Transcription

Gentleness stands opposed not to the most determined regard for Virtue & truth, but to harshness & severity; to pride & arrogance, to violence & oppression; it is that great virtue of charity which makes us unwilling to give pain -- Compassion prompts us to releive the wants of our fellow Creatures, [[underline]] Forbearance [[/underline]] prevents us from retaliating their injuries, [[underline]] Meekness [[/underline]] restrains our angry passions, [[underline]] Candour [[/underline]] our sincere judgement, but [[underline]] Gentleness [[/underline]] corrects whatever is offensive in our manners, & by a constant train of humane attention studies to alleviate the burdens of others. -- Gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to him who made us, & to the common nature we all have, it arises from reflexions on our own feelings & wants, & from just views of the condition & duty of Man [[underline]] it is feeling heightened by principle, [[/underline]] it is the heart which feels for every thing human knowing its own weakness. it is unassuming in opinion, temperate in zeal, not eager about trifles, slow to contradict, slower to blame, intermeddles not with the affairs or secrets of others; it seeks to please rather than shine, & conceals with care any superiority