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The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened By the Right Rev. Ashton Oxenden, D.D. CHAPTER IX – DANGERS FROM WITHIN AN EVIL HEART—PRIDE—TEMPER—UNCHARITABLENESS—SELFISHNESS—IDLENESS—INFLUENCE OF BAD HABITS 3. Another dangerous fault which often makes its appearance, especially in young converts, is UNCHARITABLENESS. A person, who has only lately been awakened, is very apt to judge a little severely and to speak a little harshly, of those who do not think and feel just as he does. He seems to forget the condition that he himself was so lately in. And although he knows himself to be a monument of God’s marvelous patience, he is himself impatient towards his brethren. Can this be right? It is sad, indeed, to hear a Christian speaking against his neighbor, and taking upon himself to find fault with this or that point in his character. It plainly shows that he knows but little of his own heart; or else he would surely be more tender of a brother, and more ready to condemn himself. It has been observed that, there are some men who are always looking on the dark side of people’s character; so that one glaring fault, or even a single failing, will eclipse in their eyes a thousand excellences. Such persons are for ever complaining that religion makes no progress; for they can see nobody around them who is perfect; and therefore they come to the conclusion that there is very little piety in the world. They are disposed to take a gloomy view of everything, and to speak against everybody. Now, if we find ourselves indulging in such a spirit, it is plain proof that we have but little of the mind of Christ, and that we have much yet to learn. For you may be sure of this—that where a person is disposed to think harshly and unkindly of others, he probably knows but very little of his own heart. To you, then, my reader, I would say—whenever you find yourself about to indulge in uncharitable remarks on your neighbor, whether a professing Christian or otherwise, just stop yourself, and say, ‘Let me have a peep at my own heart first.’ Be very careful to avoid this fault. It is a hateful one to fall into, and even the world condemns it. May we not ourselves have some grievous failings, which are hidden even from our nearest friends, and which are known only to God? And if these were brought out to light, would they not condemn us? Oh, then, let us deal very tenderly with our brother, and make every allowance for him. It is better, far better, to be as the Lark that is ever rising upwards, and hovers wistfully over her own little nest, than as the quick-eyed Eagle, which pounces so eagerly on its prey. Let us take this for a rule—and a golden rule it is—to speak but little of others, and but little of ourselves and also to be very backward in saying anything of a neighbor, unless we have something good to say of him. Let the world, if it will, be open-mouthed in its harsh judgments. Let it be eagle-eyed in discovering faults and blemishes in others. But let us be anxious to look at home—remembering that good man’s resolution who said, that ‘whenever he spied a fault in his neighbor, he was determined to look for two in himself’—remembering also our Lord’s precepts; ‘Judge not, that ye be not judged;’ ‘First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.’ (Matt. 7.1, 5) Let us seek to have much of that Christian charity, or love, which ‘covereth a multitude of sins,’—that is, which delights rather to cloak them over, than to expose them to view. If such is our spirit, we shall I am sure be much happier and more useful, and we shall much more ‘adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.’ I have often thought, that it would be well if every Christian made it a rule to read over, tow or three times in every year, that beautiful lesson on Christian charity which is contained in 1Corithians 13. **************************************************** The Pathway of Safety; or, Counsel to the Awakened, Ashton Oxenden **************************************************** PREVIOUS CHAPTER -- NEXT CHAPTER ©God’sGWG |