Snow Soft but Soaking
“Passionate outcries do only frighteti easy and over-credulous souls, and that only for the prese?it: proofs ajid argume7its do a great deal 7Jiore good. Snow thatfalleth soft soaketh deep. In the tempest, Christ slept: whe?i passion is up true zeal is usually asleep?
How gently fall the snowflakes, but how surely they penetrate into the ground; a driving rain hath not half such efficacy! The voice of the snow-flakes is not heard, but their influence is felt. Proofs from Scripture, winsomely put, carry all before them, because Jesus loves to reach men’s minds by such means, and not by wrath and fuiy.
This is a word to hasty disputants. Violent words appear to them to be forcible, but they are not. Hard arguments are best couched in soft language; the force of the lightning is not increased by the thunder. Wrath weakens reason, but gentleness gives double force to arguments. Alas, we too often forget this, and call in our evil passions to aid our holy principles. Then the Christ within us sleeps, and the devil is wide awake. It is to be feared that Protestantismhas been rather hindered than furthered by the ferocity with which some have maintained it.
Our present controversies are some of them essential to fidelity; but it will be well if we all remember that to be faithful to truth we need not be wrathful towards opponents. Truth and charity are of the same heavenly family, and are loveliest when they walk hand in hand. It has happened that some have been so charitable that they would not lift a finger to save truth’s life lest they should wound one of another opinion. This is a sad practical error. But we shall not mend matters if we fight truth’s battles so savagely that we hurl shot and shell upon the abode of love.
Lord, teach us, for we are fearfully apt to err in this matter. Give us bold and clear words, taken from thine own word; and let us use these with the lowly confidence which comes of being filled with thy Spirit; but never allow our own spirit to get the upper hand, so that we breathe out threatenings and utter bitter expressions. Let our sword be always like that which Cometh out of Christ’s mouth; sharp but salutary; flaming, but only with the fire of love.