"Aurea qui dederit dona, minora dabit.” Martial. "Courteousness is the skin and outside of virtue, and though a man would wish, in the first place, to enjoy vigour of limbs and soundness of constitution, yet if he can have a good skin too, it is no detriment to his person. Therefore this will not be neglected by the sage we have in idea; he will finish his virtue in every part, small as well as great, ornamental as well as serviceable, nor think the body of it complete until the bones and muscles are invested with their proper covering."-Tucker's Light of Nature. “Benevolence," vol. i. p. 253, 3rd edit. 66 Country people are full of these petty injustices, being cunning to make use of another, and spare themselves; and scholars ought to be diligent in the observation of these, and deriving of their general school rules ever to the smallest actions of life: which while they dwell in their books, they will never find; but, being seated in the country, and doing their duty faithfully, they will soon discover: especially if they carry their eyes ever open, and fix them on their charge, and not on their preferment.”—George Herbert's Country Parson," The Parson's Eye." Amongst them all growes not a fayrer flowre, Then is the bloosme of comely courtesie; Faerie Queene. Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori! 1 PET. iii. 8. "Be courteous." THE passage with which these short but expressive words are connected, is as follows: "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good: let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil'." Altogether, Christian 11 Pet. iii. 8-12. brethren, a golden passage, and worthy to be had in continual remembrance. The tongue pointed with it will ever be giving of praise, the heart imbued with it will be rich in good works towards God and man. It brings a blessing with it, and will leave a blessing behind it. But it is not to the passage as a whole that I now purpose to call your attention, it is rather to the words of the text, "Be courteous;" for courtesy, Christian brethren, whatever the illiberal and illbred (for "the instruments of the churl are evil ̊,”) may say to the contrary, is not unconnected with "growth in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ "." On the contrary, Himself, who is not only our Saviour, but also, as the Collect teaches *, “an ensample of godly life,” hath on this head left" us an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously 5." His whole life indeed, from the manger at Bethlehem to the "vespers of his Passion," (if we may so say,) was one continued instance of thorough and perfect courtesy, opposed to the continual "contradiction of sinners." *Isa. xxxii. 7. *Second Sund, after Easter. 32 Pet. iii. 18. 1 Pet. ii. 21-23. 'Heb. xii. 3. It has been excellently said, that 8" manners were not so much beneath the dignity of our Lord's mission as may at first sight be supposed, for bad manners and bad morals." And it was to this intent,at least, an exhortation to courtesy was implied, that he spoke these words of the Scribes and Pharisees: They "love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogue, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted "." Here, indeed, is a most excellent and perfect lesson, -a word spoken in season to those "stout-hearted ones," as the Prophet calls them, "who are far from See Paley's Evidences of Christianity,-" Morality of the Gospel," c. ii. p. 230. The title of this chapter has been objected to, but perhaps on insufficient grounds. See Gisbourne's Survey, pp. 232, 233. "True is, that whilome that good Poet sayd, The gentle minde by gentle deedes is knowne, "Matt. xxiii. 6-12. righteousness'." For humility and courtesy are ever coupled together, and he that is a wise man,-wise, that is, unto salvation,-will "shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom;"and this, because "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy 2." And so, the really courteous man follows the Saviour according to the capacities of a creature, he "seeks righteousness, he seeks meekness 3." As far as he may, he rubs down all asperities, and makes the rough places smooth. And then, besides, he reads to his no little comfort, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth1;" and again, that the Lord hath said, "He will beautify the meek with salvation "." Read but the Scriptures with that sober attention which is their due,-pray earnestly to understand them aright, see that by the help of God's good Spirit they be grafted inwardly in your hearts,—and you will soon perceive that the stature of Christian manhood is incomplete without courtesy. Weighed in the balance of the sanctuary it will be found wanting. Measured by the royal cubit it will fall short of the "perfection of beauty," which is "holiness to the Lord." Consider but awhile with Scripture at your right |