piety of his brethren?  On the contrary, how many of the prayers that are offered up in our social meetings resemble the errands of a churlish man, who never visits his neighbor’s house without entering some complaint against his children!  Yet, we are under greater obligations for the least exhibition of gracious fruits in the lives of his people, than for the daily bounties of his providence, inasmuch as the gift of the Holy Ghost is greater than food and raiment.

X. Thus far, with the exception of the first two heads, and a part of the last, we have had the negative character of Charity.  We now come to its positive manifestations, which have, however, to a considerable extent, been anticipated in the previous consideration of the subject.

1.  Charity beareth all things; or, as it may be rendered, covereth all things.  This seems to be more agreeable to the context; for otherwise it would mean the same as endureth all things, in the latter clause of the verse, and thus make a tautology; while it leaves a deficiency in the description, indicated by the passage in Peter, “Charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”  “Charity will draw a vail over the faults of others, so far as is consistent with duty.”  What trait of character can be more amiable and lovely?  It is the genuine spirit of the gospel, which requires us to “do unto others as we would they should do to us.”  And who would like to have his faults made the subject of common conversation among his acquaintances?  If no one would like to be thus “served up,” let him be cautious how he treats others.  And, if it is contrary to charity thus to speak of the faults of individuals, it is not the less so to speak of the faults of masses of men, as of the clergy or of the church.  The injustice is the more aggravated, because it is condemning by wholesale.  A member of the church of Christ, who speaks much of its corruptions, is guilty of the anomalous conduct of speaking evil of himself; for the members of Christ’s body are all one in him.  It may sometimes be our duty to speak of the faults of others; but, where charity reigns in the heart, this will be done only in cases of unavoidable necessity, and then with great pain and sacrifice of feeling.  The benevolent heart feels for the woes of others, and even compassionates their weakness and wickedness.  It will desire, therefore, as much as possible, to hide them from the public gaze, unless the good of others should require their exposure; and even then, will not do it with wanton feelings.  But these remarks apply with much greater force to the practice of Christians speaking of one another’s faults.  Where is the heart that would not revolt at the idea of brothers and sisters scanning each other’s faults, in the ears of strangers?  Yet the relation of God’s children is far more endearing than the ties of consanguinity.