June 13

"Let not then your good be evil spoken of."—Romans 14:16.

LET me not spoil my religion by censoriousness. Who am I that I should constitute myself my brother's judge? I have more than enough to scrutinise, more than enough to condemn, more than enough to correct, in my own thoughts and ways. There are weeds in my garden which I ought to be uprooting and destroying. I must show no sympathy with the spirit of detraction. I must give account of myself to God.

And let me not spoil my religion by selfishness. What may be harmless and good for me may be dangerous and deadly to the soul of another. I ought to consider this. I ought to be careful to make no one stumble, to plunge no one into perplexity, to lead no one astray. I do not live the isolated and solitary life of a hermit; my brothers and sisters have a thousand claims upon me. For their sakes I should be prepared to surrender and crucify my own desires.

And let me not spoil my religion by coldness. With all my rectitude and wisdom, there may be a sad lack of warm and tender love. But "it is the heart and not the brain that to the highest doth attain." Let me follow after the things which make for peace. Let me be kindly affectioned. Let me burn, as they said of the saintly missionary, "with the intense flame of phosphorus." Let me suggest Jesus — Jesus whose exceeding grace the strong floods could not quench.

So my good shall not be evil spoken of. What a thousand pities it will be, if the holy vessels of the sanctuary should get rusted and unlovely in my hands! What a sadness and disgrace it will be, if on my lips the new song should lose its melody!