The whip and the scourge may be righteous, but there is no winning of the heart of man with these! Nor is it righteousness which reigns among the saints of God, but grace—through righteousness, unto eternal life. Alas! How many sins that might have been washed away (1 John 1) have been retained! How many brethren, alienated for all time, that might have been won back to God BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. We have taken readily the JUDGE’S chair, and have got back judgment; but the Master’s lowly work WE HAVE NOT DONE.

But how little yet do we understand, that mere righteous dealing—absolutely righteous as it may be, will not work the restoration of souls; that judgment, however temperate, however true, will not touch, soften and subdue hearts to receive instruction, that, by the very facts of the case, are shown not to be in their true place before God.

Man is not ALL conscience, and conscience reached, with the heart away will do what it did with the first sinner among men—drive him out among the trees of the garden to escape the unwelcome voice.

—J.N.D.