The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-10-12
For the Central Presbyterian.
How to Make an End of Strife

One great obstacle in the way of orr
settling amicably our differences, is the
indisposition which most of us feel to take
the lnltlatory step. This indisposition
arises sometimes from pride, and some
times from fear that an offended or Of
tending neighbor will not kindly receive
us. One man feels that it would be a
condescension on his part to go to one
whose conduct has rendered him 80 un-
worthy even of respect, and seek a re-
newal OF friendly relations. And gen.
orally he magnifes the culpableness of the
other party's conduct, and overlooks that
OF his own. The other man having no
reason to expect anything but continued
ill-will, is afraid of being insulted if he
even proposes to confer on the subject.
If this obstacle could be overcome manv
OF the causes of contention would soon be
removed, for most difficulties between
men grow out of misunderstanding each
others motives, or being misrepresented
oy the carelessness or malice of tattlers.
AS soon as they had explained each others
motives and actions, and retracted the
harsh utterances they had been impelled
to make when under misApprehension
they would see that neither had any good
reason to be offended. If either party
would approach the other in kind man
ner, mutual concessions would soon be
made; the soft answer of one would turn
away the wrath of the other, and when
they parted, they would part friends.
How much better it would be if Gods
people would only adopt the rule that
He has given for such cases. PERHAPS
some readers of the Bible have forgotten
that there is such rule. A rule clear,
bret, and explicit, and which seldom, if
ever, fails to accomplish the desired re-
suit. Christ says, "If thy brother tres
pass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone" Man
may say he has acted too badly. Christ
says go and tell him. Man may say,
am afraid it will only make the matter
worse. Christ says, go and tell him.
Man may imagine he knows thousand
good reasons for not going. Neverthe-
less Christ says, 90 and tell him. Of
course we are not to 90 with those griev-
GUS words that we know will stir up an
ger. That would show that we desired
to continue the strife but 90 with that
nihNhSoo chd1 OuIlSL has SHOWN uB now to
manifest. This is the only scriptural way
to make peace with your neighbor. eff
ne hear thee, thou hast gained thy broth
err"
But suppose he will not hear thee. In
that case Christ tells us how to proceed
flake with thee one or two more, that in
the mouth of two or three witnesses every
word may be established" By this you
will be prepared to show to the authori-
ties of the church that the fault is not
with you. "And if he shall neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church" Per-
haps he may be influenced by the church
when all other means fail to reconcile him.
Try every means before you despair,
But if he neglect to hear the church, let
him be unto thee as heather man and a.
publican" as one cut off from the church.
1t is not till all the methods God has pre-
scribed have failed, and fail they seldom
will, that we are authorised to treat the
offender as an outcast from the Church of
God. He is a brother till the last rem
edy fails. In ninety-nine cases out of a
hundred the first step is all that it will
be necessary to take. If you have an
enemy, try IT.. w. r. CoPPEDeE.
The best Christians are more careful to