ng by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and
that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there
are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there
are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh
all in all.

We are to come to the Communion this day in love and charity with
all men. But are we in love and charity with all men?

I do not mean, are there any persons whom we hate; against whom we
bear a spite; whom we should be glad to see in trouble or shame?
God forbid, my friends, God forbid. There are, indeed, devil's
tempers. And yet more easy for us to keep in the bottom of our
hearts, and more difficult to root them out, than we fancy.

It is easy enough for us to forgive (in words at least) a man who
has injured us. Easy enough to make up our minds that we will not
revenge ourselves. Easy enough to determine, even, that we will
return good for evil to him, and do him a kindness when we have a
chance. Yes, we would not hurt him for the world: but what if God
hurt him? What if he hurt himself? What if he lost his money?
What if his children turned out ill? What if he made a fool of
himself, and came to shame? What if he were found out and exposed,
as we fancy that he deserves? Should we be so very sorry? We
should not punish him ourselves. No. But do we never catch
ourselves thinking whether God may not punish him; thinking of that
with a base secret satisfaction; almost hoping for it, at last? Oh
if we ever do, God forgive us! If we ever find those devil's
thoughts rising in us, let us flee from them as from an adder; flee
to the foot of Christ's Cross, to the cross of him who prayed for
his murderers, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do;
and there cry aloud for the blood of life, which shall cleanse us
from the guilt of those wicked thoughts, and for the water of life,
which shall cleanse us from the power of them: lest they get the
dominion over us, and spring up in us, and spread over our whole
hearts; not a well of life, but a well of poison, springing up in us
to everlasting damnation. Oh let us pray to him to give us truth in
our inward parts; that we may forgive and love, not in word only,
but in deed and in truth.

I could not help saying this in passing. But it is not what the
text is speaking of; not what I want to speak of myself to-day. I