Yes, you will all (except when you are angry)
acknowledge that the injunction Be kindly affectioned one to another in
brotherly love, is right, proper, beautiful; could there be a better
reason for trying to obey the injunction?
2d. You have already often disobeyed this injunction. You cannot
remember many of the instances, but you can some where you acted
unbrotherly or unsisterly. Alas, such are the pride and selfishness of
our hearts that we begin very early to sin against our dearest friends.
Little boy, did you not get angry the other day, when your little
brother or sister took one of your playthings which you wanted
yourself, and if you did not speak unkindly or snatch it away roughly,
did you not go and complain to mother, and was that very kind and
loving? Would it not have been kinder and more brotherly to try to make
little brother and sister happy, and not to have troubled mother? Little
children, I say this especially for you, I want you all to make it a
rule to love everybody, and to try and make everybody around you happy.
That is the way to be happy yourselves. But, my young friends, you, who
are older, are in equal danger of sinning, and I am afraid that your
consciences can also condemn you. Indeed I know not but the danger of
violating this law is greater with those more advanced in life. There is
a transition period when the childhood is about losing itself in the
youth, which is often very trying to brotherly and sisterly affection.
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