As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the children of God. There always are in the truth those who are of the flesh and those who are of the Spirit. It is part of the appointed discipline by which the affections of the spiritual are shaken loose from all human ties and associations, and made to rest on the eternal foundation. It is, therefore, a mistake to look for a perfect community, or to expect that at any time we may reckon on freedom from trouble henceforward. There will be trouble as long as the present state of things lasts.
Man is born to it.
The fact helps us to take it without dismay or discouragement. Forgetfulness of the fact has worked disastrously in some cases, when the trouble came. Here is a great caution to our ways. It is impossible in testifying against the wrong to avoid hurting the feelings of those who are in the wrong. Woe to the man who turns believers out of the way.