There is no stronger proof of the inveteracy of human passions, of pride, selfishness, anger, and others of the same train, than the prevalence in the Christian church in all ages, of the spirit of persecution. That it is found in other religions, is not so strange. Among the Jews, for instance, the laws and institutions, both civil and religious, were altogether of an exclusive character, their main object being to keep that nation entirely separate, particularly in their religious customs, from all the people around them; and with such laws, it is not wonderful that they being by nature a haughty and proud people, persecuted with great bitterness both the heathen nations and apostates from their religion. The Mohammedans can with even more consistency persecute those who refuse to give. honor to their leader, for he himself authorised and commanded it, and his religion was established in great part by the swords of his soldiers. The very spirit of his religion is a persecuting spirit, and to spare an Infidel is, in the eyes of his faithful followers, a virtual denial of their master. But how such a spirit could find its way into the Christian church, and always maintain its place there, can be accounted for, as we have already said, only by our knowledge of the stubbornness of the selfish and base passions of the human breast. Yet the prevalence of this spirit is so general, we were about to say universal, that it will not be deemed a work of supererogation, if we bring into a distinct light its direct and utter inconsistency with the Christian Religion. It is so common for christians to maltreat each other, when they do not agree in religious opinion, that we fear some persons are lead to think that their religion itself affords sanction to this barbarous usage.

There is no stronger proof of the inveteracy of human passions, of pride, selfishness, anger, and others of the same train, than the prevalence in the Christian church in all ages, of the spirit of persecution. That it is found in other religions, is not so strange. Among the Jews, for instance, the laws and institutions, both civil and religious, were altogether of an exclusive character, their main object being to keep that nation entirely separate, particularly in their religious customs, from all the people around them; and with such laws, it is not wonderful that they being by nature a haughty and proud people, persecuted with great bitterness both the heathen nations and apostates from their religion. The Mohammedans can with. even more consistency persecute those who refuse to give. honor to their leader, for he himself authorised and commanded it, and his religion was established in great part by the swords of his soldiers. The very spirit of his religion is a persecuting spirit, and to spare an Infidel is, in the eyes of his faithful followers, a virtual denial of their master. But how such a spirit could find its way into the Christian church, and always maintain its place there, can be accounted for, as we have already said, only by our knowledge of the stubbornness of the selfish and base passions of the human breast. Yet the prevalence of this spirit is so general, we were about to say universal, that it will not be deemed a work of supererogation, if we bring into a distinct light its direct and utter inconsistency with the Christian Religion. It is so common for christians to maltreat each other, when they do not agree in religious opinion, that we fear some persons are lead to think that their religion itself affords sanction to this barbarous usage.

What did Christ teach us, as the becoming and requisite spirit of his followers? "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." "Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake." These benedictions were spoken under circumstances which show that they were intended to be received as containing the leading principles of Christ's religion. They stand at the beginning of his first public discourse, and were addressed to those who flocked round him, to hear what his new doctrines might be. But how little are they applicable to many christians at this day! How many sects seem to labor to deserve the very reverse, and to say to their adherents, "Blessed are ye when ye revile men and persecute them and say all manner of evil of them falsely for Christ's sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad, for so did the ancient Jews persecute the Prophets, which were before you."

"Judge not, that ye be not judged," said Christ, in the same discourse, to the censorious and narrow-minded Jews; "for with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged." But at present, the christian who does not judge, and that too with severity, all those who differ from him, in what are called fundamental doctrines, is looked upon, by the greater part of his brethren, as very cold and indifferent in religion, and in fact not more than half a christian, if he deserves the name at all.

Upon one occasion, when Jesus and his disciples wished to pass through a village of Samaria, on their way to Jerusalem. the Samaritans forbade them, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. "And when his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, Lord will thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned and rebuked them and said, ye know not what spirit ye are of." The spirit of James and John was one which they had imbibed from Judaism, that of persecution; but the spirit of Christ was that which suffereth long and is kind, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; it was the spirit of brotherly love and gentleness, which returns blessing for cursing, and love for hatred. "For the son of man came not to destroy men's lives but to save them."

Which spirit is most common among christians at the present day, we need be at no loss to decide. It is but to pass