"The admonition of a good man resembles fuller's earth," wrote an unknown author; "it not only removes the spots from our character, but it rubs off when it is dry."

Another writes:"Considering how many difficulties a friend has to surmount before he can bring himself to reprove me, I ought to be very much obliged to him." It was the saying of a heathen, though no heathenish saying, "He that would be good must either have a faithful friend to instruct him, or a watchful enemy to correct him."

"Before we reprove," remarks Hales, "let us know the condition of the brother; whether he be not like the young vine, soft and tender, and so to be cured rather by the hand pulling the branches away, than by the knife. And if he be grown so bad that he shall need the knife, we must not rashly adventure on it, but know that there is a skill in using the knife; like a skillful physician of whom we read, who, having to heal an imposthume, and finding the patient to be afraid of lancing, privately wrapped up the lance in a sponge, with which, while he gently smoothed the place, he lanced it. So, when we encounter an offending brother, we must not openly carry the knife in our hand, but with words of sweetness administer our reproof, and so effect the cure."

"Able also to admonish one another," is an ability the most gifted might covet. Any one can scold, find fault, condemn; but it requires grace and a lowly, loving spirit, to properly admonish an erring brother, if we are not going to drive him farther away by our effort. Yet it is a duty we owe our brother, that we must "not suffer sin upon him." It is therefore our obligation to seek his correction, the restoration of his soul. We dare not ask, like the murderer Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper?" We are neither his master nor his monitor, but fellow-members with him of the body of Christ, which surely gives us a more than ordinary interest in his welfare.

"Our advice" (or admonition), writes another, "must not fall like a violent storm, bearing down and making those to droop whom it is meant to cherish and refresh. It must descend as the dew upon the tender herb, or like melting flakes of snow; the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon and the deeper it sinks into the mind. If they are few who have the humility to receive advice as they ought, it is often because there are few who have the discretion to convey it in a proper vehicle, and to qualify the harshness and bitterness of reproof (against which corrupt nature is apt to revolt) by an artful admixture of sweetening and agreeable ingredients. To probe the wound to the bottom with all the boldness and resolution of a good spiritual surgeon, and yet with all the delicacy and tenderness of a friend, requires a very dexterous and masterly hand." What a beautiful and perfect example of this is found in John's 21st chapter. Having refreshed with His ready-prepared food the wearied disciples who had toiled all night and taken nothing, when they had dined the Lord turns to Peter to complete a restoration previously begun (see Luke 22:61, 62 and 24:34). But now the root of failure can be fully exposed, and the divine probe penetrates the depths of Peter's heart:"Simon,' son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?" is three times repeated with increasingly searching power-which our English version fails to render. But with each probing the word of encouragement and of trust is also given:"Feed my lambs;" "Shepherd my sheep;" "Feed my sheep."

If advice such as the above had been generally followed by the saints, how differently might much of the history of the Church have been written:how many less divisions would have occurred; how much less reproach been merited from the world by those who are commanded by their Lord to "love one another, even as I have loved you" (John 13:34).

How many unseemly actions have taken place under the specious plea of "faithfulness," and how many bitter, harsh, and crushing words have been uttered under the guise of "admonition." "In the spirit of meekness," describes the manner in which the brother at fault is to be restored (Gal. 6:1). Many a failure to win an erring brother may be laid to the very manner in which the undertaking has been carried on. Our Lord with the basin, the water, and the towel is our example here as in all things else (John 13). May we all learn of Him, the meek and lowly in heart!