The Ear-Ring

^’’Reproof is an ear-jewel: now an ear-jewel must 7zot be too weighty ajid heavy lest it tear and iend rather tha?i adorn the cary Rebuke requires delicacy. It is never wise to box a man on the ear to win his attention to a whisper. Too much zeal in this case is its own hindrance. It is only a dainty bit of pure gold, garnished with a rare jewel, that a lady will think fit for her ear: it would be idle to offer her a quoit, or even a curtainring. It was said of a good man that if he wished to brush off a fly from a friend’s forehead he would look round for a beetle and wedges; and of another that he washed off spots from a brother’s face with scalding water. A man should note how reproofs affect himself, and he may from this observation discover that they need to be administered very tenderly. The rebukes of the righteous should always be as a precious ointment, sweet and gentle; never should they break the head. Whenever it is our reader’s duty to attend to this painful business, let him remember Manton’s figure of the ear-ring, and act accordingly. A friend who wished a lady to wear an ear-ring would go down to the jev/eller’s, and with dainty fingers examine various jewels, and select one of the best, suited for that exquisite piece of living coral which is such an adornment to a fair head. This he would not fling at the lady, nor force into her ear with violence, but he would proffer it with due courtesy, and leave her to fix it in its place herself If a reproof be thus selected, and be really precious, it should be wisely presented to the person for whom it is intended; and much of the application must be adroitly left to the person’s own conscience. Thus will the gem reach the ear, and the reproof reach the heart.

Lord, make us wise in this and all other things by thy Spirit. Let us not shun the duty of reproof, but help me to do it well, lest I do harm when I mean to do good, and thus myself need to be rebuked.