revenge. He has received some injury, and he feels inclined to return "evil for evil." This is natural: it is natural to man, in his present perverted state of mind: but though natural, it is not the less sinful. The Divine Master forbids it; for He knows well, that the indulgence of such passions is not for man's true good or happiness; that though revenge be "sweet," it is the sweetness of deadly poison to the soul. "Thou shalt not avenge," is His command: "thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people: but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."[1] The young man struggles hard against the burning passion rising in his heart. He is almost overcome: but he calls to mind the words, "Vengeance is mine—I will repay, saith the Lord."[2] "He has wronged me," he says to himself; "but I will leave him to his God, who will see justice done between us: it is not for me to sin, because he has sinned." This is as far as the young man can go, perhaps, at present. But after a few such conquests, he will be able to go further. He will find that a spirit of forgiveness, a readiness to pardon one who has done him an injury, has gradually arisen in his heart. And persevering in the same spiritual course—every temptation being made a stepping-stone to higher states of purity and heavenly-mindedness,—he at length will come into a settled state of peace, which cannot be disturbed. He finds at length no disposition to return injury for injury, nor evil for evil: and then he begins to have some understanding of the meek spirit of the Divine Saviour, when from
