Reproof

The church-covenant implies not onlj» rautual love, but mutual watchfulness. Ho»’ much better is it to tell a brother’s fault to himself, than to tell it to others? Sin in ouj* brethren should give us great pain, and w should use unceasing efforts to correct it. Bu* no duty requires more circumspection and heavenly wisdom. Conducted aright, charitable reproof seldom fails sooner or later to be useful. “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour tharn he that flat-

* Prov T: 14. f Matt. 5 9teretli with the tongue. Indifference to the spiritual progress of our companions is a sin which is forbidden bj the spirit of that Levitical law, as being opposite to holy love. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart; thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”f