Once Wrong Always Wrong.
By Jos. Clarke
We do not say it is so; but people are apt to feel so, toward an offender, especially if his position and offence is public. Now let me say that God has not so decided, but quite the contrary. Look at the case of Sarah and Hagar. She advised Abraham to marry Hagar. Abraham did so. It was wrong, out of God's order. Next she advises her lord Abraham to put away Hagar. Now Abraham hesitates. Sarah has advised him once to do a wrong act; now he fears to follow her advice, lest it might be the opposite extreme. But notice, God approves Sarah this time, and tells Abraham to follow her advice. It is good; and Sarah was right in her last decision in the matter. The case of Job too, is an instructive lesson to those who would bear down upon a man because he had once made a mistake; when perhaps the people who bear down hardest, are the ones who need the greatest amount of forbearance exercised toward themselves.