THE EVENING PRIMROSE. 109 



pressed by the injunction, " Bear ye one another's 

 burdens." Without possessing the exquisite tender- 

 ness of the class first alluded to, without entertain 

 ing any especial degree of partiality for the individ 

 ual, we are imperatively called upon to make both 

 allowances and sacrifices, for the sake of those 

 around us. Good breeding ensures this, among 

 people who are held together by the bonds of civil 

 society ; but something more must interpose to in- 

 duce its continuance, where intimacy has removed 

 many restraints. It is not to be computed how 

 much of domestic and social happiness is lost, by 

 neglecting to cultivate this branch of Christian duty. 

 It is lovely to see the strong bearing the infirmities 

 of the weak, and descending to trifles, beneath the 

 level of their more powerful minds, in order to 

 avoid too rough a collision with spirits rendered 

 over-sensitive by afflictions, by sickness, or by 

 natural temperament. Nor is forbearance to be 

 confined to the more energetic party : the weak are 

 bound to remember that others, differently consti- 

 tuted, cannot so enter into all the minutiae of their 

 feelings, as to escape every appearance of insensi- 

 bility to their complaints. Still, if the gospel rule 

 be followed, in prayerful solicitude to possess and 

 to manifest the mind which was in Christ Jesus, 

 many a cup, now of almost unmingled bitterness 

 as respects this world, may be sweetly ameliorated 

 Dy the hand of forbearing kindness ; while gleams 



10 



