rse.
It is aimed ultimately at the throne of God; and the envious person can
never be happy while God reigns. The effects of this disposition upon
human character and happiness are strikingly illustrated in the story of
Haman, which I commend to your serious attention. Cultivate, then, the
habit of being pleased and gratified with the happiness and prosperity
of others; and constantly seek the grace of God to enable you to
exercise benevolent feelings toward all, but especially those who are
elevated in any respect above you.

IV. _Charity vaunteth not itself_, (or, as in the margin,) _is not
rash_--_is not puffed up_. "It does not act precipitately,
inconsiderately, rashly, thoughtlessly." Some people mistake a rash and
heedless spirit for genuine zeal; and this puffs them up with pride and
vain-glory, and sets them to railing at their betters in age,
experience, or wisdom, because they will not fall into their views and
measures. There is scarcely any trait of character more unlovely,
especially in a young person, than self-conceit. If the youth who is
puffed up with a sense of his own consequence could but see the mingled
emotions of pity and disgust which his conduct excites in the bosom of
age and wisdom, he would be filled with confusion and shame.

You will hear such persons prating much of independence of mind. They
have respect to the opinions of the ancients? Not they! They think for
themselves; and form their own opinions without respect to what others
have thought, and said, and written. They would scorn to consult a
commentary to assist them in determining a difficult passage of
Scripture, or the writings of a learned divine, to help them out of a
theological difficulty. That would be subjecting their minds to the
influence of prejudice, or betraying a want of confidence in their own
infallible powers!--which is the last idea they would think of
entertaining. The long-cherished opinions of great, and wise, and good
men, are disposed of with a sneer. They be influenced by great names?
Not they!

You will hear them delivering their opinions, pragmatically, and with
strong assurance, on points of great difficulty, which good men of the
greatest learning and ability have approached with diffidence; and
boldly advancing ideas which they suppose to have originated in the
depths of their own recondite minds, which they afterwards learn, with
chagrin, are but some old, cast-off, crude theories or speculations,