeavours for our own interest would not disturb or offend society, nor interfere with the virtuous enjoyments of any person. It is therefore, our indispensable duty to cherish this love in our bosoms, to such a degree, that we may not be at peace with ourselves, but in a diligent and unceasing course of beneficence; in unwearied efforts for the present and eternal happiness of man.

In this interesting view of the subject let us for a moment, consider how different would be the condition of humanity, to what it now is, if men universally made their proper payments of the debt of love. Although man must labour for all his enjoyments; and his powers be impaired by the fall, so that he is liable to pain and sorrow, and must at last submit to the natural death; yet the world would be to him a scene of pure comfort and enjoyment, here and there interrupted by his infirmties. Every individual would then cheerfully do his duty in his proper station, for the gain consistent with the good of the whole. All things, to use a common expression, would have their level.

The

The Christian's Debt of Love.

The advantages and comforts of every class would be suited to that class and in exact relation to those of every other; and with them every person in every class would be contented and satisfied.. Not only would the turbulent, and notoriously malignant or hurtful vices cease from among us; but all the unseen and retired enemies of public and private happiness, operating in the recesses of the corrupt heart, where the laws cannot penetrate, would be eradicated. No man would want a clean and comfortable home, with enough for his own; every cottage would be the dwelling of godliness and virtue; a scene of piety, of industry, of contentment, of benevolence, love, and happiness. The sullen discontent, because one man is more flourishing than another, would no where be known. We should hear of no vexatious demands of larger pay than the times afford, and than is necessary to the proper state of him that toils; of no mischievoùs and wicked conspiracies to compel the employer to give higher wages to his workmen, than his trade admits, or than the value of money may render necessary. The tiller of

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The Christian's Debt of Love.

the ground would make no niggardly, sly, and dishonest pretences, to get his land at too low a rate, to the injury of the landlord, and, through him, to the detriment of the public. There would be no exhorbitant, rents of the soil, no oppressive exactions of tythe; no disposition in the tenant to overpay the landlord, thereby to defraud the minister of God's word of his legal due; no cheating or unfair dealing in trade; no overreaching contracts; no adulteration in the articles of human sustenance; no short weights or measures; no unreasonable interest for the use of money. The price of every thing would be its relative value. The mind of every man would be attuned to the circumstances and duties of his condition, delighted to perform the part assigned him by Heaven, and prompt on all occasions, to kind and affectionate offices. Suffering indigence, with its long train of evils, would be banished from among us. Charity would be, what the scriptural expression signifies, love, and would preclude the multitude of sins.

Such would be the happy result from an universal observance of the apostle's exhortation,

owe

The Christian's Debt of Love.

owe no man any thing, but to love one another. But this is a state of things, which we cannot, at present, expect to see. There are, indeed, some passages of scripture, which figuratively and obscurely relate to such a state, before the end; but whether or not it be in the counsels of Heaven that, this state shall ever arrive; at present the condition of the world is far otherwise. While it continues so, those; who obey the law of love, must run the hazard of meeting in return ingratitude, adversity, and affliction in this world; although those, who obstinately disobey it, incur the certainty of the wrath of God in the world to come. But, let not the consideration of an ungrateful return, for our labour of love, be any discouragement to our diligent prosecution of it. Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due time, we shall reap, if we faint not. Every man, who in a virtuous and holy life obeys God, adds to the general stock of happiness, and does his part to fulfil the purposes of Almighty goodness. Although in this life, he may have no benefit from his righteous endeavours; he only is the truly honourable man ;