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CONFESS YOUR FAULTS

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 16, 1869

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 34, No. 21.

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CONFESS YOUR FAULTS.

By A. P. Lawton

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” James v, 16. I do not understand by this, that I am to confess my brother’s faults, but my own. I have noticed with pain, how heartily some among us enter into the work of confessing the sins of an erring brother, while they are equally careful to conceal their own. Brother, sister, let us no longer neglect our own interests, while we take such a lively interest in our brethren. It is true, we are our brother’s keeper, but is this the gospel way? If our brother indeed has faults, should we not wait until we have a broken and a contrite spirit for our own sins, and then go to him weeping and confessing our sins? If this will not move him to a hearty confession, I know not what would. Talking them over with others never can.
How long will God’s people be in learning to be gentle towards all, kind, tender-hearted, in honor preferring one another—no matter how closely we sit in judgment on our own cases; but we should be considerate of our brother. His may admit of extenuations which we do not understand. If we err, let it be on the side of clemency, and mercy. Until we can go forth weeping, we shall bear little fruit. However savory the dish, it does not relish if served in a filthy vessel. It requires a thorough knowledge of ourselves, an intimate union with God, and close living, to know how, when, and where, to time admonitions successfully.
The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. Reproofs from such an one, will not break the head, but be an excellent oil. The promise is not to him who overcomes his brother, but himself. If each should turn his attention homeward, there would be little cause for reproofs, but each would be the happy hearers of the glad tidings. Hear what the Lord has done for me. We should then honor God by offering acceptable praise.
A. P. LAWTON.