you to the haggard countenance and the tortured heart of the murderer-I will not point you to the victorious duellist as he bends over his bleeding antagonist, and bid you think of the cheerless days and sleepless nights which are to follow-nor yet to him who, by some overwhelming infliction, has laid his victim in the dust, and doomed him to a life of poverty. In these cases, the misery of the success is too apparent to need comment. But observe him who has returned an injury by some slight insinuation-some whisper of detraction-some more trifling and common retaliation-see him looking upon the object of his resentment, and feeling that he has triumphed-that he has tarnished his reputation and blasted his hopes -and tell me if you think the peace of heaven attends his success. On the other hand, observe him who, by returning kindness, has softened and overcome the aggressor, and from an enemy, made him a friend. Does he not, think you, enjoy a peace of soul-an inward delight, to which the other is a stranger?-From these considerations, then, it is evident that the rule which requires us to overcome evil with good, is adapted to the constitution of man.

II. The rule of the Christian philosophy is also best adapted to man's character and condition. The truth of this position must be admitted, if we regard man in any of the three following aspects:-1st. As a social being; 2d. As a sinful being; 3d. As a dying, yet accountable and immortal being.

1st. As a social being;

If we consider the relations which, from his infancy, man sustains, it will appear evident that it is the design of the Creator that he should cultivate the kindly affections. Life begins with the tender relations of parents and children, and brothers and sisters-relations eminently calculated to call forth kindness and sympathy. The earliest feeling awakened in the heart of the infant, seems to be that of love. Its first act of intelligence is to recognize its mother with a smile. The mother's kindness soon leads the child to select her from all others, and throwing around her its little arms, to cling to her as the

object of its affection and confidence. From this early period, the child grows up in the bosom of a family where the tender affections are daily cultivated, and extended to other objects, until parents, and brothers, and sisters, and perhaps grand-parents, are included in the circle of its love. Now what is this but an evident preparation for after-years? These relations are designed to give character to the child, and to fit it for the still larger circles of life-and to teach it to regard all men as members of the same family, where sympathy, and love, and beneficence, may find new objects, and more enlarged exercise. To entertain affections other than kindly, is then contrary to the first lessons instilled into our minds.

Further, our rule is suited to man as a social being, because he is hereby called to cherish and exhibit those affections towards others which he daily needs that they should cherish and exhibit towards himself. Were we ourselves wholly free from the same condemnation in which we include evil doers, we might, with propriety, assume the office of a judge, and administer punishment to those who wrong us. But where is the man living who is not conscious of having, at some time of his life-in some way-injured a fellow man? Search the whole human family-and find, if you can, one who, neither by thought-nor word-nor act-has injured another. Surely, then, the recollection of our own faults should make us forgiving and benevolent when injured by others. For by condemning others, we condemn ourselves.

2d. As a sinful being;

Who is this that would return evil for evil? Is he not a sinner? Has he not in a variety of ways, and under the most ag gravated circumstances, returned evil for good to the very God who made him and sustains him? Is he not living on the mercy and forbearance of that God? Is he not daily indebted for all his enjoyments to a disposition in his Maker, directly the reverse of his own? Is not God himself seeking to overcome evil with good-sending his rain upon the just and the unjust? Is it not owing to His forbearance that the sword of justice still slumbers in its sheath-that the sun shines bright

upon the sinner's path-the earth looks fair to him—and the flowers bloom sweetly? Especially, what but the love of the God whom he is daily offending, warns him, and pleads with him, and points him to a Saviour's blood? Is it, then, for man -sinful man-to return evil for evil to his fellow man?

3d. As a dying, yet accountable, and immortal being ; The heart that is now swelling with anger, will soon be in the dust. The lips that are now uttering imprecations and resentments, will soon be sealed in death. Shall he indulge feelings of resentment whose body is hastening to the grave, and whose soul to the bar of his Judge? How shall he hope for forgiveness who now feels none himself? Let him call to remembrance the parable of the servant who, indebted to his lord ten thousand talents, and forgiven all that debt, laid hands on his fellow servant, for an hundred pence, and cast him into prison. "O, thou wicked servant," said his lord, "I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me-shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?" And then his lord cast him also intó prison, until he should pay the debt. "So will also your heavenly Father do unto you, if ye, from your hearts, forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

III. The rule of the Christian philosophy points out the only way by which a real and permanent victory over evil can be secured. We have seen that it is only by kindness that you can awaken kindness. By resentment and retaliation, you only call forth a repetition of the evil, and perhaps increased in bitterness. If you continue to act on the same principle, the evil must be again returned, and again received, with the increase, till at length it must result in some appalling outrage. Trifling injuries have often ended in scenes of blood-slight resentment has grown into hatred--and hatred into burning rage! But by returning kindness for injury, you subdue the heart. This is a real victory. You may, if you have superior power, bring the body into subjection, but the mind remains unvanquished. You may load an enemy with chains, but he is

your enemy still-you may immure him in a dungeon-but even there his heart is meditating revenge. You may, by authority or force, compel one who has injured you to repair the wrong, or to suffer for it--but does this make him your friend? No-had he power and opportunity, he would repeat the evil. But follow the course prescribed by our rule-you subdue the heart, gain a conquest over the whole man, convert an enemy into a friend. You may now, without fear, place your reputa tion in his hands-he will defend it; you may lie down and slumber at his feet--he will protect you. And this victory will be permanent. It has been gained, not by physical power, but by a power which has entered the soul, and brought out upon your side the nobler feelings of its nature.

Finally, how truly noble is the nature of the contest here proposed! "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." To rise above the impulses of a fallen nature—to conquer the evil passions, first in our own breasts and then in those of others, is indeed a victory. It is implied by the rule, that the contest is at first defensive-be not overcome of evil—repel aggression, by preserving a tranquil and benevolent mind, and soon its force will become exhausted. And then act upon the offensive-overcome evil with good-heaping benefits upon the aggressor--and you subdue his heart, win his love, and render it impossible for him to do you injury. What a sublime triumph! But the victory does not stop here. You learn to live and act as a spiritual and immortal being. You feel that it is not in the power of others to injure you-you only can injure yourself. You cover yourself with a panoply impenetrable. And then the voice of conscience assures you that you are at peace with Him who alone has power to hurt and to destroy. If our hearts condemn us not, then have we Peace with God. Besides, all heaven regards you as a victor, and in heaven you shall find your victory acknowledged and complete.

ARTICLE IV.

VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS THE PRESENT CRISISCONCERT OF PRAYER FOR PEACE.

BY THE EDITOR.

DON MIGUEL, who fled for refuge to Italy, is threatening to return to Portugal, and declaring the disposition made of certain ecclesiastical revenues, under the authority of the present government, void. There is, however, little probability that the affairs of Portugal will soon be again disturbed.

The contest for the throne between Don Carlos and the ac. tual Queen of Spain, still continues. Don Carlos had gained the ascendency so far that England, as a party to the Quadruple Alliance, gave permission to her subjects to enlist in the service of the Queen of Spain. Says the (London)Christian Observer, for July last-" An army is now raising in London, under the command of Colonel Evans, M. P. It is a wicked and disgraceful proceeding. Defensive warfare, (as we have remarked in a former page of this number,) we believe to be, though direful, yet lawful; but to bear arms as a mercenary in a foreign service-to agree to kill or be killed for a shilling a day, as a mere trade-(and still worse, if for ambition,) is a savage and brutal infraction of morality and religion."—It would be well, and, perhaps, save from much mistake, for those who assert defensive warfare to be lawful, to accompany the proposition with a definition of the terms. It would be well if they gave some clue to the extent of their signification; and we beg leave to ask, how many soldiers enlist from any other motive than the shilling a day; and how many officers engage in military service from any other motives than their salaries and their ambition? We believe the number to be extremely small. And if it be disgraceful to agree to kill or be killed for a shilling a day, what shall we think of seizing men, tearing them from their families, carrying them, no mat