The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-02-20
THEY DQE"r SPEAK.

Who don't speakf Why Mr.. A. and
Mr.. B. both members of tho Church O
Christ. And there are Nm. G. and Mrs
d. who meet and pass each other without
word Of recognition. And Miss E. and
Miss F. have had difficulty; and they
do not speak.
These pen ons all profess to take tho ga.
cred Scriptures as their unsrring guide,
both in faith aud morals. They profess
to esteem the law OF the Lord above ru-
bies. They profess to love tho csuse OF
Christ more than all other causes, aud
earnestly to desise tho prosperity Of the
Church, aud the conversion of sinners
How do their professions and their con-
duct correspondi
Mr.. A. insists that he. has bacn injured
by Mr.. B.; and Mrs. G. has heard that
Mrs. d. has beon talking abou. her u an
offensive way.
Well, fince all these church members
have soIsmnly pro!"ssed to regulate their
spirit and conduct by the word Of God, it
is worth while to inquire whother it gives
any direction on this subject. Our Sa-
viour has given The following plain diroc-
tons :-"Moreover, If thy brother .hall
uespass sgains. thos, 90 and toll him his
fault between thee and him alon, ;;fhe shall
hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But II he will no. hear thee, then take
with thee one or two mere. that in tho
mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may DO established. And il he
shall neglect to hear them tell i. 70 the
church, le. him BE- unto them a. heath
en- man and = publican" Matt. 1viii l6
Ia.
Such is the unequivocal direction given
by our Lord and the wisdom Of it is very
manifest, from several considerations:
l. A large proportion Of the difficulties
which arisS between protesting Christians
are the result OF misunderstanding or of
incorrect statements made by others. In
all such cases. if tho parties como togeth-
ar in the spirit Of their Master, mutual cI.
plantations will remove the difficulty. II
no explanation takes place, the existing
s.ate OF feeling, in itself wrong. will gain
strength and the breach become wider and
wider.
2. Difficulties often arise from hasty ex.
pressions uttered in q moment OF excited
feeling. When the person has timo for
serious reflection, il ho be properly ap-
preached, he will, in all probability, ac-
knowledge bis error And who is there
80 free from deprsvity, IS nsver to become
Trtsted! snd WHO ever spoke wisely or
properly in such state of mindi Even
Moses, notwithstanding all bis meefness
provoked. in spirit, "spake unsdvisedly
uith bis lip,." Let him that is withou.
sin cast the 6rst stone.
3. But even when there has been q do
hbernts purpose 70 do injustice, kind
Christian conversation may bring the Of
fender to repentance. In almost all iu.
stances OF ~rongioiOg, except the mos.
corrupt men, the trausgrsssor succeeds in
convincing himself that no is justifisb bio
10 his conduct; and If Christian brother
has fallen into sin, no who ahsll succeed
IN bringing him to repentance will give
JOY to the angels Of Ged, will be tho
means Of blessing the church, and will
save soul from doath. "Brsthreu. .rs.;d
James. "if any of<1bu do orr from the
truth, and one convert him, lot him know
that he who conver.sth .innor from the
error OF his way, shsll save soul from,
dosth, and shall hide q multitude ~
sins."
g. ftho offender cannot be broueh, to
repentance BY the injured party alone, he
msy be influenced by ono or two other
brethren. Their opinions, since they ore
not interested parties. may have wsiga.
~'sh him. Their erpos.uiations snd ex.
hort 'uons may Prove eGoctual. In thou.
sands OF instances the interposition of uu.
tusl fnepds has settled difficulties which
ths 'nssrested parties could never adjust.
and ha. led to most friendly understand.
i"G, blessed are the psaco maher., for
sAsy sAAll b called the cAildssa Of God"
s. - ths offender viii rot hear disin.
fsfsasesl ar>el1sst, then the matter mus,
eaa3 @4xHsproper officers of the
~Fy IA stzfxe