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Counsels for the Church
It is not yet too late to redeem the neglects of the past. Let there
be a revival of the first love, the first ardor. Search out the ones you
have driven away, bind up by confession the wounds you have made.
Come close to the great Heart of pitying love, and let the current of
that divine compassion flow into your heart and from you to the hearts
of others. Let the tenderness and mercy that Jesus has revealed in
His own precious life be an example to us of the manner in which we
should treat our fellow beings, especially those who are our brethren
in Christ.
Many have fainted and become discouraged in the great strug-
gle of life, whom one word of kindly cheer and courage would have
strengthened to overcome. Never, never become heartless, cold, un-
sympathetic, and censorious. Never lose an opportunity to say a word
to encourage and inspire hope. We cannot tell how far-reaching may
be our tender words of kindness, our Christlike efforts to lighten some
burden. The erring can be restored in no other way than in the spirit of
meekness, gentleness, and tender love
Christ’s Methods in Church Discipline
In dealing with erring church members, God’s people are carefully
to follow the instruction given by the Saviour in the eighteenth chapter
[256]
of Matthew.
Human beings are Christ’s property, purchased by Him at an in-
finite price, bound to Him by the love that He and His Father have
manifested for them. How careful, then, we should be in our dealing
with one another! Men have no right to surmise evil in regard to
their fellow men. Church members have no right to follow their own
impulses and inclinations in dealing with fellow members who have
erred. They should not even express their prejudices regarding the
erring, for thus they place in other minds the leaven of evil. Reports
unfavorable to a brother or sister in the church are communicated from
one to another of the church members. Mistakes are made and injustice
is done because of an unwillingness on the part of someone to follow
the directions given by the Lord Jesus.
“If thy brother shall trespass against thee,” Christ declared, “go
and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.”
Matthew 18:15
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Testimonies for the Church 5:610-613