Man’s Duty to His Fellow Men
483
a sacrifice of manhood and dignity to give his wife expressions of
tenderness and sympathy in words and acts; and let it not end with
the family circle, but extend to those outside the family. L has a work
to do for himself that no one can do for him. He may grow strong
in the Lord by bearing burdens in His cause. His affection and love
should be centered upon Christ and heavenly things, and he should be
forming a character for everlasting life.
Dear K has very limited ideas of what constitutes a Christian.
She has freed herself from burdens which Christ has borne for her.
She is not willing to bear His cross and has not exercised to the best
account the ability, the talents, given her of God. She has not grown
strong in moral fortitude and courage, nor felt the weight of individual
responsibility. She has not loved to bear reproach for Christ’s sake,
considering the promise: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.” “If
we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.” The Master has a work for
each to do. None can be idle, none can be careless and selfish, and
yet perfect Christian character. He wants all of your family to unclose
their hearts to the benign influence of His love and grace, that their
compassion for others may overflow the boundaries of self and the
enclosures of family walls, as did the Samaritan’s to the poor, suffering
stranger who was neglected and left to die by the priest and the Levite.
I was shown that there are many who need our sympathy and advice;
and when we consider that we can pass through this world but once,
that we can never return to repair the errors and mistakes we have
made, how important that we go through it as we ought!
Some time ago I was shown the case of J. Her errors and wrongs
were faithfully portrayed before her; but in the last view given me I
saw that the wrongs still existed, that she was cold and unsympathizing
with her husband’s children. Correction and reproof are not given by
her for grave offenses merely, but for trivial matters that should be
passed by unnoticed. Constant faultfinding is wrong, and the Spirit
of Christ cannot abide in the heart where it exists. She is disposed to
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pass over the good in her children without a word of approval, but is
ever ready to bear down with censure if any wrong is seen. This ever
discourages children and leads to habits of heedlessness. It stirs up the
evil in the heart and causes it to cast up mire and dirt. In children who