desire to promote his own
interests, disposes him constantly to encroach upon the rights of
others; or, if not to encroach upon their rights, to take advantage of
their good nature, to drag them into his service. You might as well walk
for pleasure in a grove of thorn-bushes, or seek repose on a bed of
nettles, as to look for comfort in the society of selfish persons.

VII. Charity _is not easily provoked_. "It corrects a sharpness of
temper, and sweetens and softens the mind." It does not take fire at the
least opposition or unkindness, nor "make a man an offender for a word."
One of the servants of Nabal described his character in this significant
manner: "He is such a son of Belial that a man cannot speak to him."
There are many such sons and daughters of Belial. They are so sulky and
sour, so fretful and peevish, that you can hardly speak to them, but
they will snap and snarl like a growling watch-dog; and if they were
equally dangerous, it might not be less necessary to chain them. All
this is the opposite of charity. The quality here negatively described
may be summarily comprehended in the term _good nature_; but in a more
elevated sense than this term is usually employed, it being the fruit,
not of natural amiableness, but of gracious affection. This temper is
essential to any considerable degree of usefulness. If you are destitute
of it, your Christian character will be so marred as in a great measure
to counteract the influence of your positive efforts. A bad temper, even
in connection with many excellent qualities, may render a person an
uncomfortable companion and an intolerable yoke-fellow, and bring great
reproach upon the cause of Christ. Nor need any one excuse himself on
the ground of natural disposition; for the Lord has said, "My grace is
sufficient for thee." The gospel of Jesus Christ is a remedy for all our
natural corruptions; and we are required to lay aside _every weight_,
even the sin that most easily besets us.

VIII. Charity _thinketh no evil_--is not suspicious--does not lay up
slight expressions or equivocal conduct, and reason out evil from them,
and suffer it to corrode and sour the mind against an individual; but
puts the best construction upon the words and conduct of others that
they will bear, not yielding to an ill opinion of another, but upon the
most indisputable evidence. There is, perhaps, no more fruitful source
of disquiet and unhappiness, both to ourselves and others, than a