"This divine virtue delights to speak well and think well of others; she talks well of their good actions, and says little or nothing, except when necessity compels her, of their bad ones. She does not look around for evidence to prove an evil design, but hopes that what is doubtful will, by further light, appear to be correct. She imputes no evil as long as good is probable; she leans on the side of candor, rather than of severity; she makes every allowance that truth will permit; she looks to all the circumstances which can be pleaded in mitigation; suffers not her opinions to be formed till she has had opportunity to escape from the midst of passion, and to cool from the wrath of contention. Love desires the happiness of others, and how can she be in haste to think evil of them?"
We would commend this paragraph to editors, reviewers, reformers, public speakers, and to all who accept the 13th chapter of Paul's epistle to the Corinthians as a part of the word of God. Among the blessed sisterhood of graces, "the greatest is love." Amidst the excitements and agitations of our day there is extreme danger that this gentle and beautiful daughter of the skies will be trampled under the feet of angry disputants. Sectarian wranglers give but a rude welcome to the heavenly visitant; and sectional animosities almost stifle her in the dust and smoke of fratricidal strife. If any cause can live and prosper without her genial presence, it only proves its earth-born source, and it can only look for temporary victory; for "now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." The cause that is prosecuted in faith, inspired with hope, and imbued with love, will abide; while uncharitableness in thought and word and action, will perish with the cause that needs or employs its unhallowed aid.